Melito (in c. 170 AD) bishop of Sardis gave us the earliest known list of Christian Old Testament.  It was preserved in Eusebius' Church History (written in c. 324).

"Melito to his brother Onesimus, greeting: Since thou hast often, in thy zeal for the word, expressed a wish to have extracts made from the Law and the Prophets concerning the Saviour and concerning our entire faith, and hast also desired to have an accurate statement of the ancient book, as regards their number and their order, I have endeavored to perform the task, knowing thy zeal for the faith, and thy desire to gain information in regard to the word, and knowing that thou, in thy yearning after God, esteemest these things above all else, struggling to attain eternal salvation.

Accordingly when I went East and came to the place where these things were preached and done, I learned accurately the books of the Old Testament, and send them to thee as written below. Their names are as follows: Of Moses, five books: Genesis, Exodus, 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." Such are the words of Melito.

Eusebius, the Church History 4:26 [30]

If we assume that he combined Lamentations with Jeremiah and his Esdras is equal to Ezra-Nehemiah then Melito's list is equal to the present Jewish scripture minus Esther.   Note that Melito went to the east (Palestine) where "things were preached and done" indicating that his source might be Palestinian Jews.  The next list of the Old Testament books was the work of biblical scholar Origen (c. 185 to 255), also preserved in Eusebius' Church History.

Farther on he [Origen] says: "The twenty-two books of the Hebrews are the following: That which is called by us Genesis, but by the Hebrews, from the beginning of the book, Bresith, which means, `In the beginning'; Exodus, Welesmoth, that is, `These are the names'; Leviticus, Wikra, `And he called`; Numbers, Ammesphekodeim; Deuteronomy, Eleaddebareim, `These are the words'; Jesus, the son of Nave, Josoue ben Noun; Judges and Ruth, among them in one book, Saphateim; the First and Second of Kings, among them one, Samouel, that is, `The called of God'; the Third and Fourth of Kings in one, Wammelch David, that is, `The kingdom of David'; of the Chronicles, the First and Second in one, Dabre�amein, that is, `Records of days'; Esdras, First and Second in one, Ezra, that is, `An assistant'; the book of Psalms, Spharthelleim; the Proverbs of Solomon, Meloth; Ecclesiastes, Koelth; the Song of Songs (not, as some suppose, Songs of Songs), Sir Hassirim; Isaiah, Jessia; Jeremiah, with Lamentations and the epistle in one, Jeremia; Daniel, Daniel; Ezekiel, Jezekiel; Job, Job; Esther, Esther. And besides these there are the Maccabees, which are entitled Sarbeth Sabanaiel. He gives these in the above-mentioned work.

Eusebius, the Church History 6:25 [31]

Because Origen explicitly stated twenty-two books then the omission of the Twelve Prophets must be copyist error of the manuscript of Eusebius' Church History.  His list includes Letter of Jeremiah combined with Jeremiah and Lamentations.  It is wrong to attribute the list to Origen because he indicated that it was according to the Hebrews or Jews.  The fact that he accepted a wider canon is attested in his letter to Africanus where he insisted that Susanna was part of Daniel and stated that LXX chapters of Daniel and Esther as well as Tobit were part of the Christian scripture.  Elsewhere he cited Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Baruch and 2 Maccabee as scripture; only Wisdom he explicitly stated as non authoritative. [32]

A list of books of the Bible dated early 4th century, Codex Claromontanus has deuterocanonical Tobit, Judith, 1, 2 and 4 Maccabees, Wisdom and Sirach but the books of Chronicles are missing.  Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem from AD 348 to 386 wrote his list of 22 Old Testament books in c. 345.

And of the Old Testament, as we have said, study the two and twenty books, which, if thou art desirous of learning, strive to remember by name, as I recite them. For of the Law the books of Moses are the first five, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. And next, Joshua the son of Nave, and the book of Judges, including Ruth, counted as seventh. And of the other historical books, the first and second books of the Kings are among the Hebrews one book; also the third and fourth one book. And in like manner, the first and second of Chronicles are with them one book; and the first and second of Esdras are counted one. Esther is the twelfth book; and these are the Historical writings. But those which are written in verses are five, Job, and the book of Psalms, and Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, which is the seventeenth book. And after these come the five Prophetic books: of the Twelve Prophets one book, of Isaiah one, of Jeremiah one, including Baruch and Lamentations and the Epistle; then Ezekiel, and the Book of Daniel, the twenty-second of the Old Testament.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture 4 of Catechetical Lectures [33]

Cyril also combined Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah with Jeremiah and Lamentations.  However he did not limit his canon in those 22 books because in his other works he still quote from Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, Song of Three Young Men, Susanna and Bel & Dragon [34].  The same books but with slightly different order were promulgated in the council of Laodicea (c. 362)

These are all the books of Old Testament appointed to be read: 1, Genesis of the world; 2, The Exodus from Egypt; 3, Leviticus; 4, Numbers; 5, Deuteronomy; 6, Joshua, the son of Nun; 7, Judges, Ruth; 8, Esther; 9, Of the Kings, First and Second; 10, Of the Kings, Third and Fourth; 11, Chronicles, First and Second; 12, Esdras, First and Second; 13, The Book of Psalms; 14, The Proverbs of Solomon; 15, Ecclesiastes; 16, The Song of Songs;17, Job; 18, The Twelve Prophets; 19, Isaiah; 20, Jeremiah, and Baruch, the Lamentations, and the Epistle; 21, Ezekiel; 22, Daniel.

Canon LX of Council of Laodicea [35]

Athanasius (c. 300 to 373), bishop of Alexandria, gave his list of 22 Old Testament books in 367:

There are, then, of the Old Testament, twenty-two books in number; for, as I have heard, it is handed down that this is the number of the letters among the Hebrews; their respective order and names being as follows. The first is Genesis, then Exodus, next Leviticus, after that Numbers, and then Deuteronomy. Following these there is Joshua, the son of Nun, then Judges, then Ruth. And again, after these four books of Kings, the first and second being reckoned as one book, and so likewise the third and fourth as one book. And again, the first and second of the Chronicles are reckoned as one book. Again Ezra, the first and second are similarly one book. After these there is the book of Psalms, then the Proverbs, next Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Job follows, then the Prophets, the twelve being reckoned as one book. Then Isaiah, one book, then Jeremiah with Baruch, Lamentations, and the epistle, one book; afterwards, Ezekiel and Daniel, each one book. Thus far constitutes the Old Testament.

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.

Athanasius, 39th Festal Letter [36]

Athanasius list also includes Baruch and Letter of Jeremiah as part of Jeremiah together with Lamentations but it omits Esther (to get the same number of twenty-two, he separated Ruth from Judges).  He considered Esthertogether with Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Judith and Tobit as having inferior grade but still approved them to be read (edifying) in the church.  Athanasius distinguished three categories of books: canonical, edifying and apocryphal (not to be read at all).  However in his other works, Athanasius cited Tobit, Sirach and Wisdom as scripture [37], indicating that he did not always restrict himself to only those 22 books.

Epiphanius (315 to 402), bishop of Salami (Cyprus) gave us three lists of Old Testament canon.  The first one [38] comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 4 books ofKingdoms, 2 books of Chronicles , The Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah + Lamentations + Epistle of Jeremiah + Baruch in one book, Ezekiel, Daniel, 2 books of Esdras, Esther.  It is equal but with different order of books to that of Cyril of Jerusalem.  The second list [39] has Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Joshua, Judges & Ruthin one book, 1 & 2 Chronicles in one book, 1 & 2 Kingdoms in one book, 3 & 4 Kingdoms in one book, the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, 2 books of Esdras, Esther.  The third list [40] comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Job, Judges, Ruth, Psalms, 2 books of Chronicles, 4 books of Kingdoms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, 2 books of Esdras, Esther.  In the second and third lists Lamentations is missing (unless it is combined with Jeremiah) and all deuterocanonical books are excluded.  The first and third lists have 27 books while the second one has 22 books.  Interestingly Epiphanius considered Wisdom and Sirach to be part of the New Testament [41].  The 2nd century AD Muratorian list also placed Wisdom  as one of the New Testament books.

Amphilochius (339 to 394/408), bishop of Iconium gave us the list [42] of 22 books comprising Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 4 books of Kingdoms in one book, 2 books of Chronicles in one book, 2 books of Esdras in one book, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther.  Lamentations might be combined with Jeremiah and deuterocanonical books are not included.

The list of Hilary (died c. 386), bishop of Poitiers [43] has 5 books of Moses, Joshua, Judges & Ruth in one book, 1 & 2 Kingdoms in one book, 3 & 4 Kingdoms in one book, 1 & 2 Chronicles in one book, 1 & 2 Esdras in one book, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah + Lamentations + Epistle of Jeremiah in one book, Daniel, Ezekiel, Job, Esther.  But he mentioned that some added Tobit and Judith to make 24 books from 22.  In his works Hillary also cited as scripture a number of deuterocanonical books [44].  On the other hand Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390), bishop of Constantinople, gave us a list [45] comprising Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges& Ruth in one book, Kings, Chronicles, Esdras, Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Proverbs, the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel.  Esther and deuterocanonical books are excluded. However in his writings he still cited as scripture a number of deuterocanonical books [46].

Two lists of Old Testament books are attributed to John Chrysostomos (347 to 407), bishop of Constantinople.  The first one [47] comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 4 books of Kingdoms, 2 books of Esdras, Proverbs, Sirach, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 16 prophets, Ruth, Psalms (Ruth is counted twice) while the second list [48] has Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 4 books of Kingdoms, 2 books of Chronicles, 2books of Esdras, Esther, Tobit, Judith, Job, Wisdom, Proverbs, Sirach, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, the Twelve.

The list of the Old Testament books in the Constitution of the Holy Apostles written around 380 has Judith, Sirach and 1 to 3 Maccabees while sixteen prophets comprise the Twelve, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Let the following books be esteemed venerable and holy by you, both of the clergy and laity. Of the Old Covenant: the five books of Moses-Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; one of Joshua the son of Nun, one of the Judges, one of Ruth, four of the Kings, two of the Chronicles, two of Ezra, one of Esther, one of Judith, three of the Maccabees, one of Job, one hundred and fifty psalms; three books of Solomon-Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs; sixteen prophets. And besides these, take care that your young persons learn the Wisdom of the very learned Sirach.

Ecclesiastical Canon of the Holy Apostles 47.85 [49]

A late 4^th century list, now known as Cheltenham or Mommsen list (after Theodor Mommsen who discovered it in the Phillips collection at Cheltenham in 1885) has Maccabees, Tobit, Judith and perhaps Wisdom but it lacks Ezra-Nehemiah.  Table 2 gives the books of the three manuscripts of LXX.

Table 2: Three early manuscripts of LXX

Jerome (347-420) gave us the well-known Latin translation of the Bible known as the Vulgate.  In his preface to the books of Vulgate written in 391 he stated his list of Old Testament books.

The first of these books is called Bresith, to which we give the name Genesis. The second, Elle Smoth, which bears the name Exodus; the third, Vaiecra, that is Leviticus; the fourth, Vaiedabber, which we call Numbers; the fifth, Elle Addabarim, which is entitled Deuteronomy. These are the five books of Moses, which they properly call Thorath, that is law.

The second class is composed of the Prophets, and they begin with Jesus the son of Nave, who among them is called Joshua the son of Nun. Next in the series is Sophtim, that is the book of Judges; and in the same book they include Ruth, because the events narrated occurred in the days of the Judges. Then comes Samuel, which we call First and Second Kings. The fourth is Malachim, that is, Kings, which is contained in the third and fourth volumes of Kings. And it is far better to say Malachim, that is Kings, than Malachoth, that is Kingdoms. For the author does not describe the Kingdoms of many nations, but that of one people, the people of Israel, which is comprised in the twelve tribes. The fifth is Isaiah, the sixth, Jeremiah, the seventh, Ezekiel, the eighth is the book of the Twelve Prophets, which is called among the Jews Thare Asra.

To the third class belong the Hagiographa, of which the first book begins with Job, the second with David, whose writings they divide into five parts and comprise in one volume of Psalms; the third is Solomon, in three books, Proverbs, which they call Parables, that is Masaloth, Ecclesiastes, that is Coeleth, the Song of Songs, which they denote by the title Sir Assirim; the sixth is Daniel; the seventh, Dabre Aiamim, that is, Words of Days, which we may more expressively call a chronicle of the whole of the sacred history, the book that amongst us is called First and Second Chronicles; the eighth, Ezra, which itself is likewise divided amongst Greeks and Latins into two books; the ninth is Esther.

And so there are also twenty-two books of the Old Testament; that is, five of Moses, eight of the prophets, nine of the Hagiographa, though some include Ruth and Kinoth (Lamentations) amongst the Hagiographa, and think that these books ought to be reckoned separately; we should thus have twenty-four books of the old law. And these the Apocalypse of John represents by the twenty-four elders, who adore the Lamb, and with downcast looks offer their crowns, while in their presence stand the four living creatures with eyes before and behind, that is, looking to the past and the future, and with unwearied voice crying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who wast, and art, and art to come.

Jerome, Prefaces of the Books of the Vulgate version of the Old Testament [50]

Jerome followed the three-division of the present day Jewish scripture, except that he placed Ruth and Lamentations in the second division.  His list is equal but with a different order of books with the twenty-four books of the present Jewish scripture and thirty-nine protocanonical books in the Catholic's Old Testament or thirty-nine canonical books in that of Protestant.  He included deuterocanonical books in his Latin translation but referred them as apocrypha.  On the other hand Rufinus (c. 345 to 410) of Aquileia, monk and translator referred Wisdom, Sirach, Tobit, Judith and Maccabees as "ecclesiastical" books in his list, written c. 407.

Of the Old Testament, therefore, first of all there have been handed down five books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Then Jesus Nave, (Joshua the son of Nun), The Book of Judges together with Ruth; then four books of Kings (Reigns), which the Hebrews reckon two; the Book of Omissions, which is entitled the Book of Days (Chronicles), and two books of Ezra (Ezra and Nehemiah), which the Hebrews reckon one, and Esther; of the Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel; moreover of the twelve (minor) Prophets, one hook; Job also and the Psalms of David, each one book. Solomon gave three books to the Churches, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles. These comprise the books of the Old Testament. ........

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.

Rufinus, A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 37-38 [51]

However after his relation with Jerome deteriorated, Rufinus changed his mind and approved a longer canon as attested in his Apology, where he harshly criticized Jerome.

Perhaps it was a greater piece of audacity to alter the books of the divine Scriptures which had been delivered to the Churches of Christ by the Apostles to be a complete record of their faith by making a new translation under the influence of the Jews. . .

. . . . . For what can we call it but havoc, when some parts of it are transformed, and this is called the correction of an error? For instance, the whole of the history of Susanna, which gave a lesson of chastity to the churches of God, has by him been cut out, thrown aside and dismissed. The hymn of the three children, which is regularly sung on festivals in the Church of God, he has wholly erased from the place where it stood.  But why should I enumerate these cases one by one, when their number cannot be estimated? This, however, cannot be passed over. The seventy translators, each in their separate cells, produced a version couched in consonant and identical words, under the inspiration, as we cannot doubt, of the Holy Spirit; and this version must certainly be of more authority with us than a translation made by a single man under the inspiration of Barabbas.

But, putting this aside, I beg you to listen, for example, to this as an instance of what we mean. Peter was for twenty-four years Bishop of the Church of Rome. We cannot doubt that, amongst other things necessary for the instruction of the church, he himself delivered to them the treasury of the sacred books, which, no doubt, had even then begun to be read under his presidency and teaching. What are we to say then? Did Peter the Apostle of Christ deceive the church and deliver to them books which were false and contained nothing of truth? Are we to believe that he knew that the Jews possessed what was true, and yet determined that the Christians should have what was false? . . . . . . .

. . . . . "The ears of simple men among the Latins ought not after four hundred years to be molested by the sound of new doctrines." Now you are yourself saying: "Every one has been under a mistake who thought that Susanna had afforded an example of chastity to both the married and the unmarried. It is not true. And every one who thought that the boy Daniel was filled with the Holy Spirit and convicted the adulterous old men, was under a mistake. That also was not true. And every congregation throughout the universe, whether of those who are in the body or of those who have departed to be with the Lord, even though they were holy martyrs or confessors, all who have sung the Hymn of the three children have been in error, and have sung what is false."

Rufinus, Apology, Book II, 32-35 [52]

There is evidence that Jerome too later changed his mind and started quoting deuterocanonical books as scripture in his later works [53].  Jerome's younger contemporary, Augustine (354-430) listed forty-four canonical books of the Old Testament in 397 after stating how they were selected.

Now, in regard to the canonical Scriptures, he must follow the judgment of the greater number of catholic churches; and among these, of course, a high place must be given to such as have been thought worthy to be the seat of an apostle and to receive epistles. Accordingly, among the canonical Scriptures he will judge according to the following standard: to prefer those that are received by all the catholic churches to those which some do not receive. Among those, again, which are not received by all, he will prefer such as have the sanction of the greater number and those of greater authority, to such as are held by the smaller number and those of less authority. If, however, he shall find that some books are held by the greater number of churches, and others by the churches of greater authority (though this is not a very likely thing to happen), I think that in such a case the authority on the two sides is to be looked upon as equal.

Now the whole canon of Scripture on which we say this judgment is to be exercised, is contained in the following books:-Five books of Moses, that is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; one book of Joshua the son of Nun; one of Judges; one short book called Ruth, which seems rather to belong to the beginning of Kings; next, four books of Kings, and two of Chronicles -these last not following one another, but running parallel, so to speak, and going over the same ground. The books now mentioned are history, which contains a connected narrative of the times, and follows the order of the events. There are other books which seem to follow no regular order, and are connected neither with the order of the preceding books nor with one another, such as Job, and Tobias, and Esther, and Judith, and the two books of Maccabees, and the two of Ezra, which last look more like a sequel to the continuous regular history which terminates with the books of Kings and Chronicles. Next are the Prophets, in which there is one book of the Psalms of David; and three books of Solomon, viz., Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. For two books, one called Wisdom and the other Ecclesiasticus, are ascribed to Solomon from a certain resemblance of style, but the most likely opinion is that they were written by Jesus the son of Sirach. Still they are to be reckoned among the prophetical books, since they have attained recognition as being authoritative. The remainder are the books which are strictly called the Prophets: twelve separate books of the prophets which are connected with one another, and having never been disjoined, are reckoned as one book; the names of these prophets are as follows:-Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi; then there are the four greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel. The authority of the Old Testament is contained within the limits of these forty-four books.

Augustine, On Christian Doctrine 2:8 [54]

Following Cyril of Jerusalem and Athanasius, Augustine also combined Lamentations, Baruch and Letter of Jeremiah with Jeremiah.  He cited Baruch 3:35-37 but attributed it to Jeremiah in one of his monumental works, City of God 18:33.  In the same book (18:36 and 18:43) he defended the use of LXX as the scripture of the Church.  From City of God 17:20 we know that he was aware that the Jews did not recognize deuterocanonical books but he accepted them based on the practice of the Church.  Baruch and Lamentations are now separated from Jeremiah to make forty-six books of the present Catholic Old Testament.  Augustine's list of the books of both Old and New Testaments was declared at Church Council in Hippo (Augustine's see) in 393 and subsequently reaffirmed at third Council of Carthage, another provincial council in 397.  Another council at Carthage in 419 again confirmed the same list of Old Testament. The same councils also declared the canonicity of the 27 books of the New Testament.  In a letter to bishop of Toulouse written in 405, Pope Innocent I also listed the same 44 books of the Old Testament.

In around 427 Augustine made some revisions in chronological order on the numerous works he had written and retracted some of his statements.  Regarding what he wrote in "On Christian Doctrine", Book 2, he wrote:

In the second book, however, with regard to the author of the book which many call the Wisdom of Solomon, I learned later that it is not certain that Jesus, the son of Sirach, wrote this as well as Ecclesiasticus, as I stated; and I found out that it is, indeed, more probable that he is not the author.  Furthermore, when I said: "The authority of the Old Testament is confined to these forty-four books," I spoke of it according to the way in which the Church customarily speaks of it.  However, the Apostle seems to give the title "Old Testament" only to that which was given in Mount Sinai.

Augustine, The Retractations, 2:30 [55]

Thus Augustine wrote that the title "Old Testament" should be applied only to the ones given in Mount Sinai (i.e. the five books of the Moses).  Perhaps, since he did not elaborate, he made this conclusion from 2 Corinthians 3:14-15 where the Apostle (i.e. Paul) used the term "old covenant" (RSV) or "old testament" (KJV)" to refer to the Law of Moses.  Augustine did not change his mind about his list of inspired books because in the same book he still cited as scripture deuterocanonical books Wisdom and Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus).

In another place, I said: "God does not seek the death of anyone."  This should be interpreted as follows: man brought death on himself by abandoning God and he who does not return to God brings it on himself according to what is written.  "For God made not death." [Wisdom 1:13]  But the following, too, is no less true: "Life and death .......are from the Lord God,"[Ecclesiasticus 11:14]that is, life is from the giver, death from the avenger.

ibid, 1:20 [56]

The above historical facts show that the deuterocanonical books were declared officially (in a council) at the end of the 4th century, not added in the sixteenth century as some may claim. It is a true fact that they were first disputed, i.e. they were accepted by some and rejected by others but the same also applies to Esther and to the seven New Testament books (2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude, James, Hebrews, Revelation).  The councils at Hippo and Carthage are African synods and are not ecumenical councils, i.e. they did not speak for the whole church.  Thus the canon of both Old and New Testaments remained open-ended until fifteenth century.  The so called Gelasian Decree ascribed to Pope Gelasius dated in the late fifth century has Wisdom and Sirach.  The sixth century Codex Amiatinus, the oldest manuscript of Latin Vulgate, has all deuterocanonical books except Baruch (Letter of Jeremiah is appended to Jeremiah).  Pope Gregory I the Great who reigned from 590 to 604 considered 1 Maccabee as edifying but not canonical [57].  The list of Old Testament books of John of Damascus, monk and theologian who lived in the eight century AD has only protocanonical books arranged into 22 books.

Observe, further, that there are two and twenty books of the Old Testament, one for each letter of the Hebrew tongue. For there are twenty-two letters of which five are double, and so they come to be twenty-seven. For the letters Caph, Mere, Nun, Pe, Sade are double. And thus the number of the books in this way is twenty-two, but is found to be twenty-seven because of the double character of five. For Ruth is joined on to Judges, and the Hebrews count them one book: the first and second books of Kings are counted one: and so are the third and fourth books of Kings: and also the first and second of Paraleipomena: and the first and second of Esdra. In this way, then, the books are collected together in four Pentateuchs and two others remain over, to form thus the canonical books. Five of them are of the Law, viz. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. This which is the code of the Law, constitutes the first Pentateuch. Then comes another Pentateuch, the so-called Grapheia, or as they are called by some, the Hagiographa, which are the following: Jesus the Son of Nave, Judges along with Ruth, first and second Kings, which are one book, third and fourth Kings, which are one book, and the two books of the Paraleipomena which are one book. This is the second Pentateuch. The third Pentateuch is the books in verse, viz. Job, Psalms, Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes of Solomon and the Song of Songs of Solomon. The fourth Pentateuch is the Prophetical books, viz the twelve prophets constituting one book, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel. Then come the two books of Esdras made into one, and Esther. There are also the Panaretus, that is the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Jesus, which was published in Hebrew by the father of Sirach, and afterwards translated into Greek by his grandson, Jesus, the Son of Sirach. These are virtuous and noble, but are not counted nor were they placed in the ark.

John of Damascus. Exposition of the Orthodox Faith 4:17 [58]

The ecumenical council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence-Rome (Session 11 on 4 February 1442) listed as inspired the forty-six books of the Old Testament.  But even after this council, Catholic scholars like Cardinal Ximenes (1436 to 1517) and Cardinal Cajetan (1469 to 1534) did not accept the deuterocanonical books as canonical. 

Martin Luther in his German translation placed deuterocanonical books in the appendix and did not considered them equal to the other thirty-nine, but they are still useful and good to read.  Note that he also gave inferior status to four books of the New Testament: James, Jude, Hebrews and Revelation.  As response to the Reformation, the Catholic Church held the ecumenical Council at Trent where one of the decisions (Session 4 on 8 April 1546) was reaffirming the canonicity of the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament.  To Catholics, the canon of Bible was closed in this (ecumenical) council of Trent.  No one, not even the Pope or other ecumenical councils, can add/drop any book from the Bible.  The Eastern Orthodox Church also recognized the canonicity of thirty-nine books of the Jewish scripture and 1 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, 1 to 3 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch and Letter of Jeremiah at their synods held at Jassy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672).  In contrast the Protestants in the 1561 Belgic Confession Article VI separated the deuterocanonical books from the Old and New Testaments.  The 1647 Westminster Confession of Faith rejected their inspiration.  Now most of the Protestant Old Testament does not have deuterocanonical books; some may still have them inserted between the Old and New Testaments, but as apocryphal books.

Related article: Are Deuterocanonical Books Part of the Bible? – Answering common objections to the inclusion of deuterocanonical books in the Bible.

Reference

[1] – First used by Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in Defence of the Nicene Definition 5:18 written in c. 350.

[2] – The terms proto & deutero-canonical books come from Sixtus of Sienna in 1566.

[3] – For list and text of apocryphal (pseudepigraphal) books refer to "The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha", Vol. 1 & 2, edited by J.H. Charlesworth, and published by Doubleday & Co., Inc., New York.

[4] – The New Testament does not quote from Obadiah, Nahum and Haggai but the Twelve Minor Prophets was traditionally reckoned as one book.  Apparently there is no quotation from Judges, but Ruth, the source of Jesus genealogy in the first Gospel, was combined with it.  Also Lamentations, from where there is also no quotation, was combined with Jeremiah.

[5] – This prophecy does not come from Jeremiah but from a similar passage in Zechariah, who is almost the last of the twelve prophets.  Although the meaning does not differ much, Zechariah's word order and vocabulary do conflict with Matthew's quotation.  In a copy of the Hebrew Scriptures given to me by a member of the Nazarene sect, I recently read an apocryphal edition of the book of Jeremiah in which this quotation from Matthew appeared word for word.  Nevertheless it still seems more likely to me that Matthew took this prophecy from Zechariah, since it was the ordinary practice of the Evangelists and apostles to communicate only the meaning of texts from the Old Testament while neglecting to observe their word order.

Jerome, Commentary on Matthew, 4.27.10
quoted in Ancient Christian Commentary of Scripture, New Testament,
Vol. 1b, InterVarsity Press, 2002, page 275

[6] – Commentary on 1 Corinthians, quoted in Ancient Christian Commentary of Scripture, New Testament, Vol. 7, page 23.

[7] – The work is now lost but we have fragments of the so-called Testament of Moses.  English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3.

We have now to notice, agreeably to the statements of Scripture, how the opposing powers, or the devil himself, contends with the human; race, inciting and instigating men to sin. And in the first place, in the book of Genesis, the serpent is described as having seduced Eve; regarding whom, in the work entitled The Ascension of Moses (a little treatise, of which the Apostle Jude makes mention in his Epistle), the archangel Michael, when disputing with the devil regarding the body of Moses, says that the serpent, being inspired by the devil, was the cause of Adam and Eve's transgression.

Origen, de Principiis 3:2.

[8] – S.H. Blank: The Death of Zechariah in Rabbinic Literature, Hebrew Union College Annual, Vol. 12-13, pages 327-346.  The author refers to a comment on Targum to Lamentations 2.20 saying that prophet Zechariah, son of Iddo, the High Priest, was murdered in the sanctuary of the Lord on the day of Atonement.

[9] – Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 4, pages 829-830.

[10] – Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 4, pages 827.  It is not a manuscript of the Jewish scripture but a quotation from baraitha in the Babylonian Talmud, tractate Baba Bathra 14b.

[11] – C.D. Yonge (1993): The Works of Philo, Hendrickson Publishers, page 700.

[12] – P.R. Ackroyd and C.A. Evans: The Cambridge History of the Bible.  From the Beginnings to Jerome, page 148 and The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 2, page 117.  Refer also to the scripture index in C.D. Yonge: The Works of Philo, pages 913-918.

[13] – C.D. Yonge (1993): The Works of Philo, Hendrickson Publishers, page 675.

[14] – W. Whiston (1987): The Works of Josephus, Hendrickson Publishers, page 776.

[15] – On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence to show that the collection of the Ketuvim as a whole, as well as some individual books within it, was not accepted as being finally closed until well into the second century c.e.

As noted above, the practice of calling the entire Scriptures the "Torah and Prophets" presupposes a considerable lapse of time between the canonization of the second and third parts of the Bible.  The fact that the last division had no fixed name points in the same direction.  Even the finally adopted designation "Ketuvim" is indeterminate, since it is also used in Rabbinic Hebrew in the two senses of the Scriptures in general and in individual texts in particular.

Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 4 page 824

In contrast S.Z Leiman in The Canonization of Hebrew Scripture: The Talmudic and Midrashic Evidence, says that the Jewish canon was closed during the Maccabean period (c. 164 BC).

[16] – Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 6 page 1147. 

[17] – ibid, Vol. 4, page 825.

[18] – quoted in S.Z. Leiman: The Canonization of Hebrew Scripture: The Talmudic and Midrashic Evidence, page 93.  Tosefta is a collection of tannaic baraitha (oral tradition outside Mishna or Oral Law).

[19] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.  [Wisdom 2:24]

1 Clement 3

He established all things, and by His word He can overthrow them. "Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done? or, Who shall resist the power of His strength? " [Wisdom 12:12]

1 Clement 27

Many women also, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed numerous manly exploits. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers; and, exposing herself to danger, she went out for the love which she bare to her country and people then besieged; and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman. [Judith 8]

1 Clement 55

Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those that cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy."  [unknown scripture]

1 Clement 46

Far from us be that which is written, "Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us." [unknown scripture]

1 Clement 23

[20] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7 (scripture reference is mine).

Be not a stretcher forth of the hands to receive and a drawer of them back to give. [Sirach 4:31]

Didache 4:5

[21] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference is mine).

For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the Divine Spirit, and convinced the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man's wife.  [Susanna or Daniel 13]

Ignatius, Epistle to Magnesians 3 (longer version)

[22] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference is mine).

When you can do good, defer it not, because "alms delivers from death."  [Tobit 4:11]

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians 10

[23] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

For the prophet speaks against Israel, "Woe to their soul, because they have counselled an evil counsel against themselves, saying, Let us bind the just one, because he is displeasing to us." [Wisdom 2:12]

Barnabas 6

What, then, says He in the prophet? "And let them eat of the goat which is offered, with fasting, for all their sins."  [unknown scripture]

Barnabas 7

In like manner He points to the cross of Christ in another prophet, who saith, "And when shall these things be accomplished? And the Lord saith, When a tree shall be bent down, and again arise, and when blood shall flow out of wood."  [unknown scripture]

Barnabas 12

For the Scripture saith, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the Lord will deliver up the sheep of His pasture, and their sheep-fold and tower, to destruction."  [1 Enoch 89:56,66]

Barnabas 16

[24] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2 (emphasis is mine).  Eldad and Modat are the names two prophesying Jews in Numbers 11:26-27.

The Lord is near to them who return unto Him, as it is written in Eldad and Modat, who prophesied to the people in the wilderness."

Shepherd of Hermas, Second Vision 3

[25] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

And Jeremiah the prophet has pointed out, that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left upon earth, should both be under the rule of the saints to minister to this Jerusalem, and that [His] kingdom shall be in it, saying, "Look around Jerusalem towards the east, and behold the joy which comes to thee from God Himself. Behold, thy sons shall come whom thou hast sent forth: they shall come in a band from the east even unto the west, by the word of that Holy One, rejoicing in that splendour which is from thy God. O Jerusalem, put off thy robe of mourning and of affliction, and put on that beauty of eternal splendour from thy God. Gird thyself with the double garment of that righteousness proceeding from thy God; place the mitre of eternal glory upon thine head. For God will show thy glory to the whole earth under heaven. For thy name shall for ever be called by God Himself, the peace of righteousness and glory to him that worships God. Arise, Jerusalem, stand on high, and look towards the east, and behold thy sons from the rising of the sun, even to the west, by the Word of that Holy One, rejoicing in the very remembrance of God. For the footmen have gone forth from thee, while they were drawn away by the enemy. God shall bring them in to thee, being borne with glory as the throne of a kingdom. For God has decreed that every high mountain shall be brought low, and the eternal hills, and that the valleys be filled, so that the surface of the earth be rendered smooth, that Israel, the glory of God, may walk in safety. The woods, too, shall make shady places, and every sweet-smelling tree shall be for Israel itself by the command of God. For God shall go before with joy in the light of His splendour, with the pity and righteousness which proceeds from Him." [Baruch 4:36 to 5:9 quoted as part of Jeremiah]

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.35.1

For who is the God of the living unless He who is God, and above whom there is no other God? Whom also Daniel the prophet, when Cyrus king of the Persians said to him, "Why dost thou not worship Bel?" did proclaim, saying, "Because I do not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, who established the heaven and the earth and has dominion over all flesh."  [Bel and Dragon or Daniel 14:24-25]

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.5.2 

. . . . and they shall hear those words, to be found in Daniel the prophet: "O thou seed of Canaan, and not of Judah, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust perverted thy heart, Thou that art waxen old in wicked days, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light; for thou hast pronounced false judgments, and hast been accustomed to condemn the innocent, and to let the guilty go free, albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and the righteous shalt thou not slay."  [Susanna or Daniel 13:56]

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.26.3

Enoch, too, pleasing God, without circumcision, discharged the office of God's legate to the angels although he was a man, and was translated, and is preserved until now as a witness of the just judgment of God, because the angels when they had transgressed fell to the earth for judgment, but the man who pleased [God] was translated for salvation.  [1 Enoch 12:4-5, 13:4-7 and 15:2]

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.16.2

[26] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

God, when He had made the whole world, and subjected things earthly to man, and arranged the heavenly elements for the increase of fruits and rotation of the seasons, and appointed this divine law-for these things also He evidently made for man-committed the care of men and of all things under heaven to angels whom He appointed over them. But the angels transgressed this appointment, and were captivated by love of women, and begat children who are those that are called demons; and besides, they afterwards subdued the human race to themselves, partly by magical writings, and partly by fears and the punishments they occasioned, and partly by teaching them to offer sacrifices, and incense, and libations, of which things they stood in need after they were enslaved by lustful passions; and among men they sowed murders, wars, adulteries, intemperate deeds, and all wickedness.

Justin Martyr, 2 Apology 5

[27] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

At this stage some rise up, saying that the Lord, by reason of the rod, and threatening, and fear, is not good; misapprehending, as appears, the Scripture which says, "And he that feareth the Lord will turn to his heart; " [Sirach 21:6]

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 1.8

This Scripture has briefly showed, when it says, "What thou hatest, thou shalt not do to another."  [Tobit 4:15]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.23

By ignorance he means, in my opinion, death. "And he that is near the Lord is full of stripes." [Judith 8:27]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.7

"By alms then, and acts of faith, sins are purged."  [Sirach 3:30]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.15

And so it is said in the book of Wisdom: "For He hath given me the unerring knowledge of things that exist, to know the constitution of the word," and so forth, down to "and the virtues of roots." Among all these he comprehends natural science, which treats of all the phenomena in the world of sense. And in continuation, he alludes also to intellectual objects in what he subjoins: "And what is hidden or manifest I know; for Wisdom, the artificer of all things, taught me." [Wisdom 7:17,20,21,22]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.2

Accordingly it is rightly said in Solomon, "Wisdom is in the mouth of the faithful.  [Sirach 15:10]……. aided doubtless by Solomon, who says, "If thou lovest to hear, thou shalt comprehend; and if thou incline thine ear, thou shalt be wise. [Sirach 6:33]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 2.5

English translation is from The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 85 (scripture reference is mine).

"Why did my mother's womb not become my tomb, to prevent me from seeing Jacob's trials and the troubles of the house of Israel?" says the prophet Esdras. [4 Ezra 5:35]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 3.16

It is in relation to these matters that the prophet says, "It was through your own sins that you were sold," [Isaiah 50:1] and again, "you experienced defilement in an alien land." [Baruch 3:10]

Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 3.12

[28] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1 (words in bracket added)

But I am far from putting reliance in your [Trypho the Jew] teachers, who refuse to admit that the interpretation made by the seventy elders who were with Ptolemy [king] of the Egyptians is a correct one; and they attempt to frame another. And I wish you to observe, that they have altogether taken away many Scriptures from the translations effected by those seventy elders who were with Ptolemy, and by which this very man who was crucified is proved to have been set forth expressly as God, and man, and as being crucified, and as dying; but since I am aware that this is denied by all of your nation, I do not address myself to these points, but I proceed to carry on my discussions by means of those passages which are still admitted by you.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 71

For before the Romans possessed their kingdom, while as yet the Macedonians held Asia, Ptolemy the son of Lagus, being anxious to adorn the library which he had founded in Alexandria, with a collection of the writings of all men, which were [works] of merit, made request to the people of Jerusalem, that they should have their Scriptures translated into the Greek language. And they-for at that time they were still subject to the Macedonians-sent to Ptolemy seventy of their elders, who were thoroughly skilled in the Scriptures and in both the languages, to carry out what he had desired. But he, wishing to test them individually, and fearing lest they might perchance, by taking counsel together, conceal the truth in the Scriptures, by their interpretation, separated them from each other, and commanded them all to write the same translation. He did this with respect to all the books. But when they came together in the same place before Ptolemy, and each of them compared his own interpretation with that of every other, God was indeed glorified, and the Scriptures were acknowledged as truly divine. For all of them read out the common translation [which they had prepared] in the very same words and the very same names, from beginning to end, so that even the Gentiles present perceived that the Scriptures had been interpreted by the inspiration of God. ........ Since, therefore, the Scriptures have been interpreted with such fidelity, and by the grace of God, and since from these God has prepared and formed again our faith towards His Son, and has preserved to us the unadulterated Scriptures in Egypt, where the house of Jacob flourished, fleeing from the famine in Canaan; where also our Lord was preserved when He fled from the persecution set on foot by Herod; and [since] this interpretation of these Scriptures was made prior to our Lord's descent [to earth], and came into being before the Christians appeared-for our Lord was born about the forty-first year of the reign of Augustus; but Ptolemy was much earlier, under whom the Scriptures were interpreted;-[since these things are so, I say, ] truly these men are proved to be impudent and presumptuous, who would now show a desire to make different translations, when we refute them out of these Scriptures, and shut them up to a belief in the advent of the Son of God. But our faith is stedfast, unfeigned, and the only true one, having clear proof from these Scriptures, which were interpreted in the way I have related; and the preaching of the Church is without interpolation.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.21.2-3

[29] – 1 Enoch continued enjoying scriptural status until third century.  While he was aware that some doubted its authority Tertullian (c .160 to 230), bishop of Carthage defended it  because it preaches Christ and was cited in Jude 14-16 (On the Apparel of Women 1.3).  On the other hand Origen both cited (de Principiis 1.3.3 and 4.35) and rejected it (Against Celsus 5:54).  In the fifth century Jerome called it apocryphal in Homily 45 on Psalms 132(133).  Augustine in City of God 15:23 and 18:38 wrote that Enoch left some divine writings quoted in Jude but stated 1 Enoch had no canonical authority.  Today only the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has 1 Enoch in their Bible.

[30] – Schaff, P. and Wace, H. (Editors): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 1, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., page 206.

[31] – ibid, page 272.

[32] – English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

But that we may believe on the authority of holy Scripture that such is the case, hear how in the book of Maccabees, where the mother of seven martyrs exhorts her son to endure torture, this truth is confirmed; for she says, "I ask of thee, my son, to look at the heaven and the earth, and at all things which are in them, and beholding these, to know that God made all these things when they did not exist." [2 Maccabee 7:28]

Origen, de Principiis 2.1.5

English translation is from the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 89 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

Now it appears that those saints who have previously departed this life are concerned about the people, as it is written in the Maccabees so many years after the assumption of Jeremiah, "This is Jeremiah, the prophet of God, who prays much concerning the people." [2 Maccabee 15:14]

Origen, Commentary on John, 13.403

English translation is from the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 83 (emphasis is mine).

....But it is time for us to use the words of holy Susanna against these wicked presbyters, which indeed those who deny the story of Susanna excise from the list of divine books.  But we both receive it and aptly use it against them ......

Origen, Homily 1 on Leviticus, 1.3

English translation is from the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 97 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

When someone becomes a worshipper in the land, God has arranged that someone rejected from their own and came to the land about which it is written: Hear Israel.  "Why is it that you are in the land of enemies, that you are counted among those in Hades?  You have forsaken the fountain of life, the Lord.  If you have walked in the way of God, you would have dwelt in peace forever." [Baruch 3:9-13]

Origen, Homily 7 on Jeremiah, 3.3

But we reproach both those who repent and those who convert, though the Scripture says: 'Do not reproach a man who turns away from sin. [Sirach 8:5]

Origen, Homily 16 on Jeremiah, 6.2

I want to give an example from Scripture of righteous lack of faith in an agreement in order to demonstrate that man can call upon faithlessness in act.  Judith made an agreement with Holophernes that though she would leave for certain number of days to pray to God, she also would present herself after these days at the marriage bed of Holophernes.

Origen, Homily 20 on Jeremiah, 7.3

English translation is from the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 103 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

But what will they do about the fact that we find many martyrs even under the law?  The ought to read the books of Maccabees, where a blessed mother endured martyrdom with complete constancy together with her seven sons.

Origen, Commentary on Romans, 4.10.2

Naturally some people will ask why this day, concerning which we have, in the foregoing, deployed the library of the prophet, is appointed at the end of the world, so that all those who have died from the beginning of the world until its end are reserved for the last day of judgment.  The interior cause of this matter are certainly veiled in deep mysteries.  And indeed "it is good to conceal the mystery of the kings." [Tobit 12:7]

Origen, Commentary on Romans, 2.4.4.5

English translation is from the Ancient Christian Writers, No. 19 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

For the Scripture says that after they had prayed, the prayers of them both were heard in the sight of the glory of the great Raphael, and he was sent to heal them both [Tobit 3:16-17].

Origen, on Prayer 11

English translation is from Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

And if this word "matter" should happen to occur in any other passage, it will never be found, in my opinion, to have the signification of which we are now in quest, unless perhaps in the book which is called the Wisdom of Solomon, a work which is certainly not esteemed authoritative by all.  In that book, however, we find written as follows: "For thy almighty hand, that made the world out of shapeless matter, wanted not means to send among them a multitude of bears and fierce lions."  [Wisdom 11:17]

Origen, de Principiis 4.33

[33] – Schaff, P. and Wace, H. (Editors): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 7, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., page 27.

[34] – English translation is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 7 (scripture reference is mine).

If any man attempt to speak of God, let him first describe the bounds of the earth. Thou dwellest on the earth, and the limit of this earth which is thy dwelling thou knowest not: how then shalt thou be able to form a worthy thought of its Creator? Thou beholdest the stars, but their Maker thou beholdest not: count these which are visible, and then describe Him who is invisible, Who telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names [Psalms 147:4]. Violent rains lately came pouring down upon us, and nearly destroyed us: number the drops in this city alone: nay, I say not in the city, but number the drops on thine own house for one single hour, if thou canst: but thou canst not. Learn then thine own weakness; learn from this instance the mightiness of God: for He hath numbered the drops of rain [Job 36:27], which have been poured down on all the earth, not only now but in all time. The sun is a work of God, which, great though it be, is but a spot in comparison with the whole heaven; first gaze stedfastly upon the sun, and then curiously scan the Lord of the sun. Seek not the things that are too deep for thee, neither search out the things that are above thy strength: what is commanded thee, think thereupon [Sirach 3:21-22].

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 6:4

The Divine Nature then it is impossible to see with eyes of flesh: but from the works, which are Divine, it is possible to attain to some conception of His power, according to Solomon, who says, For by the greatness and beauty of the creatures proportionably the Maker of them is seen [Wisdom 13:5]. He said not that from the creatures the Maker is seen, but added proportionably. For God appears the greater to every man in proportion as he has grasped a larger survey of the creatures: and when his heart is uplifted by that larger survey, he gains withal a greater conception of God.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 9:2

Wouldest thou learn that to comprehend the nature of God is impossible? The Three Children in the furnace of fire, as they hymn the praises of God, say Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the Cherubim. [Song of Three Young Men or Daniel 3:32]

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 9:3

And wouldest thou know that He who was begotten of the Father, and afterwards became man, is God? Hear the Prophet saying, This is our God, none other shall be accounted of in comparison with Him. He hath found out every way of knowledge, and given it to Jacob His servant, and to Israel His beloved. Afterwards He was seen on earth, and conversed among men.  [Baruch 3:35-37]

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 11.15

For when they speak against the ascension of the Saviour, as being impossible, remember the account of the carrying away of Habakkuk: for if Habakkuk was transported by an Angel, being carried by the hair of his head [Bel & Dragon or Daniel 14:36], much rather was the Lord of both Prophets and Angels, able by His own power to make His ascent into the Heavens on a cloud from the Mount of Olives.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 14.25

[35] – Schaff, P. and Wace, H. (Editors): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 14, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., page 159.

[36] – ibid, Vol. 4, page 552.

[37] – English translation is from The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 4 (scripture reference and emphasis are mine).

And they are not ashamed to parade the sacred mysteries before Catechumens, and worse than that, even before heathens: whereas, they ought to attend to what is written, `It is good to keep close the secret of a king [Tobit 12:7];' and as the Lord has charged us, `Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine [Matthew 7:6].'

Athanasius, Defence Against the Arians 11

Wherefore when Diogenes came, and Syrianus laid in wait for us, both he and we and the people demanded to see the Emperor's letters, supposing that, as it is written, `Let not a falsehood be spoken before the king [Sirach 7:5];' so when a king has made a promise, he will not lie, nor change.

Athanasius, History of Arians 52

I congratulate the most excellent Sarapion, that he is striving so earnestly to adorn himself with holy habits, and is thus advancing to higher praise the memory of his father. For, as the Holy Scripture somewhere says, `though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead [Sirach 30:4]:' for he has left behind him a memorial of his life.

Athanasius, Defence Against the Arians 66

Since, however, after all his severe sufferings, after his retirement into Gaul, after his sojourn in a foreign and far distant country in the place of his own, after his narrow escape from death through their calumnies, but thanks to the clemency of the Emperor,-distress which would have satisfied even the most cruel enemy,-they are still insensible to shame, are again acting insolently against the Church and Athanasius; and from indignation at his deliverance venture on still more atrocious schemes against him, and are ready with an accusation, fearless of the words in holy Scripture, 'A false witness shall not be unpunished [Proverbs 19:5];' and, 'The mouth that belieth slayeth the soul [Wisdom 1:11];' we therefore are unable longer to hold our peace, being amazed at their wickedness and at the insatiable love of contention displayed in their intrigues.

Athanasius, Defence Against the Arians 3

[38] – Adversus Haereses or Panarion (Medicine Chest) 8.6

[39] – de Mensuris et Ponderibus (on Weights and Measurements) 4.

[40] – de Mensuris et Ponderibus (on Weights and Measurements) 23.

[41] – Adversus Haereses or Panarion (Medicine Chest) 76 Conf. Act 5 p. 941.

[42] – J.P. Migne: Patrologia Graeca, 37, 1593-6.

[43] – J.P. Migne: Patrologia Latina, 9, 241.

[44] – English translation is from The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 25 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

While the religious mind was held captive by the error of its own weakness, the words of the Prophet impart to it this method for apprehending the knowledge of God's supreme beauty: 'For by the greatness of the work and the beauty of creatures the creator of generations is reasonably known." [Wisdom 13:5]

Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 1.7

He foresees everything, as blessed Susanna asserts: 'O eternal God, the one who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come to pass." [Daniel 13:42]

Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 4.8

But the revelation of the divine Scripture does not allow this explanation.  According to the Prophet, everything has been made from nothing, [2 Maccabee 7:28]......

Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 4.16

Besides Moses and Isaias, listen in the third place to Jeremias, who teaches us the same doctrine when he declares: 'This is our God, and there shall be no other accounted of in comparison with him, who has found all the way of knowledge and gave it o Jacob his servant and to Israel his beloved.  Afterwards, he was seen upon earth and conversed with men.' [Baruch 3:36-38, cited as part of Jeremiah]

Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 4.42

[45] – J.P. Migne: Patrologia Graeca, 37, 472-74.

[46] – English translation is from Nicene and Anti Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 7 (scripture reference is mine).

How did God sustain her? Not by raining down manna, as for Israel of old [Exodus 16:14] or opening the rock, in order to give drink to His thirsting people [Exodus 17:6], or feasting her by means of ravens, as Elijah [1 Kings 17:6], or feeding her by a prophet carried through the air, as He did to Daniel when a-hungered in the den [Bel & Dragon or Daniel 14:36].

Gregory of Naziansus, Oration 18.30

And how shall we preserve the truth that God pervades all things and fills all, as it is written "Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord," [Jeremiah 23:24] and "The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world," [Wisdom 1:7] if God partly contains and partly is contained?

Gregory of Naziansus, Oration 28.8

But if not, what will you say to the suggestion on the other side, that on your hypothesis the Son has been called the only God. In what passage? Why, in this:-This is your God; no other shall be accounted of in comparison with Him, and a little further on, after this did He shew Himself upon earth, and conversed with men. [Baruch 3:35-37]

Gregory of Naziansus, Oration 30.13

The Father doth not glory in the dishonour of the Son. If a wise Son maketh a glad Father [Proverbs 10:1]. how much more doth the honour of the Son become that of the Father! And if you also accept this saying, My Son, glory not in the dishonour of thy Father [Sirach 3:10], similarly the Father doth not glory in the Son's dishonour.

Gregory of Naziansus, Oration 37:18

[47] – ibid, 56, 314-315.

[48] – ibid, 56, 387-388.

[49] – Roberts, A. and Donaldson J. (Editors): The Anti Nicene Fathers, Vol. 7, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,  page 505.

[50] – Schaff, P. and Wace, H. (Editors): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 6, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., pages 489-490.

[51] – ibid, Vol. 3, pages 557-558.

[52] – ibid, page 475-476.

[53] – English translation is from The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 48 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

Though the evil doer is subject to the hatred of God, the liar perishes together. 'A lying mouth lays the soul'. [Wisdom 1:11]

Jerome, Homily 2 on Psalm 5

It is Solomon who says that he longed to make wisdom his bride [Wisdom 8:2].  In another place, he says again of wisdom: Love her, and she will embrace you; embrace her and she will preserve you.' [Proverbs 4:6,8]

Jerome, Homily 42 on Psalm 127 (128)

English translation is from The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 53 (scripture references and emphasis are mine).

Almsgiving atones for sin that we have not been able to wash away otherwise.  What does Scripture say in this regard?  "Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins." [Sirach 3:30]  The effects of almsgiving are similar to those of baptism; just as baptism remits sin, even so almsgiving atones for sins.

Jerome, Homily 46 on Psalm 133(134)

It is the practice of Scripture, nevertheless, when intending to reveal something secret, hidden, or mysterious, to say: 'O searcher of heart and reins, o God [Psalm 7:9]; so since the heart is secret, the more secret regions of the heart are the reins.  In Wisdom, too, a book attributed to the famous Solomon, we find: 'God is witness of his reins, and the sure observer of his heart and listener to his tongue [Wisdom 1:6].....

Jerome, Homily 61 on Psalm 15(16)

You who love the Lord, hate evil [Psalm 97:10].  If the Lord is good ... What is it that we read? 'The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep' [John 10:11]; and again in another parable: 'Friend, art thou envious because I am generous?' [Matthew 20:15]  'You who love the Lord, hate evil.'  There cannot be two contradictory loves in one man.  Just as there is no harmony between Christ and Belial, between justice and iniquity [2 Corinthians 6:14-15], so it is impossible for one soul to love both good and evil.  You who love the Lord, hate evil, the devil; in every deed, there is one love of one and hatred of the other.  'He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.' [John 14:21]  On the other hand, what is said in regard to the devil? 'By the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they follow him who are on his side.' [Wisdom 2:24]

Jerome, Homily 73 on Psalm 95(96)

In another place in Scripture, we read appropriately of the Son: "They have forsaken the fountain of wisdom [Baruch 3:12]...

Jerome, Homily 92 on Psalm 41(42)

English translation is from The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 57 (scripture reference is mine).

His works are all true, and His ways justice, and He can humiliate the proud.  Antiochus Epiphanius, a very cruel king, overturned the altar and caused Justice itself to be trampled underfoot, because it was permitted by the Lord; the reason given is: 'because of many sins.' [2 Maccabee 5:17]

Jerome, Against the Pelagians 2.30

[54] – Schaff, P. (Editor): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. 2, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., pages 538-539.

[55] – Deferrari, R.J. (Editorial Director): The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 60, Catholic University of America Press, pages 125-126.

[56] – ibid, page 91.

[57] – J.P. Migne: Patrologia Latina, 76, 119.

[58] – Schaff, P. and Wace, H. (Editors): The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 9, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., pages 89-90.