Muratorian Fragment in Early Christian Writings

Origen, Commentary on John

For, judging by the words of the phrase, "My son, beware of making many books," it seems to point to two things. First, that we should not own many books. Second, that we should not write many books. If the first is not the meaning, then the second must be. And if the second is the meaning, the first does not necessarily follow. In either case, it seems to tell us that we should not make many books. I could take my stand on this saying now before us and send you the text as my excuse. I could also support this position by appealing to the fact that not even the saints found time to write many books. In that way, I might withdraw from the agreement we made with each other and stop writing what I was supposed to send you. You, on your side, would no doubt feel the force of the text I have quoted, and might excuse me in the future. But we must handle Scripture carefully, and we must not congratulate ourselves that, because we see the first meaning of a text, we understand it completely. Therefore, I do not shrink from presenting the excuse that I think I can offer for myself, and from pointing out the arguments that you would certainly use against me if I acted against our agreement.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III

...a with a collection of all meritorious writings. He requested the people of Jerusalem to have their Scriptures translated into Greek. At that time, they were still under Macedonian rule and sent seventy of their elders, who were well-versed in the Scriptures and both languages, to fulfill Ptolemy's request. Ptolemy wanted to test them individually, fearing they might conceal the truth by consulting together, so he separated them and asked each one to write the same translation. He did this for all the books. When they gathered before Ptolemy and compared their interpretations, God was glorified, and the Scriptures were acknowledged as truly divine. All of them read out the common translation in the same words and names, so even the Gentiles present perceived that God inspired the translation. It was not surprising that God did this, as He had, during the captivity under Nebuchadnezzar, inspired Esdras the priest to recast the Scriptures corrupted during the captivity and re-establish Mosaic legislation with the people when the Jews returned to their land after seventy years in the time of Artaxerxes, king of the Persians.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology

...e kings who were ruling among the Jews at various times. The prophets themselves arranged them into books in their own Hebrew language. When Ptolemy, the king of Egypt, established a library and attempted to gather the writings of all men, he also learned about these prophets and sent a request to Herod, who was king of the Jews at that time, asking that the books of the prophets be sent to him. King Herod did send them, written in the mentioned Hebrew language. When their contents proved to be unintelligible to the Egyptians, Ptolemy again sent a request for men to be assigned to translate them into Greek. Once this was done, the books remained with the Egyptians, where they still are to this day. They are also in the possession of all Jews throughout the world; but they, although they read, do not understand what is written and consider us foes and enemies. Like you, they kill and punish us whenever they have the power, as you can well believe. For in the recent Jewish war, Barchochebas, the leader of the Jewish revolt, ordered that only Christians should be subjected to cruel punishments unless they denied Jesus Christ and shouted blasphemies. In these prophetic books, we fou

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

And where is all this rich knowledge? And where are these mysteries? And where are the books? For the only ones still in existence are Proverbs, Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. What then? Does Scripture speak falsely? God forbid. But the subject of his writings was varied, as is shown by the title Song of Songs. For that indicates that in this one book he brought together the contents of the 5,000 songs. Moreover, in the days of Hezekiah, some of the books were selected for use, and others were set aside. Therefore Scripture says, "These are the mixed Proverbs of Solomon, which the friends of Hezekiah the king copied out." And from where did they take them, except from the books containing the 3,000 parables and the 5,000 songs? Out of these, then, the wise friends of Hezekiah took those portions that related to the building up of the Church. And Hezekiah did away with Solomon's books on the Parables and Songs, in which he wrote about the nature of plants, and all kinds of animals belonging to the dry land, and the air, and the sea, and about cures for disease. He did this because the people looked to these for remedies for their diseases, and neglected to seek their h

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

...ened in Persia at Christ's birth is a fragment of that famous work which Sextus Julius Africanus, a Christian author of the third century after Christ, wrote on the history of the world in chronological order up to the reign of Macrinus. He presented it in five books to Alexander, the son of Mammaea, in order to obtain the restoration of his native town, Emmaus. With the same hope that, as I see, stirred Lambecius and his summarizer Nesselius, I also set myself most eagerly to examine the manuscripts in our Electoral Library. But, as the common proverb says, I found coals instead of treasure. This narrative, far from being something that should be credited to a writer praised by the common judgment of antiquity, contains nothing worthy of the talent of Africanus the chronographer. Therefore, since the ancients unanimously testify that he was a man of complete learning and very sharp judgment, while the author of the Cesti, which also bears the name of Africanus, has long been marked by critics as either childishly gullible or amazingly inclined to superstitious fantasies, I can easily agree with those who think that he was a different person from the chronographer. I would assig

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

... gods "Sioi," not "Theoi"; and for counsel they used the word "bule," not "boule." And so the Sibyl received her name as if it were "Siobule." But he says that there were ten Sibyls, and he listed them all together with the writers who wrote an account of each one. The first was from the Persians, and Nicanor mentioned her, who wrote about the deeds of Alexander of Macedon. The second was from Libya, and Euripides mentions her in the prologue of the Lamia. The third was from Delphi, and Chrysippus speaks of her in the book that he wrote about divination. The fourth was a Cimmerian in Italy, whom Naevius mentions in his books on the Punic War, and Piso in his annals. The fifth was from Erythrae, and Apollodorus of Erythrae declares that she was his own countrywoman. He says that she foretold to the Greeks, when they were setting out for Ilium, both that Troy was doomed to be destroyed and that Homer would write falsehoods. The sixth was from Samos. Eratosthenes writes about her that he had found a written notice in the ancient annals of the Samians. The seventh was from Cumae, named Amalthaea, though some call her Herophile or Demophile. They say that she brought nine books to Ki

Origen, Against Celsus

...sed that Celsus includes the Odrysians, Samothracians, Eleusinians, and Hyperboreans among the most ancient and learned nations, but does not think the Jews worthy of a place among them, either for learning or for antiquity. This is so even though many writings are in circulation among the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Greeks that testify that the Jews are an ancient people, though I have thought it unnecessary to quote them. For anyone who wishes may read what Flavius Josephus wrote in his two books, On the Antiquity of the Jews, where he gathers a large number of writers who testify to the antiquity of the Jewish people. There is also the Discourse to the Greeks by Tatian the younger, in which he very learnedly lists those historians who have written about the antiquity of the Jewish nation and of Moses. It seems, then, that Celsus says these things not from a love of truth, but from a spirit of hatred, because his purpose is to attack the origin of Christianity, which is connected with Judaism. More than that, he calls Homer's Galactophagi, the Druids of the Gauls, and the Getae the most learned and ancient tribes, because of the resemblance between their traditions and those o

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

...lum, men digging there found two stone chests. In one was the body of Numa. In the other were seven books in Latin about the law of the pontiffs, and the same number written in Greek about systems of philosophy. In these books he not only overturned the religious rites that he himself had established, but all the others as well. When this matter was brought to the senate, it was ordered that these books should be destroyed. Therefore Quintus Petilius, the praetor who had jurisdiction in the city, burned them before an assembly of the people. This was a senseless act. For what benefit was there in burning the books, when the reason they were burned—that they took away the authority due to religion—was itself passed down to memory? Then everyone in the senate was extremely foolish. For the books could have been burned, and yet the matter itself could have remained unknown. So, while they wanted to show even to future generations with what piety they defended religious institutions, by their own testimony they reduced the authority of those institutions.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

...es in this way and brought them back to their master, who was still in prison. When that clever man received these copies, he began to search through our books for every statement that seemed to support his idea of dualism. Yet this was not really his own idea, but rather that of Scythianus, who had taught it long before him. And just as he did when he was disputing with me, so also then, by rejecting some things and changing others in our Scriptures, he tried to show that they supported his own teachings, except that the name of Christ was attached to them there. For that reason, he pretended to take that name for himself, so that people in the different communities, hearing the holy and divine name of Christ, would have no reason to curse and trouble his disciples. Moreover, when they found the word in our Scriptures about the Paraclete, he imagined that he himself might be that Paraclete. For he had not read carefully enough to notice that the Paraclete had already come, namely, at the time when the apostles were still on the earth. So, after he had formed these impious inventions, he also sent his disciples out to boldly proclaim these fictions and errors, and to spread thes

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II

...cholars say, two and a half letters and signifies the Lord who encompasses heaven and earth. In the ancient Hebrew language, Jesus means "heaven," while "earth" is expressed by the words sura usser. Therefore, the word that encompasses heaven and earth is Jesus. Their explanation of the Episemon is false, and their numerical calculations are clearly incorrect. In their language, Soter is a Greek word of five letters, but in Hebrew, Jesus contains only two and a half letters. Thus, the total they calculate, eight hundred and eighty-eight, is invalid. Furthermore, Hebrew letters do not match Greek letters in number, although Hebrew, being more ancient and constant, should maintain the calculations linked to the names. These ancient, original, and sacred Hebrew letters are ten in number (but are written using fifteen), with the last letter joined to the first. They write some letters in sequence like we do, but others in reverse, from right to left, tracing the letters backwards. The name Christ should also align with the Æons of their Pleroma, as He was produced for the establishment and correction of their Pleroma, according to their claims. Likewise, the Father should contain th

Tertullian, On Monogamy

After the ancient examples of the patriarchs, let us equally pass on to the ancient documents of the legal Scriptures, that we may treat in order of all our canon.

