Right?
•…calling Paul an apostle2
•…quoting Paul as inspired (16 times)2
Right?
•…calling Paul an apostle (like Peter).1 •…quoting Paul as inspired.2
• Ignatius to the Philadelphians 4 — “Abraham, and…., and Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets; as of Peter, and Paul, and the rest of the apostles”
• Ignatius to the Romans 4:3 — “I do not, as Peter and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles;” • Ignatius to the Ephesians 12:2 — “…with Paul, the holy, the martyred, inasmuch as he was ‘a chosen vessel’; at whose feet may I be found, … saints,”
• Ephesians 5:25 — ”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,”)
Right?1 This is relevant because.2
• 2 Clement 14:5 — “…No man can declare or tell those things which the Lord hath prepared for His elect.”
Compare Paul: • 1 Cor 2:9 — “… ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [the elect].’”
Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Developments: “[This] suggests that by the time of the author of 2 Clement was writing, the Gospels and Paul's writings were being treated as sacred texts, equally useful as the OT to be used in saying something authoritative about God and 'the Lord Jesus.” [Ben Witherington, “Lord”, eds. Martin & Davids (IVP, 2010), .]
Right?
The Martrydom of Polycarp 1:2 — ”For he lingered that he might be delivered up, even as the Lord did, to the end that we too might be imitators of him, not lookingonly to that which concerneth ourselves, but also to that which concerneth our neighbors. For it is the office of true and steadfast love, not only to desire that oneself be saved, but all the brethren also.” Compare:
Phil 2:4 — ”do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Right?
Unknown Author (writing c. AD 120-2nd century): “The Apostle, perceiving the force [of this conjunction], and blaming that knowledge which, without true doctrine, is admitted to influence life, declares, "Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.” [Epistle to Diognetus 12:5] Compare: 1 Cor 8:1 — “… ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up.” [ESV]
Right?
Papias: “even as it is said by the apostle [Paul], ‘For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.’” (Cf. 1 Cor 15:25 — ”For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”) [As cited by Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 5.36](Alternatively in what’s labeled, “Fragments of Papias 5”)1>