New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures vol. 2 A compilation of apocryphal Christian texts, many translated into English for the first time, with comprehensive introductions. This second volume of New Testament Apocrypha continues the work of the first by making available to English readers more apocryphal texts. These books are often valuable in linking the Old and New Testaments and are regarded in the Church as useful reading. The Apocrypha are mostly translated correctly but with incorrect interpolations, D&C 91:1–3. The Apocrypha can benefit those enlightened by the Spirit, D&C 91:4–6.
- And I saw till the Lord of the sheep brought a new house greater and loftier than that first, and set it up in the place of the first which had beer folded up: all its pillars were new, and its ornaments were new and larger than those of the first, the old one which He had taken away, and all the sheep were within it. 30 And I saw all the sheep.
- New Testament Apocrypha, first galley proofs February 19, 2016 1:23 PM New Testament Apocrypha More Noncanonical Scriptures Volume one Edited by Tony Burke and Brent Landau William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Grand Rapids, Michigan. Burke & Long, eds., New Testament Apocrypha, first galley proofs February 19, 2016 1:23 PM Burke & Long, eds.
The NET Bible was begun with the intention of ministering to as many people as possible by making the best study Bible ever written available for free on the Internet. Many website visitors will notice that draft versions of various books of the Apocrypha are now also available on the website. Since these are not considered canonical by a majority of Protestant churches, an explanation as to why we are including these books is warranted. Inclusion of the Apocrypha in future editions of the NET Bible is based on a desire to minister to as many different Christians in as many different Christian traditions as possible. Of all the major Christian traditions, the Protestant tradition is the only one to exclude all the books of the Old Testament Apocrypha from the canon. The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches (both Greek and Russian) accept some of them, although not the exact same ones. Our intention is to impact the body of Christ as a whole, not simply Protestant believers, and for the NET Bible to be acceptable to those different church traditions, the Apocrypha will be included.
By doing so we are not making any claim to canonical status for these books. We are simply acknowledging that they are an important part of many church traditions and that they have inherent value for understanding the historical and theological background to the New Testament. The Apocrypha provides understanding of the intertestamental period, and it provides understanding of the Judaism of Jesus’ day. To understand the New Testament, both of these areas must be understood well. Giving people access to the Apocryphal books with the same depth of notes as in the NET Bible Old and New Testament will help Bible readers understand the Old and New Testaments better than they have before.
Although no final decisions have been made, the printings of the NET Bible which include the Apocrypha will vary much as current Bible printings do. This is reflective of the different status accorded the books within each Christian tradition. Some editions of the NET Bible will be printed without the Apocrypha at all. In other editions of the NET Bible these books will be placed between the Old and New Testaments in their own distinct section just as a number of other Protestant Bibles have done (for example, the New English Bible, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and the King James Version for much of its history). It is also likely that some editions of the NET Bible will be printed with the books of the Apocrypha in the order used by Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. By providing these different editions, the editors and translators of the NET Bible desire to make the NET Bible useful to Christians in all traditions.
Many Protestants oppose the inclusion of the Apocrypha in the Bible, arguing that mere inclusion of the Apocrypha in the NET Bible is an implication that it is inspired scripture. A quick look at the NET Bible and many other published Bibles will show that Bibles include a great deal of material between their covers which would never be considered scripture: maps, study helps, applicational notes, poetry, etc. The NET Bible itself includes thousands of notes which explain the Biblical text, but they are not regarded as scripture. The guiding rule for inclusion of extra material is that it is material the editors believe will be helpful in understanding the inspired text of the Bible, and that is the attitude the NET Bible translators and editors are taking toward inclusion of the Apocrypha. These books are important for understanding the historical and theological background to the New Testament, and this is a worthy reason to include these books as a separate section within the pages of the NET Bible.
The Editors and Translators of the NET Bible
by Theodore Wright.
If the Apocrypha were Holy Writ for the Old Testament, it would have been penned in Hebrew/Aramaic. It would have been recognized commonly by Jews as Holy Scripture which it is not. The books of the Apocrypha were written afterwards in the Greek language before Messiah opened the Kingdom of God to the gentiles.
Jesus said…
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. – LUKE 11:50-51
The Old Testament canon is closed with Chronicles as the last book in the Hebrew Bible wherein is written of the murder of Zechariah between the altar and temple.
The Apocrypha, if actually quoted in The New Testament, is never quoted recognizing the work as Holy Scripture. Never are Apocryphal passages displayed saying, “It is written”. Therein is no recognition of Apocryphal quotes as being Holy Writ.
Jesus also said…
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
– LUKE 24:44-45
There is no mention by Jesus of Apocryphal writings as needing to be fulfilled about Him since these writings do not carry God’s authorship. The prophets who were prior to Apocrypha writers were held in authority. It is revealed through the words of the Holy Bible that Jesus Christ Himself denounced the Apocrypha.
The Apocrypha is written according to man’s worldly nature and spirit and not after the Spirit of God. Passages from these Deuterocanonical writings are often cited noting their contradiction with the gospel teachings of the New Testament. Other books in the New Testament are also quoted that are neither Apocrypha nor Old Testament. The presence of these quotes in the New Testament do not make the books they were quoted from Holy Scripture.
There is some legitimate history in some of the Apocrypha as in the Maccabean writings although faults have been found with historical accounts in Apocrypha. However, writings such as Judith are sheer fiction which depict the necessity of Daniel to resolve a dispute requiring the mere separation of witnesses for questioning. Did it require the wisdom of Daniel to know how to divide two men to question them in a matter in order to find resolution?
It has also been noted that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox hold to differing Apocrypha as canonical for their Bibles.
Apocryphal Books Of New Testament
New Testament Apocrypha Iirejected Scriptures Apocrypha
Find out more in depth why the Apocrypha is not the inspired word of God…
Why Were the Books of the Old Testament Apocrypha Rejected as Holy Scripture by the Protestants?
by Don Stewart