Decretum Gelasianum (496 AD)[1]
Categorized reference map
Primary text
- The Latin list itself is the primary evidence; the key datum is the phrase naming an apocryphal Gospel under Barnabas’ name.
Modern critical controls
- NASSCAL, von Dobschütz, Schneemelcher, and modern canon-list scholarship control the dating, attribution, and manuscript-transmission caveats.
Opposing / limiting evidence
- The Decretum does not identify the contents of the condemned Barnabas title and does not prove identity with Cod. 2662.
Inference level
- The page treats the Decretum as evidence for an early rejected Barnabas-title memory, not as stand-alone proof of the extant text.
This document matters because it shows that a gospel under the name of Barnabas was not a modern polemical invention, but a title remembered early enough to be listed among writings condemned by the Roman ecclesiastical tradition.
The image above reproduces one of the surviving folios of the decree, dating from 496 AD. Towards the conclusion, under the heading of Apocryphal Books, the Gospel of Barnabas is explicitly listed among those proscribed from public reading. Concerning the banned texts and narratives, the decree pronounces its final condemnation in unequivocal terms: “We not only reject these, but entirely excise and remove them from the Roman Catholic Church, so that their authors and followers shall be consigned to perpetual damnation under the irrevocable shackles of excommunication!”
Latin Text
DECRETVM GELASIANVM
INCIPIT CONCILIUM URBIS ROMAE SUB DAMASO PAPA DE EXPLANATIONE FIDEI
I. Dictum est:
1. Prius agendum est de spiritu septiformi, qui in Christo requiescit:
- spiritus sapientiae: 'Christus dei virtus et dei sapientia'.
- spiritus intellectus: 'Intellectum dabo tibi et instruam te in via, in qua ingredieris'.
- spiritus consilii: 'Et vocabitur nomen eius magni consilii angelus'.
- spiritus virtutis: ut supra 'Dei virtus et dei sapientia'.
- spiritus scientiae: 'Propter emninentiam Christi scientiae Iesu apostoli.
- spiritus veritatis: 'Ego sum via et vita et veritas'.
- spiritus timoris dei: 'Initium sapientiae timor domini'.
2. Multiformis autem nominem Christi dispensatio:
3. Spiritus enim sanctus non est patris tantummodo aut filii tantummodo spiritus, sed patris et filii spiritus; scriptum est enum: 'Si quis dilexerit mundum, non est spiritus patris in illo'; item scriptum est; 'Quisquis autem spiritum Christi non habet, hic non est eius'. Nominato ita patre et filio intelligitur spiritus sanctus, de quo ipse filius in evangelio dicit quia spiritus sanctus 'a patre procedit' et 'de meo accipet et adnuntiabit vobis'.
II. Item dictum est:
Nunc vero de scripturis divinis agendum est, quid universalis catholica recipiat ecclesia vel quid vitare debeat.
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
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
3. Item Ordo Historiarum:
Iob liber unus · Tobiae liber unus · Hesdrae libri duo · Hester liber unus · Iudith liber unus · Machabeorum libri duo
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 epistulae 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.
III. Item dictum est:
INCIPIT DECRETALE DE RECIPIENDIS ET NON RECIPIENDIS LIBRIS QUI SCRIPTUS EST A GELASIO PAPA SEPTUAGINTA VIRIS ERUDITISSIMIS EPISCOPIS IN SEDE APOSTOLICA URBIS ROMAE
1. Post has omnes propheticas et evangelicas atque apostolicas quas superius depromsimus scripturas, quibus ecclesia catholica per gratiam dei fundata est, etiam illud intimandum putavimus quod, quamvis universae per orbem catholicae diffusae ecclesiae unus thalamus Christi sit, sancta tamen Romana ecclesia nullis synodicis constitutis ceteris ecclesiis praelata est, sed evangelica voce domini et salvatoris nostri primatum obtenuit: 'tu es Petrus' inquiens 'et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferni non praevalebunt adversus eam; et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum, et quaecumque ligaveris super terram erunt ligata et in caelo et quaecumque solveris super terram erunt soluta et in caelo'.
2. Addita est etiam societas beatissimi Pauli apostoli 'vas electionis', qui non diverso, sicut heresei garriunt, sed uno tempore uno eodemque die gloiosa morte cum Petro in urbe Roma sub Caesare Nerone agonizans coronatus est; et pariter supradictam sanctam Romanam ecclesiam Christo domino consecrarunt aliisque omnibus urbibus in universo mundo sua praesentia atque venerando triumpho praetulerunt.
3. Est ergo prima Petri apostoli sedes Romana ecclesia 'non habens maculam nec rugam nec aliquid eiusmodi'. Secunda autem sedes apud Alexandriam beati Petri nomine a Marco eius disciplulo atque evangelista consecrata est. Tertia vero sedes apud Antiochiam beatissimi apostoli Petri habetur honorabilis, eo quod illic priusquam Romae venisset habitavit et illic primum nomen Christianorum novellae gentis exortum est.
IV. Accepted Writings
Et quamvis 'aliud fundamentum nullus possit ponere praeter id quod positum est, Christus Iesus', tamen ad aedificationem sancta idem Romana ecclesia post illas veteris velo novi testamenti quas regulariter superius enumeravimus etiam has suscipi non prohibet scripturas:
- sanctam synodum Nicenam secundum trecentos decem et octo patres mediante maximo Constantino Augusto
- sanctam synodum Ephesinam, in qua Nestorius damnatus est consensu beatissimi Caelestini papae
- sanctam synodum Calcedonensem mediante Marciano Augusto et Anatolio Constantinopolitano episcopo
V. NOTITIA LIBRORUM APOCRYPHORUM
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 Gospel of Barnabas is highlighted:
| Latin | English | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerarium nomine Petri apostoli, quod appellatur sancti Clementis libri numero novem | the Itinerary in the name of Peter the apostle, which is called the nine books of the holy Clement | apocryphum |
| Actus nomine Andreae apostoli | the Acts in the name of the apostle Andrew | apocryphum |
| Actus nomine Thomae apostoli | the Acts in the name of the apostle Thomas | apocryphum |
| Actus nomine Petri apostoli | the Acts in the name of the apostle Peter | apocryphum |
| Actus nomine Philippi apostoli | the Acts in the name of the apostle Philip | apocryphum |
| Evangelium nomine Mathiae | the Gospel in the name of Mathias | apocryphum |
| Evangelium nomine Barnabae | the Gospel in the name of Barnabas | apocryphum |
| Evangelium nomine Iacobi minoris | the Gospel in the name of James the younger | apocryphum |
| Evangelium nomine Petri apostoli | the Gospel in the name of the apostle Peter | apocryphum |
| Evangelium nomine Thomae quibus Manichei utuntur | the Gospel in the name of Thomas which the Manichaeans use | apocryphum |
| Evangelia nomine Bartholomaei | the Gospels in the name of Bartholomew | apocryphum |
| Evangelia nomine Andreae | the Gospels in the name of Andrew | apocryphum |
| Evangelia quae falsavit Lucianus | the Gospels which Lucianus forged | apocryphum |
| Evangelia quae falsavit Hesychius | the Gospels which Hesychius forged | apocryphum |
| Liber de infantia salvatoris | the book on the infancy of the saviour | apocryphum |
| Liber de nativitate salvatoris et de Maria vel obstetrice | the book of the nativity of the saviour and of Mary or the midwife | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Pastoris | the book which is called by the name of the Shepherd | apocryphum |
| Libri omnes quos fecit Leucius disciplulus diabuli | all the books which Leucius the disciple of the devil made | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Fundamentum | the book which is called the Foundation | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Thesaurus | the book which is called the Treasure | apocryphum |
| Liber de filiabus Adae Leptogeneseos | the book of the daughters of Adam Leptogeneseos | apocryphum |
| Centonem de Christo virgilianis conpaginatum versibus | the cento on Christ put together in Virgilian verses | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Actus Theclae et Pauli | the book which is called the Acts of Thecla and Paul | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Nepotis | the book which is called Nepos's | apocryphum |
| Liber Proverbiorum ab hereticis conscriptus et sancti Sixti nomine praesignatus | the books of Proverbs written by heretics and prefixed with the name of holy Sixtus | apocryphum |
| Revelatio quae appellatur Pauli | the Revelation which is called Paul's | apocryphum |
| Revelatio quae appellatur Thomae | the Revelation which is called Thomas's | apocryphum |
| Revelatio quae appellatur Stephani | the Revelation which is called Stephen's | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Transitus sanctae Mariae | the book which is called the Assumption of holy Mary | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Paenitentia Adae | the book which is called the Repentance of Adam | apocryphum |
| Liber de Ogia nomine gigante | the book about Og the giant | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Testamentum Iob | the book which is called the Testament of Job | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Paenitentia Origenis | the book which is called the Repentance of Origen | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Paenitentia sancti Cypriani | the book which is called the Repentance of holy Cyprian | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Paenitentia Iamne et Mambre | the book which is called the Repentance of Jamne and Mambre | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Sortes apostolorum | the book which is called the Lots of the apostles | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Lusa apostolorum | the book which is called the grave-plate of the apostles | apocryphum |
| Liber qui appellatur Canones apostolorum | the book which is called the canons of the apostles | apocryphum |
| Liber Physiologus ab hereticis conscriptus | the book Physiologus written by heretics | apocryphum |
English Translation
HERE BEGINS THE COUNCIL OF ROME UNDER POPE DAMASUS “ON EXPLAINING THE FAITH”
I. It was said:
1. Firstly the seven-fold Spirit which remains in Christ should be discussed:
- the spirit of wisdom: 'Christ the power and wisdom of God'.
