How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the New Testament? (Summary) – April 2007 Version

   People have made lots of money selling books claiming early Christianity believed in a different Bible from today. Not only in the Da Vinci Code movie, but other authors have made outrageous claims, based on the assumption 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 tell 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. Looking at the table below there are not many surprises. 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 that Syrians used. 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. Red rows are persecutions of Christians; green rows are heresies or major controversies. Pale blue are Bible manuscripts.

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           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

P

He

Jm

1P

2P

1J

2J

3J

Jude

Re

+ reference to other books as authoritative

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

 

50 and 95/96

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

 

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

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

-

Q

-

-

A

-

-

¼

A

-

W

-

-

Q

-

¼

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

Trajan persecutes Christians

 

107

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

 

Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4 ¾

before 125

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P46 70% of Paul+Heb in 1 ms. 1,680 verses

 

100-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Letter to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130

-

W

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

A

-

A

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hadrian persecutes Christians

 

118 & 134

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

 

Letter of Barnabas

12 ½

100-150

-

-

Q

½

Q

A

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

Q

A

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

c.150

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

A

Q

A

-

-

-

-

-

Gospel of the Egyptians quote

Polycarp to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

-

-

Q

½

Q

-

½

Q

Q

A

¼

Q

W

-

Q

½

Q

Q

-

-

-

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

Papias, disciple of John and “Presbyters”

2 ½  

130-150

-

-

W

W

-

½

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

A

-

-

-

?

-

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians in Israel

 

135

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

 

Total Apostolic Fathers – until 150 A.D.

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

Justin Martyr, philosopher and apologist

137

138-165

W

W

J

J

J

J

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.160

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

Q

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170

-

W

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-177/180

-

-

A

S

S

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

¼

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian, pupil of Justin, Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

died 172

-

-

Q

Q

Q

Q

-

A

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

¼ 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian’s Diatessaron (The Four)

 

170

-

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

p66(=Bodmer II) p14/15,p75 92% of John 808.5 verses

100/125-175

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

 

162/166-180

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

 

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

Q

J

¼

¾

-

A

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

19 ½

177

-

-

Q

-

Q

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

Q

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis (Quartod.)

½

177, 160-180

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p75 (Bodmer 14/15) 808 ½ verses

 

175-225

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

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

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

P

a

u

l

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

Council of Elvira (21 undisputed canons)

 

200-257-

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

 

Persecution of Septimus Severus

 

202

Although a Christian helped him through a severe illness, he did not repeal existing laws against Christians.

 

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

1/3

200-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Gospel of Peter

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

-

-

J

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

p45 Gospels+Acts in 1 ms. 833 verses

 

200-225

-

-

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tertullian (joined 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’s 5 Books Against Marcion

194

207/8

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

patched together Gal 3:15 & 4:3

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

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

W

W

J

W

J

W

Q

W

S

W

W

S

W

W

W

W

W

Q

½

-

A

-

Q

W

W

-

-

W

W

X Gospel of the Egyptians,

X Gospel of Thomas, X others

Maximin Thrax persecutes Christians

 

235-238

First empire-wide persecution, but only of clergy. Persecution stopped when his soldiers assassinated him.

 

Instructions of Commodianus & Julius Africanus

25

232-245

-

-

W

A

W

-

-

P

a

u

l

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

622

225-254

W

4G

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

Q

W

?

W

-

-

W

W

Hermas (disputed), Acts of Paul inferior to John’s gospel

Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

 

250-251 - 253

First Christian schism. Were Christians who sacrificed but repented eventually allowed back, or doomed forever (Novatian)?

 

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38 ½

250/254-257

W

W

J

-

W

W

¾

W

W

W

W

W

S

S

-

-

W

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

-

-

J

-

J

W

-

Q

Q

-

-

S

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

½

-

-

Q

-

-

-

W

-

Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

W

-

-

W

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

X book Preaching of Paul

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

255 ½

c.246-258

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

A

-

W

W

W

W

-

-

W

-

From Roman to Carthaginian Clergy (letter 2)

1

250-251

-

-

-

-

-

J

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25)

2 ½

250

-

-

J

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

Cornelius to Cyprian (letters 45,47)

1 ¼

c.246-256

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Firmilian of Caesarea to Cyprian (74)

7 ¼

254-257

-

-

J

½

J

J

-

Q

S

S

W

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

Seventh Council of Carthage (85 bishops)

7 ¼

258

-

-

Q

-

-

J 

-

S

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

Valerian persecutes Christians

 

257-260

2nd most severe persecution. Tolerant at first until Macrianus influenced him. Stopped when captured by Persian Shapur II.

 

Theognostus of Alexandria (Origenist)

½

260

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gregory Thaumaturgus (undisputed works)

28 ½

240-265

-

-

J

Q

Q

-

-

-

S

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39 ½

246-265

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

S

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Q

-

-

W

W

W

-

*

-

Dionysius of Rome, Malchion & Pierius

1+3

259-275

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Aurelian Persecution

 

270

At first tolerant, Aurelian died soon after he decided to persecute Christians.

 

Archelaus (against Manichaeans)

58 ¾

262-278

W

W

J

½

J

Q

-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

Q

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Theonas of Alexandria (Letter to Lucianus)

3

282-300

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Arnobius Against the Heathen

126 ½

297-303

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Victorinus of Petau, Austria (OT commentator)

18 ½

martyred 304

W

4G

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Phileas of Thmuis and Pamphilus

5 ¼  

-309

-

-

-

-

W

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

Most severe persecution was by Diocletian

 

284, 303-305

Most severe Roman persecution of all. Leveled churches, destroyed scriptures. Killed many Christians for not sacrificing.

 

Peter of Alexandria (undisputed)

8 ½

306,285-311

-

-

J

-

-

W

½

½

-

A

-

Q

W

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

Methodius (corrected Origen’s followers)

86 ½

260-312

-

W

J

½

Q

Q

Q

S

W

S

W

W

½

A

W

-

Q

-

A

-

A

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

Alexander of Alexandria (Origenist, undisputed)

12

313-326

-

-

J

-

J

W

-

W

W

Q

W

-

-

W

-

-

W

½

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

Licinius persecutes Christians in the east

 

315-323

At least one of Licinius’ motives was hatred of Constantine.

 

Lactantius, tutor of Constantine’s son

305 ½

315-325/330

W

-

Q

A

Q

W

A

A

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

½

-

-

-

W

-

Council of Neocaesarea (Basil and others)

1 1/3

c.315

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total references up to 325 A.D.

3998.2

- 325

15

18

42

27

28

31

24

25

27

19

19

20

17

17

14

9

22

10

14

1

16

11

17

9

20

8

1

6

19

+ = 6; disputed = 3; X = 6

Writer

Pages

Date A.D.

NT

Gspl

Mt

Mk

Lk

Jn

Ac

Rm

1C

2C

Ga

Ep

Pp

Cl

1Th

2Th

1T

2T

Tt

P

He

Jm

1P

2P

1J

2J

3J

Jd

Re

+ reference to other books

www.Biblequery.org/Bible/BibleCanon/EarlyChristianNTGrid.htm. References at www.Biblequery.org/Bible/bibleCanon/EarlyChristianNTGridReferences.htm