# On The Gospels Origins
n Irenaeus Of France [[Saint_Irenaeus_Bishop_of_Lyon_1992-op.|Against Heresies]] (Written around 180 A.D.) he argues the early disciples preached one God and his plan salvation through Jesus Christ as foretold in the prophets
> [!quote] [[Saint_Irenaeus_Bishop_of_Lyon_1992-op.|Against Heresies]]
>Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.
>These have all declared to us that there is one God, Creator of heaven and earth, announced by the law and the prophets; and one Christ the Son of God. If any one do not agree to these truths, he despises the companions of the Lord; nay more, he despises Christ Himself the Lord; yea, he despises the Father also, and stands self-condemned, resisting and opposing his own salvation, as is the case with all heretics.
This written record of Matthews's Hebrew account in *Against Heresies (180 A.D.)* is one of the first historical records to mention a copy in Hebrew. The tradition continues that Peter had Mark write his gospel and Luke wrote down Paul's words as well. Finally, Irenaeus states that John was the last gospel written by the disciple himself.
# On Lukes Gospel
Another piece showing that Irenaeus Of France was referring to the story of Zacharias in Luke 1: 22
> [!quote] [[Saint_Irenaeus_Bishop_of_Lyon_1992-op.|Against Heresies]]
>Now the Gospels, in which Christ is enthroned, are like these…That according to Luke, as having a priestly character, began with the priest Zacharias offering incense to God. For the fatted calf was already being prepared which was to be sacrificed for the finding of the younger son. <p style='text-align: right;'>
For Irenaeus Of France to be able to quote the Gospel of Luke, the book had to have already been written and circulated before the second-century.