A Key to the Narrative of the Four Gospels (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from A Key to the Narrative of the Four Gospels

Papias, a contemporary of Justin, mentions the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark by name. He was the friend of Polycarp, and, like him, is said to have been a disciple of St. John. In his work, An Ex position of Me Oracles of the Lord, of which fragments have been preserved to us in Eusebiusl, he says, Matthew composed his oracles in Hebrew, and each one interpreted them as he was able.' Of St. Mark he says, Mark having become Peter's interpreter, wrote accurately all that he remembered though he did not record in order that which was said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord, nor fol lowed Him; but subsequently, as I said, attached him self to Peter, who used to frame his teaching to meet the immediate wants of his hearers and not making a connected narrative of the Lord's discourses.' He seems too in another fragment to quote St. John.

Either Papias or some contemporary - certainly not later than a.d. I7o - wrote a complete Canon of the Books of the New Testament as then received in the Christian Church. A precious fragment of this Canon was discovered in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, and was published in 1740, by Muratori. It is sadly mutilated, but enough remains to give it the highest value.

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