Greek · Festal Letter 39 · Epistula festalis 39
Athanasius' Easter letter for 367, which lists the books of the Old and New Testaments. It names the 27 NT books, calls them 'springs of salvation', and names the Didache and Hermas as books to be read to catechumens but not as canonical.
Dating
Festal letters announced the date of Easter; the Syriac Festal Index assigns letter 39 to Easter 367. The canon passage survives in Greek (via canonical collections) and in fuller Coptic fragments (Brakke 2010).Books it uses
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Among the 27 books 'included in the Canon, and handed down, and accredited as Divine'. 'Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these' (39.5–6).
Quotations
Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic), seven, viz. of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John.
Ep. fest. 39.5Names the book
NPNF series 2, vol. 4 (1892), tr. A. Robertson · Source (opens in a new tab)
Earliest surviving list of exactly the 27 books of today's NT (AD 367), though in a different order (Catholic Epistles before Paul; Hebrews among Paul's letters).
These are fountains of salvation, that they who thirst may be satisfied with the living words they contain. In these alone is proclaimed the doctrine of godliness. Let no man add to these, neither let him take ought from these.
Ep. fest. 39.6Names the book
NPNF series 2, vol. 4 (1892), tr. A. Robertson · Source (opens in a new tab)
Closing formula echoing Deut 4:2 / Rev 22:18–19.
Revelation 22:18–19 BSB
18I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.
But for greater exactness I add this also, writing of necessity; that there are other books besides these not indeed included in the Canon, but appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of godliness. The Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach, and Esther, and Judith, and Tobit, and that which is called the Teaching of the Apostles, and the Shepherd.
Ep. fest. 39.7Names the book
NPNF series 2, vol. 4 (1892), tr. A. Robertson · Source (opens in a new tab)
The Didache and Hermas are 'not indeed included in the Canon' but may be read to catechumens.