Church Books and Apocrypha

It should be known, however, that there are other books as well, which our fathers call not “canonical” but “ecclesiastical.” These are the Wisdom called the Wisdom of Solomon, and another Wisdom, called the Wisdom of the Son of Sirach, which the Latins have called by the general title Ecclesiasticus, a name that points not to the author of the book but to the kind of writing it is. To the same class belong the Book of Tobit, the Book of Judith, and the Books of the Maccabees. In the New Testament there are the little book called the Shepherd of Hermas, and the one called The Two Ways, or the Judgment of Peter. All of these they would have read in the churches, but not appealed to for the confirmation of doctrine. The other writings they have named “apocrypha.” These they would not have read in the churches. [a]

These are the traditions which the fathers have handed down to us. As I said, I have thought it fitting to set them out at this point, for the instruction of those who are being taught the first lessons of the church and of the faith, so that they may know from what fountains of the word of God they must draw their drink.