BIBLICAL APOCRYPHA Meaning and
Definition
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Biblical apocrypha refers to a collection of religious texts that are considered non-canonical or of disputed authority within traditional Christian biblical canons. This term typically encompasses a wide range of ancient Jewish and early Christian writings that are not included in the Old or New Testament of the Bible. The word "apocrypha" itself means "hidden" or "secret," highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the authenticity and divine inspiration of these texts.
The biblical apocrypha includes various genres such as historical accounts, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and religious poetry. These texts were typically written between the third century BCE and the first century CE, representing the intertestamental period, when the Hebrew Bible transitioned into the Christian New Testament.
The content of the biblical apocrypha varies significantly across different religious traditions. For instance, the Catholic Church recognizes several books as deuterocanonical, meaning they are accepted as inspired Scripture but are not considered on par with the undisputed books of the Bible. Meanwhile, Protestant denominations typically consider these texts to be "apocryphal" or "non-canonical," rejecting their inclusion in Scripture.
The biblical apocrypha provides valuable historical and cultural insights into the religious beliefs, practices, and traditions of ancient Jewish and early Christian communities. Despite the controversy surrounding their authority, these texts continue to be studied by scholars and are considered important for understanding the broader context of the Bible and the ancient Near Eastern world.
Etymology of BIBLICAL APOCRYPHA
The word "biblical" is derived from the Latin term "biblicus", which means "of or relating to the Bible". It ultimately comes from the Greek word "biblia", meaning "books" or "scrolls". The term "apocrypha" comes from the Greek word "apokryphos", which means "hidden" or "obscure". In the context of religious texts, it refers to a collection of writings that are not accepted as part of the biblical canon, thus considered hidden or of doubtful authenticity. Consequently, "biblical apocrypha" refers to a collection of religious texts that did not make it into the canonical Bible, hence being categorized as obscure or hidden writings.
