If you compare a Catholic Bible with most Protestant Bibles used in India, you will notice that the Catholic Bible has more books in its Old Testament. These additional books are often called the Apocrypha by Protestants and the deuterocanonical books by Catholics. This article explains what they are and why Christians view them differently.
What does "Apocrypha" mean?
Apocrypha comes from a Greek word meaning "hidden". In Protestant usage it refers to a group of Jewish writings, mostly composed in the centuries between the Old and New Testaments, that are not part of the Hebrew Bible. Catholics prefer the term deuterocanonical, meaning "second canon" — books recognised as Scripture at a later stage.
Which books are included?
The books usually listed in the Apocrypha include:
- Tobit
- Judith
- Additions to Esther
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus)
- Baruch (including the Letter of Jeremiah)
- Additions to Daniel — the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon
- 1 and 2 Maccabees
Orthodox Bibles include some further writings, such as 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees and the Prayer of Manasseh.
What are these books about?
They contain several kinds of writing:
- History: 1 and 2 Maccabees describe the Jewish revolt against the Greek ruler Antiochus IV in the second century BC. The rededication of the temple in this period is remembered at the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which is mentioned in John 10:22 as "the feast of the dedication".
- Stories: Tobit and Judith tell of faithfulness and God's care.
- Wisdom: Sirach and the Wisdom of Solomon are collections of reflections similar in style to Proverbs.
Why do Christian traditions disagree?
The difference goes back to the early centuries:
- These books were included in many copies of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament used widely by early Christians.
- They were not part of the Hebrew Bible accepted by the Jewish community.
- Early Christian scholars differed. Jerome, who translated the Latin Vulgate around AD 400, distinguished these books from the Hebrew Scriptures, while others such as Augustine treated them as Scripture.
At the time of the Reformation in the 16th century, Protestant leaders returned to the Hebrew canon for the Old Testament. Martin Luther included the Apocrypha in his German Bible but placed it in a separate section, describing these books as useful to read but not equal to Scripture. The Catholic Church, at the Council of Trent in 1546, formally affirmed the deuterocanonical books as part of the Old Testament.
Did the King James Bible include the Apocrypha?
Yes. The original 1611 King James Version printed the Apocrypha as a separate section between the Old and New Testaments. Over time, many Protestant printings left it out, and most KJV Bibles sold today do not include it. Some editions still do — check the product details if you need one.
How should Protestants view these books?
Many Protestants regard the Apocrypha as valuable historical and devotional literature that helps us understand the Jewish world between the testaments, but not as Scripture with authority equal to the 66 books. Catholics and Orthodox Christians accept the deuterocanonical books as part of the inspired Old Testament.
Which Bible should I buy?
- Most Protestant churches in India use Bibles without the Apocrypha, including most Bible Society of India editions.
- Catholic Bibles, such as editions approved for Catholic use, include the deuterocanonical books.
- Some study Bibles and the NRSV are available in editions with the Apocrypha for academic study.
Read more about the canon of Scripture and the NRSV and other translations.