Gospels

Matthew. First quoted c. 90 (Didache); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Mark. First quoted c. 172 (Tatian); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Luke. First quoted c. 140 (2 Clement); every list accepts it from c. 182.
John. First quoted c. 172 (Tatian); every list accepts it from c. 182.

Acts. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.

Paul

Romans. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
1 Corinthians. First quoted c. 96 (Clement of Rome); every list accepts it from c. 182.
2 Corinthians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Galatians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Ephesians. First quoted c. 122 (Polycarp); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Philippians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Colossians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
1 Thessalonians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
2 Thessalonians. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
1 Timothy. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
2 Timothy. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Titus. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 182.
Philemon. First quoted c. 209 (Tertullian); every list accepts it from c. 185.

Hebrews. First quoted c. 96 (Clement of Rome); every list accepts it from c. 363.

General letters

James. First quoted c. 367 (Athanasius); every list accepts it from c. 363.
1 Peter. First quoted c. 115 (Papias); every list accepts it from c. 182.
2 Peter. First quoted c. 367 (Athanasius); every list accepts it from c. 393.
1 John. First quoted c. 115 (Papias); every list accepts it from c. 182.
2 John. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 393.
3 John. First quoted c. 367 (Athanasius); every list accepts it from c. 393.
Jude. First quoted c. 206 (Clement of Alex.); every list accepts it from c. 393.

Revelation. First quoted c. 182 (Irenaeus); every list accepts it from c. 393.

AD 50–400

The dot is the first quotation. The bar starts where every later list accepts the book: long for the undisputed, a stub for those disputed into the 4th century.

Works

Names as scripture
Quotes
Alludes
Names
Disputes

Certain
Probable
Possible

Manuscripts

This book alone
With other books
Range of dates

Canon lists

Accepted
Disputed
Rejected
Not mentioned

Context

An event of the period; hover it for the story

Where it was known

0 places · 0 not placed

© OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps · © Mapterhorn, Copernicus DEM

© 2026 Todd Boteler ·

Manuscript · papyrus codex

P45

Papyrus 45 (Chester Beatty Papyrus I)3rd century (first half)

Earliest surviving codex that combined all four Gospels with Acts, physical evidence of the four-gospel collection.

Dating

Kenyon: first half of the 3rd century; INTF 200-299. Less contested than P46 or P66.

See the pages

CSNTM images(opens in a new tab)INTF NTVMR workspace(opens in a new tab)

About the manuscript

Contents: Matthew Mark Luke John ActsFragments of all four Gospels (Western order Matthew, John, Luke, Mark) and Acts; about 30 of some 220 leaves survive.
Found: Chester Beatty purchase, 1930-31; find-spot undocumented (see P46).
Held by: Chester Beatty Library, Dublin (BP I); one leaf in the Austrian National Library, Vienna
Also called: P.Chester Beatty I

© 2026 Todd Boteler ··