Serapion,^37873787    Westcott, Canon, p. 444.  Lardner, Credib., ii. 264, 417. Bishop of Antioch.

[a.d. circa 190–200–211.]  He was the eighth bishop of Antioch, a diligent writer and exemplary pastor.  Little as we have of his remains, Lardner shows how very useful is that little.  (1) He testifies to the Apostles as delivering the words of Christ Himself; (2) to the jealousy of the early Christians in sifting inspired writings from those of no authority as Scriptures; (3) to their methods, as in the case of the pseudo-gospel of Peter; and (4) to the utterly apocryphal 775character of that book, which Grabe and others suppose to be the work of Leucius, a noted forger and falsifier.  It had never been heard of in the great See of Antioch, and this famous bishop could only get sight of it by fishing it out of the dirty pool of the Docetæ.

I.

From the Epistle to Caricus and Ponticus.^37883788    In Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., v. 19.

That ye may see also that the proceedings of this lying confederacy,^37893789    Ψευδοῦς τάξεως. to which is given the name of New Prophecy, is abominated among the whole brotherhood throughout the world, I have sent you letters of the most blessed Claudius Apollinarius, who was made bishop of Hierapolis in Asia.

II.

From the Book Concerning the Gospel of Peter.^37903790    In Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., v. 12.

For we, brethren, receive both Peter and the rest of the apostles as Christ Himself.  But those writings which are falsely inscribed with their name,^37913791    The reading of Migne, ὀνόματι, is adopted instead of ὁνόματα. we as experienced persons reject, knowing that no such writings have been handed down to us.^37923792    Τὰ τοιαῦτα οὐ παρελάβομεν.  When, indeed, I came to see you, I supposed that all were in accord with the orthodox faith; and, although I had not read through the Gospel inscribed with the name of Peter which was brought forward by them, I said:  If this is the only thing which threatens^37933793    Δοκοῦν. to produce ill-feeling among you, let it be read.  But, now that I have learnt from what has been told me that their mind was secretly cherishing some heresy,^37943794    Αἱρέσει τινὶ ὁ νοῦς αὐτῶν ἐνεφώλευεν. I will make all haste to come to you again.  Expect me therefore, brethren, shortly.  Moreover, brethren, we, having discovered to what kind of heresy Marcion adhered, and seen how he contradicted himself, not understanding of what he was speaking, as you will gather from what has been written to you^37953795    The construction is not again resumed.—for, having borrowed this said Gospel from those who were familiar with it from constant perusal, namely from the successors of those who were his leaders in the heresy, whom we call Docetæ (for most of the opinions held by him are derived from their teaching), we were able to read it through; and while we found most of its contents to agree with the orthodox account of the Saviour, we found some things inconsistent with that, and these we have set down below for your inspection.

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