CHAPTER IV.

_THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS--continued._

Basilides--The Gospel to the Hebrews--Special pleading in regard to Hippolytus and the pronouns HE and THEY--Coincidence resorted to--Events HAPPEN to occur as predicted--Valentinus--Marcion, a critic of the modern sceptical sort--J. S. Mill--Tatian: his harmony of the four Gospels--Dionysius of Corinth--The word Scripture applied to the New Testament writings--The Gospel of Peter--Serapion's explanation why it was read at Rhossus--Melito of Sardis--The word _old_ applied to the Old Testament implying the existence of a New Testament-- Claudius Apollinaris and his reference to the four Gospels-- Athenagoras--Opposite opinions as to his quotation from Matthew--The Epistle of Vienne and Lyons--Ptolemæus and Heracleon--Celsus--The Canon of Muratori 99