Best first collection for Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache, Barnabas, Hermas, and Papias in one place.
Papias of Hierapolis
c. 60 – c. 130 · Bishop of Hierapolis
Bishop
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 60
- Died
- c. 130, Hierapolis
- See
- Hierapolis
- Region
- asia minor
- Era
- apostolic father
- Significance
- Notable(2/4)
- Also known as
- Papias
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia.
- Primary source
- Papias, Fragments in Eusebius HE 3.39
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.
Recommended reading near Papias
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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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 ApostleWhether 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 EvangelistPapias preserves the earliest tradition about Mark's authorship and method.Papias in Eusebius HE 3.39.15
- knew of Matthew the ApostlePapias in Eusebius HE 3.39.16
tradition connections(2)
- taught by John the ApostleIrenaeus 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 SmyrnaIrenaeus (Adv. Haer. 5.33.4) calls Papias 'a companion of Polycarp'. No surviving first-person source.Irenaeus, Adv. Haer. 5.33.4
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Papias of Hierapolis).