The word Apocrypha means "books hidden away" in the Reformation[5 p.23]. Hooker thought these books were "safer and better to be left publicly unread" [6 Book 5 Ch 20:10]
The Apocrypha was included in the earliest editions of the KJV[4 p.43], and forms a link between the Old and New Testaments, both in the time they were written and in theological understanding. Many of the books relate to Jews in exile or diaspora, and promote prayer and piety rather than sacrifices as the way to secure God's help. Consequently they typically urge salvation by works. Jesus referred or alluded to the Apocrypha on many occasions[5 p.66] and it informed Christna thought[5 p.69].
The Apocrypha also records the awful events under Greek dominion in the centuries preceding the birth of Christ. The Greeks tried to force the Jews to abandon Yahweh, and they used much more violence to support this demand than previous empires such as Assyria ever had. Therefore the need to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (and thus not to render to Greek gods or emperors the position that is Yahweh's by right) was stronger than ever, yet more costly.
This cost was not without benefit. The Greeks had been thinking about eternity and had decided that the human soul was, or could be, eternal. This was the culture in which the Jews were operating, and it forced them to think through their own position regarding eternal life. Some (the Pharisees, typified in the New Testament by Saul, who became St Paul) believed that a human being was eternal. Others, the Sadducees, did not. This argument often surfaces in the New Testament, and is implied by many other incidents such as the question of the young ruler to Jesus "what must I do to inherit eternal life", a question that suggests that the old religion, with its disagreeing interpreters, did not give all the answers.
The Oxford University Press includes the following "apocryphal / deuterocanonical" books in its NRSV with Apocrypha:
Chapter 12 v 15 presents Raphael as one of seven chief angels, and Jones p.38 tells us that Raphael means "God has healed". Jones p.41 accuses Jerome of translating ch.4 v 17 so as to foster anti-semitism, and (p.43) of translating ch.6 v 17 so as to promote the idea that priests should be celibate.
Jones p.61 suggests that the wands wrapped in ivy are a reference for the benefit of later Greek-speaking readers to bacchanalia, which is being mocked because the General's drunkenness and lust led to his death.
Jones p.64 explains that Jerome found six Greek additions to the Hebrew text, and numbered them as chapters 11–16; modern translations keep this numbering but place them in sequence within the text, so the chapters are not in numerical order. The additions present Mordecai and Esther as ritually pure (e.g. in ch.14 v 7 Esther claims to have refused royal food that was not kosher) and dependent on God, who is not mentioned in the Hebrew version.
According to Jones p.xiii, Martin Luther described this book as an exposition of the first commandment. On page 71 he says "Anyone who wants to understand the Apostle Paul needs an acquaintance with the Apocrypha, and in particular with the Wisdom of Solomon." Page 78 says that "the writer of the book of Wisdom stands between the Jewish and hellenistic traditions, unwilling to part with either and unwilling that either should discredit the other."
At first sight verse 5 might seem to refer to purgatory, but verse 1 denies it. Verse 5 is clearly linked to verse 4. The troubles that the righteous experience (want of worldly pleasures) occur before they are wholly in God's hands.
Jesus is a form of the Hebrew name Joshua—see comment on Luke 1:31. The name Jesus was not uncommon which is why it is necessary to qualify it here as "Jesus son of Sirach".
Many versions of the book exist and consequently the title and verse numbering varies.
indicates that a sequence of developing thoughts has occurred:
1) God has covenanted to bless obedience and punish sin,
2) God has seen that people still sin yet he is inclined to be merciful,
3) God has covenanted to forgive sinners, but
4) God still hates sin and will not forgive forever where there is no repentance.
This analysis arose in the context of discussion of the way the terms of some of the covenants imply a degree of forgiveness that might be used as an excuse for sin, but it was recognised that God seeks a holy people, so he cannot be expected to forgive those who have no intention of doing better next time. Repentance is the key to a close relationship with God (Ecclesiasticus 5:7 and 34:26). Thus the events of history have shown people God's nature through the successes and failures of the covenants.
The book purports to date from the exile to Babylon but commentaries cite many reasons why it is much later. It describes people becoming resigned to life under Babylonian overlords, and godly people responding not by fighting or cursing but by praying for them (ch.1 v 11) and praying to prosper under them (ch.2 v 14). That would be an appropriate message for Israel's subjection under the Seleucids.
The Vulgate and Authorized Version present Letter of Jeremiah as the final chapter of Baruch, but commentaries reject that identification, leaving the source and purpose of the book uncertain. NRSV presents it, confusingly, as a single chapter numbered 6.
Additions to Daniel. The Song describes the incident with Nebuchadnezzar's burning fiery furnace; Wisdom 19:19–21 explains that God can make fire ineffective. The youg men respond with the song that we call the Benedicite and use in worship.
