Index of the Apocrypha

PLEASE NOTE - The apocrypha is generally not accepted as a part of the bible. Scholars agree that the writings are either doubtful or intended to be fictional, and are mostly written in the wrong period to be authentic. The General Committee of the Bible Society, in London, determined in May of 1826 to wholly exclude the Apocrypha from their editions of the Sacred Scriptures. Personally, I do NOT profess these texts to be the "Word of God" but have found them to be interesting.

In the words of a scholar:
"Scholars and Biblical students have grouped certain apparently scriptural Old Testament writings, which they deem to be of doubtful authenticity or of a spurious nature, under the title of the Apocrypha. There has not always been agreement as to the specific writings which should be designated as apocryphal... These apocryphal writings were never included in the Hebrew Bible, but they were in the Greek Septuagint... and in the Latin Vulgate.... The Apocrypha was included in the King James Version of 1611, but by 1629 some English Bibles began to appear without it, and since the early part of the 19th century it has been excluded from almost all protestant Bibles."
      Bruce McConkie, 1979.

• First Esdras

  Reproduces Second Chronicals 33:1-36:23, the whole of Ezra, and Nehemiah 7:73-8:12. In addition there is the Tale of the Three Guardsmen (First Esdras 3:1-5:6). Written around 150BC.

• Second Esdras

  Seven apocalyptic revelations given to Ezra in Babylon. The book was written between 100AD and 300AD. The introduction and conclusions were additions written from a Christian viewpoint.

• Tobit

  Probably written around 200BC, this book is considered religious fiction about a Jew who kept the laws in exile (about 720BC).

• Judith

  Story of a Jewish widow who saved her people from an Assyrian commander.

• Additions to Esther

  Additions to the book of Esther added by an Egyptian Jew while translating the original Esther into Greek. Written in the first or second century BC.

• Wisdom of Solomon

  Written by an Egyptian Jew around 100BC this book was to help keep Egyptian Jews from falling from Judaism. It was also to teach pagans the truth about Judaism. The title was to attract a large audience.

• Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach

  Written by a Jewish scholar around 200BC this book explains the virtue of wisdom.

• Baruch

  Supposedly the work of Jeremiah's friend and secretary, Baruch, this book is thought to have been written by multiple authors, the most recent additions being in the first century.

• Letter of Jeremiah

  This is a sermon written by an unknown author around 300BC is based on Jeremiah 11:10. Many Greek (and hence English) translations attach this letter as the 6th chapter of Baruch.

• Prayer of Azariah

  This is an addition to Daniel inserted between verses 3:23 and 3:24. It was written during the first or second century BC. During the fiery furnace Azariah (Abednego) praises God. After the angel came to protect them the three men sing praises to God.

• Susanna

  Called "one of the great short stories of world literature" this book was written by an unknown author in the first or second century BC. An innocent wife is accused of adultery by two corrupt elders.

• Bel and the Dragon

  Written about 50BC this book was attached to the book of Daniel. This book tells of Daniel convincing the king of Persia that their Babylonian gods are false.

• Prayer of Manasseh

  Prayer of king Manasseh repenting of his reign's idolatry after being taken to Babylon (Second Chronicals 33:18-19). Probably written in the first or second century BC.

• First Maccabees

  Historical record of the year between Antiochus Epiphanes' ascent to the Syrian throne (175BC) and the death of Simon the Maccabee (135BC). This book tells of the Jewish resistance to Antiochus and the independance of the Jewish state brought about by the Maccabean wars.

• Second Maccabees

  A less historical account of 175BC to 160BC that runs parallel to First Maccabees. It claims to be an abridgement of a five volume history written by Jason of Cyrene (verses 2:19-23).