Ps. 119:49-56, The Rejection of the Apocrypha

“The Apocrypha” refers to a collection of writings related to the Old Testament that are included in the Catholic version of the Scriptures.  These were written in the “inter-testamental” period and were not considered to be Scripture by non-Catholics.  Why?

Reasons for Rejecting the Apocrypha as Canonical

by H. S. Miller, General Biblical Introduction

  1.  It is universally acknowledged they never had a place in the Hebrew Canon.

  2.  They are never quoted in the NT.

  3.  Josephus expressly excludes them.

  4.  Philo, the great Jewish philosopher of Alexandria, never quoted from them or even mentioned them.

  5.  They are never found in any catalogue of canonical books made during the first four centuries AD.

  6.  Jerome rejected the Apocrypha emphatically.

  7.  Divine inspiration is claimed by none of the writers, and in fact disclaimed by some.

  8.  They are entirely without the true prophetic element; the "succession of prophets" had ceased.

  9.  The books contain many errors and distortions of Old Testament narratives.

10.  They teach doctrines & uphold practices which are contrary to Scripture.

11.  Weakness of style, stiffness, lack of originality, etc. in comparison with Scripture are noticeable.

12.  Much of the literature is legendary, the stories containing many absurdities.

13.  So-called miracles and deeds of supernatural beings contain much that is fabulous, grotesque and silly.

14.  The spiritual, and even the moral, level is, as a whole, far below that of the OT.

15.  The books were written much later than those of the OT, long after the canon was closed.

16.  Some were read for instruction but were not considered canonical.

17.  The Christian Church received the same OT canon of 39 books.

18.  The use of "Scripture" by Christ and Apostles indicated the OT Canon had long been fixed.

19.  While each canonical book in the OT had a "Targum" (a paraphrase for interpretation) no Apocryphal (with the possible exception of Tobit) had such a provision.

20.  The bottom line: these books simply are not on the same footing with the Law and the Prophets.