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In your opinion, what is the role and importance of the Apocrypha?
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10 Replies
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These writings were not chosen to be included in the makeup of the Bible but were included in the canon. We may gain knowledge in our personal readings of them.
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The apocrypha gives us information about how the people lived and what influences they were exposed to.
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This is an area I want to study more. I feel the role is to support and expand certain themes from canonical texts.
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Apocrypha is the set of writing which was not included in the canon because of a noticeable shortcoming. Although, the are not part of the canon yet they furnish us with information in regard to culture and traditional background to the books of Old Testament canon. Through the light of apocrypha, the events during the Inter-testament period would have been shrouded in mystery. Through apocrypha the truth in the canonical Old Testament books are established.
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I believe the Apocrypha is non-canonical, i.e. it does not carry the inspiration, inerrancy and authority of true Scripture. However, its value is like other extrabiblical material in providing background information, particularly about the folk religion of the Jews in Biblical times, especially in the intertestamental interlude. Just like the Hebrews in the Divided Kingdom practised syncretism by merging Judaism and Canaanite religions, I believe the returned exiles practised syncretism, mixing the law of God with popular legends and superstitions, as well as their aspirations for national freedom and victory. These beliefs are reflected in the Apocrypha. They were not all true, but the common folk truly believed them, and that explains their behaviour. An example is the book of Tobit which claimed that the archangel Raphael healed Tobit using fish gall. This could have led to the common folk believing that Raphael would stir the waters of the pool of Bethesda sporadically and heal the first person who jumped into the pool. This explains why the ill and the disabled gathered around the pool in Jesus’ time (John 5:1-7). Likewise, the historical books 1 and 2 Maccabees help us to understand how the nationalistic spirit had escalated up to Jesus’ time, causing them to expect their Messiah to overthrow Rome.
#Apocrypha
