Muratorian Fragment (complete)
Latin text: Tregelles 1867 (Latin text: digitized by Open Greek and Latin, University of Leipzig (csel-dev), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 1
1Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 1–10
quibus tamen Interfuit et ita posuit TERTIO EUANGELII LIBRUM SECGNDO Lucan Lucas Iste medicus post acensum xr. Cum eo Paulus quasi ut iuris studiosum. Secundum adsumsisset numeni suo ex opinione concriset dnm tamen nec Ipse duidit in carne et ide pro asequi potuit: Ita et ad natiuitate Iohannis incipet dicere. QUARTI EUANGELIORUM IoHANNIS EX DECIPOLIS cohortantibus condescipulis et eps suis
… at which, however, he was present, and so he set them down. The third book of the Gospel: according to Luke. Luke, that physician, after the ascension of Christ, when Paul had taken him with him as one devoted to the law(?), wrote it in his own name from report. Yet neither did he himself see the Lord in the flesh; and therefore, as far as he could ascertain [the events], so he begins to tell the story from the birth of John. The fourth of the Gospels: that of John, one of the disciples. When his fellow disciples and bishops urged him,
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Luke 1:5 (allusion, high confidence) · Col 4:14 (allusion, medium confidence) · Luke 1:2 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The fragment begins at the end of its account of Mark, then says that Luke the physician, Paul's companion, wrote the third Gospel from report, beginning with John's birth, and introduces John's Gospel.
- The fragment's opening words probably end its account of Mark, whose beginning is lost. The Latin of the only manuscript is very corrupt; the translation follows what it says, and the usual emended sense is given here without changing the text. “As one devoted to the law” renders “quasi ut iuris studiosum” as written; many emend to “itineris” (“as a companion of his travels”). “In his own name” renders “numeni suo” (nomine suo); “wrote” renders “concriset” (conscripsit); “as far as he could ascertain” renders “ide pro asequi potuit” (ideo prout assequi potuit). The first line of the fragment has “SECGNDO” for “secundum.”
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 1 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 1–10; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 11
11Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 11–20
dixit conieiunate mihi: odie triduo et quid cuique fuerit reuelatum alterutrum nobis ennarremus eadem nocte reue latum andreae ex apostolis ut recognis centibus cuntis Iohannis suo nomine cunta discribret et ideo licit uaria sin culis euangeliorum libris principia doceantur Nihil tamen differt creden tium fedei cum uno ac principali spu de clarata sint in omnibus omnia de natiui
he said, “Fast with me from today for three days, and whatever may be revealed to each of us, let us tell it to one another.” That same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that, with all of them reviewing it, John should write down everything in his own name. And therefore, though various beginnings are taught in the several books of the Gospels, it makes no difference to the faith of believers, since by the one guiding Spirit everything has been declared in all of them: about the birth,
Notes and citation
Summary: The fragment tells how John, after a three-day fast with his fellow disciples and a revelation to Andrew, wrote his Gospel, and says that the Gospels' different beginnings do not affect faith, since one Spirit declared everything in all.
- “Fast” renders “conieiunate” (coniciunate, ieiunate); “odie” is hodie; “principali spu” is principali Spiritu, “the one guiding Spirit.”
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 11 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 11–20; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 21
21Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 21–30
tate de passione de resurrectione de conuesatione cum decipulis suis ac de gemino eius aduentu Primo In humilitate dispectus quod fo tu secundum UE regali pre clarum quod foturum est. quid ergo mirum si Iohannes tam constanter sincula etia In epistulis suis proferat dicens In semeipsu Que uidimus oculis nostris et auribus audiuimus et manus
the passion, the resurrection, his life among his disciples, and his twofold coming: the first in humility, when he was despised, which has taken place; the second glorious with royal [power], which is yet to come. What wonder, then, if John so consistently brings forward particular points in his epistles too, saying of himself: “What we have seen with our eyes and heard with our ears, and our hands
1 John 1:1 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: All the Gospels declare Christ's birth, passion, resurrection, and twofold coming, and John's first epistle confirms that he wrote as an eyewitness.
- “Which has taken place” renders “quod fotu” (quod fuit); “with royal [power]” renders “UE regali,” usually read “potestate regali.”
Topics: Scripture and canon, Christology, Eschatology
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 21 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 21–30; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-21). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 31
31Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 31–40
nostrae palpauerunt haec scripsimus uobis Sic enim non solum uisurem sed auditorem sed et scriptore omnium mirabiliu dni per ordi nem profetetur Acta aute omniu apostolorum sub uno libro scribta sunt Lucas obtime theofi le conprindit quia sub praesentia eius singula gerebantur sicute et semote passione Petri euidenter declarat E derotevees pauli ad[b] ur bes ad spania proficescentis Epistulae autem
have handled, these things we have written to you.” For thus he professes himself not only an eyewitness and hearer but also a writer of all the wonders of the Lord in order. But the Acts of all the apostles were written in one book. Luke compiled them for the most excellent Theophilus, because the several events took place in his presence, as he plainly shows by leaving out the passion of Peter, and [also the departure] of Paul from the city when he set out for Spain. As for the epistles
1 John 1:3 (quotation, high confidence) · Acts 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Luke 1:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · Rom 15:24 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: John wrote as eyewitness of the Lord's wonders; Luke wrote Acts for Theophilus about what he himself saw, omitting Peter's death and Paul's journey from Rome to Spain.
- “E derotevees pauli ad[b] urbes” is unintelligible as it stands; it is usually read “sed et profectionem Pauli ab urbe” (“and also the departure of Paul from the city”), that is, from Rome. The text is not changed.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 31 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 31–40; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-31). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 41
41Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 41–50
Pauli quae a quo loco uel qua ex causa directe sint uolen/atibus intellegere Ipse declarant Primu omnium corintheis scysme heresis In terdicens deInceps B callatis circumcisione Romanis aute ornidine scripturarum sed et principium earum osd esse xrw Intimans prolexius scripsit de quibus sincolis Neces se est ad nobis desputari Cum ipse beatus apostolus paulus sequens prodecessoris sui Iohannis ordine nonnisi eumenats . semptae
of Paul, they themselves make plain to those who wish to understand which they are, from what place and for what reason they were sent. First of all, to the Corinthians, forbidding the schisms of heresy; next, to the Galatians, circumcision; but to the Romans, setting out the order of the Scriptures and also intimating that Christ is their principal theme, he wrote at greater length. About each of these it is necessary for us to argue, since the blessed apostle Paul himself, following the order of his predecessor John, writes by name only to seven
1 Cor 1:10 (allusion, high confidence) · Gal 5:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Rom 1:1 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Paul's letters show their own occasions: Corinthians against schisms, Galatians against circumcision, Romans at length on the order of Scripture and Christ as its theme; like John, Paul wrote to seven churches.
- “Setting out the order of the Scriptures and also intimating that Christ is their principal theme” renders “ornidine scripturarum sed et principium earum osd esse xrw intimans,” usually read “ordinem scripturarum sed et principium earum esse Christum intimans”; “osd” is not translated. “By name only to seven” renders “nonnisi eumenats . semptae,” usually read “non nisi nominatim septem.”
Topics: Scripture and canon, Heresy
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 41 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 41–50; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-41). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 51
51Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 51–60
eccleses scribat ordine tali a corenthios prima . ad efesios seconda ad philippinses ter tia ad colosensis quarta ad calatas quin ta ad tensaolenecinsis sexta. ad romanos septima Uerum core[i]ntheis et tesaolecen sibus licet pro correbtione Iteretur una tamen per omnem orbem terrae ecclesia deffusa esse denoscitur Et Iohannis eni In a pocalebsy licet septe eccleseis scribat tamen omnibus dicit ueru ad filemonem una
churches, in this order: to the Corinthians first, to the Ephesians second, to the Philippians third, to the Colossians fourth, to the Galatians fifth, to the Thessalonians sixth, to the Romans seventh. Although he writes again to the Corinthians and Thessalonians for their correction, yet one church is known to be spread throughout the whole world. For John too in the Apocalypse, though he writes to seven churches, yet speaks to all. But to Philemon one,
1 Cor 1:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Eph 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Phil 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Col 1:2 (allusion, high confidence) · Gal 1:2 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Thess 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Rom 1:7 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Cor 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Thess 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Rev 1:4 (allusion, high confidence) · Phlm 1 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The fragment lists Paul's letters to seven churches in order and says that, as in John's Apocalypse, writing to seven churches means writing to the one church throughout the world.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 51 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 51–60; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-51). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 61
61Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 61–70
et at titu una et ad tymotheu duas pro affec to et dilectione In honore tamen eclesiae ca tholice In ordinatione eclesiastice de[ijscepline scificate sunt Fertur etiam ad Laudecenses alia ad alexandrinos Pauli no mine fincte ad hesem marcionis et alia plu ra quae In chatholicam eclesiam recepi non potest Fel enim cum melle misceri non con cruit epistola sane lude et superscrictio Iohannis duas In catholica habentur Et sapi
and to Titus one, and to Timothy two, out of affection and love; yet they have been hallowed in the honor of the catholic church, for the ordering of church discipline. There is current also one to the Laodiceans, another to the Alexandrians, forged in Paul's name for the heresy of Marcion, and several others which cannot be received into the catholic church; for gall cannot fittingly be mixed with honey. The epistle of Jude, indeed, and two bearing the title of John are accepted in the catholic [church]; and the Wisdom
Titus 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · 1 Tim 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 Tim 1:1 (allusion, high confidence) · Jude 1 (allusion, high confidence) · 2 John 1 (allusion, medium confidence) · 3 John 1 (allusion, low confidence) · Col 4:16 (echo, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Paul's personal letters to Philemon, Titus, and Timothy are honored by the catholic church, but letters to the Laodiceans and Alexandrians forged for Marcion's heresy are rejected; Jude and two letters of John are accepted.
- “Two bearing the title of John” renders “superscrictio Iohannis duas” (superscripti Iohannis duae). “In the catholic [church]” renders “in catholica”; some take it as “among the catholic [epistles].” The forged letters are described as written; Marcion is the second-century teacher.
Topics: Scripture and canon, Heresy
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 61 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 61–70; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-61). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 71
71Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 71–80
entia ab amicis salomonis in honore ipsius scripta apocalapse etiam lohanis et Pe tri tantum recipei]mus quam quidam ex nos tris legi In eclesia nolunt Pastorem uero nuperrim et temporibus nostris In urbe roma herma conscripsit sedente cathe tra urbis romae aeclesiae Pio eps frater eius et ideo legi eum quide Oportet se pu plicare uero In eclesia populo Neque inter profe*tas conpletum numero Neque Inter
written by friends of Solomon in his honor. We also receive the Apocalypses of John and of Peter, only, which some of us do not want read in church. But the Shepherd was written quite recently, in our own times, in the city of Rome by Hermas, while his brother Pius the bishop was sitting in the chair of the church of the city of Rome; and therefore it ought indeed to be read, but it cannot be read publicly to the people in church, either among the prophets, whose number is complete, or among the
Rev 1:1 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: The fragment accepts the Wisdom of Solomon and the Apocalypses of John and Peter (though some will not read Peter's in church), and says the Shepherd of Hermas, written recently at Rome, may be read privately but not publicly in church.
- Whether “which some of us do not want read in church” refers to the Apocalypse of Peter only or to both is disputed. “Only” (tantum) is translated where it stands; its sense is uncertain. “Frater eius” makes Pius the brother of Hermas. “Publicly” renders “se puplicare,” usually read “publicari.”
Extrabiblical texts: Wis (Wisdom of Solomon [in RC, EO, ETH canons]; allusion); Apoc. Pet. (Apocalypse of Peter; allusion); Herm. Vis. (Shepherd of Hermas: Visions; allusion)
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 71 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 71–80; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-71). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).
Chapter 81
81Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 81–86
apostolos In fine temporum potest. Arsinoi autem seu ualentini. uel mitiadeis nihil In totum recipemus. Qui etiam nouu psalmorum librum marcioni conscripse runt una cum basilide assianum catafry cum contitutorem
apostles, to the end of time. But of Arsinous, or Valentinus, or Miltiades, we receive nothing at all. Those also who wrote a new book of psalms for Marcion, together with Basilides, the Asian founder of the Cataphrygians …
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: The fragment rejects the writings of Arsinous, Valentinus, and Miltiades, and of those who composed a new book of psalms for Marcion, with Basilides and the founder of the Cataphrygians, and then breaks off.
- The manuscript breaks off here. “The Asian founder of the Cataphrygians” renders “assianum catafrycum contitutorem”; the Cataphrygians are the Montanists. Arsinous and this Miltiades are otherwise unknown or uncertain.
Topics: Heresy, Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Pseudo-Lactantius, Muratorian Fragment 81 (Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 81–86; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-81). (abbreviation not yet checked)
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin/Greek of the edition named on the work page and compared afterwards with the public-domain English of ANF (vols. 1, 5, 7).