INTRODUCTION.

WHY THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

A LITTLE HISTORY.

EVIDENCE.

WHAT ARE THOSE TEACHINGS.

BOTTOM LINE.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

The word “Apocryphal” comes to us from Greek origin.  It means “Dubious,” “Secret,” “Hidden,” “Strange,” or “Obscure.” I’ll let you, the reade,r deal with that.  There is also no mention as to who wrote these books.  Although some are mentioned, none can be proven.

 

It is also determined that these writings were written sometime between B.C. 300 to after 100 A.D.  Is is interesting that Jesus nor the Apostles never quote from these books.

 

These books were found in garbage dumps, nunneries, caves, the Sinaiticus, Saint Catherines Monastery.  In other words, of Catholic origin.  This puts Protestants on the alert.

 

 

WHY THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

 

 

It’s in the title “Apocrypha,” meaning “Dubious; Secret; or Strange.” Is there truth in the Apocryphal books?  Absolutely.  But truth mixed with error is a dangerous combination.

 

The main reason the “Apocryphal books” are not accepted by Protestants, is because they are not mentioned by Jesus or any of His apostles; nor are they mentioned in any of the earliest catalogues of the Sacred Writings [If someone tells you they were it is because they were added secretly; or they are lying].  And more importantly, they hold within them doctrinal and theological controversial errors.

 

The Jewish users of the “Septuagint,” such as Philo of Alexandria (B.C. 20 to 50 A.D.), do not quote from the Apocryphal books;” even though it and Philo do quote from the Canonical Books.  Neither are they quoted in that of Melito, bishop of Sardis, in the Second Century; nor in those of Origen, in the Third Century (see “Eusebius’s Eccl. History,” lib. 4, c., 28 and c. 25, p. 399;  also, “Lardner,” Volume IV., pages 282 & 299 & 305 & 312 & 407; Volume V., page 16).  Nor are they quoted by Athanasius, Hilary, Cyril of Jerusalem, Epiphanius, Amphilockius, Jerome, Rafinus, nor others of the Fourth Century.  Nor are they quoted in the catalogue of Canonical Books recognized by the “Council of Ladicea,” held in the Fourth Century, whose canons were received by the Roman Catholic church (see “Cr. Lardner,” Volume IV., pages 308-309; Volume II., pages 414-415.).

 

Protestants also do not accept the “Apocryphal books,” because of the lack of evidence (NO EVIDENCE) that they were a part of the “Septuagint” (Greek translation of the Jewish Bible).  All copies of the “Septuagint” that exist today are of Christian, rather than Jewish origin.  The earliest one on record is dated at 350 A.D., which is about five hundred years after the “Septuagint” was completed.  Thus, it is interesting to note that the authors of the New Testament quote from 19 of the 22 Books of the Jewish Bible, but never once quote from the “Apocryphal books.”

 

 

A LITTLE HISTORY

 

 

The “Apocryphal Books” are a selection of books which were published in the original 1611 King James Bible.  These “Apocryphal Books” in the “KJV” were positioned between the Old and New Testament (it also contained maps and genealogies).  Fragments of the “Dead Sea Scrolls,” which date back to before 70 A.D., contain parts of the “Apocryphal Books” in Hebrew, including “Sirach” and “Tobit.”  The “Apocrypha” was a part of the “KJV” for 274 years until being removed in 1825 A.D. by the American and British Bible Societies.  Why?  Because of what they teach (see below).  Also, many scholars believe they should Not have been in the “KJV” in the first place.

 

In the 1769 A.D. versions of the 1661 “KJV,” the books of “First & Second Maccabees” were taken out.  However, these books may be of value in better understanding “the abomination of desolation.”  Specifically, that it is a dual prophecy.  Fulfilled in 70 A.D. about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the coming destruction of God’s Law.

 

 

EVIDENCE

 

 

In support of the Books of the Bible, Protestants support now, after speaking of the prophets as writing their histories, “through the inspiration of God,” Josephus says:  “For we have not myriads of discordant and conflicting books, but 22 only, comprising the record of all time, and justly accredited as Divine.  Of these, 5 are books of Moses, which embrace the Laws and the traditions of mankind until his own death, a period of almost 3,000 years.  From the death of Moses till the reign of Artaxerxes, the successor of Xerxes, king of Persia, the prophets who followed Moses narrated the events of their time into 13 Books.”

 

The remaining four (4) Books consist of hymns to God, and maxims of conduct for men.  From Artaxerxes, “to our own age, the history has been written in detail, but it is not esteemed worthy of the same credit, on account of the exact succession of the prophets having been no longer maintained.”  Josephus goes on to declare that, in this long interval, “no one has dared either to add anything to (the writings), or to take anything from them, or to alter anything,” and speaks of Them as, “the decrees (dogmata) of God,” for which the Jews would willingly die.

 

Philo (20 B.C. - 50 A.D.) uses similar strong language about the “Law of Moses” (in “Eusebius,” Pr. Ev., VIII, 6).  “In this enumeration of Josephus, it will be seen that the Jewish sacred Books -- 39 in our Bible -- are reckoned as 22 (after the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet), namely, 5 of the Law, 13 of the prophets, and 4 remaining Books.  These last 4 are the Books or Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastics.  The middle class includes all the historical and prophetical Books, likewise Job, and the reduction in the number from 30 to 13, is explained by Judges-Ruth being cataloged together into one Book; while First and Second Samuel being cataloged together into one Book with Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Jeremiah-Lamentations.  Also, the 12 Minor Prophets are each counted as one Book.  In his 22 Books therefore, Josephus includes all those in the present Hebrew Canon, and none besides; not even the books known as the Apocrypha, though he was acquainted with and used some of them.”

 

The issue came to a head when certain teachings (mentioned later) of the “Apocryphal Books” were rejected by Reformers within the Roman Catholic church itself (such as Luther), and could not be proven by neither the Jewish Bible nor the New Testament.

 

In order to protect such teachings that sustain the Roman Catholic church, in April of 1546 A.D., the fourth sitting of the “Council of Trent” decreed that the “Apocryphal Books” were of canonical value and equal in authority to the other Books of sacred Scripture.  And to make the decree effective, they added:  “If anyone does not accept as sacred and canonical the aforesaid books in their entirety and with all their parts, as they have been accustomed to be read in the [Roman] Catholic Church and as they are contained in the old Latin Vulgate Edition. . . let him be anathema.”  “Canon and Decrees of the Council of Trent,” H.J. Schroeder, translated (Rockford, Ill.; “Tan Books,” 1978), page 18.

 

However, even the Roman Catholic church cannot agree as to the inspiration of these books.  Before the “Council of Trent,” the book of “Baruch” was not received as Canonical in the additional materials placed within the “Latin Vulgate;” while “1 & 2 Esdras” and “The Prayer of Manasseh” books were.  By contrast, after the “Council of Trent,” the book of “Baruch” was canonized; while “1 & 2 Esdras” and “The Prayer of Manasseh” were not.  Just to clarify, the books found in the “Latin Vulgate” today are, “1 & 2 Esdras,” which is really mostly the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah.  For the “Latin Vulgate” versions that have “3 & 4 Esdras” (or [4] “Apocalyptic Esdras”), these books are really “1 & 2 Esdras.”  How confusing must we get to hide something?

 

 

WHAT ARE THOSE TEACHINGS

(Gnostic Gospels Included below)

 

THE BOOK OF BARNABAS

 

The The book of “Barnabas,” in 10:7, we read, “Because this animal changeth its nature year by year, and becometh at one time male and at another female.”  And if we continue on the verse 8, it calls any woman with a “mouth” “impure.”  Here it is, “. . .neither shalt thou cleave unto impure women who work iniquity with their mouth.  For this animal [women] conceiveth with its mouth.”

 

THE BOOK OF BEN SIRA

 

In “Ben Sira,” 3:3, we read, “Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins.”

 

In “Ben Sira,” 25:26, we read, speaking of wives that do not obey every whim of the husband, such as Muslims teach, you can “give her a bill of divorce[ment].”

 

In the same book (Ecclesiasticus), listed as “Ben Sira,” 32:23, it states, “In every good work trust thy own soul:  for this is the keeping of the commandments.”  See Proverbs 3:5-7 & 28:26.

 

THE BOOKS OF ECCLUS AND TOBIT

 

The “APOCRYPHA” teaches, and so do papists, that a man can justify himself and make atonement for his sins by his own works (Tobit 12:8-9; Ecclus 3:3 & 30; 35:3).

 

THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTIOUS

 

In the book “Ecclesiastious,” sometimes called “The Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira,” Biblical Soteriology (salvation) is compromised, in that almsgiving makes atonement for sin.

 

In the book “Ecclesiasticus,” 3:30, we read, “alms maketh an atonement for sins.”

 

THE BOOK OF ENOCH

 

In 1 Enoch 6:1-2,  we have, “[1] And it came to pas when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. [2] And the angels, the children of the Heaven, saw and lusted after them and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ ”

 

Therefore, the book of “Enoch,” teaches that fallen angels saw daughters of men, had intercourse with them, and produced the Nephilim.  This lie, because angels do not procreate (Mark 12:25), has been introduced into Christendom (dumb), using falsely Genesis 6:1-4.  See my Bible Study:  “SONS OF GOD, THE TRUE.”

 

The book of “Enoch” also teaches that only angels communicate to men the Will of God.

 

THE BOOK OF JUDITH

 

In “Judith” 1:1 we read, “It was the twelfth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled over the Assyrians in the great city of Nineveh.  In those days Arphaxad ruled over the Medes in Ecbatana.”

NOTE:  It can’t get even history right.

 

The book of “Judith,” in 9, teaches you to pray like her when she prays, “By the deceit of my lips, strike down slave together with ruler, and ruler together with attendant.  Crush their arrogance by the hand of a female.

 

“Let my deceitful words wound and bruise those who have planned dire things against your covenant.”

 

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS

 

From the “Gospel of Thomas,” we read in Chapter 114, “Look, I shall guide her to make here male, so that she too my become a living spirit resembling you ,males.  For every female who makes herself male will enter heaven’s kingdom.”

​

THE BOOK OF MACCABEES

 

The book of “Maccabees” teaches praying for the dead in purgatory (2 Maccabees 12:43-46).

 

In the book of “Maccabees,” it teaches that when resurrected you will be greated by “Abraham and Isaac and Jacob,” not Christ (4 Maccabees 13:17).

 

From 12 Maccabees 15:39-40 we read, “For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other, so if the speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers.”

 

THE BOOK OF THE PRAYER OF MANASSEH

 

In “The Prayer of Manasseh,” the view is expressed that certain sinless men need no repentance (see Rom. 3:23).

 

In the book, the “Prayer of Manasses,” 1:8, it teaches that “Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against Thee.” See Romans 3:23.

 

THE BOOK OF THE SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES

 

In “The Second Book of the Maccabees,” we find the inculcating doctrinal error of praying for the dead.  A tradition carried on and picked up by Mormons.  Here is the quote in 2 Maccabees 12:44-46, “And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead). . . It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”

NOTE:  What sets us free from sin?  See Ephesians 1:7; First John 1:7; Revelation 1:5.

 

THE BOOK OF TOBIT

 

From “Tobit” 6:4-8, “RSV,” we read, “Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take out its heart and liver and gall and put them away safely’. . . The angel said, ‘If a demon or evil spirit gives trouble, you make a smoke from these before the man or woman, and that person will never be troubled again.’ ”

 

The “APOCRYPHA” teaches, and so do papists, that a man can justify himself and make atonement for his sins by his own works (Tobit 12:8-9; Ecclus 3:3 & 30; 35:3).

 

In the “Book of Tobit,” 4:11, the gift of “alms” can “deliver” one “from all sin, and from death.” The same is found in “Tobit 12:9,” “For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins.”

 

The Bible condemns and forbids magical incantations (Lev. 19:26; Deu. 18:10-14), while the “Apocrypha” teaches that an angel of God gave directions for such incantations (Tobit 6:1-8).  The same angel lied by saying he was a kinsman to Tobit (Tobit 5:12).  The only angels that lie are known to Christians as Demons.

NOTE:  See Deuteronomy 18:10-11.

 

THE BOOK OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

 

In “The Wisdom of Solomon,” the book falsely teaches that God used pre-existent matter during the creation of the world; and it teaches the pre-existence of souls.

 

In 7:24-25 we read, “[24] For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. [25] For she is a breath of the power of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her.”

NOTE: According to First Corinthians 1:24, Christ is the wisdom of God.  But here, wisdom is attributed as a personage other than Christ.

 

In the book “The Wisdom of Solomon,” 8:20, it states, “being good [there is none “good” but God, Mat. 19:17 & Mark 10:18], I came into a body undefiled.”

 

In 8:19-20 & 9:15, we read, “[8:19] As a child I was naturally gifted, and a good soul fell to my lot; [8:20] or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body.”

NOTE:  There is none “good” but God.  Plus the “soul” is misunderstood (see below).

“[9:15] For a perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.”

NOTE:  Sounds good at first take; but it is incorrect as to what comprises a Biblical “soul.” See Genesis 2:7.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

 

NONE of these teachings are to be found in the original (Hebrew) Jewish writings, nor in the original “Greek New Testament.” Therefore, why confuse oneself with conflicting ideas contrary to the true written Word of God.  In other words, reader be-ware.

 

From 1LtMs, Ms 4, 1850, paragraph 13, we read, “I saw that the Apocrypha was the hidden book [secretive], and that the wise of these last days should understand it [that it is?  Misleading?  Evil?].  I saw that the Bible was the Standard Book, that will judge us at the last day.”

 

“To the Law and to the Testimony:  if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.