Apocrypha: Difference between revisions
Created page with "thumb|200px|Cover of Apocrypha, 1957 The '''Apocrypha''' refers to a collection of fourteen or fifteen books written between the 3rd century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. These books are not recognized as part of the Old Testament canon. Their authorship is uncertain, and they were not included in the Hebrew Scriptures, although they were later added to the Greek translation of the Old Testament...." |
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[[ | <!-- interlanguage:start -->[[ko:외경]]<!-- interlanguage:end -->The '''Apocrypha''' refers to a collection of fourteen or fifteen books written between the 3rd century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. These books are not recognized as part of the [[The Old Testament|Old Testament]] canon. Their authorship is uncertain, and they were not included in the Hebrew Scriptures, although they were later added to the Greek translation of the Old Testament. | ||
The '''Apocrypha''' refers to a collection of fourteen or fifteen books written between the 3rd century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. These books are not recognized as part of the [[The Old Testament|Old Testament]] canon. Their authorship is uncertain, and they were not included in the Hebrew Scriptures, although they were later added to the Greek translation of the Old Testament. | |||
==What Is Apocrypha?== | ==What Is Apocrypha?== | ||
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==Inclusion of the Apocrypha== | ==Inclusion of the Apocrypha== | ||
[[file:Council of Trent.JPG | | [[file:Council of Trent.JPG |thumb | px |The Roman Catholic Council presided over the Council of Trent. It was decided to include the Apocrypha as the canon. ]] | ||
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, with a few sections in Aramaic. However, by the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C., many Jews living in the Mediterranean region no longer spoke or understood Hebrew fluently. To serve these Jewish communities, Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, the international language of the time. This Greek translation became known as the Septuagint. According to tradition, the Septuagint was translated by seventy (or seventy-two) scholars, which is why it is referred to as [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Septuagint Septuagint], meaning seventy. | The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, with a few sections in Aramaic. However, by the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C., many Jews living in the Mediterranean region no longer spoke or understood Hebrew fluently. To serve these Jewish communities, Jewish scholars translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, the international language of the time. This Greek translation became known as the Septuagint. According to tradition, the Septuagint was translated by seventy (or seventy-two) scholars, which is why it is referred to as [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Septuagint Septuagint], meaning seventy. | ||
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|Baruch | |Baruch | ||
|This is traditionally ascribed to Baruch, the scribe of [[Jeremiah (Prophet)|Jeremiah]]. This book comprises prayers and confessions of faith uttered by Jews taken captive in [[Babylon]]. Additionally, it | |This is traditionally ascribed to Baruch, the scribe of [[Jeremiah (Prophet)|Jeremiah]]. This book comprises prayers and confessions of faith uttered by Jews taken captive in [[Babylon]]. Additionally, it includes the promise of restoration. | ||
|Included Separately | |Included Separately | ||
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|1st Esdra | |1st Esdra | ||
|Esdras, derived from the Greek word for Ezra, encompasses the translated books of [[ | |Esdras, derived from the Greek word for Ezra, encompasses the translated books of [[Ezra (Bible)|Ezra]], [[Book of 2 Chronicles|2 Chronicles]], and [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]]. Additionally, it incorporates the legend of Zerubbabel, serving the purpose of demonstrating to Ptolemy, the king of Greece, the generosity of [[Cyrus (II)|Cyrus]] and Darius, rulers of Persia, toward the Jewish people. | ||
| rowspan="3" |Excluded in the Common Translation Bible of Korea | | rowspan="3" |Excluded in the Common Translation Bible of Korea | ||
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While the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church include the Apocrypha in their versions of the Old Testament, Protestants generally do not accept or use the Apocryphal books. Several key reasons support this position: | While the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church include the Apocrypha in their versions of the Old Testament, Protestants generally do not accept or use the Apocryphal books. Several key reasons support this position: | ||
'''1. Written After the End of Divine Revelation'''<br> | |||
The Apocrypha was written during the intertestamental period, after the time of the prophet Malachi and before the birth of Christ. Protestants believe that [[God]]’s direct revelation ceased during this period, and therefore, writings from this time do not carry the same divine authority.<ref>Henry H. Halley, [https://archive.org/details/HalleysBibleHandbookHenryH.Halley/page/n2617/mode/2up Halley's Bible Handbook], ''Zondervan'', 2000</ref> | |||
<br>'''2. Uncertain Authorship and Origin''' <br> | |||
Many Apocryphal books have unclear authorship, lack historical validation, and are often anonymous or falsely attributed. This contrasts with the books of the canon, which are attributed to known prophets and apostles. | |||
<br>'''3. Not Included in the Original Hebrew Scriptures''' <br> | |||
The Apocryphal books were not part of the Hebrew Bible and were excluded from the Jewish canon, even though they appeared in the Greek Septuagint. Judaism itself does not recognize the Apocrypha as divinely inspired Scripture. | |||
<br>'''4. Not Quoted by Jesus or the Apostles''' <br> | |||
[[Jesus Christ|Jesus]] frequently quoted the Old Testament to affirm its authority, but He never quoted from the Apocrypha. Likewise, the New Testament writers, including the apostles, made hundreds of Old Testament references, but none of them cited Apocryphal texts. This absence underscores their exclusion from the early Church’s understanding of Scripture. | |||
<br>'''5. Not Used in the Early Church Canon''' <br> | |||
The early Church, led by the apostles, preserved the teachings of Jesus through the Gospels and epistles, which later formed the [[The New Testament|New Testament]] canon. These writings were shared, recognized, and preserved by churches throughout the ancient world. In contrast, Apocryphal writings were never officially adopted by the early Church as part of Scripture. This is the biggest reason true [[Christian|Christians]] do not use the Apocrypha. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
