Wow! It has been quite awhile since I posted a "Friday Facts". I don't know about you, but I've missed it. I'm really enjoying looking up all the info that I share on Fridays.
This week I thought I would post a brief description about the Apocrypha. Over the years, I've heard much about these books and never really understood, until recently, what they contained. There is quite a bit of information out there about the Apocrypha. I may share additional information over the next few weeks.
The Apocrypha
The books of the Apocrypha have incorrectly been referred to as "the Lost Books of the Bible". These books, in fact, are not lost. Both Christians and Jews have always known about them.
The name "Apocrypha" was given to certain ancient books which found a place in Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament that is used by Catholics today. Protestants and Jews do not accept them as Scripture. In the sixteenth century they were appended to all the great Bible translations. However, they should never in any sense be regarded as parts of the inspired Word of God.
Why shouldn't we consider them part of the inspired Word of God? For several reasons....
1. Not one of these books is written in the Hebrew language. Hebrew alone was used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament.
2. None of the writers of the Apocrypha claimed to be inspired by God.
3. These books have never been acknowledged by Jews as sacred scriptures. The Jews actually rejected and destroyed the Aprocrypha after the overthrow of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
4. They were not permitted among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the Christian church.
5. It contains statements which only contradict the "canonical" scriptures.
6. It includes doctrines that are in variance with the Bible.
7. The Apocrypha teaches immoral practices including lying and magical incantation.
8. No apocryphal book is referred to in the New Testatment. However, the New Testament refers hundreds of times to the Old Testament.
9. Due to all the reasons noted above, the books of the Apocrypha are only valuable as ancient documents to illustrate the manners, language, opinions and history of the East.
The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of 14 books.
~ Books of the Maccabees
~ Books of Esdras
~ Book of Wisdom
~ Book of Baruch
~ Book of Esther
~ Ecclesiasticus
~ Tobit
~ Judith
Others included are:
~ Bel and the Dragon (addition to Daniel)
~ Daniel and Susanna (addition to Daniel)
~ Additions to Esther
~ Letter of Jeremiah
~ Prayer of Azariah (addition to Daniel)
~ Prayer of Manasseh
~ Psalm 151
~ Sirach
~ Tobit
~ Wisdom of Solomon
The New Testament Apocrypha is very extensive and bears strong evidence of its non-apostolic origin. According to the source I found it is completely unworthy of any regard.
This week I thought I would post a brief description about the Apocrypha. Over the years, I've heard much about these books and never really understood, until recently, what they contained. There is quite a bit of information out there about the Apocrypha. I may share additional information over the next few weeks.
The Apocrypha
The books of the Apocrypha have incorrectly been referred to as "the Lost Books of the Bible". These books, in fact, are not lost. Both Christians and Jews have always known about them.
The name "Apocrypha" was given to certain ancient books which found a place in Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament that is used by Catholics today. Protestants and Jews do not accept them as Scripture. In the sixteenth century they were appended to all the great Bible translations. However, they should never in any sense be regarded as parts of the inspired Word of God.
Why shouldn't we consider them part of the inspired Word of God? For several reasons....
1. Not one of these books is written in the Hebrew language. Hebrew alone was used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament.
2. None of the writers of the Apocrypha claimed to be inspired by God.
3. These books have never been acknowledged by Jews as sacred scriptures. The Jews actually rejected and destroyed the Aprocrypha after the overthrow of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
4. They were not permitted among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the Christian church.
5. It contains statements which only contradict the "canonical" scriptures.
6. It includes doctrines that are in variance with the Bible.
7. The Apocrypha teaches immoral practices including lying and magical incantation.
8. No apocryphal book is referred to in the New Testatment. However, the New Testament refers hundreds of times to the Old Testament.
9. Due to all the reasons noted above, the books of the Apocrypha are only valuable as ancient documents to illustrate the manners, language, opinions and history of the East.
The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of 14 books.
~ Books of the Maccabees
~ Books of Esdras
~ Book of Wisdom
~ Book of Baruch
~ Book of Esther
~ Ecclesiasticus
~ Tobit
~ Judith
Others included are:
~ Bel and the Dragon (addition to Daniel)
~ Daniel and Susanna (addition to Daniel)
~ Additions to Esther
~ Letter of Jeremiah
~ Prayer of Azariah (addition to Daniel)
~ Prayer of Manasseh
~ Psalm 151
~ Sirach
~ Tobit
~ Wisdom of Solomon
The New Testament Apocrypha is very extensive and bears strong evidence of its non-apostolic origin. According to the source I found it is completely unworthy of any regard.
12 Thoughts Shared:
Thanks for sharing that with me! I really appreciate it!
Interesting to read about something I know nothing about! You always pick interesting topics for Friday Facts.
Have a good weekend!
Very interesting, Melanie. I've always heard of the Apocrypha but never knew exactly what it was. Thanks so much for sharing these facts. I look forward to learning more.
Wonderful outline, Melanie! I had actually started to read Tobit one time but put it aside. Thought the Apocrypha might at least be worth the time to read so I could say I had read them rather than just dismissing them without reading them. Truth is, the Bible is infintely more interesting! The book of Tobit is a story of a fictional man and it was just...dull. Thanks for the research and for the insight. I now know more about them than I did... and I still don't want to read them. :)
I did not know any of this other than a few extra book in the catholic bible. I will put this on my list to learn more about it. How did you learn of this?
HI Melanie! Thank you for gathering all that info & posting it! It's good to know the reasons why the apocrypha isn't included in the Bible. Great job girl!! :)
♥
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Hope you have a beautiful weekend! ♥ Hugs!
Very interesting. I enjoy the Friday facts that you share.
Very interesting... Thank you for sharing...
Stop by my blog and pick up some awards...
blessings.
Oh, that is very interesting! I remember reading that Esther is the one book in the Bible that doesn't actually mention God, but the presense of God is throughout the book, so it was to be included in the Bible (also, the days of Purim are still celebrated by Jews, right). Very interesting stuff!
I don't have Psalm 151 in my Catholic Bible. I do have those extra chapters that you mentioned in Daniel, Esther, etc...I just checked my other Catholic Bibl,,no Ps. 151..all the rest of my bible in the house are non Catholic.. That Catholic's call the extra books Deuteroncanonicals but does Aprocrypha also beside it...
I don't know if your going to share my comments, that's ok if you don't, God's will be done, but I do want to share that I appreciate your teaching style where there is not condemntation or judgement thrown towards the Catholic. Just a week ago today, I was sent some messages from another sister in the Lord, where she pretty much told me that I had the mark of the beast upon me, and the antichrist was going to come out of the Catholic Church. It's not the first time I've heard this, been screamed at about it, and telling me to 'leave the harlot church'. So thank you for sharing in love, and even though your not called to believe it is inspired by God, there are some blessings to be found in these books.
In Christ's love and service
Angela
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