The apostle writes, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and vain babbling and opposition of falsely called knowledge.” . . . Convicted by this utterance, the heretics reject the Epistles to Timothy. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.359.
The second Epistle of John, which was written to virgins, is very simple. It was written to a Babylonian lady, by the name of Electa, and it indicates the election of the holy church. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.576, 577.
In the Sketches, in a word, [Clement of Alexandria] has made abbreviated narratives of the whole testamentary Scripture. And he has not passed over the disputed books—I mean Jude and the rest of the catholic Epistles, Barnabas, and what is called the Revelation of Peter. And he says that the Epistle to the Hebrews is Paul’s. Eusebius, citing Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.579.
Again, in the same books, Clement has set down a tradition which he had received from the elders before him, in regard to the order of the Gospels, to the following effect: He says that the Gospels containing the genealogies were written first, and that the Gospel according to Mark was composed in the following circumstances: Peter preached the word publicly at Rome. By the Spirit, he proclaimed the Gospel. Those who were present (who were numerous) urged Mark to write down what had been spoken. For he had attended Peter from an early period and remembered what had been said. On his composing the Gospel, Mark handed it to those who had urged him. When this came to Peter’s knowledge, he neither hindered nor encouraged it. Now, John, the last of all, seeing that what was declared in the Gospels was primarily physical, at the request of his intimate friends and inspired by the Spirit, he composed a spiritual Gospel. Eusebius, citing Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.580.
Although different matters are taught us in the various books of the Gospels, there is no difference as regards the faith of believers. For in all of them, everything was related under one imperial Spirit. Muratorian Fragment (c. 200, W), 5.603.
As to the epistles of Paul, . . . he wrote first of all—and at considerable length—to the Corinthians, to curtail the schism of heresy; and then to the Galatians, to forbid circumcision; and then to the Romans on the rule of the Old Testament Scriptures, and also to show them that Christ is the first object in them. Muratorian Fragment (c. 200, W), 5.603.
Following the rule of his predecessor, John, the blessed apostle Paul writes to no more than seven churches by name, in this order: the first to the Corinthians, the second to the Ephesians, the third to the Philippians, the fourth to the Colossians, the fifth to the Galatians, the sixth to the Thessalonians, the seventh to the Romans. Moreover, though he writes twice to the Corinthians and Thessalonians for their correction, it is yet shown—i.e., by this sevenfold writing—that there is one church spread abroad through the whole world. . . . He wrote, besides these, one to Philemon, one to Titus, and two to Timothy, in simple personal affection and love indeed. Yet, these are hallowed in the esteem of the catholic church and in the regulation of ecclesiastical discipline. Muratorian Fragment (c. 200, W), 5.603.
The Epistle of Jude, indeed, and two belonging to the above-named John—or bearing the name of John—are reckoned among the catholic epistles. And the Book of Wisdom, written by the friends of Solomon in his honor. We receive also the Apocalypse of John and that of Peter, though some among us will not have this latter read in the church. Muratorian Fragment (c. 200, W), 5.603, 604.
Paul then briefly addresses his own conversion from a persecutor to an apostle. In doing so, he confirms the Acts of the Apostles. In that book, we can find the very subject of this epistle [to the Galatians]—how that certain persons objected and said that men should be circumcised and that the Law of Moses was to be observed. Tertullian (c. 207, W), 3.432.
Marcion rejected the two epistles to Timothy and the one to Titus, all of which deal with church discipline. His aim, was, I suppose, to carry out his interpolating process even to the number of epistles. Tertullian (c. 207, W), 3.473, 474.
The Acts of the Apostles, too, attests the resurrection. Tertullian (c. 210, W), 3.573.
If anyone should quote to us out of the little treatise entitled The Teaching of Peter . . . I have to reply, in the first place, that this work is not included among ecclesiastical books. For we can show that it was composed neither by Peter nor by any other person inspired by the Spirit of God. Origen (c. 225, E), 4.241.
Peter . . . left one epistle of acknowledged authenticity. Perhaps we can allow that he left a second. However, this is doubtful. Origen (c. 228, E), 9.346.
John, who left one Gospel, . . . also wrote the Apocalypse. . . . He also left an epistle of very few lines. Perhaps he also wrote a second and a third. However, not everyone declares those to be genuine. Regardless, the two together do not amount to a hundred lines. Origen (c. 228, E), 9.346, 347.
The Scriptures that are current in the churches of God do not speak of seven heavens. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.582, 583.
In none of the Gospels current in the churches is Jesus ever described as being a carpenter Himself. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.589.
Paul wrote to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Thessalonians, the Philippians, and to the Colossians. Afterwards, he wrote to individual persons. Victorinus (c. 280, W), 7.345.
If anyone publicly reads in the church the spurious books of the ungodly, as if they were holy, to the destruction of the people and of the clergy, let him be deprived. Apostolic Constitutions (compiled c. 390, E), 7.503.
Our sacred books, that is, those of the New Testament, are these: the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; the fourteen Epistles of Paul; two Epistles of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude; two Epistles of Clement; and the Constitutions. Apostolic Constitutions (compiled c. 390, E), 7.505.