Both the introduction and the references to people and events seem to support the idea that this book was written by, or on behalf of, the Ezra who was associated with Nehemiah.
The introduction and mentions of people and events seem to support the idea that this book was written by, or on behalf of, the Ezra who was associated with Nehemiah, but Jones p.15 says it was a grief-stricken and sometimes incoherent response to the disastrous losses in the time of the Romans, questioning God (via an angel) as Job did. Page 16 adds that the copies available to us are so late that it may be a Christian rather than a Jewish compilation. Parts of it are similar to parts of Matthew and Revelation.
According to the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Anglicized Edition, 1998 Edition, Ezra and Nehemiah are combined into one book titled "2 Esdras" in the Greek Bible.
1 and 2 Maccabees describe the same period of history but from very different points of view.[3 p.34]
3 Maccabees
-
4 Maccabees
-
Other apocryphal books are sometimes referred to:
Enoch
"... the oldest 'history' of Jerusalem in 1 Enoch has no place for Moses. The so-called Apocalypse of Weeks describes the law being given, but there is no mention of Egypt or the Exodus (1 En. 93.6). There was a vision of the holy and righteous and the law was given." [2]
The book commences with The Book of the Watchers (1 Enoch 1–36) whch interprets Genesis 6:1–4 to mean that some angels sinned. This idea lies behind 1 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6.[7]
Coggins, R Introducing the Old Testament (Oxford: OUP, 2001)
Campbell, GordonBible: the Story of the King James Version (Oxford: OUP, 2010)
Collins, J.J., Evans, C.E., McDonald, L.M. Ancient Jewish and Christian Scriptures—New Developments in Canon Controversy Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press 2020
Hooker, Richard (1553–1600) of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie (1593
The word Apocrypha means "books hidden away" in the Reformation[5 p.23]. Hooker thought these books were "safer and better to be left publicly unread" [6 Book 5 Ch 20:10]
The Apocrypha was included in the earliest editions of the KJV[4 p.43], and forms a link between the Old and New Testaments, both in the time they were written and in theological understanding. Many of the books relate to Jews in exile or diaspora, and promote prayer and piety rather than sacrifices as the way to secure God's help. Consequently they typically urge salvation by works. Jesus referred or alluded to the Apocrypha on many occasions[5 p.66] and it informed Christna thought[5 p.69].
The Apocrypha also records the awful events under Greek dominion in the centuries preceding the birth of Christ. The Greeks tried to force the Jews to abandon Yahweh, and they used much more violence to support this demand than previous empires such as Assyria ever had. Therefore the need to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (and thus not to render to Greek gods or emperors the position that is Yahweh's by right) was stronger than ever, yet more costly.
This cost was not without benefit. The Greeks had been thinking about eternity and had decided that the human soul was, or could be, eternal. This was the culture in which the Jews were operating, and it forced them to think through their own position regarding eternal life. Some (the Pharisees, typified in the New Testament by Saul, who became St Paul) believed that a human being was eternal. Others, the Sadducees, did not. This argument often surfaces in the New Testament, and is implied by many other incidents such as the question of the young ruler to Jesus "what must I do to inherit eternal life", a question that suggests that the old religion, with its disagreeing interpreters, did not give all the answers.
The Oxford University Press includes the following "apocryphal / deuterocanonical" books in its NRSV with Apocrypha:
Chapter 12 v 15 presents Raphael as one of seven chief angels, and Jones p.38 tells us that Raphael means "God has healed". Jones p.41 accuses Jerome of translating ch.4 v 17 so as to foster anti-semitism, and (p.43) of translating ch.6 v 17 so as to promote the idea that priests should be celibate.
Jones p.53 explains that the Medes and Persians expected to be given offerings of local earth and water as a sign of submisison.
The king boasts in the power of his hand, but Judith's hand will prevail.
Judith had sufficient influence to be able to summon the town council to a tent on her roof (v.5).
Jones p.61 suggests that the wands wrapped in ivy are a reference for the benefit of later Greek-speaking readers to bacchanalia, which is being mocked because the General's drunkenness and lust led to his death.
Jones p.64 explains that Jerome found six Greek additions to the Hebrew text, and numbered them as chapters 11–16; modern translations keep this numbering but place them in sequence within the text, so the chapters are not in numerical order. The additions present Mordecai and Esther as ritually pure (e.g. in ch.14 v 7 Esther claims to have refused royal food that was not kosher) and dependent on God, who is not mentioned in the Hebrew version.
According to Jones p.xiii, Martin Luther described this book as an exposition of the first commandment. On page 71 he says "Anyone who wants to understand the Apostle Paul needs an acquaintance with the Apocrypha, and in particular with the Wisdom of Solomon." Page 78 says that "the writer of the book of Wisdom stands between the Jewish and hellenistic traditions, unwilling to part with either and unwilling that either should discredit the other."
