Apocrypha
Apocrypha refers to a collection of texts, particularly within the Judeo-Christian tradition, that are of uncertain or disputed origin and are not considered part of the canonical scriptures. The term, derived from the Greek word meaning "hidden," distinguishes these writings from accepted texts in religious traditions, such as the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Bible. While the canonical texts are universally recognized as legitimate, apocryphal works include various religious writings that have either been omitted from the Bible or lack clear authentication.
In the Old Testament context, notable apocryphal books include the First and Second Book of Esdras, the Book of Tobit, and the Book of Judith, each contributing historical or narrative perspectives that some scholars find valuable. Meanwhile, New Testament Apocrypha encompasses several gospels and writings that present alternative accounts of Jesus and early Christianity, though they often contain elements deemed incompatible with established scripture. The significance of the Apocrypha lies in its potential to enrich understanding of the historical and theological development of both Judaism and Christianity, even as opinions about their authenticity and relevance vary widely among scholars and theologians.
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Apocrypha
As a general term, apocrypha refers to written texts of debatable or suspect origin, especially when such texts are included in discussions pertaining to a well-established body of existing work. The opposing counterpart of an apocryphal text is a canonical text, which is a text that is universally accepted as a legitimate part of a body of work. For example, the First Folio edition of the collected plays of William Shakespeare lists thirty-six plays, while the Third Folio lists forty-three plays. The seven extra plays in the Third Folio are considered apocryphal, as there is doubt among experts as to whether Shakespeare contributed to these plays, and to what degree.
As a proper noun, Apocrypha specifically refers to religious books of the Judeo-Christian tradition that are not officially recognized as sacred. Apocrypha of both Jewish and Christian origin have influenced scholarly understanding and the historical development of both faiths.
Background
Apocrypha is derived from the Greek word apokryphos, which means "secret" or "hidden." The term itself is plural; when referring to a single Judeo-Christian religious text, Apocryphon is the most widely used term.
The canonical collection of sacred Jewish scriptures is known as the Tanakh, while its Christian counterpart is the Bible. The Christian Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament, which consists of a collection of ancient writings accepted by Christians as the word of God, and the New Testament, which details the life and works of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is based heavily on the Tanakh, while the New Testament is considered holy exclusively by Christians. Because of the great deal of overlap between the Tanakh and the Old Testament, most Old Testament Apocrypha is Jewish in origin. However, some Apocrypha first appeared in the Jewish faith tradition and were later built upon by early Christian writers, only to be eventually excluded from the canonical Bible. New Testament Apocrypha is entirely Christian in origin, with much of it appearing and evolving during the early history of the Roman Catholic Church.
The term noncanonical writings is sometimes used interchangeably with Apocrypha, but in actuality, there are subtle but important distinctions between the two concepts. Apocrypha is one of three major categories of noncanonical Judeo-Christian writings and documents, with the other two being pseudepigrapha and the deuterocanonical books. Pseudepigrapha are works of unknown or doubtful origin that were supposedly written by characters and personages appearing in the Tanakh and Old Testament. They exist outside both the universally accepted set of Judeo-Christian scriptures as well as the Apocrypha, and include psalms, hymns, apocalyptic visions, and anecdotes and legends about major Tanakh and Old Testament figures such as Enoch, Isaiah, and Moses. The deuterocanonical books belong to Christianity, and are made up of texts that were once included in canonical versions of the Bible, only to be omitted in subsequent editions. Most deuterocanonical books were cut from the Bible because they were deemed to lack divine authority, or because early Christian scholars were unable to verify their authenticity. The deuterocanonical books can alternately be considered as one type of Apocrypha, with the other type being Judeo-Christian texts that were never included in any officially sanctioned version of the Tanakh, Old Testament, or New Testament.
Overview
The Judeo-Christian body of Apocrypha includes dozens of different books as well as chapters of canonical books that are excluded from sanctioned versions of the Tanakh, Old Testament, and New Testament. Religious scholars generally agree that these apocryphal works hold historical value, particularly for bridging the gaps between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some are considered mostly authentic and correct, but influenced by human interpretation to a degree that makes them unsuitable for canonical inclusion. Others are deemed less valuable or largely irrelevant.
Major examples of Old Testament Apocrypha include the First and Second Book of Esdras, the Book of Tobit, the Book of Judith, the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Book of Baruch, among others. The First Book of Esdras recounts events that took place following the Siege of Jerusalem in 589 BCE–587 BCE. The canonical Book of Ezra and Book of Nehemiah both cover the same post-siege events. The Second Book of Esdras details a set of seven visions experienced by the Jewish scribe Ezra, who lived during the fifth century BCE. Many experts believe it was written shortly after the death of Jesus Christ that occurred centuries later. The Book of Tobit details the life of Tobit, a devoutly religious Jew said to have obtained supernatural powers from the angel Raphael that he used to fight demons. The Book of Judith describes an ill-fated romance involving a wealthy and beautiful widow named Judith. Scholars are practically unanimous in their evaluation of the Book of Judith as a work of pure fiction. The Book of the Wisdom of Solomon is presented as a lost teaching of the ancient King Solomon, but experts believe it was composed by Greek authors about one thousand years after Solomon's reign. Similarly, the Book of Baruch is apocryphal because it is believed to have been written many centuries after the life of Baruch, a Jewish scribe. It is a deuterocanonical Old Testament work that is referenced in numerous canonical passages of the New Testament.
New Testament Apocrypha includes several unsanctioned gospels, including the Gospel of the Twelve Apostles, the Gospel of St. Peter, the Gospel of St. Thomas, the Gospel of St. Bartholomew, the Gospel According to the Egyptians, and several others. In general, these gospels are omitted from the Christian canon because of their dubious authenticity or their incompatibility with accepted scripture. For example, the apocryphal Gospel of St. Thomas contains a fantastic account of the early life of Jesus Christ, presenting him as a wizardly child prodigy capable of miraculous feats that contradict the description of Christ's youth as told in the canonical Gospel of Luke. Other examples of New Testament Apocrypha cover the acts and deeds of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect who presided over the trial and crucifixion of Christ, which include various legends, alternate narratives, imaginings, and anecdotes of dubious accuracy. The canonical Acts of the Apostles also has apocryphal counterparts in both the Gnostic and Catholic traditions. Other Apocrypha of the New Testament includes noncanonical epistles, doctrinal works, and apocalyptic revelations such as the Apocalypse of Mary, which was written during the Middle Ages, and the controversial Apocalypse of Peter, which was widely considered authentic by early Christian authorities but was later excluded from church proceedings.
Bibliography
"Apocrypha." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/apocrypha. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Early, Joseph. A History of Christianity: An Introductory Survey. B&H Publishing Group, 2015.
Knight, Kevin. "Apocrypha." New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, www.newadvent.org/cathen/01601a.htm#III1. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Lumpkin, Joseph. The Encyclopedia of Lost and Rejected Scriptures: The Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha. Blounstville. Fifth Estate Inc., 2015.
"Noncanonical Literature." Wesley Center Online, wesley.nnu.edu/sermons-essays-books/noncanonical-literature/. Accessed 2 June 2017.
"Pseudepigrapha." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/pseudepigrapha. Accessed 2 June 2017.
Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church: From the 1st to the 20th Century. Delmarva Publications, 2014.
Solomon, Norman. Historical Dictionary of Judaism. Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.