Overview
The Christian Church has long upheld the Bible as the authoritative Word of God, a belief rooted in the conviction that every affirmation within the Scriptures is a direct utterance from God. This view has been consistently reflected in how the Bible has been treated across centuries, both in how it quotes itself and in how early Church leaders referenced it. B.B. Warfield, a prominent theologian, encapsulated this view, asserting that the Scriptures are “of infallible truth and authority.” This high regard for the Bible was evident in the writings of the early Church Fathers, who not only treated the Scriptures as authoritative but also quoted them extensively, leaving a rich legacy that contributes to the authenticity and preservation of the New Testament texts.
Treating the Bible as Authoritative
The early Church Fathers, who wrote in the first and second centuries, mirrored the Bible’s own treatment of its content by introducing their quotations from Scripture with phrases that underscored its divine authority. For instance, Clement of Rome, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, frequently referred to Scripture with phrases like “For He saith,” “God said unto him,” “And again He saith,” “For the Holy Ghost saith,” “For it is written,” and “For the Scripture saith.” These introductions highlight the reverence with which these early leaders regarded the Scriptures, viewing them not just as historical documents, but as the living and active words of God.
The Importance of Early Church Fathers’ Quotations
The value of the quotations from the New Testament made by the early Church Fathers lies in their ability to bridge the gap between the original autographs of the New Testament and the earliest existing manuscript fragments. The earliest substantial New Testament manuscripts, such as p45, p46, p66, and p75, date from between A.D. 175 and A.D. 250, leaving a gap of approximately one hundred years from the time the original texts were written. However, the writings of the early Church Fathers, dating from A.D. 97 to 180, provide evidence of even earlier New Testament manuscripts, as these leaders extensively quoted from 28 of the 29 New Testament books.
Moreover, these quotations serve as early testimony to the authenticity and acceptance of the New Testament books by the Christian community. The early Church Fathers validated the apostolic origins of these texts and rejected later works, such as the Gospel of Thomas, that falsely claimed apostolic authorship. Significantly, nearly every New Testament book was referred to before A.D. 150, with only Philemon and 3 John possibly being exceptions.
Authentication of the New Testament Through Quotations
The quotations from the early Church Fathers play a crucial role in affirming the authenticity of the New Testament. Notable figures like Ignatius (A.D. 30-107), Polycarp (A.D. 65-155), and Papias (A.D. 70-155) cited verses from every New Testament book except 2 and 3 John, thereby authenticating almost the entire New Testament through their writings alone.
Clement of Rome
In his Epistle to the Corinthians, written around A.D. 97, Clement of Rome cited verses from a wide range of New Testament books, including Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus, 1 and 2 Peter, Hebrews, and James. These citations indicate that by the end of the first century, a significant portion of the New Testament was already recognized and circulated within the Christian community.
Ignatius
Ignatius, whose letters are dated to A.D. 115, wrote to several churches in Asia Minor, citing verses from Matthew, John, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus. His letters provide evidence that the New Testament was completed within the first century A.D., and his citations reinforce the early acceptance and usage of these texts.
Justin Martyr
Justin Martyr (A.D. 110-165) cited verses from thirteen New Testament books, including Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, 2 Thessalonians, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and Revelation. His extensive use of these texts in his writings underscores their authority and wide acceptance during the second century.
Irenaeus
Irenaeus, writing in his book Against Heresies (A.D. 130-202), quoted from every New Testament book except 3 John. His writings contain over 1,200 quotations from the New Testament, reflecting a deep engagement with these texts and providing further evidence of their early canonization.
Clement of Alexandria
Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 193-220) made approximately 2,400 quotations and references to every New Testament book except Philemon, James, 2 Peter, and possibly 3 John. His extensive citations reinforce the idea that by the late second century, the New Testament was widely recognized and used across different regions.
Cyprian
Cyprian (A.D. 200-258) made around 1,030 quotations and references from the New Testament, including every book except Philemon and 2 John, and possibly 3 John. His contributions, along with those of other early Church Fathers, form a critical part of the historical record that helps to authenticate and preserve the New Testament.
The Extent of New Testament Quotations
The sheer volume of New Testament quotations made by the early Church Fathers is staggering. It is estimated that there are over 86,000 quotations from the New Testament in the writings of these early leaders. Norman Geisler and William Nix famously noted that if we did not have a single copy of the New Testament, scholars could reconstruct all but 11 verses of it from the quotations found in the works of the early Church Fathers. This remarkable fact underscores the providential preservation of the New Testament, which has been maintained in both quality and quantity, unlike any other document from antiquity.
Conclusion
Although there is a 250-300 year gap between the time of the original New Testament manuscripts and the earliest complete copies that still exist, this gap is effectively bridged by the extensive quotations made by the early Church Fathers. These quotations provide critical evidence for the authenticity and early acceptance of the New Testament books, demonstrating that the texts we have today are faithful representations of the original writings. The early Church Fathers’ reverence for the Scriptures and their prolific quoting habits have played an essential role in preserving the New Testament, allowing it to remain a cornerstone of Christian faith and doctrine for centuries. Through their writings, the New Testament has been preserved with remarkable accuracy, ensuring that the message of the Gospel continues to be faithfully transmitted to future generations.