I was raised in a Baptist family, accepted Christ at an early age, grew up with what I consider a hell, fire, and brimstone pastor, and never heard of the Apocrapha until I was at least a late teen, or perhaps it was even later than that and I was a young adult. I can’t put an exact date on it but it was farther back in my years than closer to present at least! I do remember, however, that once I did learn about the existence of the Apocrapha that every time I asked what it was, the answer was almost whispered to me, as if it was a taboo subject. I’m a curious sort and so I kept poking around during those formative years and asking, but still getting the same type of response. I finally quit asking questions. I have since seen many Bibles that included the Apocrapha, and I’ve seen it in separate editions all by itself at the bookstore and library, but I’ve never read it. Perhaps in the recesses of my mind where the hell, fire, and brimstone is deeply rooted there is a fear that I may burn in hell if I attempt it. Of course, I also always have the verse of scripture in my mind about silly women being taken advantage of by outside influences and not being able to discern what is right, and I do not want to be that woman. In any case, it has always been a back of the mind topic that has lurked quietly but occasionally will pop back up into thoughts and discussions.
I recently came across in my studies the fact that Miles Coverdale was the first to separate the Apocrypha into its own section between the Old and New Testaments, and the later Protestant Bibles continued this tradition, if they included the Apocrypha at all in their translations. This has once again set my curious mind to work. Questions range from whether Coverdale did this because he was a Catholic priest but had Protestant leanings, or were there “secret” councils that met and discussed which books were truly inspired, or was it just his own wants and likes that ordered his translation of the Bible since he wasn’t doing it under any specific authorization or permission.
I’ve learned most of our commenters, if not all, are much more biblically intelligent than I so it seemed wise to come to you for answers. Have you read the Apocrypha? Does your Bible that you use on a daily basis include it, or do you have a separate volume of it, or none at all at your disposal? What are your thoughts regarding how the books became separated and are considered uninspired? Are they at least worthy historical reading? I’m sure some readers may have other questions as well. If you have favorite resources on the Apocrypha, please include them in your responses.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I read parts of it a while back. Don’t be afraid of it. There’s some useful historical information and its pretty clearly not up to canonical standards in others. Pick up a copy and read through some if it one day when you have some free time.
My understanding is the Apocrypha is useful for historical information, but especially in the New Testament, the stories on the apostles and the epistles acts are made up making them of little value. The books are not considered inspired as the canons are.
The Old Testament was considered authoritative by Christ and no Apocrypha books were included.
Debbie Kaufmans last blog post..Conservative Or Liberal? Words That Can Praise Or Destroy
Very much like you said, when I first heard of the apocrypha no one had heard of it or if they had, they hadn’t read it. Me being curious/nosy decided to read it. I enjoyed Tobit and can see some wonderful lessons in it. The Maccabees give some History and make for an interesting read. They also help understand Daniel’s Prophecies. Susanna is a story that introduces a young Daniel. Bel and the Dragon is another story from Daniel that talks of false gods. Those were my favorites. Men smarter than me said it shouldn’t be in the bible so I’m staying out of that debate ,but i do think anyone who seriously wants to study the bible and are strong in their beliefs should read it. John MacArthur actually did use 1 st Maccabees in a sermon on the abomination of desolation. I’ll include a couple of links to some free pdf’s for you to check out. I hope I was some help to you. Good Luck and God bless.
http://www.revelationofjohn.com/Writings.aspx
http://www.davince.com/content/blogcategory/14/33/
Sallie,
Good comments and questions. Contrary to what many say, the Apocryphal books are not the lost, hidden, or suppressed books of the Bible. They are the rejected books of the Bible.
Some ancient books (not necessarily talking about Apocryphal books here) were rejected because they were heretical. Some because they were inaccurate or falsely claimed an author who had not written it. Some were good books, they just were not divinely and unerringly inspired like the 66 books of the Bible. We have many good Christian books today, but none that should be added to the Bible. They had the same thing 2,000 years ago.
Baptists and Evangelicals have never accepted the Apocryphal books as being on the same level as Scripture.
The Apocryphal books are fine to read and some contain interesting history, etc. Just don’t put them on the same level as divinely inspired Scripture.
David R. Brumbelow
Thanks for the comments and I look forward to many more. I have always looked at them as being historical in reading, from what few bits I had gathered about them. Then, I read their were old testament ones and new testament ones (which you spoke of I believe Debbie and David as being falsified) so my mind continues to wander the gammut of thoughts relating to their relation to the Bible and when the books, or passages I should say, were written. I knew I could get some good information here
In Christ,
Sallie
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Dear Sallie,
The AV1611 Translators also translated it and put a note by it, saying it was not inspired by God.
I have read it. It is a collection of mythological tales, quite different from what we have in the Bible.
Baptists are not protestants. Read ”THE TRAIL OF BLOOD” by
JM CARROLL. IT’S ONLINE.
I’ve only given these a cursory read, but have never given these books much consideration. I think Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology makes some good comments about why these, and other books, aren’t included in the canon.
Dr. Foltz — I have read that before
I have also read other articles, and records of Baptists before the reformation (though, it’s been a while and I’d have to look things up so please don’t ask me to quote anything).
I only said Protestant translations meaning as opposed to Roman Catholic. Were there ever any Baptist translations of the Bible? I’m reading about Bible translations now but don’t recall, although I’m still in the early translations and not all the recent ones of the last century.
Sallies last blog post..High School Home School Question…
Sallie: Baptists are protestants.
Bill, I’ve heard of the debate for both sides of why Baptist are or aren’t. I’ve found it wise, since I haven’t got a clue really on which side of the coin is correct, to just stay out of that debate
God bless,
Sallie
“What are your thoughts regarding how the books became separated and are considered uninspired?”
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The main emphasis I have received for my similar questions is that the Apocrypha contradicts the rest of the Bible. However, many of the examples were given in such a way that demonstrated to me that not much effort had been put into even attempting to reconcile the areas which seemed to contradict each other. Furthermore, I notice that our own canon seems to contradict itself, but we typically exert much energy to reconcile such apparent contradictions.
I’ve always had a hunch that if we Protestants put the same kind of apologetic energy into exploring all the ways the apparent contradictions between non-Apocryphal teachings and the Apocryphal writings, we might be just as successful as we are in reconciling our own canonical writings.
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The books were never part of the Canon. Some individual early church leaders used them and considered them fairly highly. It wasn’t until the Council of Trent in 1500s that the Roman Catholic Church added the Apocrypha. Other Orthodox churches use them too.
A good academic book is “The Canon of Scripture” by F.F. Bruce