Church fathers

Patristic evidence, grouped by writer.

Each card shows where the available passage evidence connects a writer to a contested reading.

c. AD 370s to 390s

Ambrose

Milan

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Uses resurrection and commission material from the longer ending

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Uses the saying

John 5:3b-4 · The Angel at Bethesda

References the troubled water and healing

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Uses the passage

Acts 8:37 · The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

Uses the eunuch's confession tradition

mid 8th century

Ambrose Ansbert

Latin West

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.

c. AD 380

Apostolic Constitutions

Syria

Matthew 6:13 · The Lord's Prayer Doxology

Uses the Lord's Prayer with doxological ending

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Reflects material from Mark 16:9-20

c. AD 300s

Asterius

Asia Minor

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

c. AD 350

Athanasius

Alexandria

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Uses the saying

c. AD 400

Augustine

North Africa

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

Matthew 18:11 · The Son of Man Came to Save

Used Latin manuscripts containing Matthew 18:11

Mark 7:16 · Ears to Hear

Uses the verse

Mark 11:26 · Forgiveness and Prayer

Uses the verse

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Receives and discusses the longer ending

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Uses the saying

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son' in several places

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Says some removed the passage fearing it encouraged adultery

Acts 8:37 · The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

Uses the eunuch's confession tradition

AD 330 to 379

Basil

Supporting 'only begotten God' or mixed evidence

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Uses 'only-begotten God' in some places

c. AD 360 to 379

Basil of Caesarea

Cappadocia

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

6th century

Cassiodorus

Italy

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

In heaven are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God.

c. AD 400

Chrysostom

Constantinople

Matthew 6:13 · The Lord's Prayer Doxology

Quotes the doxology as part of Matthew's Lord's Prayer

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Uses the saying

John 5:3b-4 · The Angel at Bethesda

Expounds the angel troubling the water

c. AD 150 to 215

Clement of Alexandria

Alexandria

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Possible witness to the reading

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Shows evidence for both 'only-begotten God' and 'only-begotten Son' forms

c. AD 450

Contra Varimadum

North Africa

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three who afford testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and these three are one.

AD 484

Council of Carthage under Huneric

North Africa

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three who bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.

c. AD 250

Cyprian

North Africa

Mark 11:26 · Forgiveness and Prayer

Cites Mark's forgiveness saying: Also according to Mark.

Acts 8:37 · The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

Quotes the condition for baptism: If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

Possible allusion, debated: Cyprian's three-one language is important Latin evidence, but it is disputed whether he quotes the Comma itself or applies 1 John 5:8 theologically.

AD 376 to 444

Cyril of Alexandria

Supporting 'only begotten God' or mixed evidence

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Strongly uses 'only-begotten God'

early AD 100s

Didache 8

Syria

Matthew 6:13 · The Lord's Prayer Doxology

For thine is the power and the glory for ever.

c. AD 200s

Didascalia Apostolorum

Syria

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Knows a similar account of Christ's mercy toward a sinful woman

c. AD 360

Didymus the Blind

Alexandria

John 5:3b-4 · The Angel at Bethesda

References the angel and the troubled water

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Refers to a story of a woman accused of sin before Jesus

c. AD 360

Ephrem Syrus

Syria

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Uses Mark 16:15 in connection with the Diatessaron

c. AD 370s

Epiphanius

Cyprus

Luke 22:43-44 · The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Knows the passage and discusses its omission in some copies

before AD 150

Epistula Apostolorum

Early church

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Reflects awareness of Mark 16:9-20

c. AD 300s

Eusebius

Caesarea

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Preserves related early testimony

c. AD 300s

Eusebius of Caesarea

Caesarea

Mark 15:28 · Numbered With the Transgressors

Appears to know the verse and includes the cross-reference with Luke 22:37 in his canon tables

c. AD 300s

Eusebius of Emesa

Syria

Mark 15:28 · Numbered With the Transgressors

Probably uses the verse

late AD 300s

Eusebius Vercellensis / Latin De Trinitate tradition

Supporting 'only begotten Son'

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

late 300s

Expositio Fidei

Latin West

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

Father, Word, and Spirit; these three are one.

c. AD 527

Fulgentius of Ruspe

North Africa

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and these three are one.

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

The three are one: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three who bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit; and these three are one.

