APIAS, like Polycarp, is not mentioned in the New Testament, but he knew many of the men and the friends of the men who are named in it. In St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians (iv. 13,) you will find that he mentions Hierapolis. This place, now in ruins, lay only the short distance of a few miles from Laodicea, and was about one hundred miles on the east of Ephesus. A Christian Church was early planted there, and the Apostle Philip is said to have settled at that place.

      Papias was the Bishop of Hierapolis. He was the friend of Polycarp, from whom he received much instruction; and some have said that he was a disciple of the Apostle John. Papias wrote a work, called "Interpretation of the Sayings of the Lord." The work seems to have been a large one; but, unfortunately, it is lost. Whether it has perished out of sight, or is hid away among the dust and lumber of some library or monastery, no one knows. The last trace of the book seems to be about the year 1218, A. D. Fortunately, quotations from the work are preserved in the [54] writings of Irenæeus and Eusebius; and though these portions thus preserved are not nearly so numerous as we would like, they are most valuable indeed. We know how the Sinaitic MS. was discovered when it had been thrown into a basket to be carried to the fire. It is not many years since other precious works of the early Christian times have been discovered; and if some day the work of Papias should be found, it would add one more priceless treasure to our ancient documents, and throw light upon our New Testament.

      Papias was well acquainted with the daughters of Philip, and would, doubtless, often bear from their lips the story which their father had told them of the chief events in the life of our Lord. It is said that Andrew settled in Asia Minor with the Apostle John, and that Papias knew both these Apostles; and many of the intimate friends of the Apostles were known to him. It will be interesting to look at a few lines from his work, which Eusebius has preserved for us:--

      "On any occasion when any person came [in my way] who bad been a follower of the Elders, I would enquire about the discourses of the Elders--what was said by Andrew, or by Peter, or by Philip, or by Thomas or James, or by John or Matthew or any other of the Lord's disciples, and what Aristian and [55] the Elder John, the disciples of the Lord, say. For I did not think that I could get so much profit from the contents of books as from the utterances of a living and abiding voice."

      If we look carefully at this passage we will see how important it is. It shows us at once in what a favored position Papias was in regard to ascertaining the facts of the history contained in our New Testament. Notice carefully the following which is known concerning him: 1. He knew two men who were disciples of the Lord. 2. He knew the daughters of the Apostle Philip. 3. He had met men who knew many of our Lord's disciples. 4. That he had conversation with them respecting the teaching of the disciples. 5. That he preserved "books" which contained these accounts. 6. That he added to the teaching of the books all he could learn from living men.¹

      It is very evident that any word which this man speaks on the question of the New Testament will possess the greatest value. His testimony will be second only in importance to the New Testament itself. A man occupying his position, and taking the trouble to get the true account of our Lord's work on [56] earth, will be sure to leave a record worthy of attention.

      He tells us that Mark was a companion of Peter, and that Mark wrote a Gospel. He also tells us that Matthew wrote a Gospel in Hebrew. He appears to have been acquainted with the Gospel of John, and he quotes from the early Epistle of John, and one of the Epistles of Peter. He knew the Book of Revelation, and maintained that it was a divinely-inspired book.

      Though his testimony is not so full as that of Polycarp and Clement, it is only because we know less of him. If we had his whole work I have no doubt it would give greater testimony than either of the other Apostolic Fathers we have classed with him. He amply confirms what the others have said; and altogether they give such testimony as should make us all confident that our New Testament is not an invention but that it came direct from the Apostles of Jesus Christ.

      I conclude this chapter, believing that it should make any person who reads it feel sure that his New Testament is not an invention. However unlettered a person may be who reads and loves his New Testament, he may continue to treasure and reverence it as the Word of Life, the Lamp of God, which has come to us from the holy Apostles themselves. Surely he may say, "I now know of a truth that [57] this blessed Book has come down the ages, for I have seen that holy men in the Church of God have possessed it ever since the first century of the Christian era. I know for myself, and shall be able to tell others 'where our Bible came from.'" [58]

[HWGI 54-58]