Caius, Presbyter of Rome (also known asGaius) was a Christian author who lived and wrote towards the beginning of the3rd century.[1] Only fragments of his works are known, which are given in the collection entitledTheAnte-Nicene Fathers. However, theMuratorian fragment, an early attempt to establish thecanon of theNew Testament, is often attributed to Caius and is included in that collection.[2]
Caius was noted for his role in theological debates within the early Christian church. He is described by Eusebius as a presbyter of the Roman church, though this is inferred rather than explicitly stated. His most notable contribution is a dialogue purported to be held in Rome during the episcopate of Zephyrinus (AD 201-219), where he debates Proclus, a leader of the Montanists, about the legitimacy of Montanist prophecy.[3][4][5][6][7]
For the existing fragments from Caius' "Dialogue or Disputation Against Proclus," we are indebted toEusebius, who included them in hisEcclesiastical History.[1] In one of these fragments, Caius tells Proclus,
"And I can show the trophies of the apostles. For if you choose to go to theVatican or to theOstian Road, you will find the trophies of those who founded this church."[8]
This is described by theCatholic Encyclopedia as "a very valuable evidence of the death of Sts.Peter andPaul at Rome, and the public veneration of their remains at Rome about the year 200."[1]
There is also another series of fragments Eusebius gives from a work called "Against the Heresy of Artemon," although theAnte-Nicene Fathers note says regarding the authorship only that it is "an anonymous work ascribed by some to Caius."[9]
