The Hidden Books

When I wrote recently of the so-called silent years during what is known as the intertestamental period, the emphasis should be made on silence in the form of Scripture. The Greek word for Scripture is γραφή [graphe] [1] and in all about one case is used of Holy Scripture, that which is inspired of God.  “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV).

"Over the next four to six centuries, many other historical and religious documents pertaining to the Jews will be written. Therefore it cannot be said that there are no historical records of the Jews arising out of this period." [2]  This documents are called the Apocrypha. This also is from the Greek which means "secret, not approved for public reading"; or "hidden; obscure." [3]

About 14 writings form the Apocrypha.The books are: 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, Prayer of Manasseh, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees. "In the view of those who reject their inclusion in scriptural canon, the apocryphal writings do not meet the test of having originated from divine inspiration. The Apocrypha are never included in the Hebrew Old Testament, and the Jews do not accept these writings as part of their approved Scriptures. In fact, Hebrew manuscripts of most of the apocryphal writings are not even to be found." [2]

"Roman Catholics accept some of these books as part of the O.T., while the rest of the religious world has rejected them, insisting that the O.T. contains only the traditional thirty-nine books." [4] The  RC Church tends to find some its support for their aberrant doctrines of praying for the dead, praying to saints, worship of angels and penance in these books. 

Because of the historical and theological errors, the books must be viewed as fallible historical and religious documents, not as the inspired, authoritative Word of God.  "Not one passage from the Apocrypha is cited by any New Testament writer, nor did Jesus affirm any of it as He recognized the Old Testament canon of His era (cf. Luke 24:27, 44)." [5]

 

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1. Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
2. Smith, F. LaGard (2013-12-30). The Daily Bible® -- in Chronological Order (NIV®) (Kindle Locations 46298-46300). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
3. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Apocrypha
4. Criswell, W. A., Patterson, P., Clendenen, E. R., Akin, D. L., Chamberlin, M., Patterson, D. K., & Pogue, J. (Eds.). (1991). Believer’s Study Bible (electronic ed., Re 22:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5. MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. xv). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.