How We Got the Bible

1. How We Got the Bible Lesson 10: The Apocryphal Books

2. 2 a study of Neil R. Lightfoot How We Got the Bible, 3rd ed.

3. 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.

4. Definitions • “Apocrypha” • From the Greek word meaning “hidden,” “secretive,” “concealed” • Eventually referred to books of doubtful origin • Finally referred to books as “non-canonical”

5. 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

6. 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 Apocryphal books of the O.T.

7. 22 books of the Jewish Bible Same as our 39

8. 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 Catholic Bible — O.T. • 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

9. 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 Orthodox Bible — O.T. • 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)

10. 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)

11. 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

12. Confusion of “Esdras”

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. E.g., Wisdom 13-14 & Romans 1 • 1 For all people who wereignorant of God werefoolish by nature;and they were unable from thegood things that are seen toknow the one who exists,nor did they recognize the artisanwhile paying heed to hisworks;2 but they supposed that either fireor wind or swift air,or the circle of the stars, orturbulent water,or the luminaries of heaven werethe gods that rule theworld.3 If through delight in the beauty ofthese things people assumedthem to be gods,let them know how much betterthan these is their Lord,for the author of beauty createdthem.4 And if people were amazed attheir power and working,let them perceive from themhow much more powerful is theone who formed them. (Wisdom 13:1-4 NRSV)

19. E.g., Wisdom 13-14 & Romans 1 • 22 Then it was not enough for themto err about the knowledgeof God,but though living in great strifedue to ignorance,they call such great evils peace.23For whether they kill children intheir initiations, or celebratesecret mysteries,or hold frenzied revels withstrange customs,24 they no longer keep either theirlives or their marriagespure,but they either treacherously killone another, or grieve oneanother by adultery,25 and all is a raging riot of bloodand murder, theft anddeceit, corruption,faithlessness, tumult,perjury,26 confusion over what is good,forgetfulness of favors,defiling of souls, sexualperversion,disorder in marriages, adultery,and debauchery. (Wisdom 14:22-26 NRSV)

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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”

23. 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 Apocalyptic Literature of O.T. Pseudepigrapha

24. 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 Other Literature of O.T. Pseudepigrapha • 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

25. 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

26. 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, CA Robert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version (Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1992), 247

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

28. Infancy Gospel of Thomas Boyhood 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

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

30. 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 gospels of the N.T.

31. 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 Apocryphal Acts of the N.T.

32. 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 Other Apocryphal books of the N.T.

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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 Comparing the Apostolic Fathers

36. Marketing non-canonical books Cover of The Other Bible; another book is entitled, The Lost Books of the Bible Willis Barnstone, ed., The Other Bible (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1984)

37. 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?

38. Next week Lesson 11: The English Bible to 1611