Cetera esse apocrypha et quid sit apocryphum.
The Sacred Writers
The divinely inspired authors of sacred Scripture composed their writings as the sure foundation for Christian living.
These are the writers of the sacred books who, speaking through the Holy Spirit, composed for our instruction the precepts and rule of living.
The Name and Nature of the Apocrypha
Writings beyond the canon are called apocryphal because their hidden and uncertain origin places them outside the attested line of transmission.
Beyond these, other writings are called apocryphal. They are called apocryphal — that is, 'hidden' or 'secret' — because their origin is uncertain. For their origin is hidden, and it's not clear from what fathers the authority of the trustworthy Scriptures has come down to us through a most certain and well-attested line of transmission.
Discernment and Canonical Authority
Although apocryphal writings contain some truth, their mixture of falsehood and spurious authorship deprives them of canonical authority.
In these apocryphal writings, even though some truth is found, yet because of the many false things in them, there is no canonical authority by which they are rightly judged not to be believed as belonging to those to whom they are ascribed. For many works are put forward by heretics under the names of the prophets, and more recent ones under the names of the apostles — all of which, under the name of apocryphal writings, have been set aside from canonical authority through careful examination.
Read the original Latin
Hi sunt scriptores sacrorum librorum, qui per Spiritum Sanctum loquentes ad eruditionem nostram praecepta vivendi regulamque conscripserunt. praeter haec alia volumina apocrypha nuncupantur. apocrypha autem dicta, id est, secreta, quia in dubium veniunt. est enim eorum occulta origo, nec patet patribus, a quibus usque ad nos auctoritas veracium scripturarum certissima et notissima successione pervenit. in his apocryphis etsi invenitur aliqua veritas, tamen propter multa falsa, nulla est in eis canonica auctoritas, quae recte iudicantur non esse eorum credenda quibus ascribuntur. nam multa et sub nominibus prophetarum et recentiora sub nominibus apostolorum ab haereticis proferuntur, quae omnia sub nomine apocryphorum, auctoritate canonica diligenti examinatione remota sunt.
Didascalicon de Studio Legendi (On the Study of Reading) companion
Hugh said begin with small daily portions. Start tomorrow.
Chosen Portion serves one short, ordered devotional reading each day — the medieval lectio pattern, free on iOS.
Hugh taught that formation comes from ordered, incremental daily reading, and Chosen Portion is that ordered daily portion delivered to your phone.
- A curated daily portion in 2-3 minutes, no decision fatigue about what to read
- Progress through complete historic works in order, the way Hugh prescribed
- Free app plus a weekly email unpacking one reading in depth