How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the Old Testament? – February 2010 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

before 68

-

-

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

Dead Sea Scrolls of Genesis 1Q1, 2Q1, 4Q1, 4Q2, 4Q3, 4Q4, 4Q5, 4Q6, 4Q7, 4Q8a, 4Q8b, 4Q8c, 4Q9, 4Q10, 4Q11, 4Q12, 6Q1, 8Q1

before 68

-

-

Q

Q

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 persecutions

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 (short version)

13

c.100-117

-

W

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

G

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ignatius disciple of John (short 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 12 Apostles)

4 ¾

before 125

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Didache (=Teaching of 12 Apostles)

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125or138-161

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

Quadratus of Athens fragment

1/8

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quadratus of Athens fragment

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

G

G

-

G

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, John’s disciple

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

½

-150

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

“Presbyters” (Papias?)

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

 

135

Christians persecuted in Israel because Christians would not join Bar Cochba’s revolt.

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

Total Apostolic Fathers to 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

0

1

2

Total Apostolic Fathers, to 150 A.D.

Justin Martyr, philosopher, 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, 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 widespread

Tatian, pupil of Justin, later Encratite

18+86

Died 172

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

½

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian, pupil of Justin, later Encratite

Dionysius of Corinth (against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Corinth

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodec.)

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 (Quartodec.)

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

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

S

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

½

177, 160-180

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

Rhodon (against Marcion & Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rhodon (against Marcion & 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) Clementina, Protoevangelium

265 ½

- 188 -

-

W

Q

W

½

W

W

S

A

-

-

-

A

-

-

A

-

-

-

-

S

A

A

-

S

S

W

A

A

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

Irenaeus of Lyons, Polycarp’s disciple

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, Polycarp’s disciple

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

Maximus of Jerusalem

5

185-196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-