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
At first sight verse 5 might seem to refer to purgatory, but verse 1 denies it. Verse 5 is clearly linked to verse 4. The troubles that the righteous experience (want of worldly pleasures) occur before they are wholly in God's hands.
cf. Paul's "twinkling of an eye" in 1 Corinthians 15:52. Stubble: cf. Malachi 4:6; the lively sparks contrast with the dead stubble.
There have been calls for the KJV word "concupiscence" to be replaced with the more familiar "lust".[4 p.124]
As in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado, Wisdom makes the punishment fit the crime!
Addressing God as "Father" is unusual but not unknown in pre-Christian writing.
or The Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach
or Sirach
Jesus is a form of the Hebrew name Joshua—see comment on Luke 1:31. The name Jesus was not uncommon which is why it is necessary to qualify it here as "Jesus son of Sirach".
Many versions of the book exist and consequently the title and verse numbering varies.
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
indicates that a sequence of developing thoughts has occurred:
1) God has covenanted to bless obedience and punish sin,
2) God has seen that people still sin yet he is inclined to be merciful,
3) God has covenanted to forgive sinners, but
4) God still hates sin and will not forgive forever where there is no repentance.
This analysis arose in the context of discussion of the way the terms of some of the covenants imply a degree of forgiveness that might be used as an excuse for sin, but it was recognised that God seeks a holy people, so he cannot be expected to forgive those who have no intention of doing better next time. Repentance is the key to a close relationship with God (Ecclesiasticus 5:7 and 34:26). Thus the events of history have shown people God's nature through the successes and failures of the covenants.
Repentance is the key to a close relationship with God (cf. Ecclesiasticus 34:26).
Jesus was often criticised for eating with sinners.
Meek: see Appendix 2 Meek.
Meek: see Appendix 2 Meek.
Much evil has been done by people acting on hearsay without going to the horse's mouth to hear the other side of the story.
There have been calls for the KJV word "concupiscence" to be replaced with the more familiar "lust".[4 p.124]
cf. Matthew 6:12, Luke 11:4.
See comment on Luke 15:11–12.
Repentance is the key to a close relationship with God (cf. Ecclesiasticus 5:7).
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
Meekness: see Appendix 2 Meek.
The book purports to date from the exile to Babylon but commentaries cite many reasons why it is much later. It describes people becoming resigned to life under Babylonian overlords, and godly people responding not by fighting or cursing but by praying for them (ch.1 v 11) and praying to prosper under them (ch.2 v 14). That would be an appropriate message for Israel's subjection under the Seleucids.
The Vulgate and Authorized Version present Letter of Jeremiah as the final chapter of Baruch, but commentaries reject that identification, leaving the source and purpose of the book uncertain. NRSV presents it, confusingly, as a single chapter numbered 6.
Additions to Daniel. The Song describes the incident with Nebuchadnezzar's burning fiery furnace; Wisdom 19:19–21 explains that God can make fire ineffective. The youg men respond with the song that we call the Benedicite and use in worship.
Another addition to Daniel
Another addition to Daniel
Both the introduction and the references to people and events seem to support the idea that this book was written by, or on behalf of, the Ezra who was associated with Nehemiah.
Urim and Thummim: see Appendix 2 Urim and Thummim.
The introduction and mentions of people and events seem to support the idea that this book was written by, or on behalf of, the Ezra who was associated with Nehemiah, but Jones p.15 says it was a grief-stricken and sometimes incoherent response to the disastrous losses in the time of the Romans, questioning God (via an angel) as Job did. Page 16 adds that the copies available to us are so late that it may be a Christian rather than a Jewish compilation. Parts of it are similar to parts of Matthew and Revelation.
According to the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Anglicized Edition, 1998 Edition, Ezra and Nehemiah are combined into one book titled "2 Esdras" in the Greek Bible.
Ezra seems to have had a vision of Jesus welcoming Christians into Heaven—cf. Revelation 7:9.
Meek: see Appendix 2 Meek.
1 and 2 Maccabees describe the same period of history but from very different points of view.[3 p.34]
This appears to record the start of the Maccabean rebellion, which happened in 167 BCE [1].
cf. Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14.
This verse contained the last typo to be corrected in the KJV: from 1611 to 1769 "seventeenth" read "seuenth".[4 p.106]
1 and 2 Maccabees describe the same period of history but from very different points of view.[3 p.34]
Other apocryphal books are sometimes referred to:
"... the oldest 'history' of Jerusalem in 1 Enoch has no place for Moses. The so-called Apocalypse of Weeks describes the law being given, but there is no mention of Egypt or the Exodus (1 En. 93.6). There was a vision of the holy and righteous and the law was given." [2]
The book commences with The Book of the Watchers (1 Enoch 1–36) whch interprets Genesis 6:1–4 to mean that some angels sinned. This idea lies behind 1 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6.[7]
References: