By the end of the second century, there is clear evidence of a fourfold collection of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Christians, by and large, accepted these four as a completed canon of the life and work of Jesus Christ.
These gospels carried apostolic authority.
“So then ‘let us serve him with fear and all reverence,’ as he himself commanded us, and as did the Apostles, who brought us the Gospel...” Polycarp of Smyrna, (circa AD 110-140) Letter to the Philippians, 6:3
“...the words of the Saviour...possess a terrible power in themselves, and are sufficient to inspire those who turn aside from the path of rectitude with awe; while the sweetest rest is afforded those who make a diligent practice of them.” Justin Martyr (circa AD 150-160), Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 8
Tatian created a “Harmony of the Gospels” known as the Diatessaron (Latin, “harmony of four” or Greek “through four”) around AD 170. He used Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The Muratorian Fragment or Muratorian Canon (circa AD 170) speaks of four gospels. The beginning of it is missing, so that it starts with the end of a sentence probably about the Gospel of Mark. Then it continues, “The third book of the Gospel is that according to Luke...The fourth of the Gospels is that of John...”
Irenaeus accepted four in number, which he names as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (11:8).
“So firm is the ground upon which these Gospels rest, that the very heretics themselves bear witness to them, and, starting from these [documents], each one of them endeavours to establish his own peculiar doctrine…These things being so, all who destroy the form of the Gospel are vain, unlearned, and also audacious; those, [I mean,] who represent the aspects of the Gospel as being either more in number than as aforesaid, or, on the other hand, fewer.” Irenaeus of Lyons (circa AD 175-185), Against Heresies, Book III, 11:7,9.
Clement accepted four gospels as what had been handed down.
In replying to the arguments of Julius Casinos, Clement speaks of “the four Gospels that have been handed down to us” pitting them against “the Gospel according to the Egyptians” which Julius was using. “In the first place we have not got the saying in the four Gospels that have been handed down to us, but in the Gospel according to the Egyptians.” Clement of Alexandria (circa AD 182-202), Stromata, Book III XIII.93
Tertullian accepted the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as authoritative.
“We lay it down as our first position, that the evangelical Testament has apostles for its authors, to whom was assigned by the Lord Himself this office of publishing the gospel. Since, however, there are apostolic men also, they are yet not alone, but appear with apostles and after apostles; because the preaching of disciples might be open to the suspicion of an affectation of glory, if there did not accompany it the authority of the masters, which means that of Christ, for it was that which made the apostles their masters. Of the apostles, therefore, John and Matthew first instil faith into us; whilst of apostolic men, Luke and Mark renew it afterwards.” Tertullian (circa AD 197-220), Against Maricion, Book 4, Chapter 2
In these four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ have heard and do yet hear the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:27).
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