How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the New Testament Grid – January 2008 Version

   People have made lots of money selling books claiming early Christianity believed in a different Bible from today. A number of people have made outrageous claims, apparently assuming that nobody really knows what early Christians believed anyway. How could you tell what books early Christians recognized as scripture, without actually asking them? You could know by observing what scriptural books they referred to when they wrote their religious letters, commentaries, and treatises. This will undercount, because they might consider some books scripture that they never happened to mention. (For example, if somebody tape-recorded most of your religious conversations, how often have you mentioned the book of Philemon?) Nevertheless, this method shows at a minimum some of what they accepted as scripture. Note that books with few pages (in English) generally refer to only a few New

Testament books, as one would expect. Early Christians referred to by name and quoted from every books of the New Testament, and they never referred to any other books as possibly being in the New Testament canon, with only a few exceptions, one of which, Tatian’s Diatessaron, was a harmony of the four gospels together in Syriac used until the 5th century. There were many other books out there, of Greek philosophy, paganism, and Gnostic works, but these were considered “poisons” or at the least “foreign food” to avoid.

 Legend of the row colors

red =persecution of Christians

green =heresy

orange =schism (church split)

blue =Bible manuscript

 

W = Books and quotes mentioned by name or by writer     4G = Mention of 4 gospels           I = Implied. ex: “14 letters of Paul”   J = Quotes mentioned as words of God/Jesus/Savior  m = debated  X = rejected

S = Referred to as scripture, gospel, or by apostle(s)        E =not scripture but good to read Q = Quote of 1 or more verses       ½  = quote of ½ verse                                       A = Allusion       - = no reference

Writer

Pages

Date A.D.

NT

Gospels

Mt

Mk

Lk

Jn

Ac

Rm

1C

2C

Ga

Ep

Pp

Cl

1Th

2Th

1T

2T

Tt

Pm

He

Jm

1P

2P

1J

2J

3J

Jude

Re

Positive reference to other book after Christ that could be scripture

Writer

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

 

50 and 95/96

Est. 500K Christians. Christians were labeled atheists and killed for refusing to worship the emperor and pagan idols.

 

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

16 ¼

97/98

-

-

J

J

½

-

¼

Q

W

-

-

-

-

A

A

-

A

-

Q

-

Q

Q

Q

A

-

-

-

-

Q

-

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

-

Q

-

-

A

-

-

¼

A

-

W

-

-

Q

-

¼

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

Trajan persecutes Christians

 

107

Answered Pliny the Younger’s letter. Christians are not to be sought after, but only killed if found.

 

Trajan persecutes Christians

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4 ¾

before 125

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125 or138-161

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quadratus of Athens fragment

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

-

W

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

A

-

A

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

Hadrian persecutes Christians

 

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture, & he persecuted both Jews & Christians. The Jewish Bar Cochba revolt happened under him.

 

Hadrian persecutes Christians

p52 (=John Rylands) John 18:31-33; 18:37-38

117-138

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p46 70% of Paul+Heb in 1 manuscript

Letter of Barnabas

12 ½

100-150

-

-

Q

½

Q

A

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

Q

A

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

Letter of Barnabas

p46 (=Chester Beatty II) 1,680 verses 70% Paul+Heb

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p46 70% of Paul+Heb in 1 manuscript

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

A

Q

A

-

-

-

-

-

Gospel of the Egyptians quote

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

-

Q

½

Q

-

½

Q

Q

A

¼

Q

W

-

Q

½

Q

Q

-

-

-

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

Polycarp to the Philippians

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

-

-

W

W

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

A

-

-

-

?

-

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

½

-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

 

135

Christians persecuted in Israel because Christians would not join the revolt.

 

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians in Israel

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P’s

62

-150

0

1

7

4

4

4

3

3

5

4

3

3

3

3

4

1

5

1

2

0

3

2

5

2

3

0

0

0

1

1

Apostolic fathers totals: all symbols except P’s

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

138-165

W

W

J

J

J

J

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Justin of Neocaesarea, philosopher & apologist

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

Q

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Shepherd of Hermas

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

Gnostics all believed the Creator was evil/foolish. Rejecting the Old Testament, they mixed Greek paganism and Christianity.

Many

Gnostic heresies become widespread

Tatian, pupil of Justin, Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

-

-

Q

Q

Q

Q

-

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

¼ 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian, pupil of Justin, Encratite Gnostic later

Tatian’s Diatessaron (The Four)

170

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian’s Diatessaron (The Four)

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Corinth

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

W

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

-

-

A

S

S

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

¼

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

p66(=Bodmer II) 92% of John 808.5 verses

c.125-175

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p66(=Bodmer II) p14/15, 92% of John

p4+p64+p67 Lk 1:58-59,etc. Mt 26:7-8,etc. 95 verses

c.150-175

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p3+p64+p67 Lk; Mt. 95 verses

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher. Persecution, mainly in Gaul, ended with his death.

 

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

Q

J

¼

¾

-

A

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

Athenagoras (apologist)

19 ½

177

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athenagoras

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis (Quartod.)

½

177, 160-180

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis (Quartod.)

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

Theophilus of Antioch ( to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

W

Q

-

Q

W

Q

Q

Q

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

Q

Shepherd of Hermas

Theophilus of Antioch ( to Autolycus)

Ebionites & Clementina (Law, Father, Son)

265½+

- 181 -

-

-

Q

Q

Q

J

-

-

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quote probably from an apocryphal gospel

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law, Father, Son)

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

W

4G

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

Q

W

½ 

I

W

-

A

W

Hermas. X Gospel of Truth

X others

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

a

u

l

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

Maximus of Jerusalem (origin of evil)

5

185-196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maximus of Jerusalem (origin of evil)

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

½

196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

4G

I

I

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

W

W

Some accept Apocalypse of Peter

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas,Noetus,Callistus)

 

200-257-

Sabellians believed the Father, Son, & Spirit were one person. They were called Patripassians for “passion of the Father”.

 

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

Persecution of Septimus Severus

 

202

Est 2M Christians. Although a Christian helped him in an illness, he did not repeal existing laws against Christians.

 

Persecution of Septimus Severus

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

1/3

200-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Gospel of Peter

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

-

-

J

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apollonius of Ephesus (Against Montanists)

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

S

W

W

W

S

W

W

W

-

W

Q

W

½

W

W

-

W

W

Preaching of Peter, Hermas, Gospel of the Egyptians

Clement of Alexandria

p75 Lk 3:18-22; etc. Jn 1:1-11:45,etc. 1,166 verses

175-225

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p75 Lk 3:18-22; 3:33-4:2, etc. Jn 1:1-11:45,etc.

p45 Gospels+Acts in 1 ms. 833 verses

200-225

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p45 Gospels+Acts in 1 manuscript

p30 1Th 4:12-13,16-17 etc. 2Th 1:1-2 etc. 25 verses

ca.225

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

741

200-240

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

Q

Q

W

Q

W

A

-

W

W

-

Tertullian (joined Montanist church)

Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-