to suit the heresy of Marcion, and several The Evangelization Station The Muratorian others, which cannot be received into the Hudson, Florida USA Church; for it is not fitting that E-mail: [email protected] Canon gall be mixed with honey. www.evangelizationstation.com (about A.D. 170)

The of Jude no doubt, and the Also called the Muratorian Fragment, after couple bearing the name of John, are Pamphlet 221 the name of the discoverer and first editor, accepted in the Catholic Church; and the L. A. Muratori (in the "Antiquitates Wisdom written by the friends of italicae", III, Milan, 1740, 851 sq.), the in his honour. oldest known canon or list of books of the . The manuscript containing The Apocalypse also of John, and of the canon originally belonged to Bobbio and Peter only we receive, which some of our is now in the Bibliotheca Ambrosiana at friends will not have read in the Church. Milan (Cod. J 101 sup.). Written in the But the Shepherd was written quite lately eighth century, it plainly shows the in our times in the city of Rome by uncultured Latin of that time. The fragment Hermas, while his brother Pius, the is of the highest importance for the history bishop, was sitting in the chair of the of the . It was written in church of the city of Rome; and therefore Rome itself or in its environs about 170; it ought indeed to be read, but it cannot to probably the original was in Greek, from the end of time be publicly read in the which it was translated into Latin. This Latin Church to the people, either among the text is preserved solely in the manuscript of prophets, who are complete in number, or the Ambrosiana. A few sentences of the among the Apostles. Muratorian Canon are preserved in some other manuscripts, especially in codices of But of Arsinous, called also Valentinus, St. Paul's in Monte Cassino. The or of Miltiades we receive nothing at all; canon consists of no mere list of the those who have also composed a new Scriptures, but of a survey, which supplies at book of for Marcion, together the same time historical and other with Basileides and the Asian founder of information regarding each book. The the Cataphrygians are rejected. beginning is missing; the preserved text Translation from Official Church begins with the last line concerning the Teachimgs, Biblical Interpretation, second and the notices, preserved McGrath Publishing Co. 1978. entire, concerning the third and fourth . Then there are mentioned: The Acts, St. Paul's Epistles (including those to Philemon, Titus and Timothy; the spurious ones to the Laodiceans and Alexandrians are rejected); furthermore, the Epistle of St. John, one of the disciples. When exhorted journey to Spain. Jude and two Epistles of St. John; among the by his fellow-disciples and bishops, he Scriptures which "in catholica habentur", are said, 'Fast with me this day for three days; The Epistles, however, of Paul cited the "Sapientia ab amicis Salomonis in and what may be revealed to any of us, let themselves make plain to those who wish honorem ipsius scripta", as well as the us relate it to one another.' The same night to understand it, what epistles were sent Apocalypses of St. John and St. Peter, but it was revealed to Andrew, one of the by him, and from what place or for what with the remark that some will not allow the apostles, that John was to write all things cause. He wrote at some length first of all latter to be read in the church. Then mention in his own name, and they were all to to the Corinthians, forbidding the schisms is made of the Pastor of Hermas, which may certify. of heresy; next to the Galatians, be read anywhere but not in the divine forbidding circumcision; then he wrote to service; and, finally, there are rejected false And therefore, though various ideas are the Romans at greater length, impressing Scriptures, which were used by heretics. In taught in the several books of the Gospels, on them the rule of the Scriptures, and consequence of the barbarous Latin there is yet it makes no difference to the faith of also that Christ is the first principle of no complete understanding of the correct believers, since by one sovereign Spirit all them, concerning which severally it is not meaning of some of the sentences. As to the things are declared in all of them necessary for us to discuss. For the author, many conjectures were made concerning the Nativity, the Passion, the blessed Apostle Paul himself, following (Papias, , of Rome, Resurrection, the conversation wi th his the rule of his predecessor John, writes Hippolytus of Rome, Rhodon, Melito of disciples and his two comings, the first in only by name to seven churches in the Sardis were proposed); but no well founded lowliness and contempt, which has come following order-to the Corinthians a first, hypothesis has been adduced up to the to pass, the second glorious with royal to the Ephesians a second, to the present. power, which is to come. Philippians a third, to the Colossians a fourth, to the Galatians a fifth, to the The Muratorian Fragment c. 170 A.D . What marvel therefore if John so firmly Thessalonians a sixth, to the Romans a sets forth each statement in his Epistles seventh; although for the sake of . . . but at some he was present, and so he too, saying of himself, "What we have admonition there is a second to the set them down [referring to Mark] . seen with our eyes and heard with our Corinthians and to the Thessalonians, yet ears and our hands have handled, these one Church is recognized as being spread The third book of the Gospel, that things we have written to you"? For so he over the entire world. For John too in the according to Luke, 11 was compiled in his declares himself not an eyewitness and a Apocalypse, though he writes to seven own name on Paul's authority by hearer only, but a writer of all the churches, yet speaks to all. Howbeit to marvels of the Lord in order. Philemon one, to Titus one, and to Luke the physician, when after Christ's Timothy two were put in writing from ascension Paul had taken him to be with The Acts, however, of all the Apostles personal inclination and attachment, to be him like a legal expert. Yet neither did he are written in one book. Luke, to the most in honour however with the Catholic see the Lord in the flesh; and he too, as he excellent Theophilus, includes events Church for the ordering of ecclesiastical was able to ascertain events, begins his because they were done in his own discipline. There is in circulation also one story from the birth of John. presence, as he also plainly shows by to the Laodicenes, another to the leaving out the passion of Peter, and also Alexandrians, both forged in Paul's name The fourth of the Gospels was written by the departure of Paul from the City on his