The Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical Books

Introduction The Old Testament Scriptures were written in the Hebrew language (except for a few sections, which were written in Aramaic). As the Greek language and culture spread due to the conquests of Alexander the Great, the need arose for a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. So the Hebrew Bible was translated into the Greek language resulting in an authoritative Greek version of the Old Testament. This Greek version of the Old Testament is commonly called the Septuagint. The Septuagint contained some writings which were not found in the Hebrew Bible. These writings were interspersed among the Old Testament books. These additional writings are generally referred to as "the Apocrypha". In this translation, the word apocrypha is used to designate the following writings: Tobit, Judith, Esther (the Greek version), Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, Bel and the Snake, First Maccabees, and Second Maccabees. The term apocrypha comes from the Greek language and means "things that are hidden". Over the centuries, the term apocrypha has been used in two distinct ways. Those who viewed these writings as Holy Scripture considered these writings to have been "hidden" in the sense that the writings were reserved for highly educated believers. However, others believed these writings deserved to be hidden because of secondary, questionable, or heretical content. So the term came to be used in both an honorable and a derogatory sense. During the time of the reformation, Martin Luther's German translation of the Bible contained these writings in an appendix located at the end of the Old Testament. Luther gave them the title "Apocrypha" and wrote that these writings are "books which are not held equal to the Holy Scriptures but yet are profitable and good to read." Afterward, most Protestant Bible translations (including the King James version) followed Luther by separating these books from the rest of Holy Scripture and giving them the designation "Apocrypha". Even today Protestants do not consider these books to be part of the canon of Holy Scripture. On April 8, 1546 at the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church officially declared the Apocrypha to be inspired, authoritative, and equal with the books of the Old Testament. At this council, the books of the Apocrypha were given the designation "Deuterocanonical". This designation indicates that these books are part of the canon of Holy Scripture and that their canonical status was decided at a later date than the other Old Testament books, which are called protocanonical. Despite the two different opinions on the degree of authority that should be given to these books, most Christians agree that these books are valuable. Because these books were written in the intertestamental period, they provide helpful information regarding the life and thought of the Jewish people during an important period of Jewish history. These books offer insight into Jewish history, beliefs, and religious practices immediately prior to the birth of Jesus. People who read them will be better able to understand the political, cultural, ethical, and religious background of Jesus' contemporaries. Also, these books are valuable because they emphasize the fact that God protects and guides his chosen people, and they encourage God's people to follow his teachings and trust his promises. Tobit Judith Greek Esther (the translation of the entire Greek text of Esther) Wisdom Sirach Baruch The Letter of Jeremiah The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men Susanna Bel and the Snake 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees The Prayer of Mannasseh