Papias of Hierapolis

Common questions

Who was Papias of Hierapolis?

Papias of Hierapolis (60–130) — Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia. Author of the lost five-book 'Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord'; preserves the earliest testimony about the composition of Matthew and Mark.

Who taught Papias of Hierapolis?

John the Apostle.

Who did Papias of Hierapolis meet?

Polycarp of Smyrna.

Sources for biography

• Papias, Fragments in Eusebius HE 3.39 primary
• Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 5.33.4 primary

documented connections(3)

• knew of John the Apostle
  Whether or not Papias heard John the Apostle directly, his preface explicitly reports gathering sayings of John (the Lord's disciple) via the elders.
  Papias, Preface in Eusebius HE 3.39.3-4
• knew of Mark the Evangelist
  Papias preserves the earliest tradition about Mark's authorship and method.
  Papias in Eusebius HE 3.39.15
• knew of Matthew the Apostle
  Papias in Eusebius HE 3.39.16

tradition connections(2)

• taught by John the Apostle
  Irenaeus calls Papias 'a hearer of John' (Adv. Haer. 5.33.4), but Eusebius (HE 3.39.5-7), reading Papias' own preface, argues Papias heard 'the elder John', a different figure. Borderline — flagged for review.
  Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 5.33.4 · Papias, Preface, in Eusebius HE 3.39.3-7
• met (incoming) Polycarp of Smyrna
  Irenaeus (Adv. Haer. 5.33.4) calls Papias 'a companion of Polycarp'. No surviving first-person source.
  Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 5.33.4