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Apocrypha

What is your view about the Apocrypha?

Apocrypha means 'hidden things' in Greek. The Apocryphical books of the Bible fall into two categories: texts which were included in some canonical version of the Bible at some point, and other texts of a Biblical nature which have never been canonical.

Should they be included in every standard version of the Bible? Why or why not? Here is a list of some of the Books:

The First Book of Adam and Eve
The Second Book of Adam and Eve
The Book of the Secrets of Enoch
The Psalms of Solomon
The Odes of Solomon
The Letter of Aristeas
Fourth Book of Maccabees
The Story of Ahikar
The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Testament of Reuben
Testament of Simeon
Testament of Levi
The Testament of Judah
The Testament of Issachar
The Testament of Zebulun
The Testament of Dan
The Testament of Naphtali
The Testament Of Gad
The Testament of Asher
The Testament of Joseph
The Testament of Benjamin

Here is a good reference site about the Apocrypha:
https://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/

Apocrypha

I would personally include them if their translation could be considered accurate. There are already enough mistranslations in the current King James Version that adding this might only add to the 'confusing' parts rather than enhance it.

Offtopic but, I have always meant to read the Apocrypha, but never got around to it. I think I will have to make this a goal.

Apocrypha Revealed Bible The

Who made the original decision to include/not include any of the books of the current bible? How was it determined that the Apocrypha were not canonical?

It would be my inclination to include them, particularly books devoted to the life of Jesus Christ, prophecies about Christ and the latter days, revelations from prophets, etc.

Offtopic but, I would also be inclined to include the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi library as scripture.

In my opinion, of course.
Roz

Apocrypha

Well, actually you would have to specify what you mean by 'current Bible' since there are Bibles (mainly Catholic) that do include some of the Books Neo listed. As for why it is not in the KJV - I believe it was just because KJ's Court of scribes did not have access to them at the time because they (the Apocrypha) was not accepted by the Jews, but that is pure speculation on my part.

Apocrypha

Some of these books such as the first books of adam and eve, have always been known as books of stories and poetry as opposed to real accounts. That is why some are not canonical. There are literally hundreds of writings left out of the Bible, including ones that are refered to by the apostle Paul. A good place to start to find what wasnt burnt is:
https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/ and
https://reluctant-messenger.com/lost_forgotten_books.htm

Apocrypha

The Books that are in our current KJV Bible were selected in the Council of Nicea about 300 a.d., The Catholic church selected certain ones, the rest were thrown out. The Apocrypha was originally held in High regard, the word Apocrypha meaning hidden books was considered to be very sacred and only certain people were allowed to read them because the church felt that not everyone was ready for them because they held sacred teachings.

In the Council of Nicea, many didn't want the Book of Revelation in it due to the belief that it was too scary for readers.

If you want the information pick up a copy of The world and the Prophets or on audio disks, "Time Vindicates the Prophets." By Hugh Nibley

Apocrypha

I hate to disagreed, but this is a false statement based on legend and belief of the later church era. Indeed, the Council of Nicea disagreed on so much of the books that should have been included, that they could only come up with a basic creed regarding all christians. In fact, 18 bishops at that council disagreed with the creed as we know it and completely refused to sign it, that is, until Constantine forced them to sign it on penalty of death.

Over the next sixty years, bishops and various christian sects disagreed on the basic doctrines and dogma's so much that the Emperor was completely fed up with them. While he himself was obviously not a devout christian, using christ's name to conquer and usurp various rulers with who he had treaties with, he demanded a single book of dogma that would encompass the whole of the faith. In that moment, it became imperative that a "Bible" be created, and Constantine ordered between eight and twelve copies to be created. It was not as important what was in it, but rather, that it be in existence to display in Constantinople in Constantines grand new churches.

Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria was the one selected to pick the books and produce a Bible for the Emperor. There was no council that decided, it was one man with a dead line who did not want to upset the balance of christian sects that ran from believing full deity of Christ to Jesus being just a man blessed by God at baptism. All of these sects ran plentiful at the time which is why it took so long for a complete doctrine to be formed. Neither group wanted to give up their own beliefs. Thus many of the books from one group, accepted certain scriptures as divine, and other groups accepted different scriptures as divine.

Bishops fought for years later over which books should be in and out, and in fact, Revelation is not questioned because it is scary, but because a large majority of the christian sects wrote that it was indeed heretical in nature, pitting itself directly against a loving God of mercy. Many books of the Apocrypha were accepted, even quoted in the canonical books, but never accepted into the canon due to personal beliefs. In fact, the Book of Enoch is referenced several times in the new testament in Hebrews, Jude, and the letters attributed to John. But the arguments went un heard. These writings have been preserve by the likes of many christian bishops, such as the church father Eusibias and Valentinus and several codexs that were not burned later by the church.

In the end, the stability of christianity required a unified front in the face of a dying monarchy in Rome and thus never made any of the changes that any other bishop or sect would have desired. What we have today is the culmination of one man's attempt to please an Emperor. In fact, truth be told, many of the early church sects, including Marcion (later deemed a heretic) did not want the old testament in the Bible, stating that the cruel God of the old testament, could not be the loving God of Jesus. Thus any books either not known to or accepted by Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria were not to be put in the Bible, or left out as may be the case.

Edited: konquererz on 17th Mar, 2006 - 2:06am

Apocrypha The Bible Revealed

Konquererz From your post #81407 on Apocrypha

It took me years of research to come to that idea and find the reason for it. How did you happen to come up with it? Did you read it somewhere, or is your own idea?