History of the Christian Religion to the Year Two Hundred 12+

📒 This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIX. Review Of The Sixth Period--Testimony Of Heathen Writers--General Review--Conclusion. Review Of Sixth Period.--1. The termination of the sixth period, which closes the century, finds the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles coming into general circulation, with most of the other New Testament writings. The condition of the church in reference to the New Testament books at the time, is well summed up by Rev. Dr. Davidson, in the closing paragraphs of his two volumes of Introduction to the New Testament: "The following propositions," says he, "are deducible from an impartial survey of the history of the flrst two centuries:" The propositions condensed are as follows: 1. Before A. D. 170, no book of the New Testament was termed "scripture." 2. No certain trace of the existence of the fourth gospel till after Justin Martyr. [This proposition might with equal truth be applied to the synoptic gospels, in their present form.] 3. The gospels of Matthew and Mark cannot be identified with the "logia" of Matthew, and the things "said and done" by Jesus, which Mark wrote, mentioned by Fapias. 4. The writings of Paul were either not used, or little regarded, by the prominent ecclesiastical writers of the fi...