Also called the Muratorian Fragment, after the name of the discoverer and first editor,
L. A. Muratori (in the "Antiquitates italicae", III, Milan, 1740, 851 sq.), the oldest known
canon or list of books of the New Testament. The manuscript containing the canon
originally belonged to Bobbio and is now in the Bibliotheca Ambrosiana at Milan
(Cod. J 101 sup.). Written in the eighth century, it plainly shows the uncultured Latin
of that time. The fragment is of the highest importance for the history of the Biblical
canon. It was written in Rome itself or in its environs about 180 - 200; probably the
original was in Greek, from which it was translated into Latin. This Latin text is
preserved solely in the manuscript of the Ambrosiana. A few sentences of the
Muratorian Canon are preserved in some other manuscripts, especially in codices of St.
Paul's Epistles in Monte Cassino. The canon consists of no mere list of the Scriptures,
but of a survey, which supplies at the same time historical and other information
regarding each book. The beginning is missing; the preserved text begins with the last
line concerning the second Gospel and the notices, preserved entire, concerning the
third and fourth Gospels. Then there are mentioned: The Acts, St. Paul's Epistles
(including those to Philemon, Titus and Timothy; the spurious ones to the Laodiceans
and Alexandrians are rejected); furthermore, the Epistle of St. Jude and two Epistles of
St. John; among the Scriptures which "in catholica habentur", are cited the "Sapientia ab
amicis Salomonis in honorem ipsius scripta", as well as the Apocalypses of St. John and
St. Peter, but with the remark that some will not allow the latter to be read in the
church. Then mention is made of the Pastor of Hermas, which may be read anywhere
but not in the divine service; and, finally, there are rejected false Scriptures, which
were used by heretics. In consequence of the barbarous Latin there is no complete
understanding of the correct meaning of some of the sentences. As to the author, many
conjectures were made (Papias, Hegesippus, Caius of Rome, Hippolytus of Rome,
Rhodon, Melito of Sardis were proposed); but no well founded hypothesis has been
adduced up to the present.
