Examples of Allusions to the Apocrypha in the Apostolic Fathers

Source: 

Edmon L. Gallagher, Translation of the Seventy: History, Reception, and Contemporary Use of the Septuagint (Abilene, Tex.: Abilene Christian University Press, 2021), 76-77

 

1 Clement 3.4
Instead, all follow the lusts of their evil heart, inasmuch as they have assumed that attitude of unrighteous and ungodly jealousy through which, in fact, death entered into the world.	ζηλον . . . δι’ ου και θανατος εισηλθεν εις τον κοσμον.
Wisdom 2:24
But through the devil’s envy death entered the world	φθονω δε διαβολου θανατος εισηλθεν εις τον κοσμον.
1 Clement 27.5
Who will say to him, “What have you done?” Or who will resist the might of his strength?	τις ερει αυτω τι εποιησας ή τις αντιστησεται τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου
Wisdom 12:12
For who will say, “Who have you done?” or will resist your judgment?	τι γαρ ερει τι εποιησας; η τις αντιστησεται τω κριματι σου;
1 Clement 55.3-6 Many women, being strengthened by the grace of God, have performed many manly deeds. The blessed Judith, when the city was under siege, asked the elders to permit her to go to the enemy’s camp. So she exposed herself to peril and went out for love of her country and of her besieged people, and the Lord delivered Holophernes into the hand of a woman. To no less danger did Esther, who was perfect in faith, expose herself.

 

The continuation of the passage incorporates elements from the deuteron-canonical additions to Esther.

 

Epistle of Barnabas 19:8 (cf. Didache 4.5)
Do not be someone who stretches out the hands to receive, but withdraws them when it comes to giving.	μη γινου προς μεν το λαβειν εκτεινων τας χειρας, προς δε το δουναι συσπων.
Sirach 4:36
Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive and closed when time to give.	μη εστω η χειρ σου εκτεταμενη εις το λαβειν και εν τω αποδιδοναι συνεσταλμενη.
Epistle of Barnabas 6.7
For the prophet says concerning Israel: “Woe to their soul, for they have plotted an evil plot against themselves by saying, ‘Let us bind the righteous one, because he is troublesome to us.’”	ἐν σαρκὶ οὖν αὐτοῦ μέλλοντος φανεροῦσθαι καὶ πάσχειν, προεφανερώθη· τὸ πάθος. λέγει γὰρ ὁ προφήτης ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ· Οὐαὶ τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, ὅτι βεβούλευνται βουλὴν πονηρὰν καθʼ ἑαυτῶν, εἰπόντες· Δήσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστίν.
Isaiah 3:9-10
Woe to their soul! Because they have given evil counsel against themselves, saying, “Let us bind the just, for he is a nuisance to us.” Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their works.	οὐαὶ τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτῶν, διότι βεβούλευνται βουλὴν πονηρὰν καθʼ ἑαυτῶν εἰπόντες Δήσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστιν, τοίνυν τὰ γενήματα τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν φάγονται.
Wisdom 2:12
Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions.	ἐνεδρεύσωμεν τὸν δίκαιον, ὅτι δύσχρηστος ἡμῖν ἐστιν† καὶ ἐναντιοῦται τοῖς ἔργοις ἡμῶν καὶ ὀνειδίζει ἡμῖν ἁμαρτήματα νόμου† καὶ ἐπιφημίζει ἡμῖν ἁμαρτήματα παιδείας ἡμῶν