Four categories of worthy sources in Papias's framework

(1) People who attended on the elders — those who heard authoritative teachers firsthand, not general Christians or random community members. (2) The elders themselves — appointed by the apostles to preserve doctrine (not the same as the disciples). (3) The disciples of Jesus — seven named (Andrew, Peter, Philip, Thomas, James, John, Matthew) representing the full list. (4) Aristion and the Elder John — called "Lord's disciples" meaning they heard Jesus himself.