Decretum Gelasianum
Standard abbreviation: Gel. Decr.
Other titles: Decretal of Damasus (Decretum Damasi)
Clavis numbers: ECCA 491; CPL 1676
VIAF: 184612565
Category: Canon List
Related literature:
Compiled by Brandon W. Hawk, Rhode Island College
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Hawk, Brandon W. “Gelasian Decree.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/gelasian-decree/
Created February 2023. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
The Pseudo-Gelasian Decree is a document that purports to be the result of a council held in Rome by Pope Damasus (305–84) and a decree by Pope Gelasius (d. 496). In most manuscripts, the work is attributed to either Damasus or (more often) Galasius, and in some manuscripts to Pope Hormisdas (450–523). The first three chapters circulate independently in some manuscripts, in which they are attributed to Damasus.
The document provides orthodox statements in five chapters about the following:
1. Christ and the Holy Spirit
2. Contents and order of the Christian Bible
3. The three Petrine sees and the primacy of Roma
4. Books acceptable to read
5. Books excluded from the canon to be rejected
The last chapter includes a list of 61 apocryphal works, many of which are identifiable with surviving apocrypha based on the titles. Dobschütz provides an extensive commentary on the list with discussion of identifications (some definite, others possible, and some indeterminable, pp. 283–32).
Named historical figures and characters: Abgar, Acacius of Constantinople, Adam (patriarch), Africanus (of Alexandria), Andrew (apostle), Ambrose of Milan, Anatolius of Constantinople, Antony, Apollinaris, Arcadius, Arius, Arnobius, Augustine of Hippo, Barnabas, Bartholomew (apostle), Basil of Cappadocia, Basilides, Bonosus, Caecilius Cyprian, Caelestinus (pope), Caelistius, Calistus, Cassian, Cerinthus, Clement (pope), Cyricus (martyr), Clement of Alexandria, Commodian, Constantine (emperor), Cyril of Alexandria, Damasus (pope), Dioscorus, Donatus, Ebion, Eumonius, Eusebius of Caesarea, Eusebius Pamphilii, Eustasius, Eutychius, Faustus the Manichaean, Faustus of Riez, Flavian of Constantinople, Frumentius Caecus, Gallus, Gelasius (pope), Georgius (martyr), Gregory Nanzanensis, Hesychius, Hilarion, Hilary of Poitiers, Holy Spirit, Hormisdas (pope), James (son of Alphaeus), James (son of Zebedee), Jamne, Jerome, Jesus Christ, John (apostle), John of Constantinople, Jovianus, Jude (apostle), Julian of Eclanum, Julitta (martyr), Lactantius (Firmianus), Lampetius, Leo I (pope), Leucius, Lucianus, Luke (evangelist), Macedonius, Mambre, Marcion, Mary (Virgin), Mark (apostle), Matthew (apostle), Matthias (apostle), Maximian, Maximilla, Maximus the Cynic, Montanus, Nepos, Nero, Nestorius, Nicolaus, Novatus, Origen, Orosius, Paul (apostle), Paul of Samosata, Pelagius, Peter (apostle), Peter of Alexandria, Peter of Antioch, Philip (apostle), Photinus, Postumianus, Priscilla, Priscillian, Prosper, Rufinus, Sabbatius, Sabellius, Sedulius, Simon (Magus), Sixtus (pope), Stephen (martyr), Taurus the Prefect, Tertullian, Thascius Cyprianus, Thecla, Theophilus (of Alexandria), Thomas (apostle), Ticonius, Valentinus the Manichaean, Victorinus of Pettau, Virgil; various figures after whom the books of the Hebrew Bible are named.
Geographical locations: Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, Cappadocia, Carthage, Chalcedon, Constantinople, Ephesus, Gaul, Hippo, Milan, Nicaea, Poitiers, Riez, Rome, Sirmium, Spain.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Web Sites and Other Online Resources
“Decretum Gelasianum.” The Latin Library.
“Decretum Gelasianum.” Mirabile.
“Decretum Gelasianum.” Tertullian.org. 10th December 1999. Transcription of edition by Dobschütz with links to English and French translations.
“Gelasian Decree.” Wikipedia.
