# Muratorian Fragment

- Author: Anonymous
- Latin title: *Fragmentum Muratorianum*
- Date: late 2nd or 4th century (disputed) (disputed)
- Source: S. P. Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus: The Earliest Catalogue of the Books of the New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon, 1867), 17-20 (Latin text: digitized by Open Greek and Latin, University of Leipzig (csel-dev), CC BY-SA 4.0)

- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/
- Passages: 9

## Lines 1–10

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-1
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 1–10
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

… 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,

### Scripture references

- Luke 1:5: allusion, high confidence
- Col 4:14: allusion, medium confidence
- Luke 1:2: echo, low confidence

### Translation notes

- 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.”

### Citation (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).

## Lines 11–20

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-11
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 11–20
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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,

### Translation notes

- “Fast” renders “conieiunate” (coniciunate, ieiunate); “odie” is hodie; “principali spu” is principali Spiritu, “the one guiding Spirit.”

### Citation (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).

## Lines 21–30

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-21
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 21–30
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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

### Scripture references

- 1 John 1:1: quotation, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “Which has taken place” renders “quod fotu” (quod fuit); “with royal [power]” renders “UE regali,” usually read “potestate regali.”

### Citation (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).

## Lines 31–40

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-31
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 31–40
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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

### Scripture references

- 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

### Translation notes

- “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.

### Citation (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).

## Lines 41–50

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-41
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 41–50
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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

### Scripture references

- 1 Cor 1:10: allusion, high confidence
- Gal 5:2: allusion, high confidence
- Rom 1:1: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- “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.”

### Citation (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).

## Lines 51–60

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-51
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 51–60
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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,

### Scripture references

- 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

### Citation (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).

## Lines 61–70

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-61
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 61–70
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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

### Scripture references

- 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

### Translation notes

- “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.

### Citation (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).

## Lines 71–80

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-71
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 71–80
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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

### Scripture references

- Rev 1:1: allusion, high confidence

### Extrabiblical texts

- Wis (Wisdom of Solomon): allusion, high confidence
- Apoc. Pet. (Apocalypse of Peter): allusion, high confidence
- Herm. Vis. (Shepherd of Hermas: Visions): allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- 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.”

### Citation (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).

## Lines 81–86

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/fragmentum-muratorianum/1/#p-81
- Source: Tregelles, Canon Muratorianus (Oxford 1867), lines 81–86
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27

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.

### Latin text

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

### English translation (Claude)

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 …

### Translation notes

- 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.

### Citation (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).