Apocryphal books not included in Catholic Bibles
3 and 4 Maccabees
The books 3 and 4 Maccabees were written in Greek and conserved only in Constantinople by Orthodox Christians. They are not used or recognized by Catholics or Protestants.
The theme of these two books follows the details of martyrdoms among Jewish Maccabean followers, especially the martyrdom of Eleazar.
The mention of Simon the High Priest who was martyred in 134 BC dates the books to after this time, and the mention of martyrdom by being trampled by elephants may refer to an event which according to the historian Josephus took place under Ptolemy VIII Physcon some time between 146 and 117 BC.
The author of 3 and 4 Maccabees could have been Yeshua ben Sira’s grandson who went to Egypt in 132 BC. The reason for this connection is the insistence on the martyrdom of Eleazar to whom this author was related. The books are a repetition of the history given in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. 4 Maccabees original name was ‘On the Sovereignty of Reason’ as it was also about wisdom.
It is as well not to include 3 and 4 Maccabees in the Bible as they are a repetition of previous books.
The Book of Odes
The Book of Odes is a collection of songs taken from the Old and New Testaments to use in Eastern Orthodox liturgy. It is therefore not a Bible book.
Apocryphal Books of Value
1 and 2 Maccabees
These two books are historically valuable. Maccabees helps fill in the Second Temple time between the last of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament.
They show how Judaism formed during the centuries after the return from exile and how the Jewish nation survived in the years leading up to the coming of Christ.
The two books of Maccabees help fill the 400 year gap between the Old and New Testaments.
They give testimony to a strong belief in resurrection among those faithful to Judaism.
Extra parts of Bible books and additional books of Bible authors
There are extra Apocryphal chapters to the books of Daniel (chapters 13 and 14), Baruch has his own book called Baruch, and Ezra has 2 Esdras which is a messianic book with an evil empire appearing in the end times symbolized by a three-headed eagle. This final empire is overcome by the Messiah.
The additions to the book of Daniel: The Prayer of Azarias, Song of the Three Children, Susanna and the Elders, and Bel and the Dragon actually add a great deal of value and show the influence that Daniel had over Cyrus the Great who became a monotheist.
The book of Baruch has the letter sent by Jeremiah in Egypt to Baruch in Babylon. Ezra’s true messianic vision is revealed in books conserved by the church, but not conserved by Christian-era Jews.
Apocryphal books that should be excluded from the Bible are as follows:
- Book of Judith – due to it being attached to a pseudohistory
- Wisdom of Solomon – it is pseudo-epigrapha
- 3 and 4 Maccabees – repetition
- Book of Odes
Apocryphal books that should be included in the Bible canon:
- Book of Tobit
- Book of Sirach / Ecclesiasticus
1 and 2 Maccabees are valid as historical books allied to New Testament times.
I wrote that the authors of the Bible are represented by 24 elders who worship God in the book of Revelation. The Hebrew canon and Protestant Bibles only have 22 biblical authors. Two authors are missing. I suggest these two missing books are the book of Tobit and the book of Sirach. Both of these books are extremely valuable in their content.
The Apocryphal books found in conjunction with the Bible books among the Dead Sea Scrolls were Tobit and Sirach, as well as Baruch – an author already counted, and Psalm 151, a psalm of David already counted. Thus, the Dead Sea Scrolls complete the canon of 24 authors of the Bible.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls Psalm 151 and Sirach are written in Hebrew, while Tobit is written in Hebrew and Aramaic. Other Apocryphal books found elsewhere at different archaeological sites are written in Greek only. Thus, on account of the original language being of importance, Tobit and Sirach pass the test setting them apart from the other books of the Apocrypha.
Merry and True 