Papias seemingly was a true Christian. Papias was the bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor. Papias, bishop of Heirapolis, who was earwitness of the theologian John, and companion of Polycarp, wrote five volumes of the lordly oracles, in which, making an enumeration of the apostles, after Peter and John, Philip and Thomas and Matthew, to the disciples of the Lord he wrote up Aristion and another John, whom he also called elder, so that some suppose that of {this} John are the two short and catholic … Seeing this review reminded me of one of the key debates in discussions of the emerging New Testament canon, namely whether Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis in the early second century, knew the apostle John. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that Papias was, Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossae in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenaeus "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time". Updates? He wrote a work in five books, logion kyriakon exegesis, of which all but some fragments is lost. He was active in the second century, although he was born in the first. critically records that Papias derived his material not only from John the Evangelist but also from John the Presbyter, through whose influence he had infected early patristic theologians with a false Judeo-Greek millenarianism, the apocalyptic teaching that Christ would reappear to transform the world into a 1,000-year era of universal peace, and had implicated Christ in fantastic parables. According to the 2nd-century theologian Irenaeus, Papias had known the Apostle John. 163. Papias (Greek: Παπίας) was an Apostolic Father, Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), and author who lived circa 70–163 AD.It was Papias who wrote the Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord (Greek: Λογίων Κυριακῶν Ἐξήγησις) in five books.. This page was last edited on October 21, 2020, at 21:41. He wrote the Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord in five books. haer. See all books authored by Papias of Hierapolis, including 06. [] No fact save his episcopacy is definitely known about him, yet he is of great interest from his relation to the apostolic age. Papias of Hierapolis and Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, his hearers, became well known. Papias has the credit of association with Polycarp, in the friendship of St. John himself, and of “others who had seen the Lord.” He is said to have been bishop of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, and to have died about the same time that Polycarp suffered; but even this is questioned. [] No fact save his episcopacy is definitely known about him, yet he is of great interest from his relation to the apostolic age. This work is lost but survives in fragments quoted by Irenaeus of Lyons (d. 202) and Eusebius of Caesarea (d. 339). By COGwriter . Synopsis. This is a key question simply because Papias provides one of the earliest explicit references to the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Eusebius calls him "bishop" of Hierapolis, but whether with good ground is uncertain. He wrote a work in five books, logion kyriakon exegesis, of which all but some fragments is lost. Little is known of his life. Papias (Greek: Παπίας), Bishop of Hierapolis[1] (modern Pamukkale, Turkey[2]), A.D. 70–155, was a 2nd century bishop of the early Church, who published an "Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord"[3] (Greek κυριακῶν λογίων ἐξηγήσις — Kyriakôn logiôn exêgêsis) in five volumes. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossæ in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenæus "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time". Papias’ interpretation of the Gospels was used by Eastern and Western Christian theologians down to the early 4th century. “Of Papias’s life nothing is known.” Regarding the bishop of Hierapolis, the Catholic Encyclopedia (“St. His work Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord, known only from quotations in Irenaeus and Eusebius, contained oral traditions and legends. [The early Christians] called those who practised a godly guilelessness, children, [as is stated by Papias in the first book of the Lord's Expositions, and by Clemens Alexandrinus in his Pædagogue.] He wrote a work in five books, logion kyriakon exegesis, of which all but some fragments is lost. Papias, bishop of the church in Hierapolis and a contemporary of Polycarp of Smyrna—both of whom were said to have known John, the author of Revelation—propagated an eschatological view similar to modern premillennialism in which Jesus would return for a thousand-year kingdom on earth. When he was born is uncertain, but it was probably after 70 C.E. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He wrote a work in five books, logion kyriakon exegesis, of which all but some fragments is lost. Eusebius suggests that he wrote "as early as 110 and probably no later than the early 130s, with several scholars opting for the earlier end of the spectrum". A third tradition: Papias of Hierapolis. Eusebius speaks of Papias as a man most learned in all things, and well acquainted with the Scriptures. Papias, (flourished 2nd century), bishop of Hierapolis, Phrygia (now in Turkey), whose work “Explanation of the Sayings of the Lord,” although extant only in fragments, provides important apostolic oral source accounts of the history of primitive Christianity and of the origins of the Gospels. Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, a noted Christian writer and prelate of the patristic period, is one of the most important witnesses to the authenticity of John's Gospel. But first, who is Papias of Hierapolis? Most of the work is lost apart from the following exerpts of Irenaeus of Lyons who penned them around 180 AD. Papias was an Apostolic Father and Bishop of Hierapolis (Pamukkale, Turkey). 