Caius, Fragments

The sacred Scriptures they have boldly falsified, and the canons of the ancient faith they have rejected, and Christ they have ignored, not inquiring what the sacred Scriptures say, but laboriously seeking to discover what form of syllogism might be contrived to establish their impiety.

Caius, Fragments

They have boldly falsified the sacred Scriptures, rejected the rules of the ancient faith, and ignored Christ. They do not ask what the sacred Scriptures say. Instead, they work hard to discover what kind of syllogism they can invent to support their impiety. And if anyone puts a word of divine Scripture before them, they examine whether it can make a connected or a disjoined form of syllogism. Leaving the holy Scriptures of God, they study geometry, like men who are of the earth and speak of the earth, and who are ignorant of Him who comes from above. Some of them carefully study Euclid. Aristotle and Theophrastus are admired. And Galen, forsooth, is perhaps even worshipped by some of them. But these men misuse the arts of unbelievers to establish their own heretical doctrine, and by the craft of the impious they adulterate the simple faith of the divine Scriptures. So what need is there to say that they are not near the faith? For this reason they have boldly laid hands on the divine Scriptures, claiming that they have corrected them. And so that I may not seem to say this falsely against them, anyone who wishes may find out for himself. For if anyone chooses to collect all their

Papias, Fragments

...g by Papias, an ancient man who was a hearer of John and a friend of Polycarp, in the fourth of his books; for five books were composed by him." Thus wrote Irenaeus. Moreover, Papias himself, in the introduction to his books, makes it clear that he was not a hearer and eyewitness of the holy apostles; but he tells us that he received the truths of our religion from those who were acquainted with them [the apostles] in the following words.

Papias, Fragments

...ng by Papias, an ancient man who heard John and was a friend of Polycarp, in the fourth of his five books. He added, saying, “Now these things are believable to believers. And Judas the traitor, not believing, asked, ‘How shall such growths happen by the Lord?’ The Lord replied, ‘Those who come will see them.’ These are the times mentioned by the prophet Isaiah: ‘And the wolf shall lie down with the lamb,’ and so on.”

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments

...ht at once to begin their festival joy and gladness. But in what you wrote to me, you showed very clearly, and with an intelligent understanding of the Holy Scriptures, that they do not seem to give any exact statement of the hour when He rose. For the Evangelists describe differently the people who came one after another to the tomb, and all declare that they found the Lord already risen. Matthew says it was at the end of the Sabbath. John writes that it was early, while it was still dark. Luke says it was very early in the morning. Mark tells us it was very early in the morning, at the rising of the sun. So no one has shown us clearly the exact time when He rose. It is admitted, however, that those who came to the tomb at the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, found that He was no longer lying in it. And let us not suppose that the Evangelists disagree or contradict one another. Even if there seems to be some small difficulty in the matter we are asking about, they all agree that the Light of the world, our Lord, rose on that one night, though they differ about the hour. So we may rightly try, with a wise and faithful mind, to bring their

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks

...remains of the small huts at the Pharos still preserved and heard these stories from the locals who received them as part of their tradition. We now share with you what you can also learn from others, especially from the wise and esteemed who have written about these things, like Philo and Josephus, and many others. If anyone prone to contradiction claims these books don't belong to us but to the Jews, and argues we falsely profess to have learned from them, let them know from what is written in these books that their teachings refer not to them, but to us. It is by Divine Providence for our sake that the books related to our religion are still preserved among the Jews. To avoid accusations of fraud by producing them only from the Church, we demand they also come from the Jewish synagogue, so that it may be evident that the laws written by holy men for instruction pertain to us.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

The best introduction to this production will be the following preface, as given in Migne:—Many men of learning thus far have been of opinion that the narrative by Africanus of events happening in Persia on Christ's birth, is a fragment of that famous work which Sextus Julius Africanus, a Christian author of the third century after Christ, composed on the history of the world in the chronological order of events up to the reign of Macrinus, and presented in five books to Alexander, son of Mammaea, with the view of obtaining the restoration of his native town Emmaus.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus

so that the Hebrews, who also are our ancestors, and from whom we have those sacred books which are older than all authors, as already said, are proved to be more ancient than the cities which were at that time renowned among the Egyptians.

Methodius, Fragments

Now it was the preparation, about the third hour, as the accurate books have it, and the autograph copy itself of the Evangelist John, which up to this day has by divine grace been preserved in the most holy church of Ephesus, and is there adored by the faithful.

Caius, Fragments

nor did they receive such copies of the Scriptures from those by whom they were first instructed in the faith, and they cannot produce copies from which these were transcribed.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments

For the wise men among the Greeks call themselves the makers of their books, although the same are fathers of their books.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III

Wherefore also Marcion and his followers have betaken themselves to mutilating the Scriptures, not acknowledging some books at all;

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

And where are the books? For the only ones extant are Proverbs, and Wisdom, and Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs.

Commodianus, Writings

...d his language is the wretched patois of North Africa. But the piety and earnestness of a practical Christian seem conspicuous everywhere in this fragment of antiquity.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus)

...y and pursuit of every pleasure. Over all these, desire rules like a tyrant. And countless passions related to these increase, by which uncontrolled habits are carried to the highest degree. And Scripture says, "Whips are prepared for the intemperate, and punishments for the shoulders of fools," Proverbs 19:29, calling the powers of intemperance, and the steady endurance of it, "the shoulders of fools." Therefore, "Remove vain hopes from your servants," it says, "and turn away shameful desires from me. Let not appetite for food and intercourse take hold of me."

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

Balsamon: In agreement with the sixty-fourth Apostolical Canon, which orders that we must not fast on the Sabbath except for the Great Sabbath, and with the sixty-ninth canon, which severely punishes those who do not fast during Holy Lent, and on every fourth day of the week and day of preparation, this present canon also gives the same ruling.

Origen, Commentary on John

...ese excuses. We began with the words of the Preacher, where he says, “My son, beware of making many books.” With this I compare a saying from the Proverbs of the same Solomon: “In the multitude of words you shall not escape sin, but in sparing your lips you shall be wise.” Here I ask whether speaking many words of any kind is a multitude of words in the sense meant by the Preacher, even if the many words a man speaks are sacred and connected with salvation. If this is so, and if the man who uses many health-giving words is guilty of a multitude of words, then Solomon himself did not escape this sin. For he spoke three thousand proverbs, and five thousand songs, as 1 Kings 4:32 says. He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that springs out of the wall. He also spoke of beasts and birds, and creeping things and fish. How, I ask, can anyone give instruction without a multitude of words, using the phrase in its simplest sense? Does not Wisdom herself say to those who are perishing, in Proverbs 1:24, “I stretched out my words, and you did not heed”? Do we not also find Paul extending his discourse from morning to midnight, in Acts 20:7-9, when Eutychus was overcome

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity

...not the Father, because Christ is God the Son, then two Gods seem to be introduced, contrary to the Scriptures." And those who argue that Christ is only man conclude in the opposite way: "If the Father is one, and the Son is another, but the Father is God and Christ is God, then there is not one God but two Gods are introduced at once, the Father and the Son. And if God is one, then Christ must be a man, so that the Father may rightly be the one God." So the Lord is, as it were, crucified between two thieves, just as He once was placed; and so from both sides He receives the sacrilegious insults of heretics like these. But neither the Holy Scriptures nor we give them the reasons for their destruction and blindness, if they either will not, or cannot, see what is plainly written in the middle of the divine writings. For we know, and read, and believe, and maintain that God is one, who made heaven as well as earth, since we know no other, nor will we ever know another, because there is none. "I," He says, "am God, and there is none beside me, righteous and a Savior." And in another place: "I am the first and the last, and beside me there is no God who is like me." And, "Who has me

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse

...ersy against pure tradition and the Catholic faith, while taking offense at Christ, and because the Scriptures also declare Him to be God, and we also believe this, we must rightly contend that Christ is also God, so that every heretical slander may be removed from our faith. Yet we must do this in such a way that it does not go against the truth of Scripture, or against our faith, which declares and believes from Scripture that there is one God. For both those who say that Jesus Christ Himself is God the Father, and those who want Him to be only a man, have drawn from there the sources and reasons for their error and perversity. When they saw that it was written that God is one, they thought they could hold their opinion only by supposing that either Christ was only a man, or else that He was truly God the Father. And they used to join together their clever arguments in such a way as to try to defend their own error. So those who say that Jesus Christ is the Father argue like this: If God is one, and Christ is God, then Christ is the Father, since God is one. If Christ is not the Father, because Christ is God the Son, then it seems that two Gods are introduced, contrary to the

