Steven Avery
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@timhaley3459
The historian Eusebius (about 260-340 C.E., who wrote "History of the Christian Church" in ten volumes that was published in 324 C.E.), in summing up the position, sets out three categories of writings. First the acknowledged ones are enumerated and then the disputed ones, both classes being considered canonical. The third group, in which he names the Shepherd of Hermas, Barnabas and others, he calls spurious, although they were read in various congregations at times. (Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, p. 110) The Muratorian fragment (of about 170 C.E.) states that the Shepherd could be read but was never to be recognized as canonical. When it was found that the apocryphal Gospel of Peter was being read publicly at the end of the second century, it was ordered to be rejected as false. (Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, p. 231) Tertullian (about 160-240 C.E.) tells us that the author of the “Acts of Paul” was punished for posing as a first-century writer. (De Baptismo 17) In a letter written by Theodore of Egypt in the fourth century the apocryphal writings are referred to as “the lying waters of which so many drank," and the Muratorian list speaks of them as gall which should not be mixed with honey. So the Christian community was careful to protect the integrity of its writings.
The historian Eusebius (about 260-340 C.E., who wrote "History of the Christian Church" in ten volumes that was published in 324 C.E.), in summing up the position, sets out three categories of writings. First the acknowledged ones are enumerated and then the disputed ones, both classes being considered canonical. The third group, in which he names the Shepherd of Hermas, Barnabas and others, he calls spurious, although they were read in various congregations at times. (Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, p. 110) The Muratorian fragment (of about 170 C.E.) states that the Shepherd could be read but was never to be recognized as canonical. When it was found that the apocryphal Gospel of Peter was being read publicly at the end of the second century, it was ordered to be rejected as false. (Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, p. 231) Tertullian (about 160-240 C.E.) tells us that the author of the “Acts of Paul” was punished for posing as a first-century writer. (De Baptismo 17) In a letter written by Theodore of Egypt in the fourth century the apocryphal writings are referred to as “the lying waters of which so many drank," and the Muratorian list speaks of them as gall which should not be mixed with honey. So the Christian community was careful to protect the integrity of its writings.