Michael Brooks
The word apocrypha is derived from the Greek apokruphos, meaning hidden. The Apocrypha refers to a collection of writings rejected by the churches of the Reformation due to their absence from the Hebrew Bible. While the Apocrypha is considered non-canonical by Protestants, various books are accepted by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches, and the Church of the East as deuterocanonical. The Catholic Old Testament (OT) canon includes books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, and Sirach, which are absent from the Protestant OT and referred to as the `Apocrypha` by Protestants. The Apocrypha is not considered an independent, infallible source of doctrine by Protestants, but it is cited by Catholics to support accepted doctrines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Etymology of Apocrypha | Medieval Latin adjective apocryphus (secret, or non-canonical) from the Greek adjective ἀπόκρυφος, apokryphos, (private) from the verb ἀποκρύπτειν, apokryptein (to hide away) |
| Catholic Canon | Includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, I and II Maccabees, and sections of Esther and Daniel |
| Deuterocanonical | Term used by Catholics for the Apocrypha |
| Recognition | Recognized by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches, and the Church of the East |
| Religious Value | Retain some religious value |
| Ecumenical Council of Trent | Declared the Apocrypha as part of the canon in 1546 |
| Coptic, Greek, and Russian Orthodox Churches | Recognize the Apocrypha as inspired by God |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics refer to the Apocrypha as deuterocanonical
- The Apocrypha is a collection of writings rejected by the churches of the Reformation
- The Apocrypha is made up of books that are part of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox canons
- The Apocrypha is derived from the Greek word apokruphos, meaning hidden
- The Apocrypha is not part of the Hebrew Bible
Catholics refer to the Apocrypha as deuterocanonical
The word 'apocrypha' is derived from the Greek word 'apokruphos', which means hidden. The Apocrypha is a collection of writings that were rejected by the churches of the Reformation due to their absence from the Hebrew Bible, and they are considered to be of less authority than sacred Scripture. Protestants who were raised Roman Catholic may consider the Apocrypha to be uninspired and supporting erroneous Roman Catholic dogma.
However, the Apocrypha is not rejected by all Christian denominations. The Catholic Church, the Coptic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Church of the East accept these writings as inspired by God and include them in their canons. These writings are referred to by Catholics as 'deuterocanonical', a term rejected by Protestants who prefer to use the term apocryphal for these writings. The Catholic Church officially declared these books to be part of the canon in 1546, and they include the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and I and II Maccabees, as well as sections of Esther and Daniel.
The Apocrypha fills in the four hundred-year gap between the Old and New Testaments, and while they are not considered inspired sources of doctrine, they were cited by figures such as Calvin and Luther in support of accepted doctrines. The Apocrypha also provides valuable historical statements and insights into the ethical and religious notions of the time they was composed.
In conclusion, while the Apocrypha is considered non-canonical by some Christian denominations, Catholics and Orthodox Christians include these writings in their canons and refer to them as deuterocanonical.
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The Apocrypha is a collection of writings rejected by the churches of the Reformation
The Apocrypha is a collection of books written in the four centuries between the Old and New Testaments. The word 'apocrypha' means 'hidden away'. In the esteemed sense, these writings were 'hidden or withdrawn from common use' as they were deemed to contain profound knowledge that was too mysterious to be communicated to the uninitiated. In the pejorative sense, these writings are hidden because they are deemed theologically suspicious and heretical.
The Apocrypha is considered by Protestants to be a collection of writings that do not belong in the Bible. The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of eleven or twelve books, depending on how they are divided, that the Roman Catholic Church adds to the Old Testament. Protestants reject these books as Holy Scripture because they contain doctrines and practices that are contrary to what Scripture teaches. For example, the Apocrypha contains verses that support the Roman Catholic doctrine of justification by human works and not faith alone.
However, it is important to note that the status of the Apocrypha has been a subject of disagreement between Catholics and Protestants that predates the Reformation. While Catholics term these writings 'deuterocanonical' (second canon), Protestants prefer to use the term 'apocryphal' for disputed writings. During the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, the canonical validity of the intertestamental books was challenged, and fourteen books were classed as the Apocrypha in 80-book Protestant Bibles.
Despite the rejection of the Apocrypha by Protestants, it is worth noting that figures such as Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers have found the collection useful historically, theologically, and spiritually. The Apocrypha provides valuable insights into first-century Judaism, including the messianic fervor that partially led to Jesus's passion. Additionally, Anabaptists use the Luther Bible, which contains the intertestamental books, and hold the texts regarding the martyrdoms under Antiochus IV in high esteem.
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The Apocrypha is made up of books that are part of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox canons
The Apocrypha is a collection of ancient books believed to have been written between 200 BC and 100 AD. The term, derived from the Greek word "apokruphos", means "hidden". The Apocrypha is considered part of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox canons, though the specific books included vary between these religious traditions.
