Accepted and Disputed Books

Now that we have reached this point, it is reasonable to sum up the writings of the New Testament that have been mentioned. First, then, must be placed the holy four of the Gospels, and after them the book of the Acts of the Apostles. After this the letters of Paul are to be counted. Next in order the first letter of John now in circulation, and likewise the letter of Peter, must be recognized. After these may be placed, if it seems right, the Revelation of John; we will set out the different opinions about it at the proper time. [a] These, then, belong among the accepted writings. Among the disputed writings, which are nevertheless familiar to most people, are the letter called James’s and that of Jude, the second letter of Peter, and those named the second and third of John, whether they belong to the evangelist or to another man of the same name. [c]

Among the spurious writings must also be placed the book of the Acts of Paul, the so-called Shepherd, the Apocalypse of Peter, and besides these the letter in circulation under the name of Barnabas and the so-called Teachings of the Apostles. And further, as I said, the Revelation of John, if it seems right: some, as I said, reject it, but others count it among the accepted books. [d] Some have also counted among these the Gospel according to the Hebrews, in which those Hebrews who have received Christ take particular delight. [f]

All these would belong among the disputed books. Even so, we have felt obliged to draw up a list of these as well. In it we distinguish the writings that by the Church’s tradition are true, unfeigned and acknowledged from the others, which are not part of the Testament but disputed, and yet known to most writers of the Church. We did this so that we might know both these books themselves and the books the heretics put forward under the apostles’ names: those containing gospels, such as those of Peter, Thomas and Matthias, or of others besides these, and those containing acts, such as the Acts of Andrew, of John and of the other apostles. Not one of these has any man in the succession of the Church’s writers ever thought worth mentioning in his writings. [g] Moreover, the character of their style is far removed from the manner of the apostles, and their thought and the purpose of what they relate are so utterly out of tune with true orthodoxy that they plainly show themselves to be the fabrications of heretics. For this reason they are not to be placed even among the spurious books, but must be set aside as altogether absurd and impious. [i]