At the end of the second century, Irenaeus of Lyon wrote that those who had apostatized from Christianity had “an unspeakable number of apocryphal and spurious writings, ” including gospels that“ they themselves have forged, to bewilder the minds of foolish men. ”
Teise sajandi lõpus kirjutas Irenaeus Lyonist, et kristlusest taganenutel on ” loendamatu hulk salajasi võltsitud kirjatöid ”, sealhulgas evangeeliumid, mille ” nad ise on valmis sepitsenud, et rumalate inimeste meeltesse segadust külvata ”.