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WHY IT IS NOT IN. APOCRYPHA. THE BIBLE. Catholics will tell you, "You Protestants are missing part of the Bible. We have the rest of it.". APOCRYPHA.
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WHY IT IS NOT IN APOCRYPHA THE BIBLE
Catholics will tell you, "You Protestants are missing part of the Bible. We have the rest of it." APOCRYPHA These false Catholic additions to the Bible are commonly called the Apocrypha or sometimes the Deuterocanonical books, which means ‘second canon.’ This is a short presentation on WHY these books are not “IN” the Bible.
What is the Apocrypha? The Apocrypha is a collection of uninspired, spurious books written by unknown individuals and without claim of inspiration or authority. (The word "apocrypha" means "hidden.“) The Catholics consider these books as scripture. At the Council of Trent (1546) the Roman Catholic religion pronounced the apocryphal books “sacred.” They asserted that the apocryphal books, together with unwritten tradition, are “of God” and are to be received and venerated as the Word of God. They say that they have the Bible, the Apocrypha and Catholic Tradition as co-equal sources of truth for the Catholic. In reality, however, the Bible is the last source of truth for Catholics. Catholic doctrine comes primarily from tradition stuck together with a few Bible names.
The Apocrypha was formally canonized by the Roman Catholic 'Church' on April 8, 1546 A.D. at the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent The Council of Trent was actually a series of 3 Church councils held between 1545 and 1563 A.D. and dominated by the newly-formed Jesuits. It was called an integral part of the counter-Reformation which had begun 28 years earlier, sparked by Martin Luther. The Papal bull convening this council required 3 things: The defining of Catholic dogma The reformation of Catholic 'Church' life The extermination of heresy
One of the catch-cries of the Reformation was 'sola-Scriptura' - - Only the Scriptures - (i.e., “Only IF The Bible says!!"). In order for the Roman Catholics to say the same thing, the Apocrypha was added to give "Scriptural" proof for their false teachings. The resolution of the Council was: “But if any one receive not, as sacred and canonical, the said books entire with all their parts, as they have been used to be read in the Catholic Church, and as they are contained in the old Latin vulgate edition; and knowingly and deliberately contemn the traditions aforesaid; let him be anathema.”
Consideration of the Apocrypha usually centers around the highly contentious issue of additional books contained in Roman Catholic bibles, and, more increasingly, in several modern Protestant versions. As a general summary: The Jews do not accept the Apocrypha as part of their Scriptures. Protestants do not accept the Apocrypha as Scripture, though some ascribe to them value as "good and useful reading" and "for example of life and instruction of manners." The Roman Catholic 'Church' in effect accepts 12 of the 15 apocryphal books as canonical.
Why the Apocrypha Isn't in the Bible. 1. Not one of the apocryphal books is written in the Hebrew language, which was alone used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament. 2. None of the apocryphal writers laid claim to inspiration. 3. The apocryphal books were never acknowledged as sacred scriptures by the Jews, custodians of the Hebrew scriptures (the apocrypha was written prior to the New Testament). In fact, the Jewish people rejected and destroyed the apocrypha after the overthow of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 4. The apocryphal books were not permitted among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the real Christian church. 5. The Apocrypha contains fabulous statements which not only contradict the "canonical" scriptures but themselves. For example, in the two Books of Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanes is made to die three different deaths in three different places. 6. The Apocrypha includes doctrines in variance with the Bible.
