Papias

“ Introductory Note to the Fragments of Papias
[a.d. 70–155.] It seems unjust to the holy man of whose comparatively large contributions to early Christian literature such mere relics have been preserved, to set them forth in these versions, unaccompanied by the copious annotations of Dr. Routh. If even such crumbs from his table are not by any means without a practical value, with reference to the Canon and other matters, we may well credit the testimony (though disputed) of Eusebius, that he was a learned man, and well versed in the Holy Scripture. ”

“ He was a hearer of the Apostle John, and was on terms of intimate intercourse with many who had known the Lord and His apostles. From these he gathered the floating traditions in regard to the sayings of our Lord, and wove them into a production divided into five books. ”

“ Eusebius [3] speaks of Papias as a man most learned in all things, and well acquainted with the Scriptures. In another passage [4] he describes him as of small capacity. The fragments of Papias are translated from the text given in Routh’s Reliquiæ Sacræ, vol. i. [5] ”