Early References to a Marcan Source

Our oldest extant manuscript of the Gospel of Mark dates from c. 250 C.E., that is, almost two centuries after its original composition.

It is, of course, well established that the Gospel of Mark was written in the first century, because it was then used by Matthew and Luke at that time.

Early in the second century, Bishop Papias of Hierapolis reports the existence of Mark’s gospel, but he does not quote any of its text.