In Christian theology, the term “Apocrypha” refers to a collection of ancient books written at the same time as the other books of the Bible but not included in the canonical Hebrew Bible or the Protestant Old Testament. The word “Apocrypha” comes from the Greek word meaning “hidden” or “secret,” suggesting early debates over their authority and appropriateness for public reading in church settings.
For Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, many of these texts are considered deuterocanonical, meaning “second canon.” These include books such as Tobit, Judith, additions to Esther and Daniel, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach. These books are included in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and are accepted as scripture within these traditions, often used for moral instruction and liturgical purposes.
However, Protestant traditions typically do not regard these books as inspired Scripture, and therefore, they are not included in the Protestant Old Testament. Martin Luther, for instance, moved them into a separate section in his Bible translation, referring to them as “Apocrypha: books which are not held equal to the sacred scriptures but are useful and good to read.”
Overall, the status and use of the Apocrypha vary significantly across Christian denominations, reflecting broader theological, historical, and cultural differences.
