Gday GakuseiDon and all
Kapyong wrote:So, in terms of whether this Gospel {Aristides'} has been 'published', or is 'available to Christians to read and quote from' ? ...
It's another tantalising MAYBE.
GakuseiDon wrote:Not a 'maybe' in my opinion. The Gospel is available as a single private copy owned by a local scholar? What's the point of asking Hadrian to read them if the author thought it was hidden away as a private copy owned by a local scholar? I'd suggest that, if that was the case, the author might like to have informed Hadrian where that was. I'd make it more like 'probably available to the public' rather than a 'maybe'. ...
Certainly Aristides himself passes himself off as a pagan philosopher who came to be converted to Christianity from reading the writings of Christians.
Fair point
But Bernard Muller pointed out that it may not be literally directed at the Emperor (or 'King'), but presumably to the educated and elite instead ?
Anyway, upon reflection, I agree with your analysis, and will summarise him like so -
- Aristides 120-130 (or 140) knew of a book called a 'Gospel', otherwise un-named, mentioning a virgin, which was probably available to the public.
GakuseiDon wrote:Aristides seems to be acknowledging the short existence of the Christians, as compared to the other three races.
Maybe
I probably won't get famous as the discoverer of the T.A.
GakuseiDon wrote:I suspect that by 'gospel' he means the good news of the story of Christ, rather than a particular written document.
I don't agree there. He says the reader may 'read there-in', refering to the Gospel. Seems like a fairly clear reference to a single written un-named Gospel, with some details we recognise e.g. a virgin.
So, here is my Friday night list :
According to our extant manuscript record -
- Gospels 70-100 first written.
- Didakhe et al 70-150 mention some Gospel details, but show no clear access to Gospels.
- Papias 100-130 is aware of the origins of two Gospel-like writings - by Mark (from Peter), and Matthew.
- Aristides 120-130 (or 140) knew of a book called a 'Gospel', otherwise un-named, mentioning a virgin, which was probably available to the public.
- Justin Martyr c.150 - has several books 'called Gospels', the memoirs of the Apostles, and the memoir(s) of Peter.
- Justin Martyr dies c.163 - his pupil Tatian probably inherits the books.
- Tatian c.172 - possibly produces the 'FromFour' Gospel harmony, but mentions no authors' names.
- Irenaeus 180-190 - first to name all four Gospels.
Kapyong