The books listed below are what known as the "apocrypha". What does apocrypha mean?
The American Heritage Dictionary 1 defines the word "apocrypha" as such:
1. Abbr. Apoc. Bible. The 14 books of the Septuagint included in the Vulgate but considered uncanonical by Protestants because they are not part of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Roman Catholic canon accepts 11 of these books and includes them in the Douay Bible.
2. Abbr. Apoc. Various early Christian writings proposed as additions to the New Testament but rejected by the major canons.
3. apocrypha. Writings or statements of questionable authorship or authenticity.
Middle English apocripha, not authentic, from Late Latin Apocrypha, the Apocrypha, from Greek Apokrupha, neuter pl. of apokruphos, secret, hidden, from apokruptein, to hide away : apo-, apo- + kruptein, kruph-, to hide
The King James Version of the Bible includes the following apocryphal books:
- 1 Esdras (Vulgate 3 Esdras)
- 2 Esdras (Vulgate 4 Esdras)
- Tobit
- Judith
- Rest of Esther (Vulgate Esther 10:4-16:24)
- Wisdom
- Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach)
- Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremy (all part of Vulgate Baruch)
- Song of the Three Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24-90)
- Story of Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13)
- The Idol Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14)
- Prayer of Manasses
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the following books:
- Tobit
- Judith
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Ecclesiasticus
- Baruch
- Greek Additions to Esther
- Greek Additions to Daniel
In addition to those, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches recognize the following:
- 3 Maccabees
- 1 Esdras i.e. Greek Ezra paraphrase
- Prayer of Manasseh
- Psalm 151 as part of the Psalter
Some other Eastern Orthodox Churches include a few others, typically:
- 2 Esdras i.e. Latin Esdras in the Russian and Georgian Bibles
- Odes
The Syriac Orthodox Church also includes:
- The Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch)
- The Letter of Baruch
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church also has some others such as:
- Jubilees
- Enoch
Footnotes
1. Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation; further reproduction and distribution in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved. [back]Endnotes
1. Hebrew book names courtesy of Artscroll Tanakh, © Copyright 1996 MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.Name transliterations courtesy of The Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern.
Name interpretations courtesy of "Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible".