Aesop, Fables in the early church

Texts outside the 66 books of the Protestant Bible. A bracket shows which other churches include a book in their Old Testament canon: RC = Roman Catholic, EO = Eastern Orthodox, ETH = Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo.

Fables ascribed to Aesop.

12 passages cite it, in date order.

PassageCitesKindDate
Against Heresies 2.11.1 · Irenaeus of LyonsPerry 133allusion, high confidenceca. 180–190
Against the Valentinians 12 · Tertullian—allusion, high confidenceca. 206–208
Against Marcion 4.23 · Tertullian—allusion, medium confidence207/208 (third edition, completed later)
Preparation for the Gospel 10.4.27 · Eusebius of Caesareajackdawallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Letters 188, 189 · Basil of Caesarea—allusion, high confidenceca. 357–378
Letter 334 · Basil of Caesareacraballusion, medium confidenceca. 357–378
Letter 29.7 · Jerome—allusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Letter 79.3 · Jerome—allusion, medium confidenceca. 370–419
Letter 108.15 · Jerome—allusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 41.1.3 · Epiphanius of Salamis—allusion, high confidence374-377
Catechetical Oration 21 · Gregory of Nyssa—allusion, high confidenceca. 385–390
Against Lying 28 · Augustine of Hippo—allusion, medium confidenceca. 420