gospels is the common name given to the first four books of the new testament.
gospels is the common name given to the first four books of the new testament.
common name given to the first four books of the new testament?
gospels
the first four historical books of the new testament are supplied with titles, which however ancient, do not go back to the respective authors of those sacred texts. the canon of muratori, clement of alexandria, and st. irenaeus bear distinct witness to the existence of those headings in the latter part of the second century of our era. indeed, the manner in which clement (strom. i, xxi), and st. irenaeus (adv. haer. iii, xi, 7) employ them implies that, at that early date, our present titles to the gospels had been in current use for some considerable time. hence, it may be inferred that they were prefixed to the evangelical narratives as early as the first part of that same century. that however, they do not go back to the first century of the christian era, or at least that they are not original, is a position generally held at the present day. it is felt that since they are similar for the four gospels, although the same gospels were composed at some interval from each other, those titles were not framed and consequently not prefixed to each individual narrative, before the collection of the four gospels was actually made. besides as well pointed out by prof. bacon, "the historical books of the new testament differ from it's apocalyptic and epistolary literature, as those of the old testament differ from its prophecy, in being invariably anonymous, and for the same reason. prophecies, whether in the earlier or in the later sense, and letters, to have authority, must be referable to some individual; the greater his name, the better. but history was regarded as common possession. its facts spoke for themselves. only as the springs of common recollection began to dwindle, and marked differences to appear between the well-informed and accurate gospels and the untrustworthy ... become worth white for the christian teacher or apologist to specify whether the given representation of the current tradition was 'according to' this or that special compiler, and to state his qualifications". it thus appears that the present titles of the gospels are not traceable to the evangelists themselves.the earliest and best manuscripts of matthew, mark, luke and john were all written anonymously. furthermore, the books of acts, hebrews, 1 john, 2 john and 3 john were also written anonymously.
pseudepigrapha
lists of new testament manuscripts









































the following articles contain lists of new testament manuscripts:









































bullet::::- in coptic









































bullet::::- list of the coptic new testament manuscripts









































bullet::::- in greek:









































bullet::::- list of new testament papyri









































bullet::::- list of new testament uncials









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules (1001–2000)









































bullet::::- list of new testament minuscules (2001–)









































bullet::::- list of new testament lectionaries









































bullet::::- in latin:









































bullet::::- list of new testament latin manuscripts









































bullet::::- in syriac:









































bullet::::- list of the syriac new testament manuscripts









































section::::see also.









































bullet::::- biblical manuscript









































bullet::::- categories of new testament manuscripts
lists of new testament manuscripts