The documentary record
Editorial note. This article was preserved from an older Blogger archive. Its original links and unfinished objection-and-answer section have been retained.
This was prompted by a Life & Letters of Paul class (taught by a Lutheran minister) handout and brief discussion of the extent of the canon. Hyperlinked Scripture verses are from the New American Bible.
Under construction (lots more information, including conciliar decrees, more Patristic testimony, and answers to objections, still not included)
*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes Tob. 12:8 as "Holy Scripture" in Treatise 4:32, quotes Tob. 13:6 in Treatise 11:11, and quotes Tob. 4:10 with the formula "it is written" in Letter 51:22 to Antonianus about Pope St. Cornelius the Martyr of Rome and Novatian.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Tob. 4:18 with the formula "it is written" in Defense before Emperor Constantius II 17 [PG 25B:616B].
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Tob. 4:15 in Homily 13:7 on the Statues.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Tob. 12:8-9 as "Scripture" in Letter 63:16 to the Christians of Vercellae.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Tob. 4:7 in Sermon 10:4 on the Collections.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Tob. 4:17 with the formula "what is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:20.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Jdt. 9:5-6 in On the Holy Spirit 8:19.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) quotes Jdt. 5:6 as Scripture in Oration 45:15 On Easter [PG 36:644B].
*Archbishop St. Dionysius I the Great of Alexandria (November 17) quotes Wis. 7:25 in Letter to Pope St. Dionysius of Rome 4.
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Wis. 13:5 in Catechetical Lectures 9:2.
*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes Wis. 13:5 as the words of "the Prophet" in On the Trinity 1:7.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Wis. 6:24 as "Scripture" in Discourse 2:22:79 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Wis. 1:4 as "Scripture" in On Virginity 15.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Wis. 11:20 in Epistle 219:1 to the clergy of Samosata.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) quotes Wis. 1:7 with the formula "it is written" in Oration 28:8 [PG 29:33D].
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Wis. 3:13 as "that which the Holy Spirit spoke by the Prophet" in Concerning Virginity 1:7:35.
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Wis. 1:5 in Homily 41 on the Gospel of St. John.
*Hieromonk St. Jerome the Great of Stridon (Doctor; September 30) quotes Wis. 4:9 as "what Solomon says" in Letter 58:1 to St. Paulinus of Nola.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Wis. 1:13 as "Scripture" in Conference 13:7 of the Abbot Chaermon on the Protection of God.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Wis. 2:24 in Sermon 77:2 on Whitsuntide.
*Bl. Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus quotes Wis. 4:11 in Letter 136 to Cyrus Magistrianus.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Wis. 2:24 with the formula "it is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:10.
*Hieromonk St. John of Damascus (Doctor; December 4) quotes Wis. 3:1 as "divine Scripture" in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 4:15 [PG 94:1164C].
*Hieromonk St. Aphrahat the Sage of Persia (April 7) quotes Sir. 29:17 in Demonstration 22:7 on Death and the Latter Times [PS 1.1:1004-1005].
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Sir. 3:20-21 in Catechetical Lectures 6:4.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Sir. 1:8-9 in Discourse 2:22:79 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Sir. 27:11 as "Scripture" in Hexaemeron 6:10.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Sir. 20:7 as "Scripture" in On the Duties of the Clergy 1:2:5.
*Hieromonk St. Jerome the Great of Stridon (Doctor; September 30) quotes Sir. 13:2 as "Scripture" in Letter 108:21 to St. Eustochium Julia of Rome.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Sir. 2:1 as "Scripture" in The Institutes of the Coenobia 4:38.
*Monk St. Vincent of Lérins (May 24) quotes Sir. 8:14 as what "the divine Oracles cry aloud" in Commonitory for the Authenticity and Universality of the Catholic Faith 21:51.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; December 7) quotes Sir. 3:29 as "Scripture" in Sermon 49:6 on Lent.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Sir. 12:4 with the formula "what is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:20.
