Why Isn't the Apocrypha part of the Bible?

Review of prior message: “The Perfect Word of God” -

Illustration:

While I was in college, I along with all of the student body had to watch a sermon that was preached by an late pastor/evangelist. His sermon was from . The sermon was emphasizing, “Things that are different are not the same.” In spite of the fact that the text of was not about that thought, it is no less true that “Things that are different are not the same.” The inspired word of God is not the same as the Apocrypha. No human institution has the right to make a body of books to become the word of God. Men can only discern or discover what are the inspired writings.

- There is a lesson in remembering God’s Providential Work:

(1) Every word is given -> as God’s provision to humbled people in need.

(2) Every word is given that we would know -> there are things we do not know.

(3) Every word is given that we would know what is at stake -> life is at stake.

(4) Every word is given that we would know something beyond the physical -> that we would not be solely focused on the physical but know the reality beyond bread only.

(5) Every word is given that we would believe the Father’s Word is the sustenance of life -> Man’s life depends upon the word of God.

“proceedeth” - utterance; place of departure - ,

The question is, “Do we have all of the word of God in 66 books or should we add the Apocrypha as the Catholic religion does?” Is this question even relevant?

(1) What is the Apocrypha? (meaning of word, what books included)

meaning of the word - things that are hidden

Includes 11 books or 11 pieces of literature.

The Catholic Church pronounced them to be part of the scriptures at the Council of Trent in 1546.

Reasons why some would include them:

Possible allusions to it - and )

Response: Never once a direct quotation. There are also citations of pagan poets, which is more than this; yet this does not make the poetry canonical.

Some of the early church fathers quoted and accepted it (Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria)

Response: Geisler “Citations by the church fathers in support of the canonicity of the Apocrypha are selective and misleading. While some Fathers seemed to accept their inspiration, other Fathers used them only for devotional or homiletical (preaching) purposes but did not accept them as canonical.” [Geisler, N. L. (2002). Systematic theology, volume one: introduction, Bible (p. 518). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.]

Citations by the church fathers in support of the canonicity of the Apocrypha are selective and misleading. While some Fathers seemed to accept their inspiration, other Fathers used them only for devotional or homiletical (preaching) purposes but did not accept them as canonical.

Geisler, N. L. (2002). Systematic theology, volume one: introduction, Bible (p. 518). Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.

(2) Why should we care about the addition of the Apocrypha? (when was it added and what are some details included)

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine A. The Old Testament Canon

In affirming the Apocrypha as within the canon, Roman Catholics would hold that the church has the authority to constitute a literary work as “Scripture,” while Protestants have held that the church cannot make something to be Scripture, but can only recognize what God has already caused to be written as his own words.

Illustration:

One analogy here would be to say that a police investigator can recognize counterfeit money as counterfeit and can recognize genuine money as genuine, but he cannot make counterfeit money to be genuine, nor can any declaration by any number of police make counterfeit money to be something it is not. Only the official treasury of a nation can make money that is real money; similarly, only God can make words to be his very words and worthy of inclusion in Scripture.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 59). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

These books were never accepted by the Jews as Scripture, but throughout the early history of the church there was a divided opinion on whether they should be part of Scripture or not. In fact, the earliest Christian evidence is decidedly against viewing the Apocrypha as Scripture, but the use of the Apocrypha gradually increased in some parts of the church until the time of the Reformation

Not included by Jews in canon - Grudem, “These books were never accepted by the Jews as Scripture, but throughout the early history of the church there was a divided opinion on whether they should be part of Scripture or not. In fact, the earliest Christian evidence is decidedly against viewing the Apocrypha as Scripture, but the use of the Apocrypha gradually increased in some parts of the church until the time of the Reformation.” [Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 57). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.]

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine A. The Old Testament Canon

The fact that these books were included by Jerome in his Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible (completed in A.D. 404) gave support to their inclusion, even though Jerome himself said they were not “books of the canon” but merely “books of the church” that were helpful and useful for believers.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 57). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Reaction to Luther and protesters - Grudem, “It was not until 1546, at the Council of Trent, that the Roman Catholic Church officially declared the Apocrypha to be part of the canon (with the exception of 1 and 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh). It is significant that the Council of Trent was the response of the Roman Catholic Church to the teachings of Martin Luther and the rapidly spreading Protestant Reformation, and the books of the Apocrypha contain support for the Catholic teaching...” [Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 59). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.]

It was not until 1546, at the Council of Trent, that the Roman Catholic Church officially declared the Apocrypha to be part of the canon (with the exception of 1 and 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh). It is significant that the Council of Trent was the response of the Roman Catholic Church to the teachings of Martin Luther and the rapidly spreading Protestant Reformation, and the books of the Apocrypha contain support for the Catholic teaching

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 59). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Doctrinal deviance (list three)

Purgatory - Prayers for the Dead -

Creation - Out of formless matter -

Salvation by works - ()

(3) What are some conclusive fundamental issues if the Apocrypha is added?

Inerrancy () - the scripture is without error. In the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact (Grudem).

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine A. The Meaning of Inerrancy

The definition in simple terms just means that the Bible always tells the truth and that it always tells the truth concerning everything it talks about.

First, to accept the Apocrypha

Justification by faith -

(4) How do these fundamental issues relate to every day living of people?

Most fundamentally, if someone knows that they can sin and then pay indulgences, say prayers, give to the poor, or do good deeds; then the power to save is in their own hands. [Illustration of what Spike Lee said about Senators burning for putting hands on Bible recently...]

This reveals a little view of God

This reveals a little view of sin

This reveals a weak view of salvation

What results are a people who consider themselves “good” because of things that they do socially and in spite of (in apparent/but not really, contradiction of their good) selfish, lustful, intentional pursuits

Illustration:

Recently, I was at a hospital. Having made the visit to one of the hurting folks, I was waiting in line to have my parking garage ticket validated. Directly in front of me was a mother with a young girl, and the little girl, who couldn’t have been more than 8 years old had in her hand a large cold, blended coffee drink. You could tell that she was enjoying the drink, and the hospital worker said to her, “Someone must have been a real good girl.” We live our lives in a culture that rewards good behavior. The danger with allowing this to creep into eternal matters is that the Bible makes clear that we cannot earn eternal life or merit with God. This leads to eternal damnation.

Worst of all, this potentially results in people who believe in Jesus Christ & their good works - as if they are covering all of the bases. This eliminates the exclusivity of Christ.

(5) How would this potentially be in conflict with ?

(1) God’s word does not really need to be trusted

(2) Man’s word becomes the measure of knowledge

(3) We live moral lives, treating God, Sin, Christ as nothing.

(4) We live as if the physical world is primary, though we talk of the spiritual.

(5) We don’t live with dependency upon the word of God but on the ability of man.

Concluding applications:

God’s Word deserves and demands full trust.

(1) Every word is given -> as God’s provision to humbled people in need. We should humbly trust every word of God.

(2) Every word is given that we would know -> there are things we do not know. We should be humbled as we approach the word of God.

(3) Every word is given that we would know what is at stake -> life is at stake. We should not trifle with the word of God, as if it is a toy.

(4) Every word is given that we would know something beyond the physical -> that we would not be solely focused on the physical but know the reality beyond bread only. We should know that this physical life is not all their is.

(5) Every word is given that we would believe the Father’s Word is the sustenance of life -> Man’s life depends upon the word of God.

“proceedeth” - utterance; place of departure - , We should depend upon every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Jesus fulfilled this mandate perfectly.

Jesus quoted and fulfilled the scriptures.

Only those who have Jesus alone are accepted with God.

Our activity should be practically good because of the position we already have.

Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled this.