I. The Apocryphal Books as such.
A. Today we know little about them.
1. Originally were printed in the Bible in smaller print; some pulpit Bibles yet do this.
2. But the contents are rather unknown.
B. Meaning of the term:
1. “Apocryphal” means “hidden” or “obscure”.
2. This could be understood in various ways:
a. Their origin or source is hidden.
b. The meaning of the books themselves can be unclear and thus “hidden.”
c. Or, hidden in the sense that these books are not readily available.
IIT. We reject the Apocryphal books as inspired, canonical books.
A. First, because this has always been done in the church.
1. The Jews did not include these books in their Canon of the Old Testament (although the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the O.T., did).
2. Christ and the apostles did not quote from them (even though they often did quote from the Septuagint which included those books).
3. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin rejected them.
4. The early church councils rejected them (Laodicea in 364 A.D. and Constantinople 681)
5. Only the R.C. Council of Trent (1545-1565) recognized them and declared them to be canonical.
B. Secondly, the internal evidence in these books reveal them to be not inspired.
1. They contain errors and fantastic events.
2. There is conflict bwtween them and Scripture and within the books themselves.
3. They were written after the prophecy of the O.T. was completed (Mal. 4:4-6).
4. Most important, there is no emphasis upon that central line of the covenant and the fulfillment of promise.
III. The benefit of these books:
A. They have a certain historical value and can be read profitably.
B. But they can not be used to prove points of faith–nor may they detract in any way from Scripture.
C. Thus they are regarded as any other book written by man.
Worksheet
A. Supplementary reading: Try to find a copy of, and read some of, the Aprtryphal Books.
B. Questions for study and consideration:
1. Can you find contradictions or distortions of truth in these books?
2. What false doctrine or doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church is supported by instruction from these books?
3. On what basis does the Roman Catholic Church declare that these books are also part of the Scriptures of God?
4. Should not the book of Esther be included with these Apocryphal Books? How many times is the name of God (or Christ) mentioned in the book?
5. Are there also books written during the New Testament period which are also “Apocryphal” that is, that were recognized by some as Scripture but have since been discarded?