Decree of Gelasius (about A.D. 550).

The Decree of Gelasius (Decretum Gelasianum), which contains a list of canonical books, was so called because it was formerly ascribed to Pope Gelasius (in office from 492 to 496). Various recensions of the same decree were also ascribed to the earlier Pope Demasus (366-384) and the later Hormisdas (514-523), or to councils over which they presided. But for the past century most scholars have agreed with Ernst von Dobschütz's conclusion that all the various forms of the decree derive from the independent work of an anonymous Italian churchman in the sixth century. ¹

In its longer form, the article of the "decree" that lists the approved books is introduced by the sentence, Nunc vero de scripturis divinis agendum est, quid universalis catholica ecclesia recipiat [or, teneat] et quid vitare debeat ("Now indeed the divine scriptures must be discussed, which the universal Catholic church receives [or, holds], and which writings must be avoided"). Then comes a list of books, divided into four sections:

1. Incipit Ordo Veteris Testamenti Genesis liber unus Exodus liber unus Leviticus liber unus Numeri liber unus Deuteronomium liber unus Iesu Nave liber unus Iudicum liber unus Ruth liber unus Regum libri quattuor Paralypomenon libri duo Psalmorum CL liber unus Salomonis libri tres proverbia liber unus ecclesiastes liber unus cantica canticorum liber unus Item sapientiae liber unus ecclesiasticum liber unus	1. Here begins the list of the Old Testament Genesis one book Exodus one book Leviticus one book Numbers one book Deuteronomy one book Joshua one book Judges one book Ruth one book Kings four books Chronicles two books 150 Psalms one book Three books of Solomon proverbs one book ecclesiastes one book song of songs one book Also of Wisdom one book ecclesiasticus one book
2. Item Ordo Prophetarum: Esaiae liber unus Hieremiae liber unus cum Cinoth id est lamentationibus suis Ezechielis liber unus Danihelis liber unus Oseae liber unus Amos liber unus Micheae liber unus Iohel liber unus Abdiae liber unus Ionae liber unus Naum liber unus Abbacuc liber unus Sophoniae liber unus Aggei liber unus Zachariae liber unus Malachiae liber unus	2. Also the list of the Prophets: Isaiah one book Jeremiah one book with Cinoth i.e. his lamentations Ezechiel one book Daniel one book Hosea one book Amos one book Micah one book Joel one book Obadiah one book Jonah one book Nahum one book Habbakuk one book Zephaniah one book Haggai one book Zechariah one book Malachi one book
3. Item Ordo Historiarum Iob liber unus Tobiae liber unus Hesdrae libri duo Hester liber unus Iudith liber unus Machabeorum libri duo	3. Also the list of the Histories: Job one book Tobit one book Esdras two books Esther one book Judith one book Maccabees two books
4. Item Ordo Scripturarum Novi Testamenti quem sancta et catholica Romana suscipit et veneratur ecclesia: Evangeliorum libri quattuor secundum Matheum liber unus secundum Marcum liber unus secundum Lucam liber unus secundum Iohannem liber unus Item actuum apostolorum liber unus Epistulae Pauli apostoli numero quattuordecim ad Romanos epistula una ad Corinthios epistula duae ad Ephesios epistula una ad Thesalonicenses epistulae duae ad Galatas epistula una ad Philippenses epistula una ad Colosenses epistula una ad Timotheum epistulae duae ad Titum epistula una ad Philemonem epistula una ad Hebreos epistula una Item apocalypsis Iohannis liber unus Item canonicae epistulae numero septem Petri apostoli epistulae duae Iacobi apostoli epistula una Iohannis apostoli epistula una alterius Iohannis presbyteri epistulae duae Iudae Zelotis apostoli epistula una Explicit Canon Novi Testamenti.	4. Likewise the list of New Testament Scriptures, which the holy and catholic Roman church upholds and venerates: Four books of the Gospels according to Mathew one book according to Mark one book according to Luke one book according to John one book Likewise the acts of the apostles one book The letters of the apostle Paul in number fourteen to the Romans one letter to the Corinthians two letters to the Ephesians one letter to the Thesalonians two letters to the Galatians one letter to the Philippians one letter to the Colossians one letter to Timothy two letters to Titus one letter to the Philemon one letter to the Hebrews one letter Also the Apocalypse of John, one book Also the canonical letters, in number seven: of the apostle Peter two letters of the apostle James one letter of the apostle John one letter of the other John the elder two letters of the apostle Judas the Zealot ² one letter Here ends the Canon of the New Testament.

Toward the end of the "decree," a list of condemned books and authors is also provided, introduced by these words:

Cetera quae ab hereticis sive scismaticis conscripta vel praedicata sunt, nullatenus recipit catholica et apostolica Romana ecclesia; e quibus pauca, quae ad memoriam venerunt et a catholicis vitanda sunt, credidimus esse subdenda.

The remaining writings which have been compiled or been recognized by heretics or schismatics the catholic and apostolic Roman church does not in any way receive; of these we have thought it right to cite below some which have been handed down and which are to be avoided by catholics.

The work ends with an anathema upon heretics:

... et omnes heresei hereseorumque disciplui sive scismatici docuerent vel conscripserunt, quorum nomina minime retinuimus, non solum repudiata verum ab omni Romana catholica et apostolica ecclesia eliminata atque cum suis auctoribus sequacibus sub anathematis insolubili vinculo in aeternum confitemur esse damnata.

... and whatever disciples of heresy and of the heretics or schismatics, whose names we have scarcely preserved, have taught or compiled, we declare to be not merely rejected but excluded from the whole Roman catholic and apostolic church, and its authors and their adherents to be damned in the inextricable shackles of anathema for ever.

NOTES

1. Ernst von Dobschütz, Das Decretum Gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis in kritischem Text herausgegeben und untersucht von Ernst von Dobschütz (Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1912).

2. An apostle "Judas the Zealot" (not Judas Iscariot) is named in some Old Latin manuscripts in Mat. 10:3.