Aristo of Pella, Dionysius of Corinth, Miltiades, Maximus, Pinytus, Dialogue between Jason and Papiscus, Modestas, Musanus, 66 164 170 66 Florinus, Blastus, Epistle of Churches of Vienne and Lyons, 177 Melito of Sardis, Athenagoras, Claudius Apollinaris, 46 Serapion, Bishop of Antioch, Maximilla, Muratorian Fragment, Theodotus, of Byzantium, 192 Rhodon, Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem, 195 Palmas, Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Noetus, [Note. THE EPISTLES OF PAUL.-We have taken as genuine the ten epistles which constituted the Apostolicon of Marcion. The same course has been adopted by Dr. Davidson, except that he rejects, upon what appear insufficient grounds, the Epistle to the Ephesians.] THE GOSPEL OF PAUL-GOSPEL OR RECOLLECTIONS OF PETER REFERENCES AND CITATIONS BY THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH-VIEWS OF MODERN Writers-ORACLES OR SAYINGS OF CHRIST, ATTRIBUTED TO MATTHEW-THESE THE GERMS OF THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS, LUKE, MARK AND MAT THEW. This is an attempt to write a history of the Christian religion during the first two centuries. Not a history of Christianity, which would require us to follow the principles of that religion, in their dissemination through various countries, and in their influence upon other institutions. Nor yet a history of the church; which would make it necessary to examine questions of ecclesiastical polity, to trace the rise and progress of different forms of church government, and to notice the manners and customs of the early Christians and their treatment by the civil magistrates. These are touched upon only in their bearing upon the main object of the inquiry; which is, an examination into the principal doctrines distinctive of the Christian religion, so far as they were known and taught in the first two centuries; also the principal traditions and books by which those doctrines were disseminated. The difficulty of the undertaking is great. The gospels of the first century are unfortunately lost. There are left, of that century, only the epistles of Paul, the one epistle of Clement of Rome, some slight notices by Jewish and heathen writers, and the few legends and traditions preserved in the writings of the fathers, and in the extant second century gospels. And when we enter upon the next century, though there is more remaining than of the first, still, the great body of the Christian literature of that age also, has been lost or destroyed. Availing himself of what remains, the author will, though conscious of the magnitude of the task, enter upon it at least with fidelity to the truth, as he understands it. The time will be divided into six periods, to be designated as follows: FIRST PERIOD... Apostolic Age... SECOND PERIOD... Apostolic Fathers...... FOURTH PERIOD.. Forty Years of Christian 66 A.D. 30 to A.D. 80. 66 80" "120. 120 " 130. FIRST PERIOD. LOST GOSPELS OF THE FIRST CENTURY. When Christianity had become partially established by the teaching of Christ and the preaching of his apostles and disciples, there arose among the Christians of the various churches a necessity, and hence a demand, for some written testimonies or records of the life and doctrines of their great master. But this need was not so apparent or pressing in the first century, and especially during the lifetime of those who had been with Jesus, and had been his followers and companions. Of the numerous gospels which were in circulation in the second century, not more than three can with any certainty, or with any high degree of probability, be traced back to the times of the apostles. These are the Gospel of Paul, the Gospel or Recollections of Peter, and the Oracles or Sayings of Christ, attributed to Matthew. THE GOSPEL OF PAUL. Ewald, one of the best of the German critics, concludes that there was a Gospel of Paul; thinks it was in the Greek language, and that it may have been written by the evangelist Philip.' It may be inferred that it afterward became incorporated into the Gospel of Marcion (A. D. 145), since Marcion was a follower of Paul, and for his own gospel claimed the sanction of that apostle.2 Marcion was a native of Sinope, a town of Asia (1.) Jahrbuecher, 1848, 1849. (2.) See Fabricius, Codex Apocryphus, Hamb. 1703, vol. 1, p. 372. Also History of the Canon, by Westcott, 3d ed. Lond. 1870, p. 282. 3 |