What is the Apocrypha and Should It Be in the Bible?

A place to begin

The place of the Apocrypha has long been discussed among Christians. The term commonly names ancient writings that many Protestant Bibles distinguish from their Old Testament canon, while Catholic and Orthodox traditions receive several of these books as Scripture. The disagreement concerns which books belong to the canon; it should not erase the care with which each tradition reads them.

During the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the decision was made to exclude the Apocrypha from the Protestant Bible, resulting in a total of 66 books within its canon. This choice was largely motivated by concerns regarding the authenticity and authority of these additional texts. Martin Luther, a key figure in the Reformation, described the Apocrypha as books that, while useful and good to read, did not hold the same weight as the Sacred Scriptures.

In contrast, the Catholic Bible includes 73 books, incorporating the deuterocanonical books that are absent from the Protestant canon. These texts, such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, as well as additions to Esther and Daniel, were traditionally accepted by the early Christian church and were part of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures widely used in the early Christian community. The Council of Trent reaffirmed the inclusion of these deuterocanonical books in the Catholic Bible in response to the Protestant Reformation.

Eastern Orthodox Bibles generally include Old Testament books beyond the Protestant and Catholic collections, such as 3 Maccabees and Psalm 151. Lists and arrangements vary among Orthodox traditions and editions, so one fixed total does not describe every Orthodox Bible.

The Coptic Orthodox Church also receives deuterocanonical writings. Its official Bible introduction describes a collection of 73 books. This should be distinguished from the broader Ethiopian Orthodox tradition rather than assigning the Coptic Church a total of 84 books.

Reading with care

The question of whether the Apocrypha should be included in the Bible presents a multifaceted issue with implications for how different Christian traditions interpret and understand scripture. Advocates for its inclusion argue that these texts offer valuable historical, cultural, and theological insights into ancient Judaism and early Christianity. They note that many early Christian leaders quoted from these books, indicating their authoritative status at the time.

Conversely, opponents of including the Apocrypha in the Bible point out that these texts were not part of the original Hebrew Scriptures and were not universally accepted by the early Christian church. Concerns are raised about theological and doctrinal discrepancies between the Apocrypha and the rest of the Bible, potentially leading to confusion and misinterpretation of scripture if included.

The term "Apocrypha" refers to a collection of ancient Jewish writings from the third century BCE to the first century CE that were not included in the Hebrew Bible but held sacred status in certain Jewish communities. These texts provide valuable insights into the religious beliefs and practices of the Jewish people during the intertestamental period.

On the other hand, the deuterocanonical books are part of the Catholic Bible but not the Protestant canon. Written between the Old and New Testaments, these books include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and portions of Esther and Daniel.

The process of determining the biblical canon was a rigorous one, influenced by factors like authorship, inspiration, and widespread acceptance. Some books were considered for inclusion but ultimately did not make the final cut, indicating a thorough and careful selection process.

Carrying this into life

Compare the actual texts and the canons of the traditions discussed. Which differences need further explanation, and how might that examination support a respectful conversation among believers?