Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2009
Our earliest undisputed authority for the authorship of each of the four Gospels is Irenaeus (III, I, I). ‘Matthew (cf. Matthaeus enim apostolus, Iren. III, 9, I) published a gospel in writing also among the Hebrews in their own tongue, while Peter and Paul were preaching the Gospel and founding the church in Rome. But after their departure (death?) Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter (cf. Marcus interpres et sectator Petri, Iren. III, 10, 6) — he also transmitted to us in writing the things which Peter used to preach.
1 Eus. H.E. III, 39, I; V, 8, 9.Google Scholar
2 Eus. H.E. IV, 18, 6.Google Scholar
1 Cf. Lagrange, La critique textuelle du N.T.Google Scholar
1 With the possible exception of the so-called ‘Gospel of Peter’.Google Scholar
2 Cf. Iren. I, 13, I on the Marcosian sect.Google Scholar
1 Cf. James. The Apocryphal N.T., pp. 1–8.Google Scholar
1 Irenaeus seems to confuse or to conjoin the First and Second Epistles of John.Google Scholar
2 έν πρώτη ήμών ήλικία (Eus. H.E. v, 20, 6).Google Scholar