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

Stay away from all pagan books. What do you have to do with such foreign teachings, laws, or false prophets that overthrow the faith of unstable people? What lack do you find in the law of God, that you should turn to those pagan fables? If you want to read history, you have the books of the Kings. If you want books of wisdom or poetry, you have the books of the Prophets, Job, and Proverbs. In them you will find greater depth of understanding than in all the pagan poets and sophists, because these are the words of the Lord, the only wise God. If you want something to sing, you have the Psalms. If you want the origin of things, you have Genesis. If you want laws and statutes, you have the glorious law of the Lord God. Therefore, completely stay away from all strange and diabolical books. No, when you read the law, do not think that you are required to keep the added precepts, if not all of them, then even some of them. Read those only for the sake of history, so that you may know them and glorify God that He has delivered you from so great and so many bonds. Aim to distinguish which rules came from the law of nature, and which were added afterward, or were additional rules introduce

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

... his death, for two reasons. First, she had not been pleased with his magical arts. Second, she had received such an inheritance, and it was very valuable. But because she was all alone, she thought about getting someone to attend her. So she got a boy about seven years old, named Corbicius, for that purpose. She immediately gave him his freedom, and she also taught him letters. When the boy reached his twelfth year, the old woman died and left him all her possessions. Among these were those four books that Scythianus had written, each of them containing a moderate number of lines. After his mistress was buried, Corbicius began to use all the property that had been left to him for himself. Leaving the old place, he made his home in the middle of the city, where the king of Persia had his residence. There he changed his name and called himself Manes instead of Corbicius, or, more correctly, not Manes but Mani, for that is the kind of form used in the Persian language. Now when this boy had grown into a man nearly sixty years old, he had gained great learning in all the branches of knowledge taught in those regions. I might almost say that in these things he surpassed everyone els

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

...you yourselves tell anything about their sacred rights and ceremonies that has not been recorded in books and made known by what authors have written? Or if you think these things are unimportant, then let all the books be destroyed that theologians, pontiffs, and even some devoted to the study of philosophy have written for you about the gods. No, let us rather suppose that from the foundation of the world no man ever wrote anything about the gods. We want to discover, and desire to know, whether you could even mutter or murmur when mentioning the gods, or form in your thoughts those to whom no idea from any book had given shape in your minds. But since it is clear that you have been informed of their names and powers by the guidance of books, it is unjust to deny the trustworthiness of those books, by whose testimony and authority you establish what you say.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism

...ndals, and not to fear to set forth too irreverently, against the precept of the law and of all the Scriptures, with their own disgrace and danger, the disgrace of their mother the Church—if they think that there is any disgrace in this matter; although in this case the Church has no disgrace except in the error of men such as these themselves. Therefore the sin of men of this kind is all the more grievous if what is blamed by them in the most ancient observance, as if it were not rightly done, is clearly and forcefully shown both to have been rightly observed by those before us and also to be rightly observed by us. So that even if we should enter into the controversy with equal arguments on both sides, still, since what was introduced as new could not be established without dissension among the brothers and harm to the Church, it certainly ought not—right or wrong, as they say, that is, contrary to what is good and proper—to be rashly flung like a stain upon our mother the Church. And the disgrace of this audacity and impiety ought rightly to be attached to those who would attempt it. But since it is not in our power, according to the apostle's command, to speak the same thing

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

...nger comes forward, bearing one of the symbols of music. For they say that he must learn two of the books of Hermes. One contains the hymns of the gods. The second contains the regulations for the king's life. After the Singer comes the Astrologer, with a horologe in his hand, and a palm, the symbols of astrology. He must always have the astrological books of Hermes, which are four in number, in his mouth. Of these, one is about the order of the fixed stars that are visible. Another is about the conjunctions and luminous appearances of the sun and moon. The rest are about their risings. Next comes the sacred Scribe, with wings on his head, and in his hand a book and rule, in which were writing ink and the reed with which they write. He must be acquainted with what are called hieroglyphics, and know about cosmography and geography, the position of the sun and moon, and the five planets. He must also know the description of Egypt, and the chart of the Nile, and the description of the equipment of the priests and of the places consecrated to them, and about the measures and the things used in the sacred rites. Then the Stole-keeper follows those mentioned before, with the cubit of

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

...hristians, they would have shown a most complete repentance. Therefore, the subject covered in this canon is different from that in the first canon. There, those who had lapsed because of torture were not converted in such a way as to confess the faith before the tyrants. But here, those who have lapsed because of torture confess the Lord before the tyrants with a worthy repentance. Therefore they are counted as not having fallen.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

Let these canonical rules be established by us for you, bishops. If you continue to keep them, you will be saved and will have peace. But if you are disobedient, you will be punished, and you will have everlasting conflict with one another, and undergo a penalty suitable for your disobedience.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III

Since the Scriptures have been interpreted with such faithfulness, by the grace of God, and because of this, God has prepared and renewed our faith in His Son and preserved for us the pure Scriptures in Egypt—where the house of Jacob thrived, escaping the famine in Canaan, and where our Lord was preserved when He fled from Herod's persecution—and because this interpretation of these Scriptures was made before our Lord's descent to earth, and before the Christians appeared (for our Lord was born around the forty-first year of Augustus's reign, but Ptolemy lived much earlier, during whose time the Scriptures were interpreted)—truly, these people are shown to be brazen and audacious, who now wish to create different translations, when we refute them using these Scriptures and lead them to believe in the coming of the Son of God. But our faith is steadfast, sincere, and the only true one, having clear proof from these Scriptures, which were interpreted as I have described, and the preaching of the Church is unaltered. For the apostles, being older than all these heretics, agree with this mentioned translation; and the translation aligns with the tradition of the apostles. For Peter, Jo

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus)

...onomy 5. And so on. These things must be kept, along with whatever else is commanded in reading the Bible. And by Isaiah He commands us: "Wash yourselves, and make yourselves clean. Put away wickedness from your souls before my eyes. Learn to do good. Seek judgment. Rescue the wronged. Judge for the orphan, and justify the widow. And come, and let us reason together," says the Lord. And we will find many examples in other places also. For example, about prayer, Scripture says, "Good works are an acceptable prayer to the Lord." And the manner of prayer is described: "If you see the naked, cover him, and do not overlook those who belong to your own seed. Then your light shall break forth early, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall surround you." What, then, is the fruit of such prayer? "Then you shall call, and God will hear you; while you are still speaking, He will say, 'I am here.'"

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

... indolence, and completely lay aside and escape his cares for the salvation of souls? The sixteenth canon of the Seventh Oecumenical Council also gravely accuses of folly those who decree that the dignity of the sacred ministry can be kept by a bishop who has given up his bishopric. For if, according to the sentence of that canon, a bishop who has been absent from his See for more than six months, unless one of the causes listed there has intervened, has fallen from both the episcopate and the highest dignity of the priesthood, and is deprived of both, then how can he who has given up the episcopate, and refuses any longer to feed the flock entrusted to him, and despises the care of it through his desire for an easy life, be held to be among the bishops? For if he who has committed the lesser fault, of leaving for more than six months the people placed under him without the care and administration of a pastor, incurs the loss of the episcopate and of his sacred dignity, then he who offends in a greater and much more grievous way, namely, by deserting altogether the multitude that the grace of the Holy Spirit committed to him to be cared for and guarded, will deservedly be punish

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

...Phrygian, and the tenth the Tiburtine, whose name is Albunea. Of all these, he says that only three books of the Cumaean contain the destinies of the Romans and are considered sacred. But books of almost all the others also exist, and they are commonly treated as separate books. Yet they are called, as if by one single name, the Sibylline books. The only exception is the Erythraean, who is said to have lived in the time of the Trojan War, because she placed her name in her book. The writings of the others are mixed together.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

85. Let the following books be regarded as venerable and holy by both the clergy and the laity. Of the Old Covenant, these are the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; one book of Joshua the son of Nun, one of the Judges, one of Ruth, four of the Kings, two of the Chronicles, two of Ezra, one of Esther, one of Judith, three of the Maccabees, one of Job, one hundred and fifty Psalms, three books of Solomon: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, and sixteen prophets. Besides these, be careful that your young people learn the Wisdom of the very learned Sirach. But our sacred books, that is, those of the New Covenant, are these: the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the fourteen Epistles of Paul; two Epistles of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude; two Epistles of Clement; and the Constitutions dedicated to you bishops by me, Clement, in eight books, which it is not fitting to publish before everyone because of the mysteries contained in them; and the Acts of us the Apostles.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

