Decree of Pope Saint Damasus
from the Acts of the Roman Synod (382 AD)
Source: Henry Denzinger's Enchiridion Symbolorum
Translated by Roy J. Feferrari
Loreto Publications www.loretopubs.org
Denzinger 84 (179) in newer editions)
The Canon of Sacred Scripture
Likewise it has been said: Now indeed we must treat of the divine
Scriptures, what the universal Catholic Church accepts and what she ought to
shun. The order of the Old Testament begins here: Genesis one book, Exodus one
book, Leviticus one book, Numbers one book, Deuteronomy one book, Josue Nave
one book, Judges one book, Ruth one book, Kings four books, Paralipomenon two
books, Psalms one book, Solomon three books, Proverbs one book, Ecclesiastes
one book, Canticle of Canticles one book, likewise Wisdom one book,
Ecclesiasticus one book. Likewise the order of the Prophets. Isaias one book,
Jeremias one book,with Ginoth, that is, with his lamentations, Ezechiel one
book,Daniel one book, Osee one book, Micheas one book, Joel one book, Abdias
one book, Jonas one book, Nahum one book, Habacuc one book, Sophonias one
book, Aggeus one book, Zacharias one book, Malachias one book. Likewise the
order of the histories. Job one book, Tobias one book, Esdras two books,
Esther one book, Judith one book, Machabees two books. Likewise the order of
the writings of the New and eternal Testament, which only the holy and
Catholic Church supports. Of the Gospels, according to Matthew one book,
according to Mark one book, according to Luke one book, according to John one
book. The Epistles of Paul [the apostle] in number fourteen. To the Romans
one, to the Corinthians two, to the Ephesians one, to the Thessalonians two,
to the Galatians one, to the Philippians one, to the Colossians one, to
Timothy two, to Titus one, to Philemon one, to the Hebrews one. Likewise the
Apocalypse of John, one book. And the Acts of the Apostles one book. Likewise
the canonical epistles in number seven. Of Peter the Apostle two epistles, of
James the Apostle one epistle, of John the Apostle one epistle, of another
John, the presbyter, two epistles, of Jude the Zealut, the Apostle, one
epistle.
