hitroductioii. 375 



The method adopted in this thesis is, in the main, that followed 

 by the Oxford Committee, in their excellent httle book entitled 

 " The New Testament and the Apostohc Fathers." (1905.) The 

 parallels are arranged in textual order. The order of probable de- 

 pendence is shown by arranging them into classes A, A*, B, C, C — D, 

 and D. Class A includes those books which mention our Epistle by 

 name. Class A* comprehends those which do not mention the 

 Epistle b}^ name but concerning which there is no real doubt in the 

 author's mind. In class B are found those which reach a very high 

 degree of probability. In class C have been placed those which are 

 of lower degree of probability. Class C — D represents those which 

 give reason to suspect literary acquaintance, but are not sufficiently 

 suggestive to belong in class C. Class D includes all those for which 

 the evidence affords no ground for judgment. Doubtless there are 

 books placed in the last class which are related to I Peter, but since the 

 evidence is not sufficient to prove it they may be classed as doubtful. 

 For example, Colossians shows many points of very probable connec- 

 tion, but since these points, with many others, are also found in 

 Ephesians, it cannot be claimed with any degree of certainty that our 

 author knew Colossians. Under the respective classes named above, 

 the parallels have been arranged in textual order according to the 

 letters a*, b, c, c — d, and d, to which an explanation wiU apply 

 similar to that given in connection with the capital letters. The 

 present writer has ventured to assign to some books a higher degree 

 of probable dependence than the Oxford Committee has done. It 

 would seem that they have not given due consideration to the value 

 of cumulative evidence. A book containing a number of probable 

 points of connection deserves a higher rating than any single passage 

 in it. Again more evidence should be attached to probable points 

 of contact which show close contextual connection. Peculiar words 

 of themselves mean but httle, but when they occur in suggestive 

 connections they become significant. 



Many of the parallels were assigned to their respective classes with 

 much hesitancy, and it is not expected that their classification will 

 meet the approval of those who may read them reflectively, but 

 it is hoped that they may represent, on the whole, the real order 

 of connection. The notes represent in part the author's reasons 

 for the various classifications. 



The books of the Apostolic Fathers are arranged with the chrono- 

 logical order reversed, beginning at the point of positive reference 

 to I Peter and extending backward to Clement of Rome. Harnack's 

 " Chronologic " has been followed in the main. In the New Testa- 



