Place and time Gods written word Peter in Rome Oracles in Mark
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09674b.htm
The date of the Gospel is uncertain. The external evidence is not decisive, and the
internal does not assist very much. St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen,
Eusebius, Tertullian, and St. Jerome signify that it was written before St. Peter's death.
The subscription of many of the later unical and cursive manuscripts states that it was
written in the tenth or twelfth year after the Ascension (A.D. 38-40).
The "Paschal Chronicle" assigns it to A.D. 40, and the
"Chronicle" of Eusebius
to the third year of Claudius (A.D. 43). Possibly these early dates may be
only a deduction from the tradition that Peter came to Rome in the second year of Claudius,
A.D. 42 (cf. Euseb., "Hist. Eccl.", II, xiv; Jer., "De Vir. Ill.", i). St. Ireneus,
on the other hand, seems to place the composition of the Gospel after the death of
Peter and Paul, Papias, too, asserting that Mark wrote according to his recollection of
Peter's discourses, has been taken to imply that Peter was dead. This, however, does
not necessarily follow from the words of Papias, for Peter might have been absent from Rome.
Besides, Clement of Alexandria (Euseb., "Hist. Eccl.", VI, xiv) seems to say that Peter was
alive and in Rome at the time Mark wrote, though he gave the Evangelist no help in his work.
There is left, therefore, the testimony of St. Ireneus against that of all the other early
witnesses; and it is an interesting fact that most present-day Rationalist and
Protestant scholars prefer to follow Ireneus and accept the later date for Mark's Gospel,
though they reject almost unanimously the saint's testimony, given in the same context
and supported by all antiquity, in favour of the priority of Matthew's Gospel to Mark's.
Various attempts have been made to explain the passage in Irenæus so as to bring him
into agreement with the other early authorities (see, e.g. Cornely, "Introd.", iii,
76-78; Patrizi, "De Evang.", I, 38), but to the present writer they appear unsuccessful
if the existing text must be regarded as correct. It seems much more reasonable, however,
to believe that Ireneus was mistaken than that all the other authorities are in error,
and hence the external evidence would show that Mark wrote before Peter's death (A.D. 64 or 67).
Mark is mentioned by 17 Pre-Nicean authors in 42 books and 18 Post-Nicean authors
in 246 books. Below see some place and time references of the Pre-Nicean fathers
and Jerome the biblical scholar
http://newadvent.com/fathers/0125.htm
For information on these points, we can merely refer our readers to the books themselves;
but now, to the extracts already made, we shall add, as being a matter of primary importance,
a tradition regarding Mark who wrote the Gospel, which he [Papias] has given in the
following words]: And the presbyter said this. Mark having become the interpreter of Peter,
wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered.
It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds
of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards,
as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities
[of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord's sayings.
Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them.
For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not
to put anything fictitious into the statements. [This is what is related by Papias
regarding Mark; but with regard to Matthew he has made the following statements]:
Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each
one interpreted them as best he could. [The same person uses proofs from the
First Epistle of John, and from the Epistle of Peter in like manner.
And he also gives another story of a woman who was accused of many sins before the Lord,
which is to be found in the Gospel according to the Hebrews.]
Ireneus (115 – 200) Adversus Haereses (III . 1)
http://newadvent.com/fathers/0103301.htm
1. We have learned from none others the plan of our salvation, than from those through whom
the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one time proclaim in public, and,
at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures,
to be the ground and pillar of our faith. For it is unlawful to assert that they preached
before they possessed "perfect knowledge," as some do even venture to say, boasting
themselves as improvers of the apostles. For, after our Lord rose from the dead, [the apostles]
were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came down [upon them],
were filled from all [His gifts], and had perfect knowledge: they departed to the
ends of the earth, preaching the glad tidings of the good things [sent] from God to us,
and proclaiming the peace of heaven to men, who indeed do all equally and individually
possess the Gospel of God. Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews
in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and
laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple
and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been
preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book
the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord,
who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence
at Ephesus in Asia.
Clement of Alexandria: (- 215) Fragments
http://newadvent.com/fathers/0211.htm
Mark, the follower of Peter, while Peter publicly preached the Gospel at Rome before some of Caesar's equites, and adduced many testimonies to Christ, in order that thereby they might be able to commit to memory what was spoken, of what was spoken by Peter wrote entirely what is called the Gospel according to Mark
So, then, through the visit of the divine word to them, the power of Simon was
extinguished, and immediately was destroyed along with the man himself.
And such a ray of godliness shone forth on the minds of Peter's hearers,
that they were not satisfied with the once hearing or with the unwritten teaching of the
divine proclamation, but with all manner of entreaties importuned Mark, to whom the Gospel
is ascribed, he being the companion of Peter, that he would leave in writing a record
of the teaching which had been delivered to them verbally; and did not let the man
alone till they prevailed upon him; and so to them we owe the Scripture called the
"Gospel by Mark." On learning what had been done, through the revelation of the Spirit,
it is said that the apostle was delighted with the enthusiasm of the men, and sanctioned
the composition for reading in the Churches. Clemens gives the narrative in the sixth book
of the Hypotyposes.