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Bar. 3:36-38 in Catechetical Lectures 9:15.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Bar. 4:20,22 in Discourse 1:4:12 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Bar. 3:3 in On the Holy Spirit 6:15.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Bar. 3:38 as the words of "the Prophet" in Against Eunomius 6:4.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Bar. 5:1 as the words of "the Lord" in Concerning Repentance 1:9:43.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Bar. 3:37-38 as the words of "the Prophet" in On the Incarnation of the Lord Against Nestorius 4:13.
*Bl. Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus quotes Daniel 3:32 in Ecclesiastical History 3:11 [PG 82:1105A].
*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes Daniel 13:5 as the words of a prophet in On the Trinity 4:8.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Dan. 13:42 in Discourse 1:4:12 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Dan. 13:42 as "the prophetical writing" in On the Making of Man 16:14.
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Dan. 13:52 as "Scripture" in Homily 15:10 on First Corinthians [PG 61].
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Dan. 13:56 in Sermon 67:4 on the Passion of Christ.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Dan. 14:5 in Discourse 3:26:30 Against the Arians.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) refers Dan. 14:33-34 in Oration 18:30 on the death of his father [PG 35:1024A].
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) refers to Dan. 14:35-42 in On the Holy Spirit 23:54.
*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes 1 Macc 2:62-63 in Treatise 12:3:4.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes 1 Macc. 2:7 as coming from "the voice of a Saint" in Letter 40:33 to Roman Emperor St. Theodosius I the Great.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) refers to 2 Macc. 7:1 as Scripture in Oration 43:74 on the funeral of Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea [PG 36:596C].
*Bishop St. Augustine the Great of Hippo (Doctor of Grace; August 28 West/June 15 East) quotes 1 Macc. 2:69 in A Treatise on the Grace of Christ and on Original Sin 2:25.
*Hieromonk St. Aphrahat the Sage of Persia (April 7) refers to 2 Macc 5:19; 6:18-31 in Demonstration 5:19 on Wars, and also refers to 2 Macc. 9:18 in the same section [PS 1.1:224].
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) refers to 2 Macc 7 in Epistle 6:2 to the wife of Nectarius.
*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes 2 Macc 7:28 as the words of a prophet in On the Trinity 4:16.
Obj. 1: Inspired literature was written in Hebrew only.
Ans. 1: If this were true, it would disqualify only Wisdom and 2 Maccabees from being being inspired. But it cannot be true, or else several undisputed Old Testament books and the New Testament would be uninspired.
Obj. 2: The Deuterocanon contains historical errors.
Ans. 2:
Obj. 3: The Deuterocanon contains theological errors.
Ans. 3:
Obj. 4: The Deuterocanon contains moral errors.
Ans. 4:
Obj. 5: The New Testament never quotes from the Deuterocanon.
Ans. 5: Fallacy of a double standard. Even if the New Testament did not quote from or allude to the Deuterocanon, that would not imply that the Deuterocanon is not part of inspired Scripture. The New Testament does not quote or even allude to Esther, Song of Songs, or Ecclesiastes, but Protestants include these books in their canon.
Obj. 6: None of the Deuterocanonical books claim to be divinely inspired; some of them even deny that they are divinely inspired [1 Macc 9:27; 2 Macc 15:38]
Ans. 6:
Under construction (lots more information, including conciliar decrees, more Patristic testimony, and answers to objections, still not included)
Tobit
*Bishop St. Polycarp the Martyr of Smyrna (February 23) quotes Tob. 12:9 in Letter to the Philippians 10 [PG 5:119C].*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes Tob. 12:8 as "Holy Scripture" in Treatise 4:32, quotes Tob. 13:6 in Treatise 11:11, and quotes Tob. 4:10 with the formula "it is written" in Letter 51:22 to Antonianus about Pope St. Cornelius the Martyr of Rome and Novatian.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Tob. 4:18 with the formula "it is written" in Defense before Emperor Constantius II 17 [PG 25B:616B].
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Tob. 4:15 in Homily 13:7 on the Statues.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Tob. 12:8-9 as "Scripture" in Letter 63:16 to the Christians of Vercellae.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Tob. 4:7 in Sermon 10:4 on the Collections.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Tob. 4:17 with the formula "what is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:20.
Judith
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) refers to Jdt. 10:3-6 in Concerning Widows 7:38.*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Jdt. 9:5-6 in On the Holy Spirit 8:19.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) quotes Jdt. 5:6 as Scripture in Oration 45:15 On Easter [PG 36:644B].
