What is the Muratorian Fragment?

The Muratorian Fragment is one of the earliest known lists of New Testament books, dating back to the late second century AD. It provides critical insight into the development of the Christian biblical canon and the criteria used by early Christians to determine which writings were considered authoritative. This document, though incomplete, affirms much of the New Testament as we have it today and sheds light on the historical context in which these texts were received and circulated.

Understanding the Muratorian Fragment is essential for grasping how the early church recognized and preserved the inspired writings that form the foundation of Christian doctrine. This article explores its discovery, contents, theological significance, and the implications it has for the reliability of the New Testament.

Discovery and Background of the Muratorian Fragment

The Muratorian Fragment was discovered by Ludovico Antonio Muratori, an Italian historian and theologian, in the 18th century. He found the document in the Ambrosian Library in Milan, Italy, among a collection of Latin manuscripts. The fragment is believed to have been written in Latin, though it is a translation from an earlier Greek document.

Scholars generally date the Muratorian Fragment to around AD 170-200. Its origin is likely in the church of Rome, given the theological perspective and the references it makes to figures and events relevant to that region. The document is significant because it provides one of the earliest recorded attempts to list and define the authoritative books of the Christian faith.

While it is only a fragment, the document provides invaluable insight into the thinking of the early church regarding the canon of Scripture. It illustrates that, even in the second century, there was a strong consensus regarding which writings were divinely inspired and which were not.

Content of the Muratorian Fragment

The fragment begins in the middle of a discussion, indicating that the beginning of the document is missing. Despite this, it provides a valuable list of accepted writings. The fragment affirms the following New Testament books:

The four Gospels (though the beginning is missing, it clearly mentions Luke and John and implies Matthew and Mark were included)
The Acts of the Apostles
Thirteen epistles of Paul (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon)
Jude
Two epistles of John (likely 1 John and 2 John)
The Book of Revelation (referred to as the Apocalypse of John)
The Apocalypse of Peter (which was read in some churches but was disputed)

Interestingly, the document does not include Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, or 3 John. It also rejects certain writings, including some Gnostic and heretical works, emphasizing the importance of apostolic authorship and doctrinal consistency.

The fragment also contains commentary on the authorship and authenticity of various books. It praises certain writings as being divinely inspired and condemns others as being spurious or heretical. This demonstrates that the early church was deeply concerned with preserving the truth and ensuring that only genuine apostolic teachings were passed down to future generations.

Theological Significance

Apostolic Authority

The Muratorian Fragment emphasizes that authoritative writings must be tied to the apostles. It affirms that the Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, the companion of Paul, and that the Gospel of John was written by the apostle John. This aligns with the principle seen throughout early church history that apostolic authorship or connection was a key factor in determining canonicity.

The apostles were directly commissioned by Jesus Christ to spread His teachings and establish the church. Their writings carried divine authority, as seen in 2 Peter 1:20-21:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, their writings were regarded as authoritative by the early church.

Doctrinal Consistency

Another major theme in the fragment is doctrinal consistency. The accepted books align with the teachings passed down from the apostles. Any writings that contained theological errors or strayed from apostolic doctrine were rejected.

This is in harmony with Paul’s warning in Galatians 1:8-9:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

The early church took these warnings seriously and worked diligently to safeguard the purity of Christian doctrine.

The Role of the Church in Canon Formation

The fragment provides insight into how the early church evaluated and recognized Scripture. The process was not arbitrary but guided by established principles, including apostolic origin, consistency with existing Scripture, and widespread acceptance among churches. The fragment shows that, by the second century, a core set of New Testament writings was already recognized and used in Christian worship and instruction.

Comparison with Other Canon Lists

The Muratorian Fragment is one of several early attempts to define the Christian canon. Other significant lists include:

Origen (c. AD 185-254): Origen referenced the majority of the New Testament books and acknowledged some disputes over certain writings.
Eusebius of Caesarea (c. AD 260-340): Eusebius categorized books into three groups: accepted, disputed, and rejected.
Athanasius’ Easter Letter (AD 367): The first list to explicitly match the 27-book New Testament canon used today.

The Muratorian Fragment predates these lists, demonstrating that the process of canonization was already well underway in the second century.

Implications for Biblical Reliability

Early Recognition of Scripture

The fragment confirms that many of the books in the New Testament were recognized as authoritative within a century of their composition. This challenges the notion that the canon was a late development or the result of political decisions in later centuries.

Rejection of Heretical Works

The Muratorian Fragment rejects certain writings, such as those associated with the Gnostics. This rejection aligns with the warnings found in the New Testament itself. The early church was already engaged in discerning true Scripture from false teachings, ensuring that only genuine apostolic writings were preserved.

The Consistency of Christian Doctrine

The Muratorian Fragment shows that core Christian teachings remained consistent from the apostolic age onward. The doctrines found in the accepted books align with what was taught by Jesus and His apostles, reinforcing the unity and reliability of Scripture.

Conclusion

The Muratorian Fragment serves as a significant historical artifact that sheds light on the early church’s understanding of the New Testament canon. It highlights the criteria used by early Christians, such as apostolic authorship and doctrinal consistency, in determining which writings were considered authoritative.

This fragment not only affirms the recognition of many New Testament books within a century of their writing but also illustrates the early church’s commitment to preserving genuine apostolic teachings. By rejecting heretical works and emphasizing doctrinal purity, the Muratorian Fragment reinforces the reliability of the Scriptures that continue to guide Christian faith today.