Apostolic Constitutions
Preserved but no longer current.
A doctrinal code relating to the Church, the duties of Christians, etc., contained in eight books of doubtful date, possibly as early as the 3rd century, but certainly later than the time of the Apostles, to whom at one time they were attributed.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Apostolic Constitutions” mean?
A doctrinal code relating to the Church, the duties of Christians, etc., contained in eight books of doubtful date, possibly as early as the 3rd century, but certainly later than the time of the Apostles, to whom at one time they were attributed.
Is “Apostolic Constitutions” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.