Ben C Smith

Let me add that the Valentinians, probably Ptolemy in particular, commented on at least the prologue of the fourth canonical gospel in the middle of the second century. Irenaeus gives us a quotation to that effect in Against Heresies 1.8.5, specifying Ptolemy at the end of the quotation (scroll down to the fifth section). (It is my understanding, however, that this final reference to Ptolemy, et Ptolemaeus quidem ita, does not appear in the Greek provided by Epiphanius, but only in the Latin translation.)

Also, a certain Heracleon appears to have allegorized the fourth gospel in the second century. Martin Hengel, The Johannine Question, page 9:

In addition to Ptolemy, I should also mention Heracleon, who was his slightly later contemporary in Rome. Like Ptolemy, he calls John 'the disciple' (as opposed to the Baptist) and reckons him among the apostles. He also wrote the first allegorical commentary on the Gospel of John. The Alexandrian pupil of Valentinus, Theodotus, also often made use of it, calling John and Paul 'apostolos'.

(On page 146, note 44, Hengel refers the reader to W. Völker, Quellen zur Geschichte der christlichen Gnosis, in SQS (Sammlung ausgewählter kirchen- und dogmengeschichtlicher Quellenschriften) NF 5, 1932, pages 63-86. But I have not seen this, nor could I very well read it in German.)

Ben.

dost

So, basically, is Clement of Alexandria the earliest known commentator on the Pauline epistles, the Catholic epistles and the gospels (excluding Mark presumaby)?

dost

Sorry, I forgot Heraclitus (c. 200) who is said to have written a commentary on Paul by Eusebius. So he would be the earliest known commentator on the Pauline corpus?

And Clement of Alexandria would be the earliest known commentator on the Catholic epistles, Revelation, Acts and gospels?

TedM

I'm curious what you mean by 'commentator'? There were writings far earlier than c. 200 that heavily quoted the Pauline epistles, so it isn't clear to me what you are actually looking for..can you expound a little?

ted

dost

hello Ted

Sorry for not being too clear. I meant Christians who wrote commentaries on specific New Testament writings - as in explaining what passages mean and how they are to be understood, therefore not just mere "quoting" or alluding of passages.

Origen wrote commentaries on the New Testament writings and I would imagine that he went over the books line by line or passage by passage to explain how readers should understand them, what certain words mean etc.

Hope the above is clear.

I have read that the apostolic fathers, such as Barnabas, Polycarp, Ignatius etc., make allusions certain New Testament writings, but of course these are not "commentaries".

andrewcriddle

Using 'Commentary' in the narrow sense ie starting at the beginning and going through line by line (or at least paragraph by paragraph) to the end; many scholars would hold that the Valentinian Heracleon (c 170 CE) was the first to write a commentary on a NT text and that later 'orthodox' Commentators such as Origen were influenced in their technique by having studied Heracleon's Commentary on John.

Andrew Criddle

dost

Is Heracleon thought to have written a commentary only on GJohn?

andrewcriddle

Heracleon certainly refers to other Scriptures. (According to a list I haven't checked Genesis Isaiah Matthew Luke Romans 1 Corinthians and 2 Timothy are quoted by him.)

Using 'Commenrary' in the narrow sense (going through line by line) it is not clear that he wrote a commentary on anything but John. However, some scholars on the basis of references to Heracleon's teaching on Luke made by Clement of Alexandria have suggested that Heracleon wrote a commentary on Luke, but this is very uncertain.

Andrew Ciddle