The Encyclopedia of Lost and Rejected Scriptures: The Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha - Section One - Lost Scriptures of the Old Testament - First Book of Adam and Eve, Second Book of Adam and Eve, First Book of Enoch, Second Book of Enoch (Secrets of Enoch), Third Book of Enoch (Hebrew Enoch), Jubilees, Jasher - Section Two - Apocalyptic Writings and the End of Days - Apocalypse of Abraham. A: The Apocrypha is rejected from the canon of Scripture for numerous reasons. Besides the fact that Jesus and the apostles never once quoted from it; and aside from its obvious lack of inspiration and anointing (it 'just doesn't sound like' scripture; 'My sheep hear My voice,' John 10; etc.) – there are many solid reasons for rejecting its contents from being included with the canonical. Many ancient Jews rejected the Apocrypha as Scripture. Philo never quoted the Apocrypha as Scripture. Josephus explicitly rejected the Apocrypha and listed the Hebrew Canon to be 22 books. 3 There are various divisions of the Hebrew canon. The Protestant Old Testament Canon contains 39 books while the Hebrew canon has 22 or 24.
Old Slavonic 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.
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
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?
Bible In Old Church Slavonic
It has also been noted that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox hold to differing Apocrypha as canonical for their Bibles. The Orthodox version also contains 1 Esdras, 3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees, and Psalm 151. So, who decides which books are Spirit inspired and Biblically canonical? If you do not trust the testimony of Jesus Christ Himself, who will you trust?
Slavonic Apocrypha I Rejected Scriptures Verses
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