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In your opinion, what is the role and importance of the Apocrypha?
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As long as the Scriptures as we have it, 66 books, Inspired by God, we can read them knowing they are portraying the truth, I believe then that reading The Apocrypha should not do any harm.
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They offer information on culture, beliefs, and practices, as well as historical views that can augment what is in the scriptures.
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Like Martin Luther, I believe that the Apocrypha gives us good intertestamental history. I adds to the books of canon but, I think, gives us more of an idea regarding the cultural, the traditions, the legends and traditions not mentioned in scripture. It doesn’t change the basis, the real meaning of the canon, just adds to it. I strongly believe that all of the books not included in the orginal Canon must be read with prayer, insight and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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The Apocrypha can be read as extra information about events or teachings in the Old Testament but they are probably not inspired Words of God because many seem to have been written years after the books they are supposedly related to.
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The role and importance of the Apocrypha is that it can be compared to the actual books in the Bible. In order to know that the Bible is truth and from God, there must be other books (that are not) to be able to compare it to. For example, for someone to appreciate “good times” they must know what “bad times” feel like. Similarly, for someone to understand and accept the Truth of God, they must have something that is not from God to compare it to.
