Answer · confidence: partial
Which books does the Muratorian list accept or reject, compared to today's New Testament?
Research question: Which books does the Muratorian fragment name as accepted, and which works does it reject, and how do those choices compare with the later New Testament books?
The records show the fragment accepts the Gospels of Mark and Luke 2, and it recognizes four Gospels, with Matthew and Mark inferred from a mutilated text 7. It also accepts the apocalypses of John and Peter, though some in the church did not want the latter read in worship 3, along with the Wisdom of Solomon 4 and all thirteen epistles bearing Paul's name 10. On the rejected side, it excludes the Shepherd of Hermas from the apostolic canon 1, rejects writings tied to Arsinoes, Valentinus, and Miltiades 5, and rejects a psalter composed for Marcion 6. Compared with the later New Testament, the fragment omits Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and James 9, and Eusebius later placed Acts, 1 Peter, and 1 John among universally received books 11. The sources do not fully list the fragment's accepted books or explain its treatment of Acts, so this answer is incomplete; the newest source fact is dated August 28, 2026, about six weeks before October 2026 12.
Checked 2026-10-22. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The Muratorian fragment excludes the Shepherd of Hermas from the apostolic canon because it belongs to the present era rather than the apostolic age.
"the Shepherd of Hermas was excluded from the canon because it belonged to the present era rather than to the apostolic age"The Date of the Muratorian Fragment: Adolf von Harnack
[2] supported
The Muratorian fragment accepts the Gospels of Mark and Luke despite their non-apostolic authorship, while noting it does not reflect traditions linking the third Gospel directly to Paul.
"the Gospels by the non-apostles Mark and Luke (Harnack notes that the fragment does not betray awareness of traditions assigning the third Gospel more directly to Paul) could be included"The Date of the Muratorian Fragment: Adolf von Harnack
[3] documented
The fragment accepts only two apocalypses, those of John and of Peter, though some in the church did not want the latter read in worship.
"We accept only the Apocalypses of John and of Peter, although some of us do not want it to be read in the Church."Muratorian fragment (muratorian-latin), part 2 [Muratorian fragment]
[4] supported
The fragment accepts the Wisdom of Solomon, described as written by friends of Solomon in his honor.
"so also the Wisdom of Solomon written by friends in his honor."Muratorian fragment (muratorian-latin), part 2 [Muratorian fragment]
[5] documented
The fragment rejects writings associated with Arsinoes, Valentinus, and Miltiades (Metiades) entirely.
"But we accept nothing at all of Arsinoes, or Valentinus, or Metiades (?)."Muratorian fragment (muratorian-latin), part 2 [Muratorian fragment]
[6] supported
The fragment rejects a new book of Psalms composed for Marcion together with Basilides and the Cataphrygians of Asia.
"Those also [are rejected] who composed a new book of Psalms for Marcion together with Basilides and the Cataphrygians of Asia (?)"Muratorian fragment (muratorian-latin), part 2 [Muratorian fragment]
[7] supported
The Muratorian Fragment explicitly recognizes four Gospels, with the two later ones being Luke and John; the first (Matthew) and second (Mark) are inferred from the mutilated text.
"Although the Muratorian Canon is mutilated at the beginning, it definitely recognizes four Gospels, of which the two later are those of St. Luke and St. John."Canon Muratorianus : the earliest catalogue of the books of the New Testament, edited with notes .. (1867)
[8] supported
The fragment says The Shepherd of Hermas may be read privately but cannot be publicly read in church or counted among the Prophets or Apostles.
"And therefore, it should indeed be read, but it cannot be published for the people in the Church,"Muratorian fragment (muratorian-latin), part 2 [Muratorian fragment]
[9] documented
Four books that are now in the New Testament, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and James, are not mentioned in the Muratorian list.
"Four books, which now form part of the New Testament, are not mentioned in this ancient list—Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, and James"Canon Muratorianus : the earliest catalogue of the books of the New Testament, edited with notes .. (1867)
[10] supported
All thirteen Epistles bearing Paul's name are mentioned in the Muratorian Fragment, while the Epistle to the Hebrews is absent from that list.
"contained the thirteen to which his name is prefixed, all of which are mentioned in the Fragment."Canon Muratorianus : the earliest catalogue of the books of the New Testament, edited with notes .. (1867)
[11] supported
Later, Eusebius placed Acts, 1 Peter, 1 John, and perhaps the Apocalypse in the first class of universally received books, alongside the Gospels and Paul's epistles; 1 Peter was absent from the Muratorian list.
"the first class consisted only of the Acts, 1 Peter, 1 John, and perhaps the Apocalypse."Canon Muratorianus : the earliest catalogue of the books of the New Testament, edited with notes .. (1867)
[12] supported
The paper argues that the Muratorian Fragment was an attempt to give a later canon position a venerable second-century precedent. The abstract does not name the books the fragment accepts or rejects.
"This paper argues that the Fragment represents an attempt to provide a venerable second-century precedent for a later position on canon."The Muratorian Fragment as Roman Fake (2018)
[13] supported
The Muratorian fragment treats the letters to the Laodiceans and to the Alexandrians as forgeries written in Paul's name, so it rejects them.
"[and] another to the Alexandrians, [both] forged in Paul’s"Book, page 346
[14] supported
The Muratorian Fragment refers to epistles to the Laodiceans and the Alexandrians.
"reference in the Muratorian Fragment to the epistles to the Laodiceans and the Alexandrians"Pseudonymity, the New Testament, and Deception, page 314
[15] supported
The Muratorian Canon contains a statement mentioning an epistle to the Laodiceans and another to the Alexandrians.
"to the Laodiceans, [and] another to the Alexan"Pseudonymity, the New Testament, and Deception, page 314
[16] supported
The Muratorian Canon mentions a letter to the Alexandrians alongside a letter to the Laodiceans, both described as apocryphal rather than accepted scripture.
"letter to the Alexandrians, which is mentioned, along with Laodiceans, in the Muratorian Canon"Book, page 182
[17] supported
The reference to Laodiceans in the Muratorian Fragment most likely points to an apocryphal letter attributed to Paul.
"Most likely, the reference to Laodiceans in the Muratorian Fragment is to an apocryphal"Pseudonymity, the New Testament, and Deception, page 314
[18] supported
The source notes that the Muratorian Fragment on the Canon refers to the Shepherd, though the excerpt is cut off before saying how the fragment treats it.
"From the Muratorian Fragment on the Canon! we learn that the Shepherd ..."The early Christian fathers., page 234
[19] supported
The letter to the Alexandrians, mentioned in the Muratorian Canon, is lost and cannot be recovered.
"that Alexandrians is irretrievable"Book, page 182
[20] documented
Canon Muratori is a list of New Testament books found by Ludovico Antonio Muratori in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, contained in a codex dating from the eighth or possibly seventh century.
"As everyone knows, Canon Muratori is a list of New Testament books that was found by Ludovico Antonio Muratori (1672–1750) in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, and is contained in a codex dating from the eighth or possibly the seventh century"Canon Muratori: A Fourth–Century List (1973)
[21] documented
The manuscript containing the canon list belonged originally to Columban's Monastery at Bobbio.
"which belonged originally to Columban's Monastery at Bobbio"Canon Muratori: A Fourth–Century List (1973)