How We Got the BibleHow We Got the Bible

Lesson 10:

The Apocryphal Books

a study of

Neil R. Lightfoot

How We Got the

Bible, 3rd ed.

2

The apocryphal books

• Generally speaking, the apocryphal books are found interspersed in the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible.

• Twelve of the fifteen books are included.

Definitions

• “Apocrypha”

–From the Greek word meaning “hidden,” “secretive,” “concealed”

– Eventually referred to books of doubtful origin

– Finally referred to books as “non-canonical”

Definitions

• “Deuterocanonical”–The extra books in the Roman Catholic

Bible– Not the original or first (Gk., “proto-”) books

of the Roman Catholic canon, or “protocanonical”

– The secondary (Gk., “deutero-”) canon

• Pseudepigrapha”_ False writings attributed to Biblical characters or times

Apocryphal books of the O.T.• 1 Esdras (Gk. for “Ezra,”

a.k.a. 3 Esdras)• 2 Esdras (a.k.a. 4 Esdras)• Tobit• Judith• The Additions to Esther• The Wisdom of Solomon• Ecclesiasticus (a.k.a. the

Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach)

• Baruch• The Letter of Jeremiah• The Prayer of Azariah

and the Song of the Three Young Men

• Susanna• Bel and the Dragon• The Prayer of Manasseh• 1 Maccabees• 2 Maccabees

22 books of the Jewish BibleTorah Prophets Writings Genesis Joshua Psalms Exodus Judges Proverbs

Leviticus Samuel Job Numbers Kings Song of Solomon

Deuteronomy Isaiah Ruth Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Ecclesiastes The Twelve Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah

(Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi) Chronicles

Same as our 39

Catholic Bible — O.T.• Genesis

• Exodus

• Leviticus

• Numbers

• Deuteronomy

• Joshua

• Judges

• Ruth

• 1 Samuel

• 2 Samuel

• 1 Kings

• 2 Kings

• 1 Chronicles

• 2 Chronicles

• Ezra

• Nehemiah

• Tobit

• Esther (with the Additions)

• 1 Maccabees

• 2 Maccabees

• Job

• Psalms

• Proverbs

• Ecclesiastes

• Song of Solomon

• Wisdom of Solomon

• Sirach

• Isaiah

• Jeremiah

• Lamentations

• Baruch

– Letter of Jeremiah

• Ezekiel

• Daniel– Prayer of Azariah and the

Song of the Three Jews– Susanna– Bel and the Dragon

• Hosea

• Joel

• Amos

• Obadiah

• Jonah

• Micah

• Nahum

• Habakkuk

• Zephaniah

• Haggai

• Zechariah

• Malachi

46 books

Orthodox Bible — O.T.• Genesis• Exodus• Leviticus• Numbers• Deuteronomy• Joshua• Judges• Ruth• 1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel)• 2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel)• 3 Kingdoms (1 Kings)• 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings)• 4 Kingdoms (2 Kings)• 1 Chronicles• 2 Chronicles• 1 Esdras• 2 Esdras (Ezra, Nehemiah)• Esther (with the Additions)

• Judith• Tobit• 1 Maccabees• 2 Maccabees• 3 Maccabees• Psalms (with Psalm 151)• Prayer of Manasseh• Job• Proverbs• Ecclesiastes• Song of Solomon• Wisdom of Solomon• Sirach• Hosea• Amos• Micah• Joel• Obadiah

• Jonah• Nahum• Habakkuk• Zephaniah• Haggai• Zechariah• Malachi• Isaiah• Jeremiah• Baruch• Lamentations• Letter of Jeremiah• Ezekiel• Daniel (including the Prayer

of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon)

• (4 Maccabees in appendix)

KJV 1611Table of Contents

Between the Old and New Testaments are “The Bookes called Apocrypha”The Holy Bible, 1611 Edition, King James Version (repr. ed., Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982)

Contents of O.T. Apocrypha

• Historical– 1 Esdras (“Greek Ezra”)

• Some material found in Ezra (the canonical “Hebrew Ezra”)

• Legendary material interspersed

– 1 & 2 Maccabees• Named for Judas, nicknamed Maccabeus, for

leading a revolt against the Syrians in 2nd cent. B.C.

• 1 Macc. considered historically valuable; 2 Macc. much less valuable

Confusion of “Esdras”\ Document

\

Version \

Old Testament

book of Ezra

Old Testament

book of Nehemiah

Paraphrase of 2 Chronicles 35–36; Ezra; Nehemiah 7.38–8.12; plus a tale about Darius’

bodyguards

A Latin Apocalypse

Greek Bible (Septuagint) 2 Esdras 1 Esdras

Latin Vulgate Bible 1 Esdras 2 Esdras 3 Esdras 4 Esdras

Many later Latin manuscripts 1 Esdras 3 Esdras

2 Esdras = chs 1–2 4 Esdras = chs 3–14 5 Esdras = chs 15–16

Douay English Version

(1609-1610) 1 Esdras 2 Esdras 3 Esdras 4 Esdras

Russian Bible, Moscow

Patriarchate (1956)

1 Esdras Nehemiah 2 Esdras 3 Esdras

King James and New Revised

Standard Versions

Ezra Nehemiah 1 Esdras 2 Esdras

Contents of O.T. Apocrypha

• Legendary– Tobit

• Written about 200 B.C.• Fictitious account of a Jewish captive to

Nineveh (Assyria) who was devoted to the Law

– Judith—supposedly about a Jewish widow who kills the leader of Israel’s enemy

– Additions to Esther—possibly oral traditions surrounding the story of Esther

Contents of O.T. Apocrypha

• Legendary...– Additions to Daniel—tales dating about 100

B.C.• Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young

Men• Susanna• Bel and the Dragon

Contents of O.T. Apocrypha

• Prophetic– Baruch—supposedly written by Baruch,

companion of Jeremiah– Letter of Jeremiah—a tract on the vanity of

idolatry, written about 300 B.C.– 2 Esdras—supposedly a series of

revelations given to Ezra, dated about 100 B.C.

Contents of O.T. Apocrypha

• Ethical/Devotional– Ecclesiasticus, a.k.a. the Wisdom of Sirach

—similar to Proverbs, though written about 200 B.C.

– Wisdom of Solomon—a book of Jewish philosophy traced to Alexandria

– Prayer of Manasseh—supposedly a penitent prayer of King Manasseh after he was taken captive to Babylon

Value of O.T. Apocrypha

• 1 Maccabees– mostly historical

• Ecclesiasticus & Wisdom of Solomon– study of Paul’s teaching on righteousness

• Prayer of Manasseh– on repentance

E.g., Wisdom 13-14 & Romans 1• 1 For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by

nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; 2 but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. 3 If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. 4 And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them. (Wisdom 13:1-4 NRSV)

• 22 Then it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but though living in great strife due to ignorance, they call such great evils peace. 23 For whether they kill children in their initiations, or celebrate secret mysteries, or hold frenzied revels with strange customs, 24 they no longer keep either their lives or their marriages pure, but they either treacherously kill one another, or grieve one another by adultery, 25 and all is a raging riot of blood and murder, theft and deceit, corruption, faithlessness, tumult, perjury, 26 confusion over what is good, forgetfulness of favors, defiling of souls, sexual perversion, disorder in marriages, adultery, and debauchery. (Wisdom 14:22-26 NRSV)

E.g., Wisdom 13-14 & Romans 1

Why The Apocrypha is Rejected

• They were never included in the Hebrew canon by the Jews

• They were never quoted by Jesus and His apostles

• They were rejected by Jewish and Christian writers in the early centuries of Christianity

• They do not bear intrinsic qualities of inspiration: historical, chronological and geographical accuracy

Why The Apocrypha is Rejected

• They have been shrouded with continual uncertainty

• They cannot be maintained on a compromise basis of semi-canonical status

• They cannot be made canonical by a ruling of the Council of Trent (1546)

What about Jude 9 & 14-15?

• Problem: Jude quotes non-biblical material– “The Lord rebuke you!” (v. 9)– “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of

his holy ones, to execute judgment on all…” (vv. 14-15)

• Solution– Bible does use some non-canonical material (cf.

2 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:12; Acts 17:28)– Such limited use means “true,” but not “Bible”

Apocalyptic Literature of O.T. Pseudepigrapha

• Apocalypse of Abraham• Apocalypse of Adam• Testament of Adam• 2 Baruch• 3 Baruch• Apocalypse of Daniel• Apocalypse of Elijah• l Enoch• 2 Enoch• 3 Enoch• Apocryphon of Ezekiel• Fourth Book of Ezra• Greek Apocalypse of Ezra

• Questions of Ezra• Revelation of Ezra• Vision of Ezra• Testament of Job• Testament of Moses• Apocalypse of Sedrach• Treatise of Shem• Sibylline Oracles• Testament of Solomon• Testaments of the Three Patriarchs• Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs• Apocalypse of Zephaniah

Other Literature of O.T. Pseudepigrapha

• Life of Adam and Eve• Ahiqar• Letter of Aristeas• Aristeas the Exegete• Aristobulus• Artapanus• 4 Baruch• Cleodemus Malchus• More Psalms of David• Demetrius the

Chronographer• Eldad and Modad• Eupolemus• Pseudo-Eupolemus

• Ezekiel the Tragedian

• Fragments of Pseudo-Greek Poets

• Pseudo-Hecataeus• Hellenistic

Synagogal Prayers• Martyrdom and

Ascension of Isaiah• Ladder of Jacob• Prayer of Jacob• Jannes and Jambres• Joseph and Aseneth• History of Joseph• Prayer of Joseph

• Jubilees• 3 Maccabees• 4 Maccabees• Prayer of Manasseh• Syriac Menander• Orphica• Philo the Epic Poet• Pseudo-Philo• Phocylides• The Lives of the

Prophets• History of the

Rechabites• Odes of Solomon• Psalms of Solomon• Theodotus

Apocryphal books of the N.T.

