The Apocrypha: Understanding the Difference Between Protestant and Catholic Bibles

The Apocrypha refers to a collection of religious writings that are considered sacred by some Christian denominations but not by others. This article delves into the differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles in relation to the inclusion of these books, providing historical context and theological significance.

Historical Context

The New Testament was officially decided by the Church councils in the 300s CE. After Pope Damasus' ratification in 415 CE, the New Testament was finally settled. However, the inclusion of the deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament was accepted by the Catholic Church from the 4th century onwards. These books have become integral parts of the official versions of the Bible for Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Some Protestant denominations, such as Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Anglicans, include these books in their Old Testaments in a special section called the Apocrypha. The original King James Version (KJV) published in 1611 also included them, but in the 19th century, some American Protestants removed these books due to anti-Catholic bias.

Theological Significance

The texts that make up the Protestant Old Testament are alternatively known as the Hebrew scriptures. These were written in Hebrew with a few Aramaic passages and were compiled around 500 BCE by the Jewish scribe/scholar Ezra. In the 250s BCE, these scriptures were translated into Greek because Hebrew had become a dead language. These translations included some additional texts from their time period, which were not considered scripture by the Jews.

The first mass-produced Bible, produced in the 360s CE with 50 copies, also included these texts. These were merely copyings of the existing Greek translations. During the 400s CE, Jerome, while translating the Greek text of the Old and New Testaments into Latin, initially did not include these additional texts. However, he eventually translated them and placed them in a separate volume, which became known as the Apocrypha.

Modern Practices and Criticisms

While Protestant Bibles do not contain the Apocrypha, these books are still cherished by some scholars and used for understanding the historical period from Malachi to Matthew. They have no direct influence on church doctrine and are not part of any official liturgy.

Final Thoughts

The presence or absence of the Apocrypha in Bibles reflects the theological and historical differences between Protestant and Catholic traditions. Whether or not these books are considered scripture, they offer valuable insights into the historical and religious context of early Christianity.

Conclusion

From the 4th century onwards, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches chose to include the deuterocanonical books in their Bibles. In contrast, most Protestant denominations exclude these books from their official versions, though some do include them in a special section known as the Apocrypha. Both traditions recognise the significance of these texts in understanding the religious and historical context of the period.