Tertullian (160 – 225) Against Marcion IV
http://newadvent.com/fathers/03124.htm
The same authority of the apostolic churches will afford evidence to the other Gospels also,
which we possess equally through their means, and according to their usage--I mean the
Gospels of John and Matthew--whilst that which Mark published may be affirmed to
be Peter's whose interpreter Mark was. For even Luke's form of the Gospel men
unsually ascribe to Paul. And it may well seem that the works which disciples publish
belong to their masters.
Origen (185 – 232) Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book I)
http://newadvent.com/fathers/101601.htm
Concerning the four Gospels which alone are uncontroverted in the Church of God under heaven,
I have learned by tradition that the Gospel according to Matthew, who was at one time a
publican and afterwards an Apostle of Jesus Christ, was written first; and that he composed
it in the Hebrew tongue and published it for the converts from Judaism.
The second written was that according to Mark, who wrote it according to the instruction
of Peter, who, in his General Epistle, acknowledged him as a son,
saying, "The church that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so
doth Mark my son." And third, was that according to Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul,
which he composed for the converts from the Gentiles. Last of all, that according to John.
Eusebius (265 – 340) Church History (Book II)
http://newadvent.com/fathers/250102.htm
CHAPTER 15: The Gospel according to Mark
And thus when the divine word had made its home among them, the power of Simon was quenched
and immediately destroyed, together with the man himself. And so greatly did the
splendor of piety illumine the minds of Peter's hearers that they were not satisfied with
hearing once only, and were not content with the unwritten teaching of the divine Gospel,
but with all sorts of entreaties they besought Mark, a follower of Peter, and the one
whose Gospel is extant, that he would leave them a written monument of the doctrine which
had been orally communicated to them. Nor did they cease until they had prevailed with
the man, and had thus become the occasion of the written Gospel which bears the name of Mark.
And they say that Peter when he had learned, through a revelation of the Spirit, of that which
had been done, was pleased with the zeal of the men, and that the work obtained the sanction of
his authority for the purpose of being used in the churches. Clement in the eighth book of
his Hypotyposes gives this account, and with him agrees the bishop of Hierapolis named Papias.
And Peter makes mention of Mark in his first epistle which they say that he wrote in Rome
itself, as is indicated by him, when he calls the city, by a figure, Babylon, as he does in the
following words: "The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you;
and so doth Marcus my son."
Jerome (340 – 420) On Illustrious Men
http://newadvent.com/fathers/2708.htm
Simon Peter the son of John, from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, brother of Andrew the apostle, and himself chief of the apostles, after having been bishop of the Church of Antioch and having preached to the Dispersion—the believers in circumcision, in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia—pushed on to Rome in the second year of Claudius to over-throw Simon Magus, and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is the fourteenth, year of Nero. At his hands he received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high, asserting that he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. He wrote two epistles which are called Catholic, the second of which, on account of its difference from the first in style, is considered by many not to be by him. Then too the Gospel according to Mark, who was his disciple and interpreter, is ascribed to him. On the other hand, the books, of which one is entitled his Acts, another his Gospel, a third his Preaching, a fourth his Revelation, a fifth his Judgment are rejected as apocryphal. Buried at Rome in the Vatican near the triumphal way, he is venerated by the whole world.
Exodus17:24
Then the LORD said to Moses, " Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to
Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
Exodus 34:1
[ The Two Tablets Replaced ] Now the LORD said to Moses, "Cut out for yourself two
stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were
on the former tablets which you shattered
1 Samuel 10:25
Then Samuel told the people the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book
and placed it before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away,
each one to his house.
Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it on a tablet before them and inscribe it on a scroll,
that it may serve in the time to come as a witness forever.
Jeremiah 30:1-2
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ' Write all the words which I have spoken to you
in a book.
Jeremiah 36:1-2
1In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Take a scroll and write on it all the words which I have spoken to you concerning
Israel and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you,
from the days of Josiah, even to this day.
Luke 4:15-21
And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.
And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Roman Law
Quod non est in actis, non est in mundo
What is not recorded, does not exists.
Act of Apostles 12 : 1-17
About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (It was (the) feast of Unleavened Bread.)
He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, "Get up quickly." The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them by itself. They emerged and made their way down an alley, and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that (the) Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."
When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer.
When he knocked on the gateway door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it.
She was so overjoyed when she recognized Peter's voice that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.
They told her, "You are out of your mind," but she insisted that it was so. But they kept saying, "It is his angel."
But Peter continued to knock, and when they opened it, they saw him and were astounded.
He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and explained (to them) how the Lord had
led him out of the prison, and said, "Report this to James and the brothers."
Then he left and went to another place.