...u to understand, and if you do not agree with these statements, I can at least try to prove them by using illustrations. Think of man as a kind of temple, according to the likeness of Scripture. Then the spirit that is in man may be compared to the image that dwells in the temple. Now, a temple cannot be established unless an occupant for the temple is first recognized. On the other hand, an occupant cannot be settled in the temple unless the structure has first been built. Since these two things, the occupant and the structure, are both consecrated together, how can any opposition or conflict be found between them? Should it not instead appear that both have come from sources that are friendly and of one mind? And so that you may know this is the case, and that these sources are truly one both in fellowship and in lineage, He who knows and hears all made this reply: "Let us make man," and so on. For the one who builds the temple questions the one who fashions the image. He carefully asks about the measurements of magnitude, breadth, and bulk, so that he may mark out the space for the foundations according to those dimensions. No one begins the useless task of building a temple

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

... there any difficulty in making these calculations, for they declared under which king each of them received the inspiration of the Divine Spirit. And many have written and published books about these times, beginning with the prophet Moses, who lived about seven hundred years before the Trojan War. But after he had governed the people for forty years, Joshua succeeded him and held the chief place for twenty-seven years.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

... She persuaded him to live in Egypt rather than in the deserts. And if only that province had never received him, where, while he lived in it for a time, he found the opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Egyptians. For, to speak the truth, he was a man of very marked ability, and also of very ample means, as those who knew him have likewise testified in accounts handed down to us. Moreover, he had a disciple named Terebinthus, who wrote four books for him. To the first of these books he gave the title Mysteries, to the second Heads, to the third Gospel, and to the last of all Treasury. He had these four books and this one disciple, whose name was Terebinthus. As these two persons had decided to live alone by themselves for a considerable time, Scythianus thought of making a journey into Judea, with the purpose of meeting all those who had a reputation there as teachers. But it came to pass that he suddenly departed this life soon after that, without being able to accomplish anything. That disciple, moreover, who had stayed with him had to flee, and made his way toward Babylonia, a province which at present is held by the Persians, and which is now about a journey of six days a

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

...he faith only because of fear and cowardice, and then looked toward repentance, are punished by the canon with exclusion for three years, according to the parable of the fig tree in the Gospels. For the Lord said, "For three years I have come to it looking for fruit and have found none." But the keeper of the vineyard replies, "Lord, leave it alone this year also."

Origen, Against Celsus

Belief in Antinous, then, or in any other such person, whether among the Egyptians or the Greeks, is, so to speak, unfortunate. But belief in Jesus would seem to be either fortunate, or the result of thorough investigation. To the multitude, it has the appearance of the former; to exceedingly few, of the latter. And when I speak of a certain belief as, in the judgment of the multitude, unfortunate, I in such a case refer the cause to God, who knows the reasons for the different fates allotted to each person who enters human life. The Greeks, moreover, will admit that even among those considered to be most richly endowed with wisdom, good fortune has had much to do with it. This is seen in the choice of one kind of teacher rather than another, in meeting a better class of instructors, since there were teachers who taught the most opposite doctrines, and in being brought up in better circumstances. For many were brought up in surroundings of such a kind that they were prevented from ever receiving any idea of better things. Instead, from their earliest youth, they passed their life either as the favorites of licentious men or of tyrants, or in some other wretched condition that kept

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

...r those who are seeking the truth. But since the truth has been revealed from heaven to us who have received the mystery of true religion, and since we follow God, the teacher of wisdom and the guide to truth, we call all people together, without any distinction of sex or age, to heavenly pasture. For there is no food more pleasing to the soul than the knowledge of truth. To uphold and explain it, we have devoted seven books, although the subject requires almost endless and immeasurable labor. So if anyone should wish to expand on these things and pursue them fully, he would have such an overflowing supply of material that books would have no limit and speech would have no end. But for this reason we will present everything briefly, because the things we are about to bring forward are so plain and clear that it seems all the more astonishing that the truth appears so obscure to people, especially to those who are commonly considered wise. Or rather, people will only need to be taught by us—that is, called back from the error in which they are trapped to a better way of life.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

...these things to you so that you may know what our judgment is, and so that you may not accept those books that circulate under our name but were written by ungodly people. For you must not pay attention to the names of the apostles, but to the character of the writings and to their consistent teaching. For we know that Simon and Cleobius, and their followers, have put together poisonous books under the name of Christ and of His disciples, and carry them around in order to deceive you who love Christ, and us His servants. And among the people of old, some also wrote apocryphal books of Moses, and Enoch, and Adam, and Isaiah, and David, and Elijah, and of the three patriarchs, books that are harmful and opposed to the truth. Even now the wicked heretics have done the same thing. They speak against creation, marriage, providence, the begetting of children, the law, and the prophets. They write down certain barbarous names, and names which they think are the names of angels, but, to speak the truth, are the names of demons that suggest these things to them. Avoid their teaching, so that you may not share in the punishment due to those who write such things for the seduction and dest

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

...ght escape his father's anger. But now, does not the same way of thinking also remove Juno from the list of gods? For if she is the air, as you have been accustomed to joke and say, repeating in reverse order the syllables of the Greek name, then there will be no sister and wife of almighty Jupiter, no Fluonia, no Pomona, no Ossipagina, no Februtis, Populonia, Cinxia, or Caprotina. And so the invention of that name, spread everywhere by common but empty belief, will be found to be completely useless.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

In the days moreover of Hezekiah, there were some of the books selected for use, and others set aside.

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks

And having, as was natural, marvelled at the books, and concluded them to be divine, he consecrated them in that library.

Irenaeus, Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus

...se of the display it gives, but also because of the timing when it is shown. For instance, consider early fruit from the grape or the fig, or any fruit really, which no one expects to be mature or fully developed while it's still growing. Yet, although someone might see it as somewhat imperfect, they don't dismiss the immature grape as useless when they pick it. On the contrary, they gather it with pleasure because it appears early in the season, not worrying if the grape possesses perfect sweetness. They feel satisfaction knowing it came before the rest. Similarly, God, when He sees the faithful with wisdom that is still imperfect and faith that is small, overlooks their shortcomings in this regard and does not reject them. Instead, He kindly welcomes and accepts them as early fruits, honoring the mind, whatever state it may be in, that is marked with virtue, even if not yet perfect. He makes allowances for it, considering it a precursor to the harvest and esteems it highly since, being more willing than the rest, it has, in a sense, claimed the blessing early for itself.

Origen, Exhortation to Martyrdom

The answer is, that they hid from the knowledge of the people as many of the passages which contained any scandal against the elders, rulers, and judges, as they could, some of which have been preserved in uncanonical writings (Apocrypha).

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

And among the ancients also some have written apocryphal books of Moses, and Enoch, and Adam, and Isaiah, and David, and Elijah, and of the three patriarchs, pernicious and repugnant to the truth.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

Since the Scriptures having perished in the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar, Esdras the Levite, the priest, in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, having become inspired in the exercise of prophecy restored again the whole of the ancient Scriptures.

Caius, Fragments

Canon Muratorianus

Origen, Against Celsus

The writings of Moses and the prophets— the most ancient of all books — teach us that all things here on earth which are in common use among men, have other things corresponding to them in name which are alone real.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

and to the sixty-ninth canon, which severely punishes those who do not fast in the Holy Lent, and on every fourth day of the week and day of preparation. Thus also does the present canon decree.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

The subject, therefore, comprehended in this canon differs from that contained in the first canon, for there indeed those who by reason of their torment had lapsed, were not converted so as to confess the faith before the tyrants;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I

2. Then, again, as to those things outside of their Pleroma, the following are some specimens of what they attempt to accommodate out of the Scriptures to their opinions.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology

And when Ptolemy king of Egypt formed a library, and endeavoured to collect the writings of all men, he heard also of these prophets, and sent to Herod, who was at that time king of the Jews, requesting that the books of the prophets be sent to him.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II

For these ancient, original, and generally called sacred letters of the Hebrews are ten in number (but they are written by means of fifteen), the last letter being joined to the first.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy

The religious perspicuity of the ancient Scriptures caused them no shame, nor did the consentient doctrine of our colleagues concerning Christ keep in check their audacity against Him.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus

Or if you mention the lawgivers Lycurgus, or Draco, or Minos, Josephus tells us in his writings that the sacred books take precedence of them in antiquity, since even before the reign of Jupiter over the Cretans, and before the Trojan War, the writings of the divine law which has been given to us through Moses were in existence.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

So, then, the barbarian and Hellenic philosophy has torn off a fragment of eternal truth not from the mythology of Dionysus, but from the theology of the ever-living Word.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

Balsamon. This canon enacts that those who have only been evil entreated in prison, and who without torment have lapsed, should be punished after the three years with an additional year.

