THE FRAGMENTS OF PAPIAS

THE following extracts contain not only the fragments of Papias’ writings which survive, but also the scanty notices of his life and theological opinions which have come down to us. As therefore all the facts about him are placed before the reader herewith, it will only be necessary to add that Papias was born probably between A.D. 60–70, and published his Exposition of Oracles of the Lord late in life (c. A.D. 130–140). For a full account of the man, and of his evidence to the Canon of the New Testament, the reader is referred to Dr Lightfoot’s Essays on the Work entitled Supernatural Religion, pp. 142–216 (Macmillan and Co. 1889). Reasons are there given (p. 194 sq.) for assigning to Papias the two anonymous fragments quoted by Irenaeus, which appear below (pp. 548, 549) among the Reliques of the Elders (Nos. XIII, XVII).

For convenience of reference the actual quotations from Papias are given in larger type than the introductory matter and personal notices.