The Muratorian Fragment

An acephalous fragment on the canon of the sacred Scriptures, ascribed by some to Caius. This very important fragment [vol. ii. pp. 4 and 56, this series] was discovered by Muratori in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, and published by him in his Antiquitates Italicæ in 1740. This manuscript belongs to the seventh or eighth century. Muratori ascribed it to Caius, Bunsen to Hegesippus; but there is no clue whatever to the authorship. From internal evidence the writer of the fragment is believed to belong to the latter half of the second century. The fragment has been much discussed. For a full account of it, see Westcott’s General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament , 2d ed. p. 184 ff., and Tregelles’ Canon Muratorianus ; [also Routh, Rel. , i. pp. 394–434].

The text is, “quibus tamen interfuit et ita posuit.” Westcott omits the “et.” Bunsen proposes “ ipse non interfuit.” The reference probably is to the statement of Papias (Euseb., Histor. Eccles ., iii. 39) as to Mark’s Gospel being a narrative not of what he himself witnessed, but of what he heard from Peter.

The text gives “numine suo ex opinione concriset,” for which we read “nomine suo ex ordine conscripsit” with Westcott.

Reading “secum” for “secundum.”

The text gives “quasi ut juris studiosum,” for which “quasi et virtutis studiosum,” ="as one devoted to virtue,” has been proposed. Bunsen reads “itineris socium” ="as his companion in the way.”

“Incepit” for “incipet.”

Or as they revised them, recognoscentibus .

Principia .

Principali , leading. [Note this theory of inspiration.]

Singula .

1 John i. 1 .

The text is, “semote passionem Petri,” etc., for which Westcott reads “semotâ.” [A noteworthy statement.]

Reading “epistolæ” and “directæ” instead of “epistola” and “directe,” and “volentibus” for “voluntatibus.”

Principium .

The text is, “de quibus singulis necesse est a nobis disputari cum,” etc. Bunsen reads, “de quibus non necesse est a nobis disputari cur” ="on which we need not discuss the reason why.”

Sane .

The text is “in catholica,” which may be “in the Catholic Church.” Bunsen, Westcott, etc., read “in catholicis.”

Reading “sed publicari” for “se publicare.” [Vol. ii. p. 3.]

[For remarks of my own on the Muratorian Canon , see vol. ii. p. 56, this series.]