Why Do Some Bibles Include the Apocrypha?
The Apocrypha refers to a collection of ancient Jewish writings found in some versions of the Old Testament but absent from others. These books, such as Tobit, Wisdom of Solomon, and 1–2 Maccabees, were written between the close of the Old Testament canon and the coming of Christ. While valued by many for historical and devotional purposes, their status as Scripture has been debated for centuries.
Understanding why some Bibles include the Apocrypha requires examining the history of the biblical canon, the role of the Septuagint, and the theological convictions of different Christian traditions. This discussion will also consider how the presence or absence of these books affects the unity of the Gospel message and the authority of Scripture.
1. The Historical Background of the Apocrypha
The term “Apocrypha” comes from a Greek word meaning “hidden” or “secret.” These writings originated during the intertestamental period—roughly 400 years between Malachi and the birth of Christ. They reflect Jewish history, wisdom, and religious thought during a time of foreign domination, cultural blending, and spiritual expectation.
While the Hebrew-speaking Jewish community generally did not include these books in the recognized Old Testament Scriptures, many Greek-speaking Jews read them as part of the Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. This historical detail is crucial in understanding why some later Christian traditions accepted them.
2. The Septuagint and the Early Church
The Septuagint was widely used among Jews living in the Greek-speaking world and became a primary Old Testament source for the early church. The apostles and New Testament writers often quoted from the Septuagint, though notably, they did not cite the Apocrypha as Scripture.
Because the Septuagint was so influential, early Christians inherited copies that contained the Apocrypha. Over time, the presence of these books in the same scrolls or codices as canonical Scripture contributed to their being read in church gatherings. In some regions, the distinction between inspired and non-inspired writings blurred, leading to differences in how they were treated.
3. The Divergence of Jewish and Christian Canons
By the late first century, the Jewish community recognized a closed canon corresponding to the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible. The Apocrypha was valued for historical and devotional purposes but not regarded as divinely inspired.
In contrast, some branches of the early Christian church continued to read the Apocrypha in worship, especially in areas where the Greek Bible was dominant. This difference in practice eventually shaped the canon debates between various Christian traditions. For example, while Jerome (the translator of the Latin Vulgate) preferred the Hebrew canon, others, like Augustine, saw value in including the Apocrypha within the Scriptures used by the church.
4. The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Decisions
The inclusion of the Apocrypha in certain Bibles today is largely due to decisions made in later church history. The Roman Catholic Church formally recognized most of these books as Scripture at the Council of Trent in 1546. This decision came in part as a response to the Protestant Reformation, which had returned to the Hebrew canon and excluded the Apocrypha from the Old Testament.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also includes these writings, though the exact list varies by tradition. They are often referred to as “deuterocanonical” (second canon) to distinguish them from the universally recognized books, though Catholic teaching does not treat them as lesser in authority. The Etheopian Orthodox, for example, include the Book of 1 Enoch.
5. The Protestant Reformation and the Apocrypha
Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin rejected the Apocrypha as inspired Scripture, citing the fact that these books were not part of the Hebrew canon and that the New Testament does not treat them as authoritative. However, they did not dismiss the books entirely. Luther included them in his German Bible as “useful and good to read,” a practice followed in many early Protestant Bibles, including the 1611 King James Version.
Over time, most Protestant publishers removed the Apocrypha entirely, leaving only the universally recognized books of the Old and New Testaments. Today, some editions, such as the NRSV with Apocrypha, still print these books in a separate section for historical and study purposes.
6. The Theological Significance for the Gospel
The question of whether to include the Apocrypha is not merely historical—it has theological implications. Some books contain teachings that differ from the core message of salvation by grace through faith, such as Tobit’s view of almsgiving as a means of salvation (Tobit 12:9) or 2 Maccabees’ reference to prayers for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:44–45).
From a Gospel-centered perspective, the authority of the Bible rests on the inspired writings that bear unified witness to Christ. While the Apocrypha offers valuable historical insight—especially into Jewish life before the coming of Jesus—it does not carry the same divine authority as the Old and New Testaments. Recognizing this distinction safeguards the clarity and sufficiency of the Gospel message.
7. The Value and Limitations of the Apocrypha
Even without being considered Scripture, the Apocrypha remains valuable for understanding the historical, cultural, and spiritual climate in which the New Testament emerged. These writings illuminate Jewish resistance to foreign rule, reflections on wisdom, and the longing for God’s kingdom—background that enriches our reading of the Gospels and Acts.
However, their limitations must be acknowledged. The Apocrypha should be read with discernment, evaluated against the inspired Scriptures, and never used to establish doctrine apart from the clear teaching of the Bible.
Conclusion
Some Bibles include the Apocrypha because of the historical influence of the Septuagint, the practices of the early church, and later decisions by certain Christian traditions. While these writings provide important historical and devotional material, their authority differs from that of the inspired Scriptures recognized in the Hebrew canon and affirmed by the New Testament.
For those committed to the authority of the Bible as God’s Word, the Apocrypha can be appreciated for its historical value while maintaining the sufficiency of the Gospel as revealed in the canonical books. The God who inspired Scripture has preserved His message of salvation in Christ, and His people can read with confidence that the core of His Word is clear, unified, and trustworthy.