Commodianus, Writings

But the piety and earnestness of a practical Christian seem everywhere conspicuous in this fragment of antiquity.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith

A fragment of the same Declaration of Faith, with explanatory notes. It is from Gregory Thaumaturgus, as they say, in his Sectional Confession of Faith.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris

...d uncovers the sacraments by removing the veil that covered them. He blesses the incense and says a canon in a loud voice:

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

And our canon places Jotham, king of Judah, within the first Olympiad.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes

Of all these, he says that there are three books of the Cumæan alone which contain the fates of the Romans, and are accounted sacred, but that there exist, and are commonly regarded as separate, books of almost all the others, but that they are entitled, as though by one name, Sibylline books, excepting that the Erythræan, who is said to have lived in the times of the Trojan War, placed her name in her book: the writings of the others are mixed together.

Caius, Fragments

And then, besides, there are writings of certain brethren older than the times of Victor, which they wrote against the heathen in defense of the truth, and against the heresies of their time: I mean Justin and Miltiades, and Tatian and Clement, and many others, in all which divinity is ascribed to Christ.

Justin Martyr, Other Fragments from the Lost Writings of Justin

Clement, and Irenæus, and Justin the martyr and philosopher, who, commenting with exceeding wisdom on the number six of the sixth day, affirms that the intelligent soul of man and his five susceptible senses were the six works of the sixth day.

Tatian, Address to the Greeks

But the matter of principal importance is to endeavour with all accuracy to make it clear that Moses is not only older than Homer, but than all the writers that were before him — older than Linus, Philammon, Thamyris, Amphion, Musæus, Orpheus, Demodocus, Phemius, Sibylla, Epimenides of Crete, who came to Sparta, Aristæus of Proconnesus, who wrote the Arimaspia, Asbolus the Centaur, Isatis, Drymon, Euclus the Cyprian, Horus the Samian, and Pronapis the Athenian.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments

3. For since of the doctrine, which lately has been set on foot at Ptolemais, a city of Pentapolis, implores and full of blasphemy against Almighty God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Tertullian, Ad Nationes

This Fragment is noted as spurious, by Oehler who attributes it to somebody only moderately acquainted with Tertullian's style and teaching.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

and besides these, the books of Job and of Solomon, and of the sixteen prophets.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

But our sacred books, that is, those of the New Covenant, are these: the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

Of the Old Covenant: the five books of Moses— Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy;

Origen, Against Celsus

For the holy Scriptures know Him to be the most ancient of all the works of creation;

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

Fragment 18. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviour's Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

The fragment is introduced by Cyril in the following terms: — He, i.e., Manes, fled from prison and came into Mesopotamia;

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Short Version)

When I heard some saying, If I do not find it in the ancient Scriptures, I will not believe the Gospel;

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

Fragment 17. On the Fortunes of Hyrcanus and Antigonus, and on Herod, Augustus, Antony, and Cleopatra, in Abstract

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV

thus practising myself and thee in [these] five books for presenting opposition to all heretics.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus

Hence one can see how our sacred writings are shown to be more ancient and true than those of the Greeks and Egyptians, or any other historians.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

Balsamon. Conformably to the sixty-fourth Apostolical canon, which decrees that we are not to fast on the Sabbath, with one exception, the great Sabbath;

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

The canon brings forward different examples from Holy Scripture.

Didache, Connection to John 5:39

For the Lord Jesus says: "Search the Scriptures; for they are those which testify of me."

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

And there are separate books the production of each, but because these are inscribed with the name of the Sibyl they are believed to be the work of one;

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith

albeit all through the inspired Scriptures numberless announcements are supplied us, all confirmatory of the apostolic and ecclesiastical faith.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments

I. From the Two Books on the Promises.

Papias, Fragments

for five books were composed by him.” Thus wrote Irenæus.

Tertullian, Apology

...an obstinate refusal to offer sacrifices, he found in their religious services nothing but meetings early in the morning for singing hymns to Christ and God, and sealing their way of life by a united pledge to remain faithful to their religion, forbidding murder, adultery, dishonesty, and other crimes. In reply, Trajan wrote back that Christians were by no means to be sought out. But if they were brought before him, they should be punished. O miserable deliverance. Under the necessities of the case, it is a self-contradiction. It forbids them to be sought out, as innocent, and it commands them to be punished, as guilty. It is at once merciful and cruel. It passes by, and it punishes. Why do you play this game of evasion with yourself, O Judgment? If you condemn, why do you not also inquire? If you do not inquire, why do you not also absolve? Military stations are set throughout all the provinces for tracking robbers. Against traitors and public enemies every man is a soldier. Search is made even for their confederates and accessories. The Christian alone must not be sought, though he may be brought and accused before the judge, as if a search had any other end than that! And so

Justin Martyr, The Martyrdom of Justin Martyr

Then the prefect Rusticus said to Chariton, “Tell me more, Chariton, are you also a Christian?” Chariton replied, “I am a Christian by the command of God.” Rusticus the prefect asked the woman Charito, “What do you say, Charito?” Charito answered, “I am a Christian by the grace of God.” Rusticus asked Euelpistus, “And what about you?” Euelpistus, a servant of Caesar, responded, “I too am a Christian, having been freed by Christ; and by the grace of Christ, I share the same hope.” Rusticus the prefect asked Hierax, “And you, are you a Christian?” Hierax answered, “Yes, I am a Christian, for I revere and worship the same God.” Rusticus the prefect asked, “Did Justin make you Christians?” Hierax replied, “I was a Christian, and will be a Christian.” Then Pæon stood up and said, “I too am a Christian.” Rusticus the prefect asked, “Who taught you?” Pæon replied, “From our parents, we received this good confession.” Euelpistus said, “I willingly heard the words of Justin. But I also learned to be a Christian from my parents.” Rusticus the prefect asked, “Where are your parents?” Euelpistus replied, “In Cappadocia.” Rusticus asked Hierax, “Where are your parents?” And he answered, “Christ

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead

... this, let them stop this godless disbelief and this blasphemy against sacred things. For it will clearly appear from what I am about to say that they do not speak the truth when they say that it is impossible, or not in agreement with the divine will. Strictly speaking, a thing is considered impossible for a person when it is such that he either does not know what must be done, or does not have enough power to do properly what he knows must be done. A person who does not know what needs to be done is completely unable either to attempt or to do what he does not know. In the same way, a person who knows very well what must be done, and by what means, and how, but has either no power at all to do the known thing, or not enough power, will not even try, if he is wise and considers his own strength. And if he did try without proper thought, he would not accomplish his purpose. But it is not possible for God to be ignorant, either of the nature of the bodies that are to be raised, both with regard to the members as a whole and the particles of which they consist, or of where each of the dissolved particles goes, and what part of the elements has received what was dissolved and passe

Tatian, The Diatessaron

... according to his strength. Then he immediately went on his journey. Matthew 25:16 Then the one who received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more. Matthew 25:17 In the same way, the one who had received the two gained two more. Matthew 25:18 But the one who received the one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. Matthew 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Matthew 25:20 The one who had received five talents came near and brought five more, and said, "My lord, you gave me five talents. Look, I have gained five more besides them." Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:22 The one who had received the two also came near and said, "My lord, you gave me two talents. Look, I have gained two more besides them." Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, "Good, you faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your lord." Matthew 25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward and

Tertullian, Scorpiace

...hild; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death," He has clearly announced, with reference to the others, this kind of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find shown in the case of the apostles. For none of them experienced a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have. Then He returns to the apostles: "And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake." How much more will this be true of us, for whom there is the necessity of being handed over even by parents. Thus, by assigning this very betrayal now to the apostles, now to all, He pours out the same destruction on all the possessors of the name, on whom the name will rest together with the condition that it is an object of hatred. "But he who will endure to the end, this man will be saved." By enduring what, if not persecution, betrayal, and death? For to endure to the end is nothing else than to suffer the end. And therefore there immediately follow the words, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his own lord." Because, since the Master and Lord Himself stood firm in suffering persecution, betrayal, and death, much more it will be the duty

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

...ing their order, what basis is there for the claim that a plague was brought on the earth after the Christian religion came into the world and revealed the mysteries of hidden truth? "But," my opponents say, "the gods bring pestilences, droughts, wars, famines, locusts, mice, hailstones, and other harmful things on us, things by which the property of men is attacked. They do this because they are angry at your wrongdoings and your transgressions." If it were not foolish to spend time on matters that are already clear and need no defense, I would certainly show, by unfolding the history of past ages, that these evils you speak of were not unknown and did not come suddenly. I would show that plagues did not burst upon us, and that human affairs did not begin to be attacked by many kinds of dangers, from the time that our sect received the honor of this name. For if we are to blame, and if these plagues have been devised against our sin, from where did antiquity know these names for disasters? From where did it give a name to wars? By what understanding could it describe pestilence and hailstorms? Or how could it introduce these terms into its language, by which speech was made cle

Athenagoras, The Resurrection of the Dead

... purpose for which it was made. Still, I think it would be a useless effort to go through the whole list now, or to distinguish the different cases, or to mention in detail what is suitable to each nature. At any rate, man, of whom we are now speaking, needs certain things. As needy, he requires food. As mortal, he requires children to continue the race. As rational, he requires a process of judgment. But if each of these belongs to man by nature, and he requires food for life, and children for the continuation of the race, and judgment so that food and children may be according to law, then it plainly follows, since food and children refer to both parts together, that judgment must also refer to both together. By both together I mean the human being made up of soul and body. And so such a human being becomes accountable for all his actions, and receives for them either reward or punishment. Now if righteous judgment gives to both together the proper return for the deeds done, then it is not right that the soul alone should receive the reward for deeds done in union with the body. For the soul by itself has no tendency toward the faults committed in connection with bodily pleasu

Tertullian, Apology

...have answered well enough the charges of the many crimes on which these fierce demands are made for Christian blood. We have fully presented our case. We have shown how we can prove that what we say is true, from the trustworthiness and antiquity of our sacred writings, and also from the confession of the powers of spiritual wickedness themselves. Who will dare to refute us, not with skill in words, but, as we have made our demonstration, on the basis of reality? But while the truth we hold is made clear to all, unbelief meanwhile, even at the very time when it is convinced of the worth of Christianity, now well known both for its benefits and from the intercourse of life, takes up the idea that it is not really something divine, but rather a kind of philosophy. "These are the very things," it says, "that the philosophers advise and profess: innocence, justice, patience, sobriety, and chastity." Why then are we not allowed the same freedom and immunity for our teachings that they have, when we are compared with them in what we teach? Or why are they not also forced to the same acts, by refusing which our lives are put in danger, if they are so much like us? For who forces a phil

Justin Martyr, The Second Apology

...rvants and indulging in drunkenness and vice and wanting him to do the same, accused her of being a Christian when she left without his consent. She presented a request to the Emperor, asking for permission to settle her affairs before defending against the accusation, which was granted. Unable to prosecute her, her husband targeted a man named Ptolemaeus, her teacher in Christian doctrines, with the help of a centurion who was friendly to him. The centurion took Ptolemaeus, interrogating him only on whether he was a Christian. Ptolemaeus, being truthful, confessed, was imprisoned, and later, when questioned by Urbicus, again affirmed his belief truthfully and was sentenced. Lucius, another Christian, witnessing this unjust judgment, questioned Urbicus: “What cause is there for this judgment? Why punish a man not guilty of adultery, immorality, murder, theft, or any crime, but only for being called a Christian? This judgment does not reflect well on Emperor Pius, nor the philosopher, son of Caesar, nor the sacred senate.” Urbicus responded, “You seem to be like this man,” to which Lucius replied, “Most certainly I am,” and was ordered to be executed. Lucius gave thanks, knowing

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II

...her of their mother, effectively their grandfather. They, the later grandchildren, believe that the search for the Father brings truth, perfection, stability, and deliverance from unstable matter, reconciling them to the Father. Yet, they say that the same search led their grandfather to ignorance, passion, terror, and confusion, from which they claim the substance of matter was formed. Therefore, to assert that the search for and investigation of the perfect Father, and the desire for communion and union with Him, were beneficial to them, but caused dissolution and destruction to an Æon, from whom they also originate, is completely inconsistent, foolish, and irrational. Those who listen to these teachers are truly blind, possessing blind guides, and justly fall with them into the abyss of ignorance beneath them.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

... and guiltless. Now, this might perhaps have been accepted, and said with some reason, either if in ancient times everyone had been good without exception, or if later times had produced only wicked people, and no others. But since the truth is that among great peoples, in nations, indeed even in all cities, people have had mixed natures, desires, and ways of life, and both good and bad people have been able to exist at the same time in former ages as well as in modern times, it is quite foolish to say that mortals of a later day did not receive the aid of the gods because of their wickedness. For if, because of the wicked people of later generations, the good men of modern times were not protected, then in the same way, because of the evil-doers of ancient times, the good people of former times also should not have gained the favor of the gods. But if, because of the good people of ancient times, the wicked people of ancient times were also preserved, then the later age too should have been protected, although it was faulty, because of the good people of later times. So then, either that snake gained the reputation of being a deliverer while he had been no help at all, because

Tertullian, De Anima (On the Soul)

... by using arguments that both sides admit are valid, and that sometimes even fit with our system of belief. In this way, the truth has almost been shut out by the philosophers through the poisons with which they have infected it. Therefore, if we consider both kinds of mixing that I have just mentioned, and both are equally hostile to the truth, we see the urgent need to do two things. First, we must free the ideas that we hold in common with them from the philosophers' arguments. Second, we must separate the arguments that both sides use from the philosophers' own opinions. And we can do this by bringing every question back to God's inspired standard, except in simple cases that are free from the confusion of preconceived notions, where one may fairly accept mere human testimony. For sometimes we must borrow plain evidence of that kind even from opponents, when our opponents have nothing to gain from it. Now I am not unaware of how great a mass of writing the philosophers have gathered on this subject in their own commentaries. I know how many schools of thought there are, how many conflicts of opinion, how many rich sources of questions, and how many confusing methods of solvi

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

Equivocal terms have the same name, but not the same definition. For example, “man” can mean both the living animal and a picture of a man. Of equivocal terms, some get their shared name by chance, as with Ajax the Locrian and Ajax the Salaminian. Others receive it by intention. Of these, some are named from resemblance, as “man” means both the living person and the painted image. Some are named from analogy, as the foot of Mount Ida and our foot, because both are underneath. Some are named from action, as the foot of a vessel, by which the vessel sails, and our foot, by which we move. Equivocal terms are also named from the same source and for the same thing. For example, a book and a scalpel are both called surgical, both from the surgeon who uses them and in relation to the surgical matter itself.

Justin Martyr, The First Apology

...ayer to the gods of my country. But, as they did not respond, I called upon those among us known as Christians. Upon investigation, I found a great number and multitude of them and initially acted against them, which was quite inappropriate, as I later understood their power. They began the battle, not with weapons, armor, or bugles, as such preparations are detestable to them because of the God they carry in their conscience. Therefore, it appears that those we think are atheists have God as their guiding force entrenched in their conscience. Throwing themselves on the ground, they prayed not only for me but for the entire army, that we might be saved from the current thirst and hunger. We had been without water for five days because there was none, being deep in Germany, in enemy territory. Simultaneously as they threw themselves on the ground and prayed to God (a God unknown to me), water poured from the sky, refreshingly cool upon us but as withering hail upon Rome's enemies. Immediately we acknowledged the presence of God following their prayer—a God unconquerable and indestructible. Based on this, let us pardon such individuals who are Christians, lest they pray for and ac

Origen, Against Celsus

...arvelous things. For it is true that not all people show themselves worthy of belief, and not all clearly show that they are telling people nothing but fictions and fables. Moreover, about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we say this: it is not at all surprising if, on such an occasion, one or two angels appeared to announce that Jesus had risen from the dead, and to provide for the safety of those who believed in this event, to the advantage of their souls. Nor does it seem at all unreasonable to me that those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus, and who show, as a fruit of their faith that should not be lightly valued, that they possess a virtuous life and have turned away from the flood of evils, should not be unattended by angels who lend their help in accomplishing their conversion to God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

...he one who has despaired of salvation because of the great number of offenses to perish completely. Search for the one who has grown sleepy, drowsy, and sluggish, and who is careless about his own life because of the depth of his sleep, and who is far from his own flock, so that he is in danger of falling among the wolves and being devoured by them. Bring him back by admonition. Urge him to be watchful, and plant hope in him. Do not allow him to say what some have said: “Our impieties are upon us, and we pine away in them; how then shall we live?” Therefore, as much as possible, let the bishop make the offense his own, and say to the sinner, “Only return, and I will undertake to suffer death for you, as our Lord suffered death for me and for all men.” For the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But the hired servant, who is not the shepherd and whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, that is, the devil, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf seizes them. John 10:11-12 We must know, therefore, that God is very merciful to those who have offended, and has promised repentance with an oath. But the one who has offended and does not know this promise of G

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

...common people think those lesser gods are known. But from where have you learned who belongs in the list of gods under those names? Has anyone ever become familiar and known to others when you did not know their names? For it cannot easily be known whether their great company is settled and fixed in number, or whether their multitude cannot be counted and limited by any calculation. For let us suppose that you worship a thousand gods, or rather five thousand. But perhaps in the universe there are a hundred thousand. There may even be more than this. No, as we said a little before, it may not be possible to count the number of the gods, or limit them by a definite number. Either, then, you yourselves are impious, because you serve a few gods but ignore the duties you owe to the rest; or, if you claim that your ignorance of the rest should be forgiven, then you will also obtain a similar pardon for us, if in the same way we refuse to worship those whose existence we are completely ignorant of.

Tertullian, Ad Nationes

...ent. And yet it is truth, so troublesome to the world, that these philosophers pretend to have, but Christians actually possess. Therefore, those who possess it give greater offense, because the man who merely pretends to have something only plays with it, but the man who possesses it defends it. For example, Socrates was condemned in that part of his wisdom in which he came nearest to the truth by destroying your gods. Although the name Christian was not yet in the world at that time, truth was always suffering condemnation. Now you will not deny that he was a wise man, since your own Pythian god gave witness to him. He said, "Socrates was the wisest of men." Truth overcame Apollo and made him speak even against himself, since he admitted that he was no god when he declared that the wisest man was the one who denied the gods. However, by your way of thinking, Socrates was less wise because he denied the gods, although in truth he was all the wiser because of that denial. It is just the same when you usually say about us, "Lucius Titius is a good man, only he is a Christian," while another says, "I wonder that such a worthy man as Caius Seius has become a Christian." In the blin

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

...the ship being pulled, but only together with the others. In the same way, philosophy, which is the search for truth, helps us understand the truth. It is not the cause of understanding by itself, but a cause along with other things, and a co-worker. Perhaps it may also be called a joint-cause. And just as several virtues are causes of one person’s happiness, and just as the sun, fire, a bath, and clothing all help one person become warm, so also truth is one, yet many things help in the search for it. But its discovery is through the Son. If we think carefully, virtue is one in its power. But when it appears in different matters, it is called prudence in some cases, temperance in others, and in others courage or righteousness. By the same comparison, truth is one, yet in geometry there is the truth of geometry, in music the truth of music, and in the right philosophy there will be Hellenic truth. But the only true and secure truth, which cannot be overthrown, is that in which we are taught by the Son of God. In the same way, we say that a drachma is one and the same coin. But when it is given to the shipmaster, it is called fare; to the tax collector, tax; to the landlord, rent

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity

A fragment from On the Trinity

Methodius, Concerning Free Will

7. Fragment

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

Second fragment, on Proverbs 9:1.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

Fragment 16. On the Seventy Weeks of Daniel

Methodius, Fragments

7. Fragment

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

First fragment. Preface.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

Second fragment. On the visions.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

Fragment 1

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes

A Fragment of the Same Disputation.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

Third fragment. Scholia on Daniel.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

Fragment 2

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle

Canonical Epistle

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris

Canon.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions

one of Joshua the Son of Nun, one of the Judges, one of Ruth, four of the Kings, two of the Chronicles, two of Ezra, one of Esther, one of Judith, three of the Maccabees, one of Job, one hundred and fifty psalms;

Origen, Against Celsus

And again, when making a list of ancient and learned men who have conferred benefits upon their contemporaries (by their deeds), and upon posterity by their writings, he excluded Moses from the number;

Tertullian, Ad Nationes

Appendix. A Fragment Concerning the Execrable Gods of the Heathen.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus

For from these very old records it is proved that the writings of the rest are more recent than the writings given to us through Moses, yes, and than the subsequent prophets.

Commodianus, Writings

His Millenarianism reflects the views of a very primitive age, and that without the corrupt Chiliasm of a later period, which brought about a practical repudiation of the whole system.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith

A fragment of the same Declaration of Faith, accompanied by glosses.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris

entire with its canon, of the mystery of the sacraments.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark

The priest, making the sign of the cross over the plates and chalices, says in a loud voice the Nicene Creed:

Clement of Rome, Connection to Acts 15:20

to abstain from the table of devils, that is, from food offered to idols, from dead carcases, from animals which have been suffocated or caught by wild beasts, and from blood;

Barnabas, Connection to Romans 1:2

For the Lord has made known to us by the prophets both the things which are past and present, giving us also the first-fruits of the knowledge of things to come.

Didache, Connection to Mark 16:9

And when He was risen from the dead, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, then to Cleopas in the way, and after that to us His disciples, who had fled away for fear of the Jews, but privately were very inquisitive about Him.

Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris

On ordinary days, they sing the whole Psalm 15, "Lord, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle?" with its rule, concerning the mystery of the sacraments.

Didache, Connection to Acts 15:1

For certain men likewise went down from Judea to Antioch, and taught the brethren who were there, saying: "Unless ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, and walk according to the other customs which he ordained, ye cannot be saved."

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus

But also, concerning music, some have fabled that Apollo was the inventor, and others say that Orpheus discovered the art of music from the sweet voices of the birds.

Methodius, Three Fragments on the Cross and Passion

Three Fragments from the Homily on the Cross and Passion of Christ

Minucius Felix, Octavius

All such figments of an unhealthy belief, and vain sources of comfort, with which deceiving poets have trifled in the sweetness of their verse, have been disgracefully remoulded by you, believing undoubtingly on your God.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

And our canon brings Joatham king of Juda within the first Olympiad.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

so also are we bound in no way to transgress the canon of the Church.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book II

Moses delivered the law to the people in five books.

Justin Martyr, Hortatory Address to the Greeks

and with many gifts ordered them to return to their own country.

Caius, Fragments

(In Muratori, V. C. Antiq. Ital. Med. oev., vol. iii. col. 854.)

Commodianus, Writings

Written about A.D. 240. Our author seems to have been a North-African bishop, of whom little is known save what we learn from his own writings.

Tertullian, Against Marcion

That Being the Only Historical Portion of the New Testament Partially Accepted by Marcion.

Tertullian, Apology

Their high antiquity, first of all, claims authority for these writings.

Clement of Alexandria, Fragments

that is, for those who believe; that is, for the apostles.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James

Then there are read in order the holy oracles of the Old Testament, and of the prophets;

Justin Martyr, On the Resurrection, Fragments

For it is sufficient to mention the most prevalent opinions.

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments

and from xli. to lxxi. they reckoned a second;

Asterius Urbanus, The Extant Writings of Asterius Urbanus

And those first heretics, who from the heresy of Marcion are called Marcionites, allege that they have a great multitude of martyrs for Christ.

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies

The following are the contents of the first book of The Refutation of all Heresies.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith

From Gregory Thaumaturgus, as they say, in his Sectional Confession of Faith.

Julius Africanus, Extant Writings

pp. 241 and 595; and the Bollandists, Act. S.S. Funii, vol. iv. p. 350.

Origen, Letter to Gregory

while Gregory, to judge from the tenor of this Epistle, had gone to Egypt.

Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp

These things Caius transcribed from the copy of Irenæus (who was a disciple of Polycarp), having himself been intimate with Irenæus.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

Whence, however, have you learned who make up the list of gods under these names?

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies)

and some from peculiar dogmas, as that of the Docetæ, and that of the Hærmatites;

Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies

And Marcion corroborated the tenet of this (heretic) in the work which he attempted to write, and which he styled Antitheses.

Arnobius, Against the Heathen

But now, does not a similar mode of thought remove Juno from the list of gods?

Cyprian, Epistles

To Cornelius, Concerning Fortunatus and Felicissimus, or Against the Heretics.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

The following paragraphs to the end of the chapter are wanting many manuscripts, and it is very doubtful whether they were written by Lactantius.

Anonymous, Treatise on Re-Baptism

that the residue of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called upon them, says the Lord, who does these things.

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Acts 11:26

This was first fulfilled in Syria; for "the disciples were called Christians at Antioch," when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church.

Polycarp, Connection to Jude 1:3

Wherefore, forsaking the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from

Theophilus of Antioch, Connection to Acts 11:26

and since, besides, you call me a Christian, as if this were a damning name to bear, I, for my part, avow that I am a Christian,

Cyprian, Epistles

Argument.— A Certificate Written in the Name of the Martyrs by Lucianus.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes

but the things which were handed down by the oracles of the prophets, and contained in the sacred book of God;

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark

The Priest, making the sign of the cross over the disks and chalices, says in a loud voice (the Nicene Creed):—

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to Mark 16:9

The day of preparation, then, comprises the suffering death, the Sabbath embraces the burial, the Lord’s day contains the resurrection.

Anonymous, Connection to Romans 16:17

For these are they "who by good words and fair speeches lead astray the hearts of the simple, and, while offering them blessings, lead them astray."

Anonymous, Connection to Acts 15:20

bear what thou art able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols

Lactantius, The Phoenix

Written by an uncertain author, and attributed to Lactantius

Cyprian, Epistles

To the Presbyters and Deacons Abiding at Rome. A.D. 250.

Anonymous, Connection to Romans 15:4

"for whatsoever things were written, were written for our learning."

Proverbs 12:9

Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, for that we have the holy books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us,

1 Maccabees 12:9

Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, for that we have the holy books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us,

Romans 15:4

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

John 21:25

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Acts 17:11

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

1 Enoch 82:1

And now, my son Methuselah, all these things I am recounting to thee and writing down for thee! and I have revealed to thee everything, and given thee books concerning all these: so preserve, my son Methuselah, the books from thy father's hand, and (see) that thou deliver them to the generations of the world.

1 Enoch 104:13

wise to become a cause of joy and uprightness and much wisdom. And to them shall the books be given, and they shall believe in them and rejoice over them, and then shall all the righteous who have learnt therefrom all the paths of uprightness be recompensed.'

1 Enoch 39:2

high heaven, and their seed will become one with the children of men. And in those days Enoch received books of zeal and wrath, and books of disquiet and expulsion.] And mercy shall not be accorded to them, saith the Lord of Spirits.

1 Enoch 105:2

For I and My son will be united with them for ever in the paths of uprightness in their lives; and ye shall have peace: rejoice, ye children of uprightness. Amen. ## Fragment of the Book of Noah

Romans 1:2

which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

1 Enoch 104:12

concerning them. Then, I know another mystery, that books will be given to the righteous and the

Ecclesiastes 2:23

all these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

2 Maccabees 2:23

all these things, I say, being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

1 Maccabees 1:56

And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burned them with fire.

1 Enoch 93:3

And Enoch began to recount from the books and said: ' I was born the seventh in the first week, While judgement and righteousness still endured.

2 Kings 22:8

Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.

2 Chronicles 34:14

While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses.

Nehemiah 13:1

On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

Isaiah 34:16

Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.

Mark 16:8

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. [SOME OF THE EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT INCLUDE 16:9-20.]

Acts 15:23

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Jude 1:3

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Acts 11:26

and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

1 Peter 1:11

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

Ecclesiastes 2:13

The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Nehemiah; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.

2 Maccabees 2:13

The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Nehemiah; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings, and the prophets, and of David, and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts.

Obadiah 1:1

Whereas many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom: and whereof not only the readers must needs become skillful themselves, cometh from the Lord, And is with him forever.

Wisdom of Sirach 1:1

Whereas many and great things have been delivered unto us by the law and the prophets, and by others that have followed their steps, for the which things Israel ought to be commended for learning and wisdom: and whereof not only the readers must needs become skillful themselves, cometh from the Lord, And is with him forever.

1 Enoch 89:71

away with, and all that they had given over to destruction. And the book was read before the Lord of the sheep, and He took the book from his hand and read it and sealed it and laid it down.

1 Enoch 37:3

One which I will speak before the Lord of Spirits. It were better to declare (them only) to the men of old time, but even from those that come after we will not withhold the beginning of wisdom.

1 Enoch 72:1

The book of the courses of the luminaries of the heaven, the relations of each, according to their classes, their dominion and their seasons, according to their names and places of origin, and according to their months, which Uriel, the holy angel, who was with me, who is their guide, showed me; and he showed me all their laws exactly as they are, and how it is with regard to all the years of the world

1 Enoch 21:1

1,2 And I proceeded to where things were chaotic. And I saw there something horrible: I saw neither 3 a heaven above nor a firmly founded earth, but a place chaotic and horrible. And there I saw 4 seven stars of the heaven bound together in it, like great mountains and burning with fire. Then 5 I said: 'For what sin are they bound, and on what account have they been cast in hither?' Then said Uriel, one of the holy angels, who was with me, and was chief over them, and said: 'Enoch, why 6 dost thou ask, and why art thou eager for the truth? These are of the number of the stars of heaven, which have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and are bound here till ten thousand years, 7 the time entailed by their sins, are consummated.' And from thence I went to another place, which was still more horrible than the former, and I saw a horrible thing: a great fire there which burnt and blazed, and the place was cleft as far as the abyss, being full of great descending columns of 8 fire: neither its extent or magnitude could I see, nor could I conjecture. Then I said: 'How 9 fearful is the place and how terrible to look upon!' Then Uriel answered me, one of the holy angels who was with me, and said unto me: 'Enoch, why hast thou such fear and affright?' And 10 I answered: 'Because of this fearful place, and because of the spectacle of the pain.' And he said unto me: 'This place is...

2 Maccabees 9:18

But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:

Ecclesiastes 9:18

But for all this his pains would not cease: for the just judgment of God was come upon him: therefore despairing of his health, he wrote unto the Jews the letter underwritten, containing the form of a supplication, after this manner:

2 Maccabees 1:7

What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,

Ecclesiastes 1:7

What time as Demetrius reigned, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews wrote unto you in the extremity of trouble that came upon us in those years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and kingdom,

2 Maccabees 12:2

But of the governors of several places, Timothy, and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet, and live in peace.

Ecclesiastes 12:2

But of the governors of several places, Timothy, and Apollonius the son of Gennaeus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and beside them Nicanor the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to be quiet, and live in peace.

2 Maccabees 14:38

For in the former times, when they mingled not themselves with the Gentiles, he had been accused of Judaism, and did boldly jeopard his body and life with all vehemency for the religion of the Jews.

1 Enoch 92:1

The book written by Enoch-[Enoch indeed wrote this complete doctrine of wisdom, (which is) praised of all men and a judge of all the earth] for all my children who shall dwell on the earth. And for the future generations who shall observe uprightness and peace.

2 Maccabees 12:45

And also in that he perceived that there was great favor laid up for those that died godly, it was a holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.

2 Maccabees 4:42

Thus many of them they wounded, and some they struck to the ground, and all of them they forced to flee: but as for the church robber himself, him they killed beside the treasury.

4 Maccabees 1:12

But we may now at once enter upon the question, having commenced, as is our wont, with laying down the doctrine, and so proceed to the account of these persons, giving glory to the all wise God.

Isaiah 1:12

But we may now at once enter upon the question, having commenced, as is our wont, with laying down the doctrine, and so proceed to the account of these persons, giving glory to the all wise God.

2 Kings 22:10

Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

2 Timothy 3:15

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Chronicles 34:18

Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.

Joshua 8:34

And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.

Deuteronomy 17:18

“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.

Exodus 24:7

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

Acts 15:39

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Romans 16:14

Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

Acts 15:28

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

2 Timothy 4:11

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Acts 15:20

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Mark 16:9

[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

Luke 1:1

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

1 Corinthians 11:19

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Acts 15:21

For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Titus 1:14

not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Acts 15:1

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

John 20:31

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Romans 16:17

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

John 20:8

Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

Luke 1:3

it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

1 Enoch 14:1

The book of the words of righteousness, and of the reprimand of the eternal Watchers in accordance

1 Maccabees 16:24

behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

Proverbs 16:24

behold, these are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time he was made high priest after his father.

1 Maccabees 3:48

and laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images.

Wisdom of Sirach 24:23

All these things are the book of the covenant of the most high God, Even the law which Moses commanded For a heritage unto the congregations of Jacob.

Wisdom of Sirach 39:1

Will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, And be occupied in prophecies.

Baruch 1:14

And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.

1 Corinthians 1:14

And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.

1 Maccabees 16:23

As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

Proverbs 16:23

As concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, and worthy deeds which he did, and the building of the walls which he made, and his doings,

1 Maccabees 15:15

In the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these things:

Proverbs 15:15

In the mean season came Numenius and his company from Rome, having letters to the kings and countries; wherein were written these things:

2 Maccabees 11:21

Fare ye well. The hundred and eight and fortieth year, the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.

Numbers 10:13

And the first rank departed by the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

Wisdom of Sirach 39:32

Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, And thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

1 Enoch 108:1

Another book which Enoch wrote for his son Methuselah and for those who will come after him,

Ecclesiastes 2:14

In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us.

2 Maccabees 2:14

In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had, and they remain with us.

Wisdom of Solomon 13:6

But yet for this they are the less to be blamed: For they peradventure err, Seeking God, and desirous to find him.

Wisdom of Solomon 13:7

For being conversant in his works they search him diligently, And believe their sight: because the things are beautiful that are seen.

Exodus 36:30

And the opening of the tunic in the midst woven closely together, the opening having a fringe round about, that it might not be rent.

2 Maccabees 14:14

Then the heathen, that had fled out of Judea from Judas, came to Nicanor by flocks, thinking the harm and calamities of the Jews to be their welfare.

Proverbs 8:29

According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.

1 Maccabees 8:29

According to these articles did the Romans make a covenant with the people of the Jews.

Psalms 77:5

I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

Acts 15:37

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

Proverbs 14:19

which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.

1 Maccabees 14:19

which writings were read before the congregation at Jerusalem.

1 Esdras 1:24

As for the things that came to pass in his time, they were written in former times, concerning those that sinned, and did wickedly against the Lord above all people and kingdoms, and how they grieved him exceedingly, so that the words of the Lord rose up against Israel.

Proverbs 15:24

And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.

1 Maccabees 15:24

And the copy hereof they wrote to Simon the high priest.

Esther 9:9

and Marmasima, and Aruphaeus, and Arsaeus, and Zabutheus,

Proverbs 9:18

Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

1 Maccabees 9:18

Judas also was killed, and the remnant fled.

2 Chronicles 34:15

Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.

Deuteronomy 31:24

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,