163. Papias flourished in the 2d century, and finally suffered martyrdom. Little is known about him beyond the fragments of his own writings and the statements of St. Irenaeus that he was a companion of St. Polycarp and "a man of long ago." Bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia, Asia Minor. Little is known of his life. Papias Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossae in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenaeus "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time". While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Papias was the bishop of Hierapolis in modern Pamukkale, Turkey, about 22 km from Laodicea, also near Colossae, in the Lycus river valley. 5.33.4). This Papias is described by Irenaeus of Lyons as “the hearer of John, and a companion of Polycarp”. This page has been accessed 17,313 times. It is recorded for us by an early follower of Christianity, Papias bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia (part of what is now Turkey). There are extant five books of Papias, which bear the title Expositions of Oracles of the Lord. he was, according to Irenæus (Adv. He was twenty years old when the apostle Philip was mar- tyred (#62), and he possibly witnessed the event. FAQs. Papias himself preferred "the living voice" to what could be found in books. 664 likes. Nevertheless, Papias seems to have known the Gospels, and he provides the earliest tradition … Christian bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor. Unlike other fathers, we only have short fragments of his works quoted by later authors. Looking for books by Papias of Hierapolis? No known fact is inconsistent with c. 60-135 as the period of Papias's life. Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossæ in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenæus "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time". Papias flourished in the 2d century, and finally suffered martyrdom. This Papias is described by Irenaeus of Lyons as “the hearer of John, and a companion of Polycarp”. Papias (Greek: Παπίας), Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), A.D. 70–155, was a 2nd century bishop of the early Church, who published an "Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord" (Greek κυριακῶν λογίων ἐξηγήσις — Kyriakôn logiôn exêgêsis) in five volumes. Seeing this review reminded me of one of the key debates in discussions of the emerging New Testament canon, namely whether Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis in the early second century, knew the apostle John. Pamukkale is 22km from Laodicea and near Colossae (see Col. 4:13), in the Lycus river valley in Phrygia, Asia Minor and is not to be confused with Hierapolis of Syria. Corrections? Most of the work is lost apart from the following exerpts of Irenaeus of Lyons who penned them around 180 AD. Answer: Little is known about the life and death of Papias (c. AD 60–130) other than he was the bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor (now modern Turkey), and he recorded details regarding Jesus and the apostles in five books entitled Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord. In another passage he describes him as of small capacity. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Synopsis. English translations of the surviving fragments of his writings can be found in links at the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Papias (c. 60–130 CE). Papias (Greek: Παπίας) (working in the first half of the 2nd century) was one of the early leaders of the Christian church, canonized as a saint. Papias of Hierapolis (Phrygia), c. 125. His interpretations would have been a prime early authority in the exegesis of the sayings of Jesus, some of which are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, however the book has not survived and is known only through fragments quoted by later writers; Irenaeus of Lyons's (d. 202) Against Heresies and later by Eusebius of Caesarea (d. 339) in Ecclesiastical History, the earliest surviving history of the early Church. He was likely brought to faith by the ministry of Paul and Epaphras and numberd among “those” in Hierapolis as noted in today’s Scripture. Papias of Hierapolis heard the apostle John preach and knew Christians who knew the apostles. Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, a noted Christian writer and prelate of the patristic period, is one of the most important witnesses to the authenticity of John's Gospel. English translations of the surviving fragments of his writings can be found in links at the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Papias may be one of the most important church fathers that you have never heard of. Papias attests the role that oral tradition continued to play in the first half of the second century. It was Papias who wrote the Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord (Greek: Λογίων Κυριακῶν Ἐξήγησις) in five books. (Adversus Haereses V 33.4) If Polycarp was in fact born not later than AD 69, then there may be no reason to depend on a further, but disputed tradition, that Papias shared in the martyrdom of Polycarp (ca AD 155). Papias has the credit of association with Polycarp, in the friendship of St. John himself, and of “others who had seen the Lord.” He is said to have been bishop of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, and to have died about the same time that Polycarp suffered; but even this is questioned. Other writers tell us that he personally knew the Apostle John. p. 301). The Didache: The Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistles and the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, The Fragments of Papias, The Epistle to Diognetus, and The Apostolic Fathers, Vol. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Papias. This is a key question simply because Papias provides one of the earliest explicit references to the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Papias was born in Hierapolis around 60. Information on Papias is supplied by eusebius of caesarea (Hist. Papias Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossae in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenaeus "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time". http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.vii.html, https://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Papias_of_Hierapolis&oldid=128752. Papias, Saint, Bishop of Hierapolis (close to Laodicea and Colossae in the valley of the Lycus in Phrygia) and Apostolic Father, called by St. Irenaeus “a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time”. Papias, (flourished 2nd century), bishop of Hierapolis, Phrygia (now in Turkey), whose work “Explanation of the Sayings of the Lord,” although extant only in fragments, provides important apostolic oral source accounts of the history of primitive Christianity and of the origins of the Gospels. 1. His interpretations would have been a prime early autho… It should be noted that, though he was probably writing as an old man in Hierapolis, the enquiries he made took place a long time beforehand, and some of his eyewitnesses could well have met Jesus or the Apostles, or both. Papias of Hierapolis: Collection of Writings. Papias attests the role that oral tradition continued to play in the first half of the second century. (Note: There was a Papirius of Smyrna who is not the same person.) PAPIAS OF HIERAPOLIS Bishop and chronicler of primitive Christianity; b. c. a.d. 60 or 70; d. c. 125. He wrote the Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord in five books. Eusebius’ antipathy to Papias consequently led him to edit severely the latter’s text and preserve only short excerpts. Fragment 15 (Preserved in Jerome’s Illustrious Men 18) 1 Papias, a hearer of John, (and) bishop of Hierapolis in Asia, wrote only five books, which he entitled An Exposition of Discourses of the Lord. and well before the turn of … One of these fragments, quoted by Eusebius in his History of the Church (Book III, chapter 39), reads: There is a statement by Irenaeus that Papias was "a hearer of John, and companion of Polycarp, a man of old time." Some information that some have attributed to Papias is false. Papias (Greek: Παπίας) was a Greek Apostolic Father, Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), and author who lived c. 60 – c. 130 AD. We have, however, a third tradition respecting Judas’ death. He wrote extensively about the Christian Oral Tradition. Carlson examines the use of the phrase ‘living and lasting voice’ by Papias of Hierapolis, contending against scholarly critique of this early second-century bishop as anti-intellectual. he was, according to Irenæus (Adv. In another passage he describes him as of small capacity. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Lightfoot says (Coloss. Papias was an Apostolic Father and Bishop of Hierapolis (Pamukkale, Turkey). He was twenty years old when the apostle Philip was mar- tyred (#62), and he possibly witnessed the event. Eccl. p. 48), "Papias, or (as it is very frequently written in inscriptions) Pappias, is a common Phrygian name. This location should not be confused with the Hierapolis of Syria. It is recorded for us by an early follower of Christianity, Papias bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia (part of what is now Turkey). Papias was a disciple of the apostle John, and a ministry colleague of bishop Ignatius of Antioch, bishop Polycarp, and Irenaeus of Smyrna. ), but even on coins (Mionnet, iv. PAPIAS, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phyrgia.He was born probably between 70 and 75 A.D., and died, perhaps, A.D. Papias”) says, “Of Papias’s life nothing is known.” In other words, we do not even know who this person is whom Eusebius is allegedly quoting regarding these purported earlier texts. It is possible that Irenaeus thought of Papias as Polycarp's contemporary and "a man of the old time," together with the affinity between the religious tendencies described in the fragment from Papias's Preface quoted by Eusebius and those reflected in the Epistles of Ignatius and of Polycarp, all point to his having flourished in the first quarter of the 2nd century. Eusebius of Caesarea calls him "Bishop of Hierapolis" (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), which is 22 km from Laodicea and near Colossae (see Col. 4:12-13), in the Lycus river valley in Phrygia, Asia Minor, not to be confused with the Hierapolis of Syria.. 2.15.2, 3.39.13) and irenaeus of lyons (Adv. Papias (Greek: Παπίας) was an Apostolic Father, Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), and author who lived circa 70–163 AD. We have, however, a third tradition respecting Judas’ death. Eusebius speaks of Papias as a man most learned in all things, and well acquainted with the Scriptures. Papias”) says, “Of Papias’s life nothing is known.” In other words, we do not even know who this person is whom Eusebius is allegedly quoting regarding these purported earlier texts. In the first half of the second century, Papias, an obscure bishop of Hierapolis, wrote a five volume treatise called An Exposition of the Lord's Oracles.Although this work is now lost, isolated fragments have been preserved in quotations and references by Irenaeus (c. 185), Eusebius (c. 300), and others. He wrote a work in five books, Greek: logion, kuriakon eksegesis, of which all but some fragments is lost. A third tradition: Papias of Hierapolis. Irenæus makes mention of these as the only works written by him, in the following words: "These things are attested by Papias, an ancient man who was a hearer of John and … In this putative capacity as bishop, Papias was supposedly succeeded by Abercius of Hieropolis. Λογίων Κυριακῶν Ἐξήγησις ) in five books, logion kyriakon exegesis, of which all some... Us know if you have any questions is known. ” Regarding the Bishop of Hierapolis in Phyrgia.He born! 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