How Much Did Early Christians Refer to the Apocrypha and Other Books?
(October 2006 version)
Note that Ecclesiasticus, Sirach and “wisdom of Jesus the son of Sirach” are three names for the same book.
The red rows are persecutions of Christians during this time and green rows are heresies or major controversies. Here is the legend.
W = Books and quotes mentioned by name or by writer G = Quoted as God said or God’s Word
B = Mentioned as scripture or by prophet(s). Q = Quote of 1 or more verses. ½ = quote of ½ a verse
A = Allusion. - = no reference blank = not researched yet
|
Writer |
Pages |
Date A.D. |
Tobit |
Ju-dith |
Wis-dom |
Ecclus |
Baruch |
Bel |
Susan |
3 Holy |
Manas |
3 Esdra |
Es- dra |
1 Mac |
2 Mac |
3 Mac |
4 Mac |
Add Esth |
Ps 151 |
Ps 152-3 |
Ps 154-5 |
1 En och |
Other books |
Writer |
|
Nero & Domitian persecute Christians |
|
50 and 95/96 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nero & Domitian persecute Christians |
|
Clement of Rome |
16 ¼ |
97/98 |
- |
W |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Clement of Rome |
|
Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version) |
13 |
c.100-117 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Ignatius disciple of John (shortest version) |
|
Trajan persecutes Christians |
|
107 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trajan persecutes Christians |
|
Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) |
4 ¾ |
Before 125 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) |
|
Apology of Aristides (Greek version) |
c.17 |
125 or138-161 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Apology of Aristides (Greek version) |
|
Quadratus of Athens fragment |
1/8 |
126 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Quadratus of Athens fragment |
|
Letter to Diognetus |
5 ¼ |
c.130 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Letter to Diognetus |
|
Hadrian persecutes Christians |
|
118 & 134 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hadrian persecutes Christians |
|
Letter of Barnabas |
12 ½ |
100-150 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Letter of Barnabas |
|
Polycarp to the Philippians |
3 ½ |
100-155 |
½ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Polycarp to the Philippians |
|
Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John |
2 |
130-150 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Papias of Hierapolis, disciple of John |
|
“Presbyters” (Papias?) |
½ |
-150 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
“Presbyters” (Papias?) |
|
Shepherd of Hermas |
46 ½ |
160 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Shepherd of Hermas |
|
Justin Martyr |
137 |
138-165 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
~ Sibyl |
Justin Martyr |
|
Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp |
5 |
c.169 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Evarestus’ Martyrdom of Polycarp |
|
Hegesippus |
2 ½ |
170 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hegesippus |
|
Dionysius of Corinth |
1/3 |
170 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Dionysius of Corinth |
|
Melito/Meleto of Sardis |
11 |
170-177/180 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
W |
X |
X |
X |
X |
- |
- |
- |
- |
X |
~ Sibyl |
Melito/Meleto of Sardis |
|
Tatian, Encratite heretic, disciple of Justin |
18+86 |
Died 172 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Tatian, Encratite heretic, disciple of Justin |
|
Gnostic heresies become widespread |
|
c.170 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gnostic heresies become widespread |
|
Persecution of Marcus Aurelius |
|
177 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Persecution of Marcus Aurelius |
|
Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons) |
6 ½ |
177 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Christians of Vienna and Lugdunum (Lyons) |
|
Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis |
½ |
177, 160-180 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Claudius Apollinaris of Hierapolis |
|
Athenagoras |
19 ½ |
177 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Athenagoras |
|
Theophilus of Antioch |
32 |
168-181/188 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
~ Sibyl |
Theophilus of Antioch |
|
Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp |
262 |
182-188 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Irenaeus of Lyons, disciple of Polycarp |
|
Rhodon |
½ |
180 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Rhodon |
|
Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs |
¾ |
180-202 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs |
|
Maximus of Jerusalem |
5 |
185-196 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Maximus of Jerusalem |
|
Caius and the Muratorian Canon |
3 |
190-217 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Caius and the Muratorian Canon |
|
Polycrates of Ephesus (Paschal Synod) |
½ |
196 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Polycrates of Ephesus (Paschal Synod) |
|
Sabellian heresies |
|
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sabellian heresies |
|
Persecution of Septimus Severus |
|
202 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Persecution of Septimus Severus |
|
Serapion of Antioch |
1/3 |
200-210 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Serapion of Antioch |
|
Minucius Felix |
25 |
210 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Minucius Felix |
|
Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists) |
1 |
c.210 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Apollonius of Ephesus (against Montanists) |
|
Tertullian (Montanist) |
741 |
200-240 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
W |
~ Sibyl |
Tertullian (Montanist |
|
Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion |
194 |
207/8 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Tertullian’s 5 Books Against Marcion |
|
Clement of Alexandria |
424 |
193-217/220 |
W |
W |
Q |
- |
Q |
- |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
½ W |
½ W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
~ Sibyl |
Clement of Alexandria |
|
Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria |
11 ½ |
-224/232 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Bardaisan/Bardesan of Syria |
|
Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists) |
2 ¾ |
c.232 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Asterius Urbanus (against Montanists) |
|
Hippolytus of Portus, disciple of Irenaeus |
225 |
222-235/6 |
A |
- |
- |
- |
Q |
|
W |
A |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Hippolytus of Portus, disciple of Irenaeus |
|
Maximim persecutes Christians |
|
235 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximim persecutes Christians |
|
Commodianus |
16 |
c.240 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Commodianus |
|
Julius Africanus |
9 |
232-245 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
X |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Julius Africanus |
|
Second Clement |
5 ¾ |
200-250 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Second Clement |
|
Alexander of Cappadocia (Clem. A’.s pupil) |
¾ |
233-251 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Alexander of Cappadocia (Clem. A’.s pupil) |
|
Origen (heterodox teacher) |
622 |
225-254 |
W |
A |
W |
- |
- |
W |
W |
- |
- |
Q |
- |
W |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Origen |
|
Severe persecution by Decius - Gallus |
|
250-251 - 253 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severe persecution by Decius and Gallus |
|
Novatian the schismatic |
38 ½ |
250/254-256/7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Novatian the schismatic |
|
Valerian continues persecuting Christians |
|
253-260 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valerian continues persecuting Christians |
|
Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian |
6 ½ |
c.248-258 |
- |
- |
- |
Q |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anonymous Treatise Against Novatian |
|
Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism |
11 |
c.248-258 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anonymous Treatise on Rebaptism |
|
Cyprian of Carthage |
270 |
c.246-258 |
W |
- |
W |
W |
W |
A |
W |
W |
- |
- |
W |
W |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Cyprian of Carthage |
|
Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18) |
¾ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Caldonius to Cyprian (letter 18) |
|
Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20) |
1 ¼ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Celerinus to Lucian (letter 20) |
|
Lucian to Celerinus (letter 21) |
¾ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Lucian to Celerinus (letter 21) |
|
Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25) |
2 ½ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Moyses, et al. to Cyprian (letter 25) |
|
Cornelius to Cyprian (letters 45,47) |
1 ¼ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Cornelius to Cyprian (Letters 45,47) |
|
Maximus, et al. to Cyprian (ltr 49) |
¼ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Maximus, et al. to Cyprian (ltr 49) |
|
Firmilian of Caesarea to Cyprian (74) |
7 ¼ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Firmilian of Caesarea to Cyprian (74) |
|
Nemesianus, et al. to Cyprian (77) |
¾ |
c.246-256 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |