How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the Old Testament? – March 2008 version

It is agreed that early Christians accepted the Old Testament, but it is interesting to compare the documented references of the Old Testament to the New. This chart showed who referred to which Old Testament passages and when. The apocrypha and pseudepigrapha are listed in a separate chart.

Rows: red = persecution of Christians, lime green = heresy, light green = schism, Pale blue = Bible manuscripts, pink = strange teacher, brown = Christians persecuting others

W = Books and quotes mentioned by name or by writer     G = Quoted as God or Lord says or God’s Word        I = Implied (i.e. minor vs. 12)           blank = not researched yet    X = rejected    - no reference found

S = Referred to as scripture, law, or prophet said                      g = Mentions Kings with no allusion or reference        E =not scripture but good to read     Q = quotes 1 or more verses ½  = quote of ½ verse   A = Allusion

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

OT

Law

Gn

Ex

Lv

Nm

Dt

Josh

Jdg

Ru

1Sam

2Sam

1 Ki

2 Ki

1Chr

2Chr

Ezr

Neh

Esth

Job

Ps

Pr

Ec

SofS

Isa

Jer

Lam

Eze

Dan

12

Hos

Joel

Am

Ob

Jon

Mic

Nah

Hab

Zeph

Hag

Zech

Mal

Writer

Rahlfs 957 manuscript (Dt 25:1-3, Greek)

<1

200-100 B.C.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rahlfs 957(Dt 25:1-3, Greek)

Rahlfs 848 ms. (Dt 31:28-30; 32:1-7, Greek)

<1

100-1 B.C.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rahlfs 848 (Dt 31:28-30; 32:1-7, Greek)

Rahlfs 814 ms. (Gen 14:12-15, Greek Sept.)

<1

150-200 A.D.

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rahlfs 814 (Gen 14:12-15, Greek Septuagint)

Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts

many

before 68 A.D.

-

-

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

-

-

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Dead Sea Scrolls

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

50 & 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

-

-

S

G

-

Q

Q

Q

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

G

-

-

Q

-

-

G

A

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

S

-

-

-

½

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

W

-

-

-

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

G

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

Trajan persecutes Christians

 

107-117

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

Hadrian persecutes Christians

 

118 & 134

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

Hadrian persecutes Christians

Letter of Barnabas

12 ½

100-150

-

-

G

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

G

G

-

G

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

S

S

G

-

Letter of Barnabas

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

S

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycarp to the Philippians

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

2

130-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

½

-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

 

135

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

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

Total Apostolic Fathers – until 150 A.D.

62

-150

0

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

2

0

0

4

1

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

1

2

Total Apostolic Fathers – until 150 A.D.

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

138-165

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

A

Q

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

S

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

W

W

Justin of Neocaesarea, philosopher & apologist

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

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, the God of the Old Testament, was evil or foolish. Rejecting the Old Testament, they made their own scriptures, mixing Greek paganism with Christianity.

Gnostic heresies become widespread

Tatian, pupil of Justin, later Encratite Gnostic

18+86

Died 172

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian, pupil of Justin, later Encratite Gnostic

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Corinth

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-180

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

X

X

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

Athenagoras (apologist)

19 ½

177

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

½

177, 160-180

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

Theophilus of Antioch ( to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

W

G

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

W

W

Theophilus of Antioch ( to Autolycus)

Ebionites (O.T. Mt, observe Law, Father, Son)

 

- 188 -

-

W

Q

W

-

W

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

A

-

S

-

W

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ebionites (O.T. Mt, observe Law, Father, Son)

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

262

182-188

W

W

W

W

½

W

W

W

A

-

Q

Q

Q

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

A

W

W

¼ 

W

W

-

W

S

S

-

W

Q

-

W

-

-

W

W

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

Maximus of Jerusalem (wrote on origin of evil)

5

185-196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maximus of Jerusalem (wrote on origin of evil)

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

½

196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-