Origins & Early Life

Papias (Greek: Παπίας) or Papias of Hierapolis was a Greek Apostolic Father, Bishop of Hierapolis (modern Pamukkale, Turkey), and author who lived c. AD 60 – c. 130. He is mainly known for gathering oral stories about Jesus and his disciples from John the Elder and the daughters of Philip.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Papias compiled these in the Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord (Greek: Λογίων Κυριακῶν Ἐξήγησις), of which brief excerpts appear in the works of Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 180) and Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 320). A scholarly consensus dates his work to around 110 AD They are considered an important early source on Christian oral tradition and especially on the origins of the canonical Gospels. Although Papias's precise dates are unknown, he is traditionally born around 60–70 AD.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He lived in Hierapolis, Phrygia, in Asia Minor, and flourished in the early 2nd century. The name Papias was common in the region, suggesting that he may have been a native of the area. Much of what is known about Papias comes from later testimony and from inferences drawn from his own writings. Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna, describes him as "an ancient man", "a hearer of John [of Ephesus]", and "a companion...

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