Papias of Hierapolis (jan 1, 60 – jan 1, 130)

Description:

Early Life and Background

-Born around 60-70 CE, likely in Phrygia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
-Became the Bishop of Hierapolis, a city in Phrygia.

Role in the Early Church

-Known as an early Christian bishop and writer.
-Contemporary of other Apostolic Fathers, such as Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch.

Teachings and Writings

-Authored a five-volume work titled "Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord" (Logiōn Kyriakōn Exēgēsis).
-His writings aimed to preserve the oral traditions and sayings of Jesus as recounted by the apostles and their immediate followers.
-Unfortunately, only fragments of his work survive, mostly quoted by later church historians like Irenaeus and Eusebius.

Sources of Information

-Claimed to have received his information from people who had direct contact with the apostles, such as John the Elder and others who knew the apostles.
-Valued oral tradition highly, preferring it over written texts.

Views on the Gospels

-Provided early testimony on the authorship of the Gospels.
-Stated that Mark wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s teachings and that Matthew composed his Gospel in the Hebrew language or dialect.

Eschatological Views

-Known for his millenarian views, believing in a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.
-His eschatology was later viewed with skepticism by some church fathers but influenced early Christian thought on the end times.

Death and Legacy

-Died around 130-140 CE.
-His work and teachings contributed significantly to the early Christian understanding of Jesus' sayings and apostolic traditions.
-Although his complete works are lost, the fragments that remain provide valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of the early church.

Veneration

-Recognized for his efforts to preserve the teachings and traditions of the apostles.
-Regarded as an important figure in early Christianity, particularly for his connections to the apostolic tradition.
-His legacy endures through the quotations and references made by later church historians and theologians.

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