Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Literally, things spoken against; specifically, those books of the New Testament whose inspiration was not universally acknowledged by the early church, although they were ultimately admitted into the canon.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun plural (Eccl.) Certain books of the New Testament which were for a time not universally received, but which are now considered canonical. These are the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistles of James and Jude, the second Epistle of Peter, the second and third Epistles of John, and the Revelation. The undisputed books are called the
Homologoumena .
Etymologies
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Examples
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The Epistle of Jude is one of the so-called antilegomena; but, although its canonicity has been questioned in several Churches, its genuineness has never been denied.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent 1840-1916 1913
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Eusebius classes it among the antilegomena, or works having locally quasi-canonical authority.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913
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The historian Eusebius attests the widespread doubts in his time; he classes them as antilegomena, or disputed writings, and, like Athanasius, places them in a class intermediate between the books received by all and the apocrypha.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913
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Eusebius of Caesarea (340), while personally accepting II Peter as authentic and canonical, nevertheless classes it among the disputed works (antilegomena), at the same time affirming that it was known by most Christians and studied by a large number with the other Scriptures.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 11: New Mexico-Philip 1840-1916 1913
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Of the antilegomena he pledges himself to record when any ancient writer _employs_ any book belonging to their class ([Greek: tines hopoiais kechrêntai]); but as regards the undisputed Canonical books he only professes to mention them, when such a writer has something to _tell about them_ ([Greek: tina _peri_ tôn endiathêkôn eirêtai]).
Essays on the work entitled "Supernatural Religion" Joseph Barber Lightfoot 1858
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With regard to the main body of the writings included in our New Testament there was absolutely no question; but there existed a margin of _antilegomena_ or disputed books, about which differences of opinion existed, or had existed.
Essays on the work entitled "Supernatural Religion" Joseph Barber Lightfoot 1858
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_controverted_ ([Greek: antilegomena]), about which there has always been that difference of opinion which no scholar overlooks, however he may decide for himself after balance of evidence.
A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II (of II) Augustus De Morgan 1838
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VI, xiv, 1), places it almost on an equality with the antilegomena or better class of disputed writings; Jerome rejects it flatly.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913
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In the Eastern Church Eusebius of Cæsarea (260-340) placed Jude among the antilegomena or the "disputed books, which are nevertheless known and accepted by the greater number" (Hist.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 8: Infamy-Lapparent 1840-1916 1913
whichbe commented on the word antilegomena
Books of the New Testament not part of early Christian Bible. (from Phrontistery)
May 25, 2008