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 manuscripts, 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 Esdr

Es- dra

1 Mc

2 Mc

3 Mc

4 Mc

Add Est

Ps 151

Ps 152-3

Ps 154-5

1 En och

Jubilees

Positive mention of other books or as scripture

Dead Sea Scrolls

 

before 68 A.D.

Q

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Q

-

Q

Q

Q

Letter 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

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 disciple of John & Presbyters

2 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 to the Philippians

3 ½

100-155

½

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Epistle to Diognetus (Mathetes to Diognetus)

5 ¼

c.130-200

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total Apostolic Fathers – until 155 A.D.

67.5

-155

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, Samaritan philosopher and apologist

137

c.138-165

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp

5

c.169

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gnostic heresies become widespread

 

c.170-

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

Many

Dionysius of Corinth (wrote against Marcion)

1/3

170

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tatian+Diatessaron, Encratite Gnostic later

18+86

c.172

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Homer

Hegesippus (chronicler)

2 ½

170-180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

-

Sibyl

Athenagoras (apologist)

33 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons)

6 ½

177

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Rhodon (against Marcion and Apelles)

½

180

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

X Homer

Theophilus of Antioch (to Autolycus)

32

168-181/188

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sibyl

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 + Polycrates

5 + ½

185-196,196

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Caius and the Muratorian Canon

3

190-217

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Sabellian heresy (Praxeas, Noetus, Callistus)

 

200-257-

They 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 them. 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

-

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Plato’s Timaeus, Sibyl

Tertullian (joined the Montanist Church)

741

198-220

-

-

-

-

Q

A

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

m

-

Sibyl, X Homer

Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria (heretical)

11 ½

154-224/232

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists)

2 ¾

c.232

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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.

Theodotus the probable Montanist

7 ¾

ca.240

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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 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

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dionysius of Rome, Malchion

1 + 2½

259-269,270

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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

-

-

Theonas of Alexandria (Letter to Lucianus)

3

282-300

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

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 by Diocletian

284, 303-305

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

Victorinus of Petau + Council of Elvira

18½ +1

-304,306/7

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Phileas of Thmuis + Pamphilus

2½+2 ½ 

307,309

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Peter of Alexandria (undisputed)

8 ½

306,285-311

-

-

-

Q

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Methodius (corrected Origen’s followers)

79 ½

270-311/312

-

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

305.5

c.303-c.325

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

some Gr. philosophy, Sibyl

Alexander of Alexandria (undisputed)

11.5

313-326

-

-

-

S

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Christian writer totals: all symbols except P’s

4274½

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

+ = 19 X = 5

Vaticanus manuscript  [B]

325-350

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

~W

-

-

-

-

-

Nestorian Churches (Syriac)

 

-present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W

W

W

 

 

-

Coptic Churches

 

-present

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

X

X

W

W

 

 

 

W

X

X

X

X

X

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

 

-present

-

-

W

W

W

 

 

 

X

W

W

*

*

*

X

W

W

X

X

W

W

 Ltr of Jeremiah, broader canon, 1,2,3 Macc. different than other churches

Greek Orthodox Church

 

-present

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

W

W

W

m

-

W

-

X

X

X

X

Slavonic Orthodox

 

-present

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

 

 

W

-

-

 

X

X

Roman Catholic Church

 

-present

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

-

-

-

W

W

-

-

-

-

-

-

X

X

X

Catholic Cardinal Cajetan (Luther’s foe)

 

1494-1534

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Original 1611 King James Bible

 

1611

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

X

X

W

X

X

X

X

X

X

Protestants, Presby., Bapt, Charismatic, etc.

 

-present

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Christian writer, heretic, or Bible manuscript

Pages

Date A.D.

Tobit

Ju-dith

Wis-dom

Sir-ach

Baruch

Bel

Susan

3 Holy

Manas

3 Esdr

4Es-dra

1 Mc

2 Mc

3 Mc

4 Mc

Add Est

Ps 151

Ps 152-3

Ps 154-5

1 En och

Jubilees

Positive mention of other books or as scripture

References at www.Biblequery.org/Bible/bibleCanon/EarlyChristianApocryphaGridReferences.html Copyright © 2008-2016 Steve M. Morrison, PhD. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.