Esther 10:4-16:24
*Hieromonk St. Jerome the Great of Stridon (Doctor; September 30) quotes Esth. 14:11 as the words of "Esther" in Letter 48:14 to Monk St. Pammachius of Rome.Wisdom
*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes Wis. 1:13 with the formula "it is written" in Letter 51:22 to Antonianus about Pope St. Cornelius the Martyr of Rome and Novatian.*Archbishop St. Dionysius I the Great of Alexandria (November 17) quotes Wis. 7:25 in Letter to Pope St. Dionysius of Rome 4.
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Wis. 13:5 in Catechetical Lectures 9:2.
*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes Wis. 13:5 as the words of "the Prophet" in On the Trinity 1:7.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Wis. 6:24 as "Scripture" in Discourse 2:22:79 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Wis. 1:4 as "Scripture" in On Virginity 15.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Wis. 11:20 in Epistle 219:1 to the clergy of Samosata.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) quotes Wis. 1:7 with the formula "it is written" in Oration 28:8 [PG 29:33D].
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Wis. 3:13 as "that which the Holy Spirit spoke by the Prophet" in Concerning Virginity 1:7:35.
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Wis. 1:5 in Homily 41 on the Gospel of St. John.
*Hieromonk St. Jerome the Great of Stridon (Doctor; September 30) quotes Wis. 4:9 as "what Solomon says" in Letter 58:1 to St. Paulinus of Nola.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Wis. 1:13 as "Scripture" in Conference 13:7 of the Abbot Chaermon on the Protection of God.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Wis. 2:24 in Sermon 77:2 on Whitsuntide.
*Bl. Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus quotes Wis. 4:11 in Letter 136 to Cyrus Magistrianus.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Wis. 2:24 with the formula "it is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:10.
*Hieromonk St. John of Damascus (Doctor; December 4) quotes Wis. 3:1 as "divine Scripture" in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 4:15 [PG 94:1164C].
Sirach
*Archbishop St. Dionysius I the Great of Alexandria (November 17) quotes Sir. 16:26-27 as the words of "the divine oracles" in On Nature 3.*Hieromonk St. Aphrahat the Sage of Persia (April 7) quotes Sir. 29:17 in Demonstration 22:7 on Death and the Latter Times [PS 1.1:1004-1005].
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Sir. 3:20-21 in Catechetical Lectures 6:4.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Sir. 1:8-9 in Discourse 2:22:79 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Sir. 27:11 as "Scripture" in Hexaemeron 6:10.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Sir. 20:7 as "Scripture" in On the Duties of the Clergy 1:2:5.
*Hieromonk St. Jerome the Great of Stridon (Doctor; September 30) quotes Sir. 13:2 as "Scripture" in Letter 108:21 to St. Eustochium Julia of Rome.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Sir. 2:1 as "Scripture" in The Institutes of the Coenobia 4:38.
*Monk St. Vincent of Lérins (May 24) quotes Sir. 8:14 as what "the divine Oracles cry aloud" in Commonitory for the Authenticity and Universality of the Catholic Faith 21:51.
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; December 7) quotes Sir. 3:29 as "Scripture" in Sermon 49:6 on Lent.
*Pope St. Gregory I the Great of Rome (Doctor; September 3 West/March 12 East) quotes Sir. 12:4 with the formula "what is written" in Pastoral Rule 3:20.
Baruch
*Priest St. Hippolytus the Martyr of Rome (August 13) quotes Bar. 3:35-38 with the formula "it is written" in Against the Heresy of Noetus 2 [PG 10:805B].*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Bar. 3:36-38 in Catechetical Lectures 9:15.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Bar. 4:20,22 in Discourse 1:4:12 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) quotes Bar. 3:3 in On the Holy Spirit 6:15.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Bar. 3:38 as the words of "the Prophet" in Against Eunomius 6:4.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes Bar. 5:1 as the words of "the Lord" in Concerning Repentance 1:9:43.
*Hieromonk St. John Cassian the Roman (July 23) quotes Bar. 3:37-38 as the words of "the Prophet" in On the Incarnation of the Lord Against Nestorius 4:13.
