. Biblical books not regarded as inspired, and hence excluded from the sacred canon, appeared in the early Christian centuries in response to pious curiosity about Jesus, his family, and his companions. From the point of view of medieval literature,...

Jewish writings composed circa 250 B.C.E.-100 C.E. and found in the Greek translation of the Bible (Septuagint) but not incorporated in the biblical canon set out by the rabbis of the first centuries C.E. These books accordingly are included in the...

A collection of books largely preserved by the Church and incorporated into the Christian *Canon of Scripture. The Apocrypha includes *Esdras, *Tobit, *Judith, additions to *Esther, the *Wisdom of Solomon, *Ecclesiasticus, *Baruch, the *Song of the...

Apocrypha (from the Greek word ἀπόκρυφα, meaning "those having been hidden away"[1]) are texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned. In Judeo-Christian theology, the term apocrypha refers to any collection of...

David A. deSilva. Introducing the Apocrypha. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002. 430 pp. $27.99. Many evangelicals are unfamiliar with the OT Apocrypha, thinking that perhaps reading these books is forbidden, or at the very least, not particularly profitable. Unfortunately the Apocrypha is dismissed as...

Invitation to the Apocrypha by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1999. 222 pp. $16.00. ISBN 08028-4633-5. THIS MODEST VOLUME offers a basic introduction to the collection of intertestamental Jewish writings termed "apocrypha" by Protestants, and regarded as "deuterocanonical" by Roman Catholics...