How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the Apocrypha and Other Books?  Mar. 2026

 

Note that Ecclesiasticus, Sirach and “Wisdom of Jesus the son of Sirach” are three names for the same book.

Rows: red = persecution of Christians, green = heresy, orange = schism, blue = Bible manuscript, pink = strange teacher

W = Books and quotes mentioned by name or by writer       G = Quoted as God or Lord says or God’s Word            I = Implied                  Q = quotes 1 or more verses         ½  = quote of ½ verse        A = Allusion

S = Referred to as scripture, gospel, or by apostle(s)            E =not scripture but good to read               m = he considered it scripture but others did not          X = rejected                  - no reference found 

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

< Pages

Date A.D.

Tobit

Ju-dith

Wis-dom

Sir-ach

Baruch

Bel

Susan

3 Holy

Manas

3 Es-dra

Es- dra

1 Mac

2 Mac

3 Mac

4 Mac

Add Esth

Ps 151

Ps 152-3

Ps 154-5

1 En och

Sibyl

Positive mention of other books

Dead Sea Scrolls

 

before 68 A.D.

Q

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

Q

Q

-

Jubilees, Epistle of Jeremiah

Hellenistic Jews

 

c.400 B.C.-

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

m

m

m

m

m

-

Others

Jews in Palestine, and Council of Jamnia

 

70 C.E.

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

-

-

-

X

X

X

Nero and Domitian persecute Christians

50 and 95/96

Est. 500K Christians. Christians were labeled atheists and publicly tortured and killed for refusing to worship the emperor and pagan idols.

Clement of Rome (wrote 1 Clement)

16 ¼

96-98

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Papias of Hierapolis

2

95-110

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

"Presbyters" (Papias?)

½

95-117

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version)

13

c.100-117

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Trajan persecutes Christians

107-117

Answered Pliny the Younger’s letter. Christians are not to be sought after, but only killed if found.

Didache (=Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)

4 ¾

c.60-120

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Apology of Aristides (Greek version)

4

125 or138-161

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Quadratus of Athens fragment (apologist)

1/8

126

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Epistle of Barnabas

12 ½

c.70-130

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hadrian persecutes Christians

118 & 134

Hadrian loved Greek culture, and he persecuted both Jews and Christians. The Jewish Bar Cochba revolt happened under him.

Bar Cochba persecutes Christians

135

Christians persecuted in Israel because Christians would not join Bar Cochba’s revolt.

2 Clement (anonymous writer)

5 ¾

120-140

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycarp, disciple of John, to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Epistle to Diognetus (=Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total Apostolic Fathers – until 150 A.D.

67.7

-150

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Shepherd of Hermas

46 ½

c.115-155

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Eldad and Modat/Modad

Justin Martyr of Neacaesarea, Samaritan philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

E

Gk philosophers Philemon, Plato’s Timaeus, Acts of Pontius Pilate

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

Gnostics all believed the Creator was evil or foolish. Rejecting the O.T., they mixed Greek paganism and Christianity.

Many

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian+Diatessaron, Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

c.172

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Homer

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

Some truths in Hesiod, Plato, Callimachus, Pindar, Socrates

Persecution of Marcus Aurelius

162/166-180

Aurelius was a Stoic philosopher. Persecution, mainly in Gaul, ended with his death.

Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis

½

160-177/180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Melito/Meleto of Sardis (Quartodecimian)

11

170-177/180

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

W

X

X

X

X

-

-

-

-

X

E

-

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Homer

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

E

-

Ebionites & Clementina (OT Law, Father, Son)

265 ½

-188 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp

284 ¾

182-188

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs

¾

180-202

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maximus of Jerusalem (wrote on origin of evil)

5

185-196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Polycrates of Ephesus (Quartodecimian)

½

196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

 

200-257-

Sabellians believed Father, Son, and Spirit were one person. Also called Patripassians for “passion of the Father”.

 

Persecution of Septimus Severus

202

Est. 2M Christians. Although a Christian helped him in an illness, he did not repeal existing laws against Christians. Persecution in Syria, Egypt

Serapion of Antioch (against Marcion)

1/3

200-210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Minucius Felix (The Octavius)

25

210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Plato’s Timaeus

Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists)

1

c.210

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Clement of Alexandria

424

193-217/220

W

W

Q

W

S

-

W

-

-

-

-

½ W

½ W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

E

Plato’s Timaeus

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

741

198-220

-

-

-

-

Q

A

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

m

E

X Homer

Theodotus the probable Montanist

7 ¾

ca.240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Hippolytus, pupil of Irenaeus (undisputed)

218

222-235/6

A

-

-

-

S

-

W

A

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

X

X

-

-

Plato’s Timaeus

Maximin Thrax persecutes Christians

235-238

First empire-wide persecution, but only of clergy. Persecution stopped when his soldiers assassinated him.

Instructions of Commodianus

16

c.240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Julius Africanus (undisputed writings)

9

232-245

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Alexander of Cappadocia (Clem. A’.s pupil)

¾

233-251

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Origen (heterodox teacher)

742

225-254

W

A

m

W

-

W

W

-

-

Q

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Plato’s Timaeus

Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus

250-251 - 253

First Christian schism. Were Christians who sacrificed but repented eventually allowed back, or doomed forever (Novatian)?

Novatian (his schism lasted over 200 years)

38 ½

250/254-257

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Treatise Against Novatian

6 ½

254-256

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Treatise on Rebaptism

11

c.250-258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cyprian of Carthage (against Novatian)

250 ¾

c.246-258

W

-

W

W

W

A

W

W

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

13 writers to Cyprian

20 ¼  

250-257

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Seventh Council of Carthage (85 bishops)

7 ¼

258

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Pontius’ The Life and Passion of Cyprian

7 ½

After 258

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Valerian persecutes Christians

257-260

2nd most severe Roman persecution. Tolerant at first, but then general Macrianus influenced him. Stopped when Persian Shapur I captured him.

Theognostus & Gregory Thaumaturgus

½ +28½

260,240-265

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Alexandria (Origenist)

39 ½

246-265

-

-

A

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Aurelian Persecution

270

At first tolerant, Aurelian died soon after he decided to persecute Christians.

Pierius of Alexandria (fragment)

½

275

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Anatolius of Alexandria (mathematician)

7 ½

270-280

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

Alexander of Lycopolis Of the Manichaeans

12

301

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Homer

Arnobius Against the Heathen (undisputed)

126 ½

297-303

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Plato’s Timaeus

Most severe persecution was by Diocletian

284, 303-305

Est 5M Christians. Most severe Roman persecution of all. Leveled churches, destroyed scriptures. Killed many Christians for not sacrificing.

Peter of Alexandria (undisputed)

8 ½

306,285-311

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Methodius (corrected Origen’s followers)

79 ½

260-311/312

-

W

G

W

A

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Council of Ancyra & Council of Neocaesarea

4 2/3

314, c.315

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Athanasius Against The Heathen & Incarnation

56

318

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Licinius persecutes Christians in the east

315-323

At least one of Licinius’ motive was hatred of Constantine. Licinius fought and was defeated by Constantine a few times from 314 to 324 A.D.

Lactantius, tutor of Constantine’s son

305 ½

c.303-c.325

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

E

parts of Greek philosophy

Alexander of Alexandria (Origenist, undisputed)

11

313-326

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Christian writer totals: all symbols except P’s

4229½

up to 325

6-1

4-1

9-1

6-1

4-1

3-1

7-2

4-1

0-1

1-1

3-1

3½ -1

1½ -1

0-1

0-1

0

0-1

0-1

0-1

2-1

6 e

 

Arian heresy spreads, starting in Alexandria

 

c.318-523

Arians believed that Jesus was God, but not the same substance as the Father, and there was a time when Jesus was not.

 

Constantine legalizes Christianity

 

324

Non-violently closed pagan temples so that his subjects would attend churches instead

 

Council of Nicea condemns Arianism

3

325

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Vaticanus manuscript  [B]

 

325-350

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

~W

-

-

-

-

-

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

Tobit

Ju-dith

Wis-dom

Sir-ach

Baruch

Bel

Susan

3 Holy

Manas

3 Es-dra

4Es-dra

1 Mac

2 Mac

3 Mac

4 Mac

Add Esth

Ps 151

Ps 152-3

Ps 154-5

1 En och

Sibyl

+ mention of other books

m= Origen referred to the Wisdom of Solomon, but said that some do not consider it scripture.

www.Biblequery.org/Bible/BibleCanon/EarlyChristianApocryphaGrid.html. References at www.Biblequery.org/Bible/bibleCanon/EarlyChristianApocryphaGridReferences.html

by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.