Andrew the Apostle in Early Christian Writings
Early Christian writings treat Andrew as one of Jesus’ apostles and as Simon Peter’s brother. The clearest lines tie him to his call by Jesus, his witness in the Gospel accounts, and his place among the Twelve. A later fragment also gives him a role in the tradition about John writing the Gospel. Outside those points, the evidence is limited and mostly stays close to the Bible passages.
95 early-church witnesses · 156 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about andrew the Apostle?
Early Christian writings present Andrew as one of the apostles, a brother of Simon Peter, and a real witness in the Gospel story. The strongest early witnesses here are Tatian, Origen, and Clement of Alexandria, who connect Andrew with his call to follow Jesus, his role in bringing Peter to Jesus, and his place among the apostles. One third-century fragment also says Andrew received a revelation about John writing the Gospel, but that is a narrower and later claim.
The evidence is broad for Andrew’s apostolic identity and his close link to Peter, but thin for any larger teaching about Andrew beyond the Gospel scenes and later church memory. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Andrew is remembered as one of the Twelve apostles and as Simon Peter’s brother.
- Early Christian writers often link Andrew to John 1, Matthew 4, and the apostolic lists.
- A later fragment says Andrew received a revelation about John writing the Gospel.
- The evidence is strong for Andrew’s apostolic identity but thin for extra details about his life.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Was Andrew counted among the apostles?
The Bible cards list Andrew among the Twelve apostles, and early Christian writers also refer to him as one of the apostles. The evidence is strong for Andrew’s apostolic identity, but it is mainly descriptive rather than doctrinal.
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Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
John 1:35 And in order to explain the fact that of those who were permitted to go with Jesus and see His abode, the one who was more eminent becomes also an Apostle, these words are added: One of the two that heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
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Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching
Again, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter found his own brother Simon and said to him, John 1:42 We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, Christ.
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
Of these disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, is one;
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Matthew 10:2 Direct teaching
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
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Mark 3:18 Supporting witness
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;
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Luke 6:14 Supporting witness
Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,
How do the early sources describe Andrew’s calling?
The supplied Gospel texts present Andrew as an early disciple who heard John, followed Jesus, and then brought Simon Peter to him. Early Christian writers such as Origen and Tatian repeat this calling narrative.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
...ith him that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon. He first found Simon his brother and said to him, "We have found the Messiah." And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas."
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
...alking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who was called Cephas, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. Matthew 4:19 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:20 And they immediately left their nets there and followed him. Matthew 4:21 And when he went on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And Jesus called them. Matthew 4:22 And they immediately left the boat and their father Zebedee, and followed him.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
44 Matthew 4:18 And while he was walking on the shore of the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who was called Cephas, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into 45 the sea;
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
9 John 1:40 One of the two which heard from John, and followed Jesus, was Andrew the 10 brother of Simon.
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Matthew 4:18 Direct teaching
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
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John 1:40 Supporting witness
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
Why is Andrew often linked with Peter?
Several cards explicitly identify Andrew as Simon Peter’s brother, and some early writers speak of Peter and Andrew together. This is a consistent feature of the supplied evidence.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
For this reason, we who are now gathered in one place—Peter and Andrew; James and John, the sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was surnamed Thaddaeus; and Simon the Canaanite, Matthew 10:2, and Matthias, who was counted among us in place of Judas; and James the brother of the Lord and bishop of Jerusalem; and Paul, the teacher of the Gentiles, the chosen vessel—having all come together, have written this catholic doctrine to you for your strengthening, to you who have been entrusted with the oversight of the universal Church. In it we declare to you that there is only one Almighty God, besides whom there is no other, and that you must worship and adore Him alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the most Holy Spirit; that you are to use the sacred Scriptures, the law, and the prophets; to honor your parents; to avoid all unlawful actions; to believe in the resurrection and the judgment, and to expect retribution; and to use all His creatures with thankfulness, as the works of God, with no evil in them; to marry lawfully, for such marriage is blameless. For the woman is suited to the man by the Lord, Proverbs 19
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and when he has ended his word of doctrine (I Andrew the brother of Peter speak), all standing up, let the deacon ascend upon some high seat, and proclaim, Let none of the hearers, let none of the unbelievers stay; and silence being made, let him say:—
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Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved? Supporting witness
but, as we have said above, also brothers, as Peter with Andrew, and James with John the sons of Zebedee, but of one mind with each other and Christ.
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Acts 1:13 Direct teaching
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
More related quotations from this section 1 shown
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Papias, Fragments Supporting witness
If, then, any one who had attended on the elders came, I asked minutely after their sayings,—what Andrew or Peter said, or what was said by Philip, or by Thomas, or by James, or by John, or by Matthew, or by any other of the Lord’s disciples: which things Aristion and the presbyter John, the disciples of the Lord, say.
Did any early Christian writer connect Andrew to John’s Gospel?
Caius says it was revealed to Andrew that John should write in his own name and recall all things. This is a later tradition and is much narrower than the Gospel scenes about Andrew’s call and apostolic role.
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Caius, Fragments Direct teaching
...let us tell one another whatever may be revealed to each of us." That same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that John should tell all things in his own name, while they called them to mind. And so, although different points are taught to us in the several books of the Gospels, there is no difference in the faith of believers, since in all of them all things are told under one ruling Spirit. These things concern the Lord's birth, His passion, His resurrection, His conversation with His disciples, and His twofold coming: the first in the humility of rejection, which is now past, and the second in the glory of royal power, which is still in the future. What wonder is it, then, that John also presents these several things so constantly in his epistles, saying in his own person in 1 John 1:1, "What we have seen with our eyes, and heard with our ears, and our hands have handled, that we have written." For in this way he declares that he is not only an eyewitness, but also a hearer, and besides that, the historian of all the wonderful facts concerning the Lord in their order.
Common Questions
Who was Andrew in early Christian teaching?
He was one of Jesus’ apostles and Simon Peter’s brother.
Did early Christians connect Andrew with Peter?
Yes. They often named Andrew as Peter’s brother and placed them together in the apostolic lists.
Did early Christians say Andrew helped bring others to Jesus?
Yes. In the Gospel accounts used by early writers, Andrew brings Simon Peter to Jesus and appears with Philip in John 12.
Source Index for Andrew the Apostle
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 141 ranked source links from 156 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 141 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 95
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?
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Clement of Alexandria, Who Is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?
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Peter of Alexandria, Connection to Proverbs 13:8
Bible Passages 61 included
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.