Bible Canon

THE BIBLE CANON : M. M. NINAN
Numbers, Leviticus, Deuteronomy; Jesus Nave, Judges, Ruth; of Kings, four books; of
Chronicles, two; the Psalms of David, the Proverbs of Solomon, Wisdom also, Ecclesiastes,
Song of Songs, Job; of Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah; of the twelve prophets, one book ;
Daniel, Ezekiel, Esdras. From which also I have made the extracts, dividing them into six
books. Melito's account, as well as including the Book of Wisdom, does not determine that
the specific documentary tradition used by the Jews was necessarily that which was
eventually assembled into the Masoretic text, several centuries later. See also Development
of the Hebrew Bible canon."
St. Athanasius (296- 373)
St. Athanasius practically reiterates the Melito's Canon endorsing 39 books in his Old
Testament, rejecting any apocryphal (Pseudepigraphs) writings. He rejects Esther and
includes Baruch. About the Deuterocanonical books he adds:
"But for greater exactness I add this also, writing of necessity; that there are other books
besides these not indeed included in the Canon, but appointed by the Fathers to be read by
those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of godliness. The Wisdom
of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach, and Esther, and Judith, and Tobit, and that which is
called the Teaching of the Apostles, and the Shepherd. But the former, my brethren, are
included in the Canon, the latter being [merely] read; nor is there in any place a mention of
apocryphal writings. But they are an invention of heretics, who write them when they
choose, bestowing upon them their approbation, and assigning to them a date, that so,
using them as ancient writings, they may find occasion to lead astray the simple".
Clement of Rome, in 95 AD
Clement of Rome, in 95 AD, wrote a letter in the name of the Christians of Rome to those
in Corinth. In this letter he uses material found in Mt, Lk He knows Epistle to the Hebrews
Romans, Corinthians, and there are found echoes of 1 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter and
Ephesians.
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