For what reasons should we reject the Apocrypha?
Most Christians accept only 66 books in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, forming what is called the canon. These books are considered to be inspired, and they lay out a complete knowledge of the great Plan of Salvation. Several other Christian denominations however, including Roman Catholics and other Orthodox churches, include up to 15 extra books or portions of books called the Apocrypha—which literally means, “secret, of doubtful authenticity, uncanonical.”
There are four major reasons why we reject the Apocrypha:
1. They abound in historical and geographical inaccuracies and anachronisms.
2. They teach doctrines which are false and foster practices which are at variance with inspired Scripture.
3. They resort to literary types and display an artificiality of subject matter and styling out of keeping with inspired Scripture.
4. They lack the distinctive elements which give genuine Scripture their divine character, such as prophetic power and poetic and religious feeling.
Some other reasons why we must reject the Apocrypha as part of canon include:
a) It is not included in the Hebrew canon of Scripture.
b) The Apocryphal writers sometimes disclaim divine inspiration. For example, in 2 Maccabees 15:38–39 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Version of the Bible, we read, “So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here make an end of my narration. Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me.”
c) In all of the New Testament, there is not even one single reference or quotation made by Christ or any of the Apostles that would confirm all or any part of the Apocrypha as being divinely inspired.
d) The Catholic Church also references 2 Maccabees 12:43–46 in support of their Purgatory doctrine, but if one would read verses 40–46, they would learn that God killed these people because of idolatry. According to Catholicism, if you die in the state of mortal sin—which idolatry is—you’ll go straight to hell when you die. Therefore, according to Catholic doctrine, Judas Maccabeus was wrong in suggesting that the people should “pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” 2 Maccabees 12:46!
For a person to believe in the doctrine of Purgatory, he/she would have to be totally misinformed about the biblical doctrines of the Atonement, Redemption, and even Salvation. Purgatory infers works for salvation, a soul-damning and devilish teaching. Augustine said, “There are some who have departed this life, not so bad as to be deemed unworthy of mercy, nor so good as to be entitled to immediate happiness.” This statement infers works for salvation, which is refuted by Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:4–6; and 2 Timothy 1:9.
In summary, the Apocryphal books, which include 2 Maccabees, are not from God, not inspired, and must