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Latin
Dobschütz refers to over 100 manuscripts, although for his edition he did not consult every witness included in the list and Handshriften that he provides (pp. 14 and 135–83). A few manuscripts that he referred to as containing the Decree do not actually contain it and are omitted from the present list; others that he did not refer to or consult have also been identified and some are listed below (see also the Mirabile list of manuscripts). I list witnesses with Dobschütz’s sigla as appropriate.
αβc Cambridge, University Library, Kk.3.24, fols. 108r–109r (12th cent.)
αβm Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 18926 (12th/13th cent.)
αr Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 4322 (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
β Lucca, Biblioteca Capitolare Feliniana 124 (12th cent.)
βι Vienna, Hofbibliothek 1180 (14th cent.)
βm Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 12612 (12th cent.)
βr Rheims, Bibliothèque d’étude et du patrimoine 85 (E 262) (11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
C Vercelli, Archivo Capitolare CLXXXIII (3) (8th cent.)
Γ1 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14469 (8th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Γ2 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 6018 (9th cent.)
D1 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 5845, fols. 194r–? (10th cent.)
D2 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14008 (9th cent.) ~ IMAGES
D3 Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana A.5, fols. 238v–? (9th cent.)
D4 Vercelli, Archivo Capitolare LXXVI (46) (9th cent.)
D5 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1353 (15th cent.)
Δ1 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3837, fols. 169v–? (9th cent.)
Δ2 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 3860a (10th cent.)
Δ3 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 6243, fols. 1r–5r (c. 800) ~ IMAGES
Δ4 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 5508 (9th cent.)
Δ5 Rome, Biblioteca Casanatense 54 (11th cent.)
Δ6 Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare LXIII (61) (10th cent.)
E1 Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek 131 (1063), pp. 162–72 (10th/11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
E2 Vienna, Schottenstift 408 (55.h.3) (15th cent.)
E3 Oxford, Bodleian Library, Laud. Misc. 421, fols. 122r–123v (9th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
(E3) Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12448 (10th/11th cent.) ~ Gallica
εa Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 584 (12th cent.) ~ IMAGES
εb Bamberg, Staatsbibliothek, Can. 7 (P.I.13) (11th/12th cent.)
F Fulda, Hessische Hochschul- und Landesbibliothek, Bonifatianus 2, fols. 57r–61v (8th cent.)
(F) Rome, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Vittorio Emanuele II, Sessor. 77 (8th cent.)
G1 Brussels, Bibliothèque royale, 9850–52, fols. 4–139, 144–76 (c. 700)
(G1) Cambrai, Médiathèque municipale 259 (249) (13th cent.)
G2 Lucca, Biblioteca Capitolare Feliniana 490, III, fols. 272r–v (8th cent.)
(G2) Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médecine, H 413 (E 64) (12th/13th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
(G3) Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Urb. lat. 65 (131) (15th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G3l Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 493, 101v–106v (c. 800) ~ IMAGES
G3m Gotha, Universitätsbibliothek, Membr. I 85 (8th/9th cent. cent.)
G4 Albi, Médiathèque Pierre-Amalric, RES 29, fols. 66v–68v (8th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G5 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3836 (8th cent.) ~ Gallica
G5b Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14144 (9th cent.) ~ Gallica
G6 Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek, Weissenburg Cod. Guelf. 91 (4175) (9th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G7 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 208 (c. 800) ~ IMAGES
G8 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 1455 (9th/10th cent.)
G9 Metz, Médiathèque Verlaine (Pontiffroy) 134 (D 12) (8th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G9b Orléans, Médiathèque 191 (168) (11th/12th cent.)
G10 Metz, Médiathèque Verlaine (Pontiffroy) 145 (D 23) (10th cent.)
G11 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 3791 (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G12 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 3832 (11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
G13 Cambridge, Trinity College, B.16.44 (11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
(G13b) Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale 37 (12th cent.)
G13c Cambrai, Médiathèque municipale S07 (715) (12th cent.?)
(G13e) Eton, Eton College Library 97 (Bl.1.6), fols. 182v–183r (12th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
G14 Stuttgart, Württembergische Landesbibliothek, HB.VI.107, fols. 52r–54r ~ IMAGES
G15 Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Plut. XVI 15, fols. 1r–4v (11th cent.)
G16 London, British Library, Add. 15222 (11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
(G17) Salisbury, Cathedral Library 88 (11th cent.)
