Apocrypha: Hidden, spurious, the name given to certain ancient books which found
a place in the LXX. and Latin Vulgate versions of the Old Testament,
and were appended to all the great translations made from them in the
sixteenth century, but which have no claim to be regarded as in any
sense parts of the inspired Word.1. They are not once quoted by the New Testament writers, who
frequently quote from the LXX. Our Lord and his apostles
confirmed by their authority the ordinary Jewish canon, which
was the same in all respects as we now have it.
2. These books were written not in Hebrew but in Greek, and during
the "period of silence," from the time of Malachi, after which
oracles and direct revelations from God ceased till the
Christian era.
3. The contents of the books themselves show that they were no part
of Scripture. The Old Testament Apocrypha consists of fourteen
books, the chief of which are the Books of the Maccabees (q.v.),
the Books of Esdras, the Book of Wisdom, the Book of Baruch, the
Book of Esther, Ecclesiasticus, Tobit, Judith, etc. The New
Testament Apocrypha consists of a very extensive literature,
which bears distinct evidences of its non-apostolic origin, and
is utterly unworthy of regard.