The following verses are taken from the Apocrypha translation by Ronald Knox dated 1954 Basis for the doctrine of purgatory: 2 Maccabees 12:39-45, 2,000 pieces of silver were sent to Jerusalem for a sin-offering...Whereupon he made reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin. Salvation by works – Alms giving: Ecclesiasticus 3:30, Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms maketh atonement for sin.Tobias 12:8-9, 17, It is better to give alms than to lay up gold; for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Magic: Tobias 6:5-8, If the Devil, or an evil spirit troubles anyone, they can be driven away by making a smoke of the heart, liver, and gall of a fish...and the Devil will smell it, and flee away, and never come again anymore. Mary was born sinless (immaculate conception): Wisdom 8:19-20, And I was a witty child and had received a good soul. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled. Reincarnation Wisdom of Solomon 8:19,20 Suicide Maccabees 14:43-46
7. It teaches immoral practices, such as lying, suicide, assassination and magical incantation. 8. No apocryphal book is referred to in the New Testament whereas the Old Testament is referred to hundreds of times. 9. They were never quoted or alluded to by Jesus Christ or any of the apostles. The sermons in the book of Acts, which outline Jewish history, do not include apocryphal events. 10. Many of the Apocryphal books contain historical, geographical and chronological errors. 11. Their literary style is legendary and fantasy. Some stories are grotesque and demonic! 12. They lack the power an distinctive elements of the Word of God
THE INCLUSION OF THE APOCRYPHA IN ENGLISH VERSIONS In each case, the Apocrypha were delineated either in an appendix and/or with an explanation showing them to be non-canonical. a. Tyndale's Bible (1525 A.D.) places them by themselves as "uninspired." b. Coverdale's Bible (1535 A.D.) does likewise, and with the following title: "Apocrifa. The bokes & treatises which amonge the Fathers of old are not rekened to be of authorite with the other bokes of the Byble, neither are the foude in the Canon of the Hebrews." (1) c. Matthew's Bible (1537 A.D.) and Taverner's Bible (1539 A.D.) place the Apocrypha between the Testaments. d. The Authorized, King James Version (1611), like the Great Bible, (1539 A.D.), the Geneva Bible (1560 A.D.) and the Bishop's Bible (1568 A.D.) before it, places them in an appendix. Apocrypha began to be omitted from the Authorized Version in 1629, and by 1827 were excluded permanently.
Support for the Apocrypha: • The Septuagint (LXX)- except II Esdras • Codex Alexandrinus (A)- includes II,III Maccabees • Codex Vaticanus (B)- except I, II Maccabees & Prayer of Manasseh • Codex Sinaiticus (א) • Dead Sea Scrolls- various fragments • Writings of the Church Fathers- generally the Western (Latin) Fathers (i.e. Irenaeus) • Augustine-(354-430 AD) “The Father of Corrupt Theology”
Other Apocrypha These are other apocryphal texts which have not been canonized, but which the catholic teaching still presents them as light on the Bible and its history. The Forgotten Books of Eden [1926]This is a collection of pseudepigrapha, specifically: The First Book of Adam and Eve The Second Book of Adam and Eve The Book of the Secrets of EnochThe Psalms of SolomonThe Odes of SolomonThe Letter of AristeasFourth Book of MaccabeesThe Story of AhikarThe Testaments of the Twelve PatriarchsTestament of ReubenTestament of Simeon Testament of Levi The Testament of JudahThe Testament of IssacharThe Testament of ZebulunThe Testament of DanThe Testament of NaphtaliThe Testament Of GadThe Testament of Asher The Testament of Joseph The Testament of Benjamin
The Biblical Antiquities of Philotranslated by M. R. James [1917]An alternative pseudepigraphal narrative of the Hebrew Bible from Genesis through 1 Samuel, written in the first century. The Gospel of Thomas These are reputedly the writings of the apostle 'Doubting Thomas'. This text purports to be a collection of the “sayings of Jesus.” Traditionally Thomas was Jesus' twin brother. This text shows strong Gnostic influence. The Sibylline OraclesThe Sibylline books were oracular Roman scrolls. They have many “similarities” to early Christian writings, and they were quoted by the Church Fathers. The Book of Enoch Translated by R.H. Charles [1917]. This is an etext of a critical edition of the Book of Enoch. Enoch introduced such concepts as fallen Angels, the Messiah, the Resurrection, and others. The Book of JubileesTranslated by R.H. Charles [1917]. The Book of Jubilees is a text from the 2nd century B.C.E. which covers much of the same ground as Genesis, with some interesting additional details. It may have been an intermediate form of Genesis which was incorporated into later versions.
Slavonic Life of Adam and Eve This is a ‘discussion’ that Adam and Eve had over the whole ‘situation’ that took place in the garden. The Books of Adam and Eve This is the translation of the Books of Adam and Eve from the Oxford University Press Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. The Book of JasherPrinted in 1613, the Hebrew title of this book, means the 'Book of the Upright', or 'the Upright or Correct Record.‘ This text covers much of the same ground as the traditional Mosaic books of the Bible, from the creation of the world to the death of Moses, albeit with several minor variations. *supposedly as alluded to in Josh. 10:13 Excerpts from the Gospel of Mary This fragment, of disputed authenticity, puts the relationship between Mary Magdalene, Jesus and the Apostles in a radically different perspective than traditional beliefs.