AD 329 to 390

Gregory Nazianzen

Supporting 'only begotten Son'

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

mid to late AD 300s

Gregory of Elvira

Supporting 'only begotten Son'

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Supports 'only-begotten Son'

c. AD 170s

Hegesippus

Judea

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

James prays similarly for his killers: Lord God and Father, forgive them.

c. AD 350s

Hilary of Poitiers

Gaul

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

Matthew 23:14 · Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

Uses the verse

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

c. AD 220

Hippolytus

Rome

Luke 22:43-44 · The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Cites the passage in connection with Christ's real suffering

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

c. AD 180

Irenaeus

Gaul

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Quotes Mark 16:19 by name near the conclusion of Mark.

Luke 22:43-44 · The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Refers to Christ sweating great drops of blood

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Witnesses to the saying's early use in the passion tradition

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Evidence is complex, with at least one citation supporting 'only-begotten God' and other material pointing toward Son/conflated forms

Acts 8:37 · The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

The eunuch confessed, I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God.

early 7th century

Isidore of Seville

Spain

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three who bear witness in heaven, Father, Word, and Spirit, and the three are one.

c. AD 380s to 420

Jerome

Bethlehem

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Says the passage was found in many Greek and Latin manuscripts

c. AD 390 to 407

John Chrysostom

Constantinople

Matthew 18:11 · The Son of Man Came to Save

Used Greek manuscripts containing Matthew 18:11

Matthew 23:14 · Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees

Uses the verse

c. AD 150 to 160

Justin Martyr

Rome

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Uses language connected with Mark 16:20

Luke 22:43-44 · The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Early witness to Christ's agony / bloody sweat tradition

c. AD 330

Juvencus

Spain

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the reading

medieval period

Later ecclesiastical use

Byzantine ecclesiastical tradition

1 Timothy 3:16 · God Manifest in the Flesh

The 'God' reading is dominant in the Byzantine ecclesiastical tradition

medieval period

Later Greek commentators

Greek East

Matthew 6:13 · The Lord's Prayer Doxology

Receive the doxology in Matthew 6:13

c. AD 440

Leo the Great

Rome

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Uses the passage pastorally

early centuries onward

Liturgical/ecclesiastical use

Church use

Luke 11:2-4 · The Fuller Lord's Prayer

Fuller Lord's Prayer wording is reflected in church and liturgical use.

c. AD 230

Origen

Alexandria / Caesarea

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

Uses the prayer and fasting reading

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Knows the saying

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Evidence is complex; some copies support 'Son,' while Origen is often cited for the 'God' reading

c. AD 370

Pacian of Barcelona

Spain

Acts 8:37 · The Ethiopian Eunuch's Confession

Uses the eunuch's confession tradition

c. AD 110 to 140

Papias

Asia Minor

John 7:53-8:11 · The Woman Taken in Adultery

Mentions a story of a woman accused before the Lord

c. AD 358

Phoebadius of Agen

Supporting 'only begotten Son'

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Quotes John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

c. AD 380

Priscillian

Spain

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

There are three which give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Spirit, and these three are one in Christ Jesus.

c. AD 100 to 200

Pseudo-Clement

Early church

Matthew 17:21 · Prayer and Fasting

This kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer.

c. AD 300s to 400s

Related patristic references

Related conversion tradition

Acts 9:5-6 · Kick Against the Pricks

Some writers know 'kick against the pricks' wording from Paul's conversion tradition. This is related conversion-tradition evidence rather than direct proof of the full KJV wording at Acts 9:5-6.

c. AD 170

Tatian / Diatessaron

Syria

Mark 16:9-20 · The Longer Ending of Mark

Includes material from Mark 16:9-20

Luke 22:43-44 · The Angel and Bloody Sweat

Includes the agony tradition in early Gospel harmony tradition

c. AD 170s

Tatian / Diatessaron tradition

Syria

Luke 23:34 · Father, Forgive Them

Includes the saying in harmonized Gospel tradition

early AD 200s

Tertullian

Supporting 'only begotten Son'

John 1:18 · The Only Begotten Son

Uses John 1:18 with 'only-begotten Son'

John 5:3b-4 · The Angel at Bethesda

Refers to angelic activity and healing water in connection with this passage

1 John 5:7 · The Heavenly Witnesses

The Father in the Son and the Son in the Paraclete makes three who cohere; these three are one substance.