The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Serapion of Antioch
d. c. 211 · Bishop of Antioch · Critic of the Gospel of Peter · Antioch
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Serapion of Antioch was
Eighth bishop of Antioch from the apostles, and the first of that see since Theophilus to leave writings Eusebius could quote. His most famous act was pastoral criticism: finding the church of Rhossus reading the apocryphal Gospel of Peter, he examined it and wrote against it, coining a principle of the maturing canon — “we receive both Peter and the other apostles as Christ, but the writings which falsely bear their names we reject.” He belongs to the turn of the third century, closing the Antiochene list of this era.
Also listed in the bishops of Antioch.
Common questions
When did Serapion die?
Serapion of Antioch is dated d. c. 211 in the archive, which places Serapion in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Serapion write?
Serapion of Antioch has 2 catalogued writings in the archive: Letter to Caricus and Pontius (fragment) and On the Gospel of Peter, to the church of Rhossus (fragment).
Which early sources mention Serapion?
Serapion of Antioch is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Serapion from?
The archive associates Serapion of Antioch with Antioch.
Writings (2)
Letter to Caricus and Pontius (fragment)
Against the New Prophecy; quoted by EusebiusThe working of the so-called new prophecy of this false order is abominated by the whole brotherhood throughout the world.Read the interlinear source text →
On the Gospel of Peter, to the church of Rhossus (fragment)
The first surviving act of gospel criticismFor we, brethren, receive both Peter and the other apostles as Christ; but the writings which falsely bear their names we reject, as men of experience.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History VI.12
c. AD 325For we, brethren, receive both Peter and the other apostles as Christ; but the writings which falsely bear their names we reject, as men of experience, knowing that such were not handed down to us.Eusebius of Caesarea · VI.12 · source text
Chronicle of Jerome (the Antiochene succession)
c. AD 380On Illustrious Men 41
c. AD 392Serapion, ordained bishop of Antioch in the eleventh year of the emperor Commodus.Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 41 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
- AD 190 · The Quartodeciman controversy, AD 190
- AD 202 · Perpetua and Felicity martyred, AD 202
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Serapion.