The Fragments of St. Papias
St. Papias lived sometime around the mid-60's AD until the mid 100's - perhaps 65-155 AD, or thereabouts. He was the Bishop of Hierapolis - not too far from the churches of Laodicea and Colossae - and one of the Apostolic Fathers. St. Irenaeus called him "the hearer of John, and a companion of Polycarp," and said that "there were five books compiled by him." (Against Heresies, Book V, cap. 33, 4)
Eusebius also gives witness, saying, "There are extant five books of Papias, which bear the title Expositions of Oracles of the Lord." (The Church History of Eusebius, Book III, cap. 39, 1)
Unfortunately, we no longer have these five books, excepting a few fragments that have been preserved, mostly by other writers.
Nonetheless, these fragments are certainly interesting, having come from an Apostolic Father who was so near to the actual Apostles. Regarding his own love for the traditions of the Faith, he writes, "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 ... 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." (Fragments, 1)
Of the initial hierarchical arrangement of creation, he says, "To some of them [angels] He gave dominion over the arrangement of the world, and He commissioned them to exercise their dominion well ... but it happened that their arrangement came to nothing." (Fragments, 7) A commentator says that St. Papias is referring here to the fall of the angels; thus, "that their arrangement came to nothing" would be interpreted to be a reference to the revolt of Lucifer and his angels.
Regarding the brothers of Jesus, he says, "Mary the mother of the Lord; Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alphæus, who was the mother of James the bishop and apostle, and of Simon and Thaddeus, and of one Joseph; Mary Salome, wife of Zebedee, mother of John the evangelist and James; Mary Magdalene. These four are found in the Gospel. James and Judas and Joseph were sons of an aunt of the Lord’s. James also and John were sons of another aunt of the Lord’s." (Fragments, 10)
Eusebius quotes him with regard to the Gospel of St. Mark: "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 put anything fictitious into the statements." (Fragments, 6)
And again, Eusebius quotes him as giving testimony to the Gospel of St. Matthew: "Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could." (Fragments, 6)
Eusebius also gives witness, saying, "There are extant five books of Papias, which bear the title Expositions of Oracles of the Lord." (The Church History of Eusebius, Book III, cap. 39, 1)
Unfortunately, we no longer have these five books, excepting a few fragments that have been preserved, mostly by other writers.
Nonetheless, these fragments are certainly interesting, having come from an Apostolic Father who was so near to the actual Apostles. Regarding his own love for the traditions of the Faith, he writes, "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 ... 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." (Fragments, 1)
Of the initial hierarchical arrangement of creation, he says, "To some of them [angels] He gave dominion over the arrangement of the world, and He commissioned them to exercise their dominion well ... but it happened that their arrangement came to nothing." (Fragments, 7) A commentator says that St. Papias is referring here to the fall of the angels; thus, "that their arrangement came to nothing" would be interpreted to be a reference to the revolt of Lucifer and his angels.
Regarding the brothers of Jesus, he says, "Mary the mother of the Lord; Mary the wife of Cleophas or Alphæus, who was the mother of James the bishop and apostle, and of Simon and Thaddeus, and of one Joseph; Mary Salome, wife of Zebedee, mother of John the evangelist and James; Mary Magdalene. These four are found in the Gospel. James and Judas and Joseph were sons of an aunt of the Lord’s. James also and John were sons of another aunt of the Lord’s." (Fragments, 10)
Eusebius quotes him with regard to the Gospel of St. Mark: "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 put anything fictitious into the statements." (Fragments, 6)
And again, Eusebius quotes him as giving testimony to the Gospel of St. Matthew: "Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could." (Fragments, 6)
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