Refuting the teachings of the APOCRYPHA
The word Apocrypha has come into the English language from the Greek
[απόκρυφα] “apokruphos” and basically means hidden. It was used very early in the sense of secretive or concealed, but was also used in reference to a book whose origin was doubtful or unknown. Eventually the word took on the meaning of non-canonical, and thus for centuries the non-canonical books have been known as apocryphal books.
Yet in Protestant circles "the apocrypha" is the normal designation for those extra books which are found in the Catholic Old Testament. In a stricter sense, however, these books might be better termed "the Old Testament apocrypha," since there are
New Testament apocryphal writings as well.
Catholics know them as the deuterocanonical books...
"Deutero" means "second."
"Canon" designates those books that are inspired by God and, hence, are included in the Holy Bible.
Ergo, "deuterocanonical" means that Roman Catholics regard the seven extra books as a second set of God-inspired books.
1. The First Book of Esdras (also known as Third Esdras)
2. The Second Book of Esdras (also known as Fourth Esdras)
3. Tobit
4. Judith
5. The Additions to the Book of Esther
6. The Wisdom of Solomon
7. Ecclesiasticus (The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach)
8. Baruch 9. The Letter of Jeremiah (This letter is sometimes incorporated as the last chapter of
Baruch. When this is done the number of books is fourteen instead of fifteen.)
10. The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men
11. Susanna
12. Bel and the Dragon
13. The Prayer of Manasseh
14. The First Book of Maccabees
15. The Second Book of Maccabees
Esther (from about the second century B.C.) are popular expansions (six passages) to the biblical story, designed to introduce an underlying religious theme to the Book of Esther, which does not mention the name of God.
Baruch (from about the second to first century B.C.) contains a prayer of confession, a poem in praise of
[απόκρυφα] “apokruphos” and basically means hidden. It was used very early in the sense of secretive or concealed, but was also used in reference to a book whose origin was doubtful or unknown. Eventually the word took on the meaning of non-canonical, and thus for centuries the non-canonical books have been known as apocryphal books.
Yet in Protestant circles "the apocrypha" is the normal designation for those extra books which are found in the Catholic Old Testament. In a stricter sense, however, these books might be better termed "the Old Testament apocrypha," since there are
New Testament apocryphal writings as well.
Catholics know them as the deuterocanonical books...
"Deutero" means "second."
"Canon" designates those books that are inspired by God and, hence, are included in the Holy Bible.
Ergo, "deuterocanonical" means that Roman Catholics regard the seven extra books as a second set of God-inspired books.
1. The First Book of Esdras (also known as Third Esdras)
2. The Second Book of Esdras (also known as Fourth Esdras)
3. Tobit
4. Judith
5. The Additions to the Book of Esther
6. The Wisdom of Solomon
7. Ecclesiasticus (The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach)
8. Baruch 9. The Letter of Jeremiah (This letter is sometimes incorporated as the last chapter of
Baruch. When this is done the number of books is fourteen instead of fifteen.)
10. The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men
11. Susanna
12. Bel and the Dragon
13. The Prayer of Manasseh
14. The First Book of Maccabees
15. The Second Book of Maccabees
Esther (from about the second century B.C.) are popular expansions (six passages) to the biblical story, designed to introduce an underlying religious theme to the Book of Esther, which does not mention the name of God.
Baruch (from about the second to first century B.C.) contains a prayer of confession, a poem in praise of