section 4.—authenticity.
By this is meant, in this case, the substantial identity of the recently discovered document with the work known and referred to by early Christian writers under the same (or a similar) title. Of apostolic origin no one should presume to speak, since the text of the document makes no such claim, and internal evidence is obviously against such a suggestion. On the other hand, there is no reason for doubting the age of the Codex, or the accuracy of the edition published by
Bryennios
.
Eusebius
(
d
. 340) of Cæsarea, in the famous passage of his history (iii. 25) which treats of the canonical books of the New Testament, names among the “spurious” works (
νόθοι
) “the so-called
Teachings of the Apostles
” (
τω
̑
ν
ἀποστο
́
λων
αἱ
λεγο
́
μεναι
διδαχαι
́
). The plural form does
not forbid a reference to the work under discussion, since
Athanasius
(
d
. 373) has a notice clearly pointing to the same writing, in which he uses the singular (
Festal Epistle
, 39).
Rufinus
(
d
. 410) speaks of a brief work called
The Two Ways
, or
The Judgment of Peter
; and this fact, in view of the contents of the
Teaching
, furnishes one of the most important data for the critical discussion. The last notice of the
Teaching
was made by
Nicephorus
(
d
. 828) more than two hundred years before Leon made this copy.
Clement of
Alexandria
(
d. circa
216) and
Irenæus
(
mart.
202) use expressions that may indicate an acquaintance with this writing. The more extended correspondences with
Barnabas
and later disciplinary works are noticed above (sec. 3). The existence of an old Latin translation of the
Teaching
, of the tenth century, a fragment of which has been preserved, furnishes general evidence to the authenticity of the Greek copy, but by its variations suggests the presence of many textual corruptions. Its closer correspondence with
Barnabas
has led to the theory that the translator used both documents. Others suppose that its form points to a document which was the common source of the Greek form of the
Teaching
and of
Barnabas
.
The various theories based on the above facts cannot even be stated. The following positions seem, on the whole, most tenable:—
1. The Greek Codex presents substantially the writing referred to by
Eusebius
and
Athanasius
.
2. Owing to an absence of other copies, we cannot determine the purity of the text; but there is every probability of many minor corruptions.
3. This probability calls for care that we do not infer too much from verbal resemblances.
4. The resemblances to book vii.,
Apostolic Constitutions
, are, however, of such a character as establish, not only a literary connection between the two works, but also the priority of the
Teaching
5. In the case of
Barnabas
, the resemblances can be accounted for (
a
) by accepting the priority of the
Teaching
, or (
b
) by assuming a common (earlier and unknown) source, or (
c
) by accepting the priority of
Barnabas
, and assuming such corruptions in the Greek copy of the
Teaching
as will account for the supposed marks of its priority. Despite the general adoption of (
a
), there remains a strong probability that (
b
) is the correct solution of the problem.
6. The
Duæ Viæ
, spoken of by
Rufinus
, may be the common source. We have no positive evidence, but the “two ways” form so prominent a topic in most of these documents which indicate literary relationship, as to encourage this theory. If there was a common source, it probably contained only matter similar to chaps. i.-v., which was variously used by the subsequent compilers. Here a number of theories have been suggested.
2362
None of them, however, necessarily call for a very late date of the
Teaching
, or compel us to deny that
Eusebius
and
Athanasius
referred to substantially the same work as that now existing in the Codex at Constantinople. Many resemblances have been noticed in other works. Probably in the course of a few years all the data will have been collected, and a well-defined result based upon them. But, even in this period of discussion, there is remarkable agreement among critics in regard to the main question of authenticity.
2362
Compare the detailed discussions of
Harnack
,
Holtzmann
,
Warfield
, and most recently McGiffert,
Andover Review
, vol. v. pp. 430–442.