Daniel 3:24-90 (Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children)
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Daniel 3:55 in Catechetical Lectures 9:3.*Bl. Bishop Theodoret of Cyrus quotes Daniel 3:32 in Ecclesiastical History 3:11 [PG 82:1105A].
Daniel 13 (Story of Susanna)
*Bishop St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Doctor; March 13) quotes Daniel 13:45 in Catechetical Lectures 16:31.*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes Daniel 13:5 as the words of a prophet in On the Trinity 4:8.
*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Dan. 13:42 in Discourse 1:4:12 Against the Arians.
*Bishop St. Gregory of Nyssa (March 9) quotes Dan. 13:42 as "the prophetical writing" in On the Making of Man 16:14.
*Archbishop St. John I Chrysostom the Great of Constantinople (Doctor; September 13) quotes Dan. 13:52 as "Scripture" in Homily 15:10 on First Corinthians [PG 61].
*Pope St. Leo I the Great of Rome (Doctor; November 10) quotes Dan. 13:56 in Sermon 67:4 on the Passion of Christ.
Daniel 14 (Story of Bel and the Dragon)
*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes Daniel 14:5 in Treatise 11:11.*Archbishop St. Athanasius I the Great of Alexandria (Doctor; May 2) quotes Dan. 14:5 in Discourse 3:26:30 Against the Arians.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) refers Dan. 14:33-34 in Oration 18:30 on the death of his father [PG 35:1024A].
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) refers to Dan. 14:35-42 in On the Holy Spirit 23:54.
1 Maccabees
*Priest St. Hippolytus the Martyr of Rome (August 13) quotes 1 Macc 2:33 in Commentary on Daniel 2:32.*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes 1 Macc 2:62-63 in Treatise 12:3:4.
*Bishop St. Ambrose the Great of Milan (Doctor; December 7) quotes 1 Macc. 2:7 as coming from "the voice of a Saint" in Letter 40:33 to Roman Emperor St. Theodosius I the Great.
*Archbishop St. Gregory the Theologian of Constantinople (Doctor; January 2) refers to 2 Macc. 7:1 as Scripture in Oration 43:74 on the funeral of Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea [PG 36:596C].
*Bishop St. Augustine the Great of Hippo (Doctor of Grace; August 28 West/June 15 East) quotes 1 Macc. 2:69 in A Treatise on the Grace of Christ and on Original Sin 2:25.
2 Maccabees
*Bishop St. Cyprian the Martyr of Carthage (September 16) quotes 2 Macc 9:12 in Treatise 12:3:4.*Hieromonk St. Aphrahat the Sage of Persia (April 7) refers to 2 Macc 5:19; 6:18-31 in Demonstration 5:19 on Wars, and also refers to 2 Macc. 9:18 in the same section [PS 1.1:224].
*Bishop St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (Doctor; January 1) refers to 2 Macc 7 in Epistle 6:2 to the wife of Nectarius.
*Bishop St. Hilary of Poitiers (Doctor; January 13) quotes 2 Macc 7:28 as the words of a prophet in On the Trinity 4:16.
Obj. 1: Inspired literature was written in Hebrew only.
Ans. 1: If this were true, it would disqualify only Wisdom and 2 Maccabees from being being inspired. But it cannot be true, or else several undisputed Old Testament books and the New Testament would be uninspired.
Obj. 2: The Deuterocanon contains historical errors.
Ans. 2:
Obj. 3: The Deuterocanon contains theological errors.
Ans. 3:
Obj. 4: The Deuterocanon contains moral errors.
Ans. 4:
Obj. 5: The New Testament never quotes from the Deuterocanon.
Ans. 5: Fallacy of a double standard. Even if the New Testament did not quote from or allude to the Deuterocanon, that would not imply that the Deuterocanon is not part of inspired Scripture. The New Testament does not quote or even allude to Esther, Song of Songs, or Ecclesiastes, but Protestants include these books in their canon.
Obj. 6: None of the Deuterocanonical books claim to be divinely inspired; some of them even deny that they are divinely inspired [1 Macc 9:27; 2 Macc 15:38]
Ans. 6: