Why the Apocrypha Was Removed from Protestant Bibles and the Role of Politics in Biblical Canonization

The King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, which was published in 1611, included an inter-testamental section known as the Apocrypha. However, this inclusion did not last long. Eventually, this section was removed from later editions of the Bible. This article explores the reasons behind the inclusion and subsequent exclusion of the Apocrypha from Protestant Bibles, focusing on the role of politics and religious conflicts rather than divine intervention.

The Inclusion of the Apocrypha in the KJV

The KJV, being a Protestant translation, did not originally exclude the Apocrypha. In fact, the 1611 edition included these books, situated between the Old and New Testaments. The decision to include the Apocrypha in the KJV was influenced by the use of the Vulgate, a Latin translation that included these texts. At the time, scholars did not have access to the original Hebrew manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, which excludes the Apocrypha. Hence, the Apocrypha, considered a collection of Jewish and Christian writings, were deemed a valuable part of the biblical canon.

The Role of Politics and Religious Conflicts

However, the inclusion of the Apocrypha soon became a subject of controversy. Protestant sources, particularly English Anglican ministers, raised objections to the presence of these books within the Protestant canon. The Bible, being a central religious text, became a battleground for political and religious disputes. The exclusion of the Apocrypha from subsequent editions of the Bible was a clear indication of the political and religious tensions between Protestant and Catholic sources. Politics and not divine intervention were at the heart of this change.

The Apocrypha: Not Divine Scripture

Despite the inclusion in the early KJV, the Apocrypha was not considered divine Scripture by any Christian tradition. This can be attributed to several factors. For instance, early Jewish scholars, such as Flavius Josephus and Philo, explicitly excluded the Apocrypha from their lists of sacred texts. Furthermore, these books were neither quoted nor alluded to by Jesus Christ or the apostles. The writings in the Apocrypha contain historical, geographical, and chronological errors, and several of them teach doctrines that contradict the core teachings of Christianity, such as the idea that giving money can forgive sins (as stated in Tobit 4:11 and Tobit 12:9).

The Historical Context of the Apocrypha

The presence of the Apocrypha in the KJV can be partially explained by the historical context of the phenomenon. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered starting in the mid-20th century, provided evidence of the ancientness of the Apocryphal texts. Scholars now recognize that these texts were part of the religious literature of the Essene community and were not excluded from the Jewish canon. However, the exclusion of the Apocrypha by Jewish scholars meeting at the Council of Jamnia and by most early Church Fathers further underscores its lack of divine or scriptural status.

Conclusion: The Significance of Biblical Canonization

The decision to include or exclude the Apocrypha from the Bible is a complex process influenced by socio-political and religious factors. The removal of the Apocrypha from Protestant Bibles, particularly the KJV, was not a divine decision but a reflection of the evolving religious and political landscape of the period. Understanding this context provides valuable insights into the canonization process and the significance of the Bible in different religious traditions.