Deuterocanonicals or Old Testament Apocrypha

The Difference Between “Catholic Bibles” and “Protestant Bibles”

Apocrypha

Hidden - from those not wise, or for future

Hidden - therefore, heretical

Not public - not authoritative

DeuterocanonicalSecond historically?

Second in authority?

Varying Bibles

JewishLaw, Prophets, and WritingsQuestion of Longer Bible

Eastern ChristianGreek Manuscripts Bible within the Tradition

Western ChristianAugustine and Jerome

Reformation Decisions

Additions to Daniel

and

Internal Addition

• Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Hebrew Youths added as one unit to all known copies of the Greek after 3:23

Readings

• 24-32 (1-9) Prayer of Azariah• 43-45 (20-22)• 52-62 (29-40) Song of the Three Hebrews• 87-90 (66-68)

• Addition shifts emphasis of chapter 3 from Nebuchadnezzar to 3 men

Order of Parts

Old Greek• Daniel• Bel • Susanna

Later Greek

•Susanna

•Daniel

1-4, 7-8,

5-6, 9-12

•Bel

Latin

•Daniel

•Susanna

•Bel

Reading Susanna (Daniel 13)

• Plot of the elders 19-27

• The trial begins

• Daniel appears 44-49

• Daniel as Perry Mason 51-59

• Conclusions

• Totally within Jewish community

Reading Bel and the Dragon (Daniel 14)

• Bel, the hungry idol 13-21

• Blowing up the dragon 25-27

• Daniel in the lion’s pit 33-37– Parallels chapter 6– Role of Habakkuk

• Comedic nature

The Rest of

Esther

Questions of Use and Canonicity of Esther

• lingering rabbinic questions

• reticence to include in some of Eastern churches

• lack of copies among Dead Sea Scrolls

• non-quotation in New Testament

• possible reasons for hesitation?

The Pieces

• A [before 1:1] = 11:2-12:6 (a 1-17)

• B [after 3:13] = 13:1-7 (b 1-7)

• C and D [after 4:17] = 13:8-14:19• (c 1-30 and d 1-16)

• E [after 8:12] = 16:1-24 (e 1-24)

• F [after 10:3] = 10:4-11:1 (f 1-11)

Reading Greek Esther

•Prayer of Mordecai–Read 13:11-15 [C 5-8] {4:17d-f}

•Prayer of Esther–Read 14:11-19 [C 22-30] {4:17q-z}

•Does the addition of religion ruin a good story?

Other Additions to the Hebrew Books

• 1 Esdras– Primarily Different version of Ezra

• Baruch and Letter of Jeremiah– Although Hebrew Jeremiah is longer than

Greek

• Psalm 151

• Prayer of Manasseh

NEXT WEEK

• History of the period

• Historical books– Especially 1-2 Maccabees

• Historical fiction– Especially Judith