JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

Although not all the writings of the New Testament contain similar allusions to
possessing the authority of Scripture, they all do possess characteristics that are selfauthenticating.
The gospels, for instance, when compared to the apocryphal books, show a
sobriety in their treatment of the miracles of Jesus (i.e. stories of the miracles Jesus is said to
have performed as a child) that makes their claim to canonicity all the stronger.
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External Testimony
It is generally believed that the earliest document which quotes any of the books of the
New Testament was I Clement, which was itself considered canonical by some Christians. This
was found in Codex Alexandrinus which was written from Rome to the church in Corinth around
A.D. 95. Clear allusions are made in this document to the Gospel of Matthew, Romans,
1 Corinthians, and Hebrews.65
The evidence is strong that Ignatius of Syrian Antioch (A.D. 116) knew all of Paul's
epistles. He quoted Matthew and also possibly made allusion to John.
The Didache (The Teaching) which was produced during the first half of the second
century appealed to both Matthew and Luke as well as many other New Testament books.
The Epistle of Barnabas (A.D. 130) quoted Matthew and used the formal phrase, "it is
written" to introduce quotations from the book.
Papias, bishop of Hierapolis (A.D. 130), in reference to the canonical books expresses his
preference for the living "word of the Lord." In reference to other books he said, "For I supposed
that things out of books did not profit me so much as the utterance of a voice which liveth and
abideth."66
The Shepherd of Hermas (A.D. 140) is an early allegory which alludes to the book of
James.
Polycarp of Smyrna (A.D. 150) also showed familiarity with Matthew, Acts and Paul's
epistles and quoted from 1 Peter and 1 John.
Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165), a Syrian Greek who had been a philosopher, made
references to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and many of the Pauline epistles. He stated that
the "Memoirs of the Apostles," what we now call "the Gospels" were read every Sunday in
the worship of the church along with the Hebrew Scriptures. Martyr's pupil, Tatian, composed
the first "harmony of the Gospels," called The Diatessaron. This book became a standard work
used by the early church for many years.67