Послание святитителя Амфилохия к Селевку (о том, какие Книги приемлются)

Saint Amphilochius of Iconium was from Neocaesarea in Cappadocia. He is a contemporary and friend of Saint Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian. In 372, he was elected to the See of Iconium, where he worked hard for the benefit of Orthodoxy, diligently fighting heretics. He was a member of 2 Universe. Cathedral. Saint Amphlochius died in 394. It is especially appropriate to know that not every book that has acquired the venerable name of Scripture is reliable. For sometimes there are books with false names, others - average and, so to speak, close to the words of truth, and others - counterfeit and deceptive, like counterfeit and counterfeit coins, which, although they have a royal inscription, but, in their substance, turn out to be false. Therefore, I will name for you each of the inspired books. But so that you may know separately, first, the named books of the Old Testament. The Pentateuch contains: Genesis, then Exodus and the middle book of Leviticus, followed by Numbers, then Deuteronomy. To this add Jesus and the Judges, then Ruth, four books of Kings and two Chronicles. These are followed by Ezra, book one and two. Next, I will name you five books of poetry: Job, crowned with the exploits of various sufferings, and the book of Psalms, healing with sweet songs for souls, three books of the wise Solomon: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. To these add twelve Prophets: the first Hosea, then the second Amos; Micah, Joel, Obadiah and Jonah, the image of the three-day death; after them Nahum, Habakkuk, then the ninth Zephaniah, Haggai and Zechariah, and the glorious messenger Malachi. After them, recognize the four Prophets: the great Isaiah, who spoke boldly, the compassionate Jeremiah, the mysterious Ezekiel, and the last Daniel, who was wise in deed and word. Some Esthers are added to these. It’s time for me to name the books of the New Testament: they accepted only four evangelists: Matthew, then Mark, adding the third to Luke, John is numbered fourth in time, but first in the height of dogmas, for I righteously call him the son of thunder, who majestically proclaimed God’s Word. We also accepted the second book of Luke - the conciliar Acts of the Apostles. Then add to this the vessel of election, the preacher and Apostle of the tongues, Paul, who wisely wrote fourteen epistles to the churches: one to the Romans, to which should be numbered two to the Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians; after that to those living in Philippi, then what was written to the Colossians, two to the Thessalonians, two to Timothy, one to Titus and Philemon, and one to the Hebrews. Some people incorrectly call this message inauthentic, for it contains true grace. What will I say finally about the Council Epistles? Some say that seven of them should be accepted, and others - only three: one of James, one of Peter and one of John. Some accept the three of John, and, besides them, the two of Peter and the seventh of Judas. Others classify the Revelation of John among the sacred books, and many call it inauthentic. Let this be the most unfalse canon of the Inspired Scriptures. (Ap. 85; Laod. 60; Carth. 33; Athanasius Vel. 3; Gregory the Theologian). You might be interested in: