Philip Schaff

“ Melito, the Philosopher.
[a.d. 160–170–177.] Melito [1] may have been the immediate successor of the “angel” (or “apostle”) of the church of Sardis, to whom our Great High Priest addressed one of the apocalyptic messages. He was an “Apostolic Father” in point of fact; he very probably knew the blessed Polycarp and his disciple Irenæus. He is justly revered for the diligence with which he sought out the evidence which, in his day, established the Canon of the Old Testament, then just complete. ”

“ Melito, with Claudius Apollinaris and even Polycrates, may have been personally acquainted with Ignatius; [3] of course, one with another. These lived not far from Smyrna; Asia Minor was, in the first century, the focus of Christian activity. ”

“ In the following fragments we find him called Bishop of Sardis, Bishop of Attica, and Bishop of Ittica. He is also introduced to us as “the Philosopher,” and we shall find him styled “the Eunuch” by Polycrates. ”