• Dating from the 2nd century A.D. onward

• Contains same types of literature but not the same quality as the New Testament

• Gospels• Acts• Letters• Apocalypses

The Gospel of Thomas

The final page of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas with the subscript title “The Gospel according to Thomas”; below the title is the beginning of the Gospel of Philip; Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont, CARobert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version (Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1992), 247

Close-up of title for Thomas

Close-up of the subscript title “The Gospel according to Thomas”; Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont, CARobert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version (Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1992), 247

THE GOSPEL

THE ACCORDING TO THOMAS

Infancy Gospel of ThomasBoyhood of Jesus

“1 And after some days as Jesus walked with Joseph through the city, there ran one of the children and smote Jesus on the arms: but Jesus said unto him: So finish thou thy course. And immediately he fell to the earth and died. But they when they saw this wonder, cried out saying: From whence cometh this child? And they said unto Joseph: It is not right that such a child should be among us

Gospels & “Gospels”Cover of The Complete GospelsRobert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version (Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1992)

Apocryphal gospels of the N.T.• Arabic Gospel of the

Infancy• Armenian Gospel of the

Infancy• Bartholomew’s Book of

the Resurrection of Christ• Gospel of Bartholomew• Gospel of Basilides• Gospel of the Birth of

Mary• Gospel of the Ebionites

• Gospel according to the Hebrews

• Protevangelium of James

• History of Joseph the Carpenter

• Gospel of Marcion• Gospel of the

Nazarenes• Gospel of Peter• Gospel of Philip• Gospel of Pseudo-

Matthew• Gospel of Thomas

Apocryphal Acts of the N.T.• Apostolic History of Abdias• Acts of Andrew• Story of Andrew• Acts of Andrew and Matthias• Acts of Andrew and Paul• Acts of Barnabas• Acts of Bartholomew• Ascents of James• Acts of John• Acts of John by Prochorus• Acts of Martyrs• Acts and Martyrdom of Matthew• Passion of Paul• Acts of Paul and Thecla

• Acts of Peter• Passion of Peter• Preaching of Peter• Slavonic Acts of Peter• Acts of Peter and Andrew• Acts of Peter and Paul• Passion of Peter and Paul• Acts of Peter and the Twelve

Disciples• Acts of Philip• Acts of Pilate• Acts of Simon and Judas• Acts of Thaddaeus• Acts of Thomas

Other Apocryphal books of the N.T.• Apocryphal letters

– Abgarus and the Letters of Christ

– Epistle of the Apostles– Epistle of Barnabas– 3 Corinthians– Epistle to the Laodiceans– Epistle of Lentulus– Epistles of Paul and Seneca– Epistle of Titus

• Apocryphal apocalypses– Apocalypse of Peter– Coptic Apocalypse of

Peter– Apocalypse of Paul– Christian Sibylline

Oracles

Character of N.T. Apocrypha• Gospels

– Gospel of Peter—two “men” carry Jesus out of the tomb, with the cross following them

– Protevangelium of James—Mary dedicated as a virgin at age 3

– Infancy Story of Thomas—Jesus struck a child dead who bumped Him

Character of N.T. Apocrypha• Acts

– Acts of John—John commanded bedbugs to behave themselves

– Acts of Paul—Paul baptized a lion that eventually spared him from death

Comparing the Apostolic Fathers• The books

– 1 Clement– 2 Clement– Letters of Ignatius (7)– Letter of Polycarp to the

Philippians– Martyrdom of Polycarp– Shepherd of Hermas– Letter of Barnabas– The Didache (the

Teachings of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles)

• Date: A.D. 95-155• Evaluation

– Letters of edification

– No claim of apostolic wisdom or authority

Marketing non-

canonical books

Cover of The Other Bible; another book is entitled, The Lost Books of the BibleWillis Barnstone, ed., The Other Bible (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984)

Questions for review

• What is the Apocrypha?

• What types of literature form the Old Testament Apocrypha?

• Why should the Old Testament Apocrypha rejected?

• Why should the New Testament Apocrypha rejected?

Next weekNext week

Lesson 11:

The English Bible to 1611