1. Introduction
The Bible is arguably the most influential book in human history. It has been read, studied, and interpreted by countless people over the centuries, and its contents have deeply shaped the course of Western civilization. But what many people don’t realize is that the Bible we have today is not the same as the Bible that was originally written. Over the centuries, books have been added and removed from the Bible, and some books that were once considered canonical (i.e. part of the Bible) are now considered apocryphal (i.e. not part of the Bible). In this article, we will explore the history of the Bible and look at what books were deleted from the Bible. We will discuss the canonicity of the Bible, the apocryphal books, the deuterocanonical books, and the lost books of the Bible. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the history of the Bible and why certain books were removed from it.
2. Canonicity of the Bible
The Bible is an ancient collection of religious texts and teachings, written over a period of centuries by different authors, and is considered to be the most influential book of all time. The Bible is the sacred text of the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. But what is the “canon” of the Bible, and how was it determined?
The word “canon” comes from the Greek word kanon, which means “rule” or “measure.” In the context of the Bible, it refers to the books that are accepted as authoritative and inspired by God. The process of determining which books should be included in the Bible is known as “canonization.”
The process of canonization was a long and complicated one, and it took centuries for the various books of the Bible to be accepted as authoritative. The Jewish canon was established by the first century A.D., and the Christian canon was established by the fourth century A.D.
The books that were accepted as part of the canon were those that were believed to be inspired by God. They were also believed to be historically reliable, and to be in agreement with the teachings of the church. The books were also examined for any discrepancies or contradictions, as well as for any signs of heresy.
In addition to the books that were accepted as part of the canon, there were also books that were rejected. These books are known as “apocryphal” or “deuterocanonical” books, and they include works such as the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, the Book of Jasher, and the Book of Wisdom. These books were rejected because they were believed to be of lesser authority, or because they contained teachings that were not in agreement with the teachings of the church.
Finally, there are also a number of books that were lost or destroyed over the centuries. These books are known as the “Lost Books of the Bible,” and they include works such as the Book of the Law of Moses, the Book of the Wars of the Lord, and the Book of Jasher. While some of these books may have been accepted as part of the canon at one point, they have since been lost or destroyed.
In conclusion, the process of canonization was a long and complicated one, and it took centuries for the various books of the Bible to be accepted as authoritative. The books that were accepted as part of the canon were those that were believed to be inspired by God, and those that were rejected were those that were believed to be of lesser authority or contained teachings that were not in agreement with the teachings of the church. Finally, there are also a number of books that were lost or destroyed over the centuries, known as the “Lost Books of the Bible.”
3. Apocryphal Books
The term “apocryphal books” is used to describe a collection of ancient texts that were not included in the Bible when it was finalized during the fourth century. These books were not accepted by the early church as part of the canon, and so they were omitted from the Bible. The term “apocrypha” means “hidden” or “secret” and is used to describe books that were not considered to be divinely inspired.
The apocryphal books were written between the third century BC and the first century AD. They are mostly Jewish in origin and are known collectively as the Apocrypha. The Apocrypha includes books such as 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach), Baruch, and the Letter of Jeremiah.
The apocryphal books were accepted as part of the Bible by some early church fathers, including Origen and Augustine. However, they were not accepted by the majority of the church, and so they were not included in the Bible when it was finalized. This decision was based on the fact that the books were not part of the Hebrew Bible, which was considered to be the authoritative source of divinely inspired scripture.
Although the apocryphal books were not included in the Bible, they were still widely read and studied by Christians throughout the centuries. They were often included in the margins of Bibles, and some were even printed as separate books. They were also used as sources of inspiration and instruction by early church leaders.
Today, the apocryphal books are still read and studied by many Christians. They are sometimes used to supplement the Bible and to provide additional insight into the history and culture of the time. However, the apocryphal books are not considered to be divinely inspired, and so they are not accepted as part of the Bible.
4. Deuterocanonical Books
The Deuterocanonical books are books and passages of the Old Testament that are not found in the Hebrew Bible, but are included in the Catholic and Orthodox versions of the Bible. The term “Deuterocanonical” comes from the Greek words “deuteros” meaning “second” and “canon” meaning “rule” or “standard.” These books are also referred to as the “Apocrypha” which means “hidden” or “secret.”
The Deuterocanonical books include 1 and 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and additions to the books of Esther and Daniel. These books were written between 300 BCE and 100 CE and were accepted as part of the canon of Scripture by the early Christian church. They were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, and were accepted by the early Church Fathers.
However, the Deuterocanonical books were not accepted by the Jews, as they were not found in the Hebrew Bible. As a result, when the Protestant Reformation took place in the 16th century, the Deuterocanonical books were rejected by many Protestant churches, and were not included in the King James Version of the Bible.
Today, the Deuterocanonical books are accepted by the Catholic and Orthodox churches, but are not accepted by many Protestant denominations. Those who accept the Deuterocanonical books believe that they are inspired Scripture, and can be used to gain insight into the life of Jesus and the early church.
The Deuterocanonical books provide valuable insight into the history of the Jews and early Christians, and provide an important source of wisdom and understanding of the Old Testament. They are also important in understanding the development of Christian doctrine, and provide a unique perspective on the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
5. Lost Books of the Bible
The Bible is made up of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. These books are accepted by most Christian denominations as the inspired Word of God. However, there are other books that were once considered part of the Bible, but were later removed. These books are known as the “Lost Books of the Bible.”
The Lost Books of the Bible can be divided into two categories: the Apocryphal Books and the Deuterocanonical Books. The Apocryphal Books are books that were written during the intertestamental period between the Old and New Testaments, but were not accepted by the early church as part of the canon of Scripture. The Deuterocanonical Books are books that were accepted by some branches of the early church, but were later removed from the canon of Scripture.
The Apocryphal Books include 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, the Prayer of Manasseh, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and the additions to Esther and Daniel. These books were written between 400 B.C. and 100 A.D., and were accepted by some early Christian churches, but were not accepted by the majority.
The Deuterocanonical Books include 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, the Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, the Letter of Jeremiah, the Prayer of Manasseh, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and the additions to Esther and Daniel. These books were accepted by some early Christian churches, but were later removed from the canon of Scripture.
The Lost Books of the Bible have been a source of controversy for centuries. Some people believe that these books should be included in the Bible, while others believe that they should not. While these books are not considered to be inspired Scripture, they can still be a valuable source of information about the intertestamental period and the early church.
The Lost Books of the Bible can be found in various translations, including the King James Version and the New International Version. Many of these books are also available in various formats, such as print, audio, and e-books. While these books can be a valuable source of information, it is important to remember that they are not part of the inspired Word of God.
6. Conclusion
The Bible is a sacred book that has been studied and revered for centuries. It is a collection of books written by different authors over a long period of time. While the Bible has been accepted as the authoritative Word of God, there are some books that have been excluded from the Bible. These books are known as the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical books. The Apocryphal books are those that were accepted by some churches and rejected by others. The Deuterocanonical books are those that were accepted by some churches but not by others. In addition, there are some books that are considered lost books of the Bible. These books are believed to have been part of the Bible at some point but have since been lost.
No matter what books are included or excluded from the Bible, it is important to remember that the Bible is still the authoritative Word of God. It contains the inspired words of God that are meant to guide us in our faith and our lives. While some books may not have made it into the Bible, they still remain important sources of information and insight into the faith and beliefs of the early Christians. We can learn from these books and use them to deepen our understanding of the Bible and our faith.