Catholics refer to the books of the Apocrypha as deuterocanonical, meaning "second canon". The Catholic Church includes seven deuterocanonical books in its Old Testament, for a total of 46 (or sometimes 47) books. These books include Tobit, Judith, Baruch, Sirach, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, and additions to Esther, Daniel, and Baruch.
Eastern Orthodox Christians also include deuterocanonical books in their canon, but they recognise four additional books that are not accepted by the Catholic Church: Psalm 151, the Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Maccabees, and 1 Esdras. The Eastern Orthodox canon includes 49 books in its Old Testament.
Oriental Orthodox Churches also consider the Apocrypha as canonical, including books such as 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, and the Prayer of Manasseh.
Protestants, on the other hand, generally reject the Apocrypha as non-canonical, though they may still be considered useful for instruction. The Protestant reformer Martin Luther excluded the deuterocanonical books from his Old Testament, but included most of them in a separate section of his Bible, terming them "Apocrypha".
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The Apocrypha is derived from the Greek word apokruphos, meaning hidden
The word "apocrypha" has undergone a significant evolution in its meaning over the centuries. Derived from the Greek word "apokruphos", meaning "hidden", it originally referred to texts read in private rather than in public church settings. The term "apocrypha" is used to describe biblical or related writings that do not form part of the accepted canon of scripture. These writings are often of doubtful authorship or authenticity and are considered non-canonical.
In its ancient Christian usage, the term "apocrypha" denoted writings that were kept private and not publicly disclosed, implying a sense of secrecy or exclusivity. Over time, the meaning evolved, and "apocrypha" took on a more negative connotation, suggesting that these writings were suspicious, heretical, or of questionable value to the church. This shift in meaning was influenced by the Protestant interpretation of the usefulness of non-canonical texts.
The Apocrypha includes various books that are accepted by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches, and the Church of the East as deuterocanonical. Deuterocanonical refers to writings that are "added later" to the canon. The Catholic Church officially recognised these deuterocanonical books as part of the canon during the Council of Trent in 1546. This decision was made in response to the Protestant Reformers' rejection of certain parts of the canon that were not included in the Hebrew Bible.
Protestants have historically rejected the use of the term "deuterocanonical" for these writings, favouring the term "apocryphal" instead. They argue that the books contain doctrinal errors and should not be considered infallible sources of doctrine. However, it is important to note that while the Apocrypha may contain portions that are considered unorthodox or erroneous, they can still communicate truths that align with God's word.
The Apocrypha fills in the four hundred-year gap between the Old and New Testaments, providing valuable historical and cultural context for understanding the Bible. While the term "apocrypha" has taken on a predominantly negative connotation, the writings themselves are not inherently rejected or dismissed by all Christians. They are recognised as edifying Christian works that contribute to a deeper understanding of religious teachings and history.
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The Apocrypha is not part of the Hebrew Bible
The Apocrypha is a group of Jewish books, written between the Old and New Testaments (400 BC-AD 50). They are also referred to as "intertestamental" by religious groups who do not consider Hellenistic Judaism as belonging to either Jewish or Christian testaments. The Apocrypha is not part of the Hebrew Bible, and there are several reasons for this.
Firstly, the Apocrypha is not considered sacred by Jews, who believe in the exclusive canonization of the 24 books in the Hebrew Bible. The Jewish consensus, as indicated by the historian Josephus, is that while the Apocrypha may contain valuable historical content, it does not belong in the same category as the Old Testament texts. Rabbinic literature from the first few centuries also supports this distinction.
Secondly, the Apocrypha is not included in the Jewish canon. No early or recent Jewish canon includes these texts, and Jesus and his apostles never quote from them, even though they quote from the Old Testament numerous times. This absence of references suggests that they considered the Old Testament canon closed and did not include the Apocrypha.
Thirdly, the Apocrypha is not considered divinely inspired. Jerome, for example, noted that the Septuagint differed from the Hebrew Bible and felt that the Apocrypha was not divinely inspired due to doctrinal differences. The authors of the Apocrypha themselves acknowledge that they are not prophets and do not speak with divine authority like the Old Testament authors.
Finally, some of the teachings and stories in the Apocrypha are deemed to contradict Scripture and/or Jewish thought and values. For these reasons, the Apocrypha is not included in the Hebrew Bible.
It is worth noting, however, that various religious groups have different views on the Apocrypha. While Protestants generally reject it, considering it to contain errors, the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches, and the Church of the East accept it as deuterocanonical.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholics use the word Apocrypha to refer to books that are not included in the Bible but are still considered to be of religious value.
The word Apocrypha comes from the Medieval Latin adjective "apocryphus", which means "secret" or "non-canonical". It is derived from the Greek adjective "apokryphos", which means "private".
Catholics use the word Apocrypha to refer to books that are not included in the Bible but are still considered to have religious value. These books are often called deuterocanonical by Catholics and are included in the Catholic canon.
Catholics use the word Apocrypha to refer to books that are not included in the Bible but are still considered to be of religious value. These books include the Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and I and II Maccabees, as well as sections of Esther and Daniel.
