Muratorian

The Muratorian Fragment, often called the Muratorian Canon, is an ancient list of New Testament books written in Latin. It is the oldest known document that presents a fairly complete outline of the New Testament as recognized in the Western church, reflecting an early stage in the formation of the Christian canon. The fragment is generally dated to the late 2nd century, though the surviving manuscript is later and the text is thought to derive from an earlier Greek source.

Discovery and manuscript history: The fragment was discovered in 1740 by the Italian scholar Ludovico Antonio Muratori in the Ambrosian Library in Milan. It is preserved in a later medieval manuscript but is understood to reflect a Roman treatment of the New Testament books around the time of its composition. Because the surviving form is a Latin translation, scholars believe the original may have been Greek.

Content and significance: The Muratorian Fragment lists the books commonly regarded as canonical in its own context, including the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and a collection of Pauline writings, along with the Apocalypse of John. It also names certain other writings that were valued for edification but were not counted as canonical, such as the Shepherd of Hermas. The fragment notes that Hebrews and some other letters circulate with some dispute over their authorship or status. Revelation is affirmed as part of the canon in this list. The Muratorian Fragment thus provides important evidence for how the Western church was recognizing and organizing the New Testament during the late second century, contributing to debates about which writings should be read publicly and considered authoritative.

Scholarly impact: As the earliest extended Western canon list, it informs our understanding of early canonical criteria, reception history, and regional differences in the forming of the New Testament canons.