Eusebius (265 – 340) Church History (Book II)
http://newadvent.com/fathers/250102.htm
CHAPTER 13 Simon Magus
But faith in our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ having now been diffused among all men, the enemy of man's salvation contrived a plan for seizing the imperial city for himself. He conducted thither the above-mentioned Simon, aided him in his deceitful arts, led many of the inhabitants of Rome astray, and thus brought them into his own power. This is stated by Justin, one of our distinguished writers who lived not long after the time of the apostles. Concerning him I shall speak in the proper place. Take and read the work of this man, who in the first Apology which he addressed to Antonine in behalf of our religion writes as follows: "And after the ascension of the Lord into heaven the demons put forward certain men who said they were gods, and who were not only allowed by you to go unpersecuted, but were even deemed worthy of honors. One of them was Simon, a Samaritan of the village of Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius C'sar performed in your imperial city some mighty acts of magic by the art of demons operating in him, and was considered a god, and as a god was honored by you with a statue, which was erected in the river Tiber, between the two bridges, and bore this inscription in the Latin tongue, Simoni Deo Sancto, that is, To Simon the Holy God. And nearly all the Samaritans and a few even of other nations confess and worship him as the first God. And there went around with him at that time a certain Helena who had formerly been a prostitute in Tyre of Phoenicia; and her they call the first idea that proceeded from him." Justin relates these things, and Iren'us also agrees with him in the first book of his work, Against Heresies, where he gives an account of the man and of his profane and impure teaching. It would be superfluous to quote his account here, for it is possible for those who wish to know the origin and the lives and the false doctrines of each of the heresiarchs that have followed him, as well as the customs practiced by them all, to find them treated at length in the above-mentioned work of Ireneus. We have understood that Simon was the author of all heresy. From his time down to the present those who have followed his heresy have reigned the sober philosophy of the Christians, which is celebrated among all on account of its purity of life. But they nevertheless have embraced again the superstitions of idols, which they seemed to have renounced; and they fall down before pictures and images of Simon himself and of the above-mentioned Helena who was with him; and they venture to worship them with incense and sacrifices and libations. But those matters which they keep more secret than these, in regard to which they say that one upon first hearing them would be astonished, and, to use one of the written phrases in vogue among them, would be confounded, are in truth full of amazing things, and of madness and folly, being of such a sort that it is impossible not only to commit them to writing, but also for modest men even to utter them with the lips on account of their excessive baseness and lewdness. For what ever could be conceived of, viler than the vilest thing -- all that has been outdone by this most abominable sect, which is composed of those who make a sport of those miserable females that are literally overwhelmed with all kinds of vices.
CHAPTER 14 The Preaching of the Apostle Peter in Rome
The evil power, who hates all that is good and plots against the salvation of men, constituted
Simon at that time the father and author of such wickedness, as if to make him a mighty antagonist
of the great, inspired apostles of our Saviour. For that divine and celestial grace which
co-operates with its ministers, by their appearance and presence, quickly extinguished the
kindled flame of evil, and humbled and cast down through them "every high thing that exalted
itself against the knowledge of God." Wherefore neither the conspiracy of Simon nor that of
any of the others who arose at that period could accomplish anything in those apostolic times.
For everything was conquered and subdued by the splendors of the truth and by the divine word
itself which had but lately begun to shine from heaven upon men, and which was then flourishing
upon earth, and dwelling in the apostles themselves. Immediately the above-mentioned impostor
was smitten in the eyes of his mind by a divine and miraculous flash, and after the evil deeds
done by him had been first detected by the apostle Peter in Judea, he fled and made a great
journey across the sea from the East to the West, thinking that only thus could he live
according to his mind. And coming to the city of Rome, by the mighty co-operation of that
power which was lying in wait there, he was in a short time so successful in his undertaking
that those who dwelt there honored him as a god by the erection of a statue. But this did not
last long. For immediately, during the reign of Claudius, the all-good and gracious Providence,
which watches over all things, led Peter, that strongest and greatest of the apostles, and the
one who on account of his virtue was the speaker for all the others, to Rome s against this
great corrupter of life. He like a noble commander of God, clad in divine armor, carried the
costly merchandise of the light of the understanding from the East to those who dwelt in the West,
proclaiming the light itself, and the word which brings salvation to souls, and preaching the
kingdom of haeven.
Act of Apostles 15: 6-11
The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.
He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,
in the same way as they."
18. It is common knowledge that among all the Scriptures, even those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special preeminence, and rightly so, for they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our savior.
The Church has always and everywhere held and continues to hold that the four Gospels are of apostolic origin. For what the Apostles preached in fulfillment of the commission of Christ, afterwards they themselves and apostolic men, under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, handed on to us in writing: the foundation of faith, namely, the fourfold Gospel, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
19. Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven (see Acts 1:1). Indeed, after the Ascension of the Lord the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done. This they did with that clearer understanding which they enjoyed after they had been instructed by the glorious events of Christ's life and taught by the light of the Spirit of truth. The sacred authors wrote the four Gospels, selecting some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing, reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation but always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about Jesus. For their intention in writing was that either from their own memory and recollections, or from the witness of those who "themselves from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word" we might know "the truth" concerning those matters about which we have been instructed (see Luke 1:2-4).