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One epistle of Peter, that called the first, is acknowledged as
genuine. And this the ancient elders used freely in their own writings
as an undisputed work. But we have learned that his extant second
Epistle does not belong to the canon; yet, as it has appeared
profitable to many, it has been used with the other Scriptures. The
so-called Acts of Peter, however, and the Gospel which bears his
name, and the Preaching and the Apocalypse, as they are called, we
know have not been universally accepted, because no ecclesiastical
writer, ancient or modern, has made use of testimonies drawn from
them. But in the course of my history I shall be careful to show, in
addition to the official succession, what ecclesiastical writers have
from time to time made use of any of the disputed works, and what they
have said in regard to the canonical and accepted writings, as well as
in regard to those which are not of this class. Such are the writings
that bear the name of Peter, only one of which I know to be genuine
and acknowledged by the ancient elders. Paul's fourteen epistles are
well known and undisputed. It is not indeed right to overlook the fact
that some have rejected the Epistle to the Hebrews, saying that it is
disputed by the church of Rome, on the ground that it was not written
by Paul. But what has been said concerning this epistle by those who
lived before our time I shall quote in the proper place. In regard to
the so-called Acts of Paul, I have not found them among the
undisputed writings.
But as the same apostle, in the salutations at the end of the Epistle
to the Romans, has made mention among others of Hermas, to whom the
book called The Shepherd is ascribed, it should be observed that this
too has been disputed by some, and on their account cannot be placed
among the acknowledged books; while by others it is considered quite
indispensable, especially to those who need instruction in the elements
of the faith. Hence, as we know, it has been publicly read in
churches, and I have found that some of the most ancient writers used
it. This will serve to show the divine writings that are undisputed as
well as those that are not universally acknowledged.
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