A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 38
38 Section 38 PL 21, 374
38. But it should be known that there are also other books which our fathers call not “Canonical” but “Ecclesiastical:” that is to say, Wisdom, called the Wisdom of Solomon, and another Wisdom, called the Wisdom of the Son of Syrach, which last-mentioned the Latins called by the general title Ecclesiasticus, designating not the author of the book, but the character of the writing. To the same class belong the Book of Tobit, and the Book of Judith, and the Books of the Maccabees. In the New Testament the little book which is called the Book of the Pastor of Hermas, [and that] which is called The Two Ways, or the Judgment of Peter; all of which they would have read in the Churches, but not appealed to for the confirmation of doctrine. The other writings they have named “Apocrypha.” These they would not have read in the Churches.
These are the traditions which the Fathers have handed down to us, which, as I said, I have thought it opportune to set forth in this place, for the instruction of those who are being taught the first elements of the Church and of the Faith, that they may know from what fountains of the Word of God their draughts must be taken.
Sciendum tamen est, quod et alii libri sunt, qui non canonici, sed Ecclesiastici a majoribus appellati sunt, id est, Sapientia, quae dicitur Salomomonis, 101 et alia Sapientia, quae dicitur filii Syrach, qui liber apud Latinos hoc ipso generali vocabulo Ecclesiasticus appellatur, quo vocabulo non auctor libelli, sed Scripturae qualitas cognominata est. Ejusdem vero ordinis libellus est Tobiae et Judith, et Machabaeorum libri. In novo vero Testamento libellus, qui dicitur Pastoris sive Hermes: qui appellatur Duae viae, vel Judicium Petri. Quae omnia legi quidem in Ecclesiis voluerunt, non tamen proferri ad auctoritatem ex his fidei confirmandam. Caeteras vero Scripturas apocryphas nominarunt, quas in Ecclesiis legi noluerunt. Haec nobis a Patribus tradita sunt, quae (ut dixi) opportunum visum est hoc in loco designare, ad instructionem eorum qui prima sibi Ecclesiae ac fidei elementa suscipiunt, ut sciant, ex quibus sibi fontibus verbi Dei haurienda sint pocula.