A) WHY THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.

B) A LITTLE HISTORY.

C) EVIDENCE.

D) WHAT ARE THOSE TEACHINGS.

E) BOTTOM LINE.

 

 

A) WHY THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

 

 

It’s in the title “Apocrypha,” meaning “Dubious; Secret; or Strange.”

 

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].

 

The Jewish users of the “Septuagint,” such as Philo of Alexandria (B.C. 20 to 50 A.D.), do not quote from the Apocryphal books;” even though it and Philo do quote from the Canonical Books.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.”

 

 

B) 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.

 

 

C) 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 Mosestill 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?

 

 

D) WHAT ARE THOSE TEACHINGS

(Gnostic Gospels Included below)

 

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 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.”

 

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.

 

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 “Ecclesiasticu,” 3:30, we read, “alms maketh an atonement for sins.”

 

The book of “Enoch,” teaches that fallen angels (1 Enoch 6-8) 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.

 

From the “Gospel of Thomas,” we read in Chapter 114, “For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

 

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

 

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.

 

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, ans Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against Thee.”  See Romans 3:23.

 

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 “The Second Book of the Maccabees,” we also find the inculcating doctrinal error of praying for the dead.  At tradition carried on and picked up by Mormons.

 

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.”

 

In “Tobit,” 6:7, “a smoke” can scare away devils.

 

In the book “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.”

 

 

E) 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.

 

“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.