What is the Apocrypha?
The use of the word Apocrypha became widespread after the Protestant Reformation that occurred in the 16 th century. It is a Greek that loosely translates to "the things that are hidden." It, therefore, means that the readings presented under the Apocrypha are either mysterious or esoteric. The Apocrypha consists of a collection of about 15 books. The characteristics of the writings include the fact that they possess wisdom literature and contain stories emanating from the Old Testament moments. They also contain prophecies and some historical documentation of the Jewish people during a time known as the intertestamental period. Examples of the books include Tobit, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Esdras, and Wisdom (McDowell, 2017).
Why Is The Apocrypha Historically Significant?
The significance of the Apocrypha stems from the fact that it is regarded as literature containing the covenant that people had with God. Furthermore, it includes the history of the Jews people and documents the conflicts between various tribes prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. It further fills in the blanks and provides vital information regarding what happened in the centuries spanning between the books of Malachi and Mathew (Charlesworth, 2018). It would be difficult to take note of the martyrs and the sacrifices they made in defending their faith without the input of these books. Despite their significance, they are not included as part of the Christian Bible.
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Why Was The Apocrypha Not Included In What We Know Today As The Christian Bible?
The first reason for their non-inclusion in the Bible is the fact that it advocates for different practices and doctrines from the Holy Book. For instance, the Apocrypha teaches that work can save a person even though the Bible clearly asserts that it is only through faith that one is saved. The information recorded in the books fundamentally contradicts the Holy Bible (McDowell, 2017). For instance, the Apocrypha teaches about purgatory, a place perceived to be between heaven and hell. However, the Bible maintains that there is only heaven and hell.
References
Charlesworth, J. (2018). Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, context, and significance . Baker Books.
McDowell, G. (2017). New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Apocrypha , 28 , 241-252.