G17a Hereford, Cathedral Library, O. III. 2 (9th cent.)
G17b Oxford, Bodleian Library, Bodley 391 (11th cent.)
G17c Oxford, Bodleian Library, e. Mus. 31 (3574) (12th cent.)
G17d London, British Library, Cotton Vespasian B.xiii, fols. 66r–67r (12th-13th cent.) (incomplete, related to Vespasian A.xiii)
(H) Rome, Biblioteca Angelica, 1091 (9th/10th cent.)
(H1) Strasbourg ? [no institution or shelfmark given] (8th cent.)
H1 El Escorial, Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo d.1.1 (992)
H2 El Escorial, Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo d.1.2 (976)
(H2) Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1341 (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
H3 Gerona, Arxiu capitular [no shelmark no.] (11th cent.)
(H3) Vienna, Hofbibliothek 411 (10th cent.)
H4 Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, 1872 (P 21) (10th/11th cent.) ~ IMAGES
H5 Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, Toledo XV.16 (1034)
H6 Madrid, Biblioteca Nacional de España, Toledo XV.17 (1095)
H7 Urgel, Arxiu capitular [no shelfmark no.] (10th/11th cent.)
H8 Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médecine, H 406 (E 27) (8th/9th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
H9 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 4886 (11th cent.) ~ Gallica
H10 Erfurt, Universitäts- und Forschungsbibliothek, Biblioteca Amploniana, Q.79 (1387)
H11 Wolfenbüttel, Herzog August Bibliothek, Weissenburg Cod. Guelf. 23.11 Aug. 4° (Heinemann 3275), fols. 66v–72r (14th cent.)
(Ia) Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3852 (11th cent.) ~ Gallica
(Ia2) Rouen, Bibliothèque patrimoniale Villon 702 (E 27) (11th cent.)
(Ib) Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 631 (13th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Ib1 Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale 115 (12th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Ib2 Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale 116 (12th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
Ib3 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 14314 (12th cent.)
Ib4 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3853 (12th cent.) ~ Gallica
(Ic1) Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médecine, H 3 (12th cent.) ~ IMAGES
(Ic2) Montpellier, Bibliothèque de la Faculté de médecine, H 13 (12th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
(Ic3) Venice, Tesoro della Basilica di San Marco, Zanetti 169 (LXIV 3) (?)
Iα Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 9629 (10th cent.) ~ Gallica
Iβ Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 630 (10th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
Iγ Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 12445 (10th cent.) ~ Gallica
Ic Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1340 (13th cent.)
ις Stuttgart, Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Jur Q 146 (11th/12th cent.)
M1 Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Conventi Sopressi, San Marco 604 (10th cent.)
M2 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1349 (11th cent.)
M3 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1339 (11th/12th cent.)
M4 Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana XVIII (12th cent.)
N1 Colmar, Bibliothèque municipale 39 (8th cent.)
N2 Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm 14392 (9th cent.) ~ IMAGES
N3 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, reg. lat. 199 (11th cent.)
O1 Verdun, Bibliothèque municipale 45, fols. 1r–v (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
O2 Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 3848 B (8th/9th cent.) ~ Gallica
P Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Lat. 2147 (c. 780)
Π1 Vienna, Hofbibliothek 16 (8th cent.)
Π2 Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, lat. 84 (Phillips 1743) (9th cent.)
Π3 Chartres, Médiathèque L’Apostrophe 31 (85), fols. 23r–25v (9th cent.)
σ1 Angers, Médiathèque Toussaint 278 (269) (10th cent.) ~ DESCRIPTION
σ2 Bern, Burgerbibliothek 314 (11th cent.)
χ1 Metz, Médiathèque Verlaine (Pontiffroy) 100 (C 25) (12th cent.)
χ2 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 624 (10th cent.)
χ3 Bamberg, Staatsbibliothek, Can. 5 (P.I.12) (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Omitted for not having the Decree:
D6 Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 349 (15)
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, reg. lat. 551 (13th cent.) (gives the title only)
Additional manuscripts:
Albi, Médiathèque Pierre Amalric, RES 38 bis (61) I, ff. 30r–38v (9th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Engelberg, Stiftsbibliothek 52, fols. 52r–54r ~ IMAGES
Salisbury, Cathedral Library 165, fols. 172r–175r (11th cent.)
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale 63, fols. 1r––34r (11th cent.)
Cambridge, University Library, Add. 3576, fols. 102v–105v (12th cent.)
Cortona, Biblioteca Comunale e dell’Accademia Etrusca 74, fols. 8v–11v (13th/14th cent.)
London, British Library, Cotton Vespasian A.xiii II, fols. 93r–v (12th cent.) (incomplete, related to G17d)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 2710 I, fols. 42r–44v (9th cent.) (abbreviated)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 5600 IV, fols. 151r–156r (9th cent.)
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, lat. 16668, fols. 59r–62r (8th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Saint-Omer, Bibliothèque d’Agglomération de Saint-Omer 92, fols. 166r–168r (12th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Saint Gall, Stiftsbibliothek 191, pp. 101–11 (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 582, fols. 154v–155v (10th cent.) ~ IMAGES
Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Vat. lat. 1328, fols. 138r–140r (15th cent.)
Dobschütz, Ernst von, ed. Das Decretum Gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis. Leipzig, J. C. Hinrichs, 1912.
Turner, C. H. “Latin Lists of the Canonical Books: I. The Roman Council under Damasus, A.D. 382.” JTS 1 (1900): 554–60 (edition of chapters 1–3, based on D1, D3, Δ1, and Δ3).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Pearce, Roger. “Decretum Gelasianum.” Tertullian.org. 2nd December 2000.
Schneemelcher, Wilhelm. “The So-Called Decretum Gelasianum.” Pages 38–40 in vol. 1 of New Testament Apocrypha. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Translated by Robert McL. Wilson. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991 (translation of chapter 5 only).
3.2.2 French
Pearce, Roger. “Decretum Gelasianum.” Tertullian.org. 21 June 2007.
3.2.3 German
Schneemelcher, Wilhelm. “Das so genannte Decretum Gelasianum.” Pages 30–33 in Neutestamentliche Apokryphen in deutscher Übersetzung, Bd. 1. Evangelien und Verwandtes. Edited by Edgar Hennecke and Wilhelm Schneemelcher. 5th German edition. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1989 (ET: Pages 38–40 in New Testament Apocrypha. vol. 1: Writings Related to the Apostles, Apocalypses and Related Subjects. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Translated by Robert McL. Wilson. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1991).
3.3 General Works
Amann, É. Review of Dobschütz, Das Decretum Gelasianum, and Chapman, “On the Decretum Gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis.” Revue Biblique 10 (1913): 602–608.
Berardino, Angelo di, ed.. Patrology, Volume IV. With an introduction by Johannes Quasten. Translated by Placid Solari. Westminster, MD: Christian Classics, 1986 (pp. 277–78, with extensive bibliography of editions and studies up through 1977).
Burkitt, F. C. 1913. Review of Dobschütz, Das Decretum Gelasianum. JTS 14.55: 469–71.
Chapman, J. “On the Decretum Gelasianum de libris recipiendis et non recipiendis.” Revue Bénédictine 30 (1913): 187–207 and 315–33.
Howorth, H. H. “The Decretal of Damasus.” JTS 14 (1913): 321–37.
Leclerq, H. “Gelasien (Decret).” Pages 722–47 in Dictionnaire d’archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie. Tome sixième. Paris: Letouzey et Ané, 1924 (provides an introduction to the work and issues, a reprint of Dobschütz’s text, and a comprehensive bibliography of early editions and studies up through 1913).
Massigli, René. 1913. Review of Dobschütz, Das Decretum Gelasianum. Theologische Literaturzeitung 38: cols. 13–16.
Pietri, Charles. Roma christiana: recherches sur l’Église de Rome, son organisation, sa politique, son idéologie de Miltiade à Sixte III (311–440). 2 vols. Bibliothèque des écoles françaises d’Athènes et de Rome 224. Rome: École Française de Rome, 1976.
Reutter, Ursula. Damasus. Bischof von Rom (366–384). STAC 55. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2009.
Rothschild, Clare K. The Muratorian Fragment: Text, Translation, Commentary. STAC 132. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2022 (pp. 9–10).
Schwartz, E. “Zum Decretum Gelasianum.” ZNW 29 (1930): 161–68.