A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 37

Rufinus of Aquileia (AD 345–411) · Commentarius in Symbolum apostolorum · PL 21, 337–386

37 Section 37 PL 21, 373

37. 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 book; 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.

Of the New there are four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; the Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke; fourteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul, two of the Apostle Peter, one of James, brother of the Lord and Apostle, one of Jude, three of John, the Revelation of John. These are the books which the Fathers have comprised within the Canon, and from which they would have us deduce the proofs of our faith.

Itaque veteris Testamenti, omnium primo Moysi quinque libri sunt traditi, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium. Post haec Jesus Nave, Judicum simul cum Ruth. Quatuor post haec Regnorum libri, quos Hebraei duos numerant: Paralipomenon, qui dierum dicitur liber: et Esdrae duo, qui apud illos singuli computantur, et Hester. Prophetarum vero Esaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, et Daniel: praeterea duodecim Prophetarum liber unus. Job quoque, et Psalmi David singuli sunt libri. Salomon vero tres Ecclesiis tradidit, Proverbia, Ecclesiastes, Cantica Canticorum. In his concluserunt numerum librorum veteris Testamenti. Novi vero quatuor Evangelia, Matthaei, Marci, Lucae, et Joannis. Actus Apostolorum, quos describit Lucas. Pauli Apostoli Epistolae quatuordecim. Petri Apostoli duae. Jacobi fratris Domini et Apostoli una. Judae una. Joannis tres. Apocalypsis Joannis. Haec sunt quae Patres intra canonem concluserunt, et ex quibus fidei nostrae assertiones constare voluerunt.

Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (eds.), New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890-1900. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).