How to Study the Apocrypha (2024)

Church History

Logos Staff7 min readSeptember 12, 2021

In the time between the completion of the Old Testament and the writing of the New Testament, a number of Jewish texts were composed that continue to impact the Church today. Most were originally composed in Hebrew or Aramaic, although they have all been preserved in Greek as found in the old Greek codices, including Vaticanus, Alexandrinus, and Sinaiticus. Although many early Jews—including the authors of the New Testament—knew of the apocryphal writings, they are not cited by Philo or any of the apostles. The earliest example was probably written around 180 BC, and the latest around AD 100. Thus the Apocrypha function as a “bridge” between the last writings of the Old Testament, namely the Prophets, and the New Testament.

The apocryphal writings included in various denominational lists differ, but in general the list includes the following 21 texts:

Although little is known about the actual authorship, origins, or immediate historical contexts of the books of the Apocrypha, they do provide us with invaluable information regarding Jewish thought in the time leading up to the life of Jesus and the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. The books are unique in and of themselves, and while there is some overlap in terms of theological, sociological, and cultural themes, the differences are pronounced in terms of characters, plot, and length. So while both Tobit and Judith agree in their glowing portrayal of fidelity to God’s laws, the main characters and the actions they undertake to remain faithful to God are markedly different. Each book has special content and a unique message that must be considered when determining its value for informing biblical studies.

The Apocrypha are beneficial for biblical studies in three areas. Study of the Septuagint requires a familiarity with the Apocrypha since they constitute a large portion of the text. Because the Greek text of the Apocrypha is a translation of Hebrew and other Semitic source texts, these writings play a significant role in our attempts to understand ancient translation practices, including syntax and vocabulary choices. Study of the Gospels benefits from a strong familiarity with the Apocrypha because they are witnesses to traditions that were part of the Jewish worldview at the time of Jesus—especially how Jews related to their non-Jewish neighbors (or oppressors), their relationship to the Law, and their view of idols. Study of New Testament themes such as justification by faith, the end times, or angels necessitates a solid grasp of certain books of the Apocrypha in which related issues are discussed. For example, angels play a significant role in the story of Tobit, and in the Wisdom of Solomon, final justification is tied to obedience to God’s laws. Prayer is another significant theme addressed throughout most of the narrative books and is especially prominent in Judith, the Maccabees, and the Additions to Daniel.

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