Ἅγιος ὁ Θεός, Ἅγιος ἰσχυρός, Ἅγιος ἀθάνατος, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶςKatholikon

Library › St Jerome › Lives of Illustrious Men

Lives of Illustrious Men

St Jerome, NPNF II.3; with Gennadius’ continuation

Jerome, 8. Mark, the evangelist

Mark1 the disciple and interpreter of Peter wrote a short gospel at the request of the brethren at Rome embodying what he had heard Peter tell. When Peter had heard this, he approved it and published it to the churches to be read by his authority as Clemens in the sixth book of his Hypotyposes and Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, record. Peter also mentions this Mark in his first epistle, figuratively indicating Rome under the name of Babylon “She who2 is in Babylon elect together with you saluteth you3 and so doth Mark my son.” So, taking the gospel which he himself composed, he went to Egypt and first preaching Christ at Alexandria he formed a church so admirable in doctrine and continence of living that he constrained all followers of Christ to his example. Philo most learned of the Jews seeing the first church at Alexandria still Jewish in a degree, wrote a book4 on their manner of life as something creditable to his nation telling how, as Luke says, the believers had all things in common5 at Jerusalem, so he recorded that he saw6 was done at Alexandria, under the learned Mark. He died in the eighth year of Nero and was buried at Alexandria, Annianus succeeding him.7

Notes

  1. Flourished 45 to 55?.
  2. She who A H T 25 30 31 a e Val etc; the church which. Her. and one mentioned by Vallarsi, also in Munich mss. 14370.
  3. She who ...saluteth you 1. Pet. 5. 13.
  4. a book A H 31 a e etc; and Her.; omit T 25 30. This work entitled On a contemplative life is still extant but is generally regarded as not by Philo.
  5. had all things in common Acts 2. 44.
  6. so ...saw A H a e 31? Val.; so he saw and recorded. T 25 30 Her.
  7. Annianus succeeding him A H T 25 30 a e Val etc.; omit Her. 31.

· Contents ·