Apocryphal writings

by Ade 9 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Ade

  I have an interest in Apochryphal writings and would appreciate the thoughts of others who have read them and which ones you hold as inspired and that you personally would see in the bible.
  
  all the best
  Ade
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  Ironhead

  I must admit I like 1 Maccabees as it's considered by many scholars to reliable historically. I'm not sure whether it's inspired because the Jews never accepted it as being, but the origin of the festival of Hanukkah is first mentioned in this book.
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  fullofdoubtnow

  I have read some of the Apocryphal books in the Jerusalem bible, but it was a long time ago, and I can't recall much about it. There is a discussion on the Apocrypha at this link:

  http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/apo/

  I hope that helps
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  peacefulpete

  There is an artificial division between "Canonical" and "Apocraphal", such a distinction did not exist in the world of the Bible writers. This is clearly seen in the way they readily quoted from, or incoporated legends and characters only found in, works later deemed "apocryphal". Even when Catholic councils sought to draw some such lines they were resisted. The lines that Catholic eventually drew are different from those of the Eastern Orthodox or Nestorian branches as well as modern Protestant brands of Christianity. Within these groups there may be disagreement about degree of "inspiration".

  It is in fact impossible to understand the religious outlook of the NT writers without knowing the Intertestamental literature they were inspired by.
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  Narkissos

  Hi Ade,

  "Apocrypha" is a very broad term, especially in Protestant (including JWs') usage, since it includes:

  - the "Deuterocanonical" OT books which the Catholic church retained from the Greek Septuagint tradition;

  - a host of other Jewish writings usually ascribed to various OT characters such as Enoch or Ezra (= OT "Pseudepigrapha");

  - another host of Christian writings usually ascribed to NT characters (NT pseudepigrapha).

  You may read many of them (and/or read about them) on www.earlyjewishwritings.com and www.earlychristianwritings.com -- perhaps you might narrow down your question to a specific category of writings you are especially interested in.

  There is no doubt that some OT pseudepigrapha were regarded as "scripture" by some early Christian circles, as the formal quotation of 1Enoch in the epistle of Jude and many other NT allusions show.
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  heathen

  I suppose none would be more well known than the Apocolypses of John which is also known as Revelation . It is the most descriptive end time writing of any I've ever read but uses alot of symbolism that requires a spriritual relationship with God to understand anyway . Interpretations belong to God .
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  Mysterious

  Or else revelation was just a big acid trip of the era.
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  heathen

  I don't think it's an acid trip . Nobody sits around writing about acid trips .
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  peacefulpete

  I think you're confusing the words "Apocryphal" ,a generic label given many works not regarded as authentic, meaning of questionable authority, and "apocalyptic" which means to be about devastation and doom.
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  Geronimo

  I really like The Wisdom Of Jesus ben Sirach, or Ecclessiasticus. Plus First Maccabees. The Nag Hammadi Library is like the Bible in that it has some total junk and some really good stuff. The Gospel of Thomas is good. G