The Apocrypha: What You Need to Know About These Biblical Books

The term Apocrypha refers to a collection of books and other materials written by Jews during the period between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. This era is often referred to as the Second Temple Period, when Jews were engaged in worshiping in a rebuilt Temple.

These books are not synonymous with the Apocrypha being a single book. Instead, they are a diverse collection that includes additions to existing biblical books and complete works. Not all early Christians found these additions to be authoritative, which led to different denominations having different opinions about their inclusion in the Bible.

Books of the Apocrypha

Some key books included in the Apocrypha are:

The Books of Maccabees Tobit Sirach (also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sira) Susannah The Story of Bel and the Dragon

Early Christian Inclusion

Out of the numerous books written during this period, a select few were eventually adopted and included in the Roman Catholic Bible. These additions can be found in the Old Testament, often set aside in most editions. For example, 1 and 2 Maccabees are separate additions to the text, while parts of Daniel and Esther are expanded with additional chapters.

Catholic Perspective

Catholics refer to these books as Deuterocanonical Literature, which essentially means "second authoritative list of Bible books." This designation distinguishes them from the protocanonical books that were part of the initial list of authoritative texts accepted by the early Church.

Other Christian Denominations

Eastern Orthodox Christians and the Ethiopian Orthodox possess even more apocryphal texts. However, all major Christian groups agree on the New Testament, which contains 27 books. Protestants, however, are divided on the inclusion of the Apocrypha because:

None of the Apocryphal books are directly quoted by Jesus or New Testament writers. Some of the content in these books seems to contradict the rest of Scripture. Some parts of the Apocrypha do not appear to attribute divine inspiration.

Historical Context

To provide a richer historical context, here is a snapshot of the table of contents of the 1611 King James Bible. Notice that the additional material intended for Deuterocanonical books is clearly marked, helping readers to identify the differences between editions. The added material for Daniel, for example, is titled "The Idol Bel and the Dragon," setting it apart from the rest of the book.

Conclusion

The Apocrypha represents an interesting and often misunderstood aspect of the Bible that varies between different Christian denominations. Understanding the historical context and denominational differences can add depth to one's appreciation of this rich religious text.