What are the…
apocrypha

Greek: apo—“sprung from, descended from” + kryptein—“hidden; obscure, hard to understand,” thus of hidden or unknown authorship —meaning: spurious, writings that are not considered genuine and therefore not part of authentic Scripture; not approved

Singular form: Apocryphon

Apocryphal = of doubtful authenticity; spurious writings

In modern times, some have deceptively referred to these many books as “the Lost Books of the Bible.” Nothing could be further from the truth. These books have not been lost; Christians and Jews have always known about them. The commonly accepted correct name is “the apocrypha”—writings that have come from hidden or unknown authors.

This name is given to certain ancient writings which found a place in the Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament used by Catholics today. When examined with discernment and thorough understand of what actual Scripture says, it is obvious that they are part of Satan’s often effective plan to confuse and deceive the naive and uninformed.

They are NOT accepted as Scripture by Protestants or Jews. Unfortunately, some were appended to Bible translations in the 16th century. However, they should not be regarded in any sense as parts of the true inspired Word of God or true Divine revelation.

Why rejected?

  1. Their actual authorship is unknown and undiscoverable, and their true origins doubtful.

  2. The authority of our Lord and his Apostles confirmed the ordinary Jewish canon of Scripture, which was the same as we have today.

  3. In His wisdom, God proved the identity and authority of the true Apostles of Christ through numerous miracles, signs and wonders. That was the whole purpose of those thousands of miracles. And that is why those signs ended once their authority was amply established and God’s inspired Word was complete.

  4. The Apostles knew about them, but did not use them. They are not once quoted by the New Testament writers, who frequently quote from the rest of Septuagint.

  5. These books were written not in Hebrew but in Greek, and during the “period of silence,” from the time of Malachi, after which direct revelations from God ceased till the Christian era.

  6. The contents of the books themselves show that they are not part of Scripture.

Partial list of Old Testament times apocrypha

Even ancient Jewish writers and rabbis did not accept them as Scripture.

Partial list of New Testament times Apocrypha

They are very many of these deceptive books and they contain clear evidences of their NON-apostolic origin. These writings are utterly unworthy of regard.

More information

The Web Bible
Visit our on-line Bible and study center
Article Version: March 19, 2021