Category:Papias (subject)
Papias was a second-century Christian leader.
Overview
Irenaeus states that Papias was "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time" (Adversus Haereses V 33.4). Eusebius calls him the Bishop of Hierapolis [modern Pamukkale, Turkey] (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. iii 36).
Only fragments of his works survive.
Fragments of Papias
Papias on Judas Iscariot (as quoted by Apollinaris of Laodicea) -- Judas walked about in this world a sad example of impiety; for his body having swollen to such an extent that he could not pass where a chariot could pass easily, he was crushed by the chariot, so that his bowels gushed out.
Papias on the disciples and the elders (as quoted by Eusebius) -- But I shall not be unwilling to put down, along with my interpretations, whatsoever instructions I received with care at any time from the elders, and stored up with care in my memory, assuring you at the same time of their truth. For I did not, like the multitude, take pleasure in those who spoke much, but in those who taught the truth; nor in those who related strange commandments, but in those who rehearsed the commandments given by the Lord to faith, and proceeding from truth itself. If, then, any one who had attended on the elders came, I asked minutely after their sayings,—what Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip, or by Thomas, or by James, or by John, or by Matthew, or by any other of the Lord’s disciples: which things Aristion and the presbyter John, the disciples of the Lord, say. For I imagined that what was to be got from books was not so profitable to me as what came from the living and abiding voice (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. iii. 39).
Papias on Mark and Matthew (as quoted by Eusebius) -- Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord's sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements... Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., iii. 39).
External links
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