Below are quotes from the early Church Fathers from books
not in the Protestant Bible, but that are in the Catholic Bible. In one quote from
St. Augustine, he even lists the canon of the Old Testament and it includes the books that
are considered apocryphal by Protestantism.
"Since, therefore, Christ was about to be manifested and to suffer
in the flesh, his suffering was foreshown. For the prophet speaks against evil, `Woe to
their soul, because they have counseled an evil counsel against themselves' (Isaiah
3:9), saying, `Let us bind the righteous man because he is displeasing to us' (Wisdom
2:12)." St. Barnabas ("Epistle of St. Barnabas" c. 70-100
A.D.)
"By the word of his might God established all things, and by his
word he can overthrow them. `Who shall say to him, 'What have you done?'' or who shall
resist the power of his strength?' (Wisdom 12:12)." St. Clement of Rome ("Letter to the Corinthians" c. 80
A.D.)
"Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of
the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the faith, loving the brotherhood (1 Peter
2:17). . . . When you can do good, defer it not, because `alms delivers from death' (Tobit
4:10, 12:9). Be all of you subject to one another (1 Peter 5:5), having your
conduct blameless among the Gentiles (1 Peter 2:12), and the Lord may not be
blasphemed through you. But woe to him by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed (Isaiah
52:5)!" St. Polycarp of Smyrna ("Letter to the
Philadelphians" c. 135 A.D.)
"In Genesis it says, `And God tested Abraham and said to him,
"Take your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the high land and offer him there
as a burnt offering . . . "' (Genesis 22:1-2) ... Of this same thing in the
Wisdom of Solomon it says, `Although in the sight of men they suffered torments, their
hope is full of immortality . . .' (Wisdom 3:4). Of this same thing in the
Maccabees [it says], `Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to
him for righteousness' (1 Maccabees 2:52)." St. Cyprian of Carthage ("Treatises" c. 248 A.D.)
"The whole canon of the Scriptures, however, in which we say that
consideration is to be applied, is contained in these books: the five of Moses . . . and
one book of Joshua [Son of] Nave, one of Judges; one little book which is called Ruth . .
. then the four of Kingdoms, and the two of Paralipomenon . . . . There are also others
too, of a different order . . . such as Job and Tobit and Esther and Judith and the two
books of Maccabees, and the two of Esdras . . . . Then there are the Prophets, in which
there is one book of the Psalms of David, and three of Solomon. . . . But as to those two
books, one of which is entitled Wisdom and the other of which is entitled Ecclesiasticus
and which are called `of Solomon' because of a certain similarity to his books, it is held
most certainly that they were written by Jesus Sirach. They must, however, be accounted
among the prophetic books, because of the authority which is deservedly accredited to
them." St. Augustine of Hippo ("Christian
Instruction" c. 397 A.D.)
"We read in the books of the Maccabees (2 Maccabees 12:43)
that sacrifice was offered for the dead. But even if it were found nowhere in the Old
Testament writings, the authority of the Catholic Church which is clear on this point is
of no small weight, where in the prayers of the priest poured forth to the Lord God at his
altar the commendation of the dead has its place." St. Augustine of Hippo ("The Care to be
Had for the Dead" c. 421 A.D.)
