Tertullian

“ And here I might now make a stand, and contend that a work ought not to be recognised, which holds not its head erect, which exhibits no consistency, which gives no promise of credibility from the fulness of its title and the just profession of its author. ”

“ Paul himself, the single authority of the document, [26] destitute of all support from preceding authorities, would not be a sufficient basis for our faith. There would be still wanted that Gospel which St. Paul found in existence, to which he yielded his belief, and with which he so earnestly wished his own to agree, that he actually on that account went up to Jerusalem to know and consult the apostles, “lest he should run, or had been running in vain;” [27] in other words, that the faith which he had learned, and the gospel which he was preaching, might be in accordance with theirs. ”

“ Since, however, there are apostolic [7] men also, [8] they are yet not alone, but appear with apostles and after apostles; because the preaching of disciples might be open to the suspicion of an affectation of glory, if there did not accompany it [9] the authority of the masters, which means that of Christ, [10] for it was that which made the apostles their masters. Of the apostles, therefore, John and Matthew first instil [11] faith into us; whilst of apostolic men, Luke and Mark renew it afterwards. ”