- the spirit of understanding: 'I will give you understanding, and I will instruct you in the way you will go'.
- the spirit of counsel: 'And his name is called the messenger of great counsel'.
- the spirit of virtues: as above, 'The power of God and the wisdom of God'.
- the spirit of knowledge: 'Because of the eminence of the knowledge of the apostle of Christ Jesus'.
- the spirit of truth: 'I am the way the life and the truth'.
- the spirit of the fear of God: 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'.
2. However the dispensation of Christ has a name of many forms:
3. For the Holy Spirit is not of the Father only or of the Son only, but of the Father and the Son; for it is written: 'He who delights in the world, the Spirit of the Father is not in him'; again it is written; 'However anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to him'. So the Holy Spirit is understood to be called of the Father and the Son, and of whom the Son himself in the gospel says that the Holy Spirit 'proceeds from the Father' and 'he will receive from me and he will make known to you'.
II. Likewise it was said:
Now indeed the issue of the divine scriptures must be discussed, which the universal Catholic church receives or which it is required to avoid.
1. THIS IS THE ORDER 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. 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. 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. LIKEWISE THE ORDER OF THE SCRIPTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT which the holy and catholic Roman church upholds and is venerated:
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 one letter
Here ends the Canon of the New Testament.
III. The Decretal on Books to Be Received and Not to Be Received
Written by Pope Gelasius and seventy most erudite bishops at the apostolic seat in the city of Rome.
1. After all these writings of the prophets and the evangelical and apostolic scriptures which we discussed above, on which the catholic church is founded by the grace of God, we also have thought necessary to say what, although the universal catholic church diffused throughout the world is the single bride of Christ, however the holy Roman church is given first place by the rest of the churches without the need for a synodical decision, but from the voice of the Lord our saviour in the gospel obtained primacy: 'You are Peter,' he said, 'and upon this rock I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to you I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall bind upon Earth shall be bound also in heaven and whatever you release upon Earth shall also be released in heaven'.
2. In addition there is also the presence of the blessed apostle Paul, 'the chosen vessel', who not in opposition, as the heresies jabber, but on the same date and the same day was crowned in glorious death with Peter in the city of Rome suffering under Nero Caesar; and equally they made the above-mentioned holy Roman church special in Christ the Lord and gave preference in their presence and veneration-worthy triumph before all other cities in the whole world.
3. Therefore first is the seat at the Roman church of the apostle Peter 'having no spot or wrinkle or any other defect'. However the second place was given in the name of blessed Peter to Mark his disciple and gospel-writer at Alexandria. Indeed the third place is held at Antioch of the most blessed and honourable apostle Peter, who lived there before he came to Rome and where first the name of the new race of the Christians was heard.
IV. Accepted Writings
And although 'no other foundation can be established except that which has been established, Christ Jesus', however for edification likewise the holy Roman church after the books of the Old and New Testaments which we have enumerated above according to the canon also does not prohibit the reception of these writings:
- the holy synod of Nicaea of 318 fathers chaired by the Emperor Constantine the Great
- the holy synod of Ephesus, at which Nestorius was condemned with the consent of the blessed pope Caelestinus
- the holy synod of Chalcedon chaired by Marcian Augustus and by Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople, at which the Nestorian and Eutychian heresies together with Dioscorus and his sympathisers were condemned
V. Condemnation
These and those similar ones, which Simon Magus, Nicolaus, Cerinthus, Marcion, Basilides, Ebion, Paul of Samosata, Photinus and Bonosus, who suffered from similar error, also Montanus with his obscene followers, Apollinaris, Valentinus the Manichaean, Faustus the African, Sabellius, Arius, Macedonius, Eunomius, Novatus, Sabbatius, Calistus, Donatus, Eustasius, Jovianus, Pelagius, Julian of Eclanum, Caelestius, Maximian, Priscillian from Spain, Nestorius of Constantinople, Maximus the Cynic, Lampetius, Dioscorus, Eutyches, Peter and the other Peter, of whom one disgraced Alexandria and the other Antioch, Acacius of Constantinople with his associates, and what also all disciples of heresy and of the heretics and schismatics, whose names we have scarcely preserved, have taught or compiled, we acknowledge is to be not merely rejected but eliminated from the whole Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church and with their authors and the followers of its authors to be damned in the inextricable shackles of anathema forever.
[1] Ernst von Dobschütz (ed.), Das Decretum Gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis, Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, vol. 38, no. 4 (Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1912). The decree is traditionally attributed to Pope Gelasius I (492–496 AD) and is preserved in numerous medieval manuscripts; the earliest witnesses date from the sixth century. See also Clavis Patrum Latinorum (CPL) 1676.