38. But it should
be known that there are also other books which our fathers call not
“Canonical” but “Ecclesiastical:” that is to
say, Wisdom, called the Wisdom of Solomon, and another Wisdom, called
the Wisdom of the Son of Syrach, which last-mentioned the Latins called
by the general title Ecclesiasticus, designating not the author of the
book, but the character of the writing. To the same class belong the
Book of Tobit, and the Book of Judith, and the Books of the Maccabees. In the New Testament the little book which is called the Book of the Pastor of Hermas, [and that] which is called The Two Ways, or the Judgment of Peter; all of which they would have read in the Churches, but not appealed to for the confirmation of doctrine. The other writings they have named “Apocrypha.” These they would not have read in the Churches.
These are the traditions which
the Fathers have handed down to us, which, as I said, I have thought it
opportune to set forth in this place, for the instruction of those who
are being taught the first elements of the Church and of the Faith, that they may know from what fountains of the Word of God their draughts must be taken.