A post shared on X claims that no Christian considered the deuterocanonical books scripture until the Council of Trent.

He really doesn’t know they were considered historical writing and never considered canon until Trent? My bible has maps in the back. That doesn’t mean the publisher thinks they’re inspired. pic.twitter.com/65b6EEzM7O

— 5 Solas (@5Solas2) March 18, 2025

Verdict: False

These writings were considered scripture by several Christians before the Council of Trent, including by regional councils in Rome and Hippo in the 4th century and a council in Florence in the 15th century.

Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming that the so-called “Apocrpyha” of the Old Testament, such as the Books of Tobit, 1st and 2nd Maccabees, Sirach, Wisdom, Judith and Baruch were not considered “canon” or scripture until the Council of Trent.

“He really doesn’t know they were considered historical writing and never considered canon until Trent? My bible has maps in the back. That doesn’t mean the publisher thinks they’re inspired,” one user wrote.

This claim is false. There were several regional councils, such as the Council of Rome in 382 AD, that considered all seven of these books Scripture, according to Catholic Answers. The Council of Florence, which was attended by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and the Coptic Church between 1431-1445, also lists the deuterocanonical books as scripture.

“Five books of Moses, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; Joshua, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, two of Paralipomenon, Esdras, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, Job, Psalms of David, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch, Ezechiel, Daniel; the twelve minor prophets, namely Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi; two books of the Maccabees,” reads the Council of Florence’s Old Testament list. (Emphasis added by Check Your Fact.)

St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most important theologians in Christian history, considered all seven deuterocanonical books, Scripture, specifically in his book “On Christian Doctrine.” “He was the first major figure in the Church to set forth a list which included all of the disputed Old Testament books without making any distinction between the fully canonical Hebrew books and the lesser books derived from the Septuagint,” according to Bible Researcher.

Fr. Matthew Schneider, a Catholic priest, also pointed to these regional councils and the Council of Florence to debunk the notion that no Christian considered the deuterocanonical books as scripture until the Council of Trent. (RELATED: Is Elon Musk Paying The Salaries Of The Rescued Astronauts For A ‘Full Year?’)

Are big Protestant posters really so ignorant?

Before Trent, the 73-book canon was confirmed:
1⃣ 382 Council of Rome, under Pope Damasus
2⃣ 393 Council of Hippo
3⃣ 397 Council of Carthage
4⃣ 1442 Ecumenical Council of Florence

Summary: https://t.co/AZeQ4tLcnj https://t.co/paLwR4C56j

— Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC (@FrMatthewLC) March 20, 2025

“Are big Protestant posters really so ignorant? Before Trent, the 73-book canon was confirmed: 1⃣ 382 Council of Rome, under Pope Damasus 2⃣ 393 Council of Hippo 3⃣ 397 Council of Carthage 4⃣ 1442 Ecumenical Council of Florence,” Schneider tweeted.

Some early Church Fathers, such as St. Athanasius, did not list all seven books as scripture, but did include at least one book. For example, St. Athanasius listed Baruch as Scripture in his 39th Festival Letter, writing, “Then Isaiah, one book, then Jeremiah with Baruch, Lamentations, and the epistle, one book; afterwards, Ezekiel and Daniel, each one book. Thus far constitutes the Old Testament.” (emphasis added by Check Your Fact).

The Council of Laodicea, which took place in 363 AD, also lists Baruch as Scripture. The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 AD cites Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) as “divinely inspired Scripture,” according to Philip Schaff, a Protestant theologian and translator.

“Ecclesiasticus, xxxii., 19—”Do nothing without advice” (sine consilio nihil facias):  The deutero-canonical book of Ecclesiasticus is here by an Ecumenical Council styled “divinely-inspired Scripture,” reads Schaff’s footnote.

The 16th century Council of Trent was “he first infallible conciliar listing of each individual book,” according to Catholic Answers. It was not, however, the first time the deuterocanonical books were considered Scripture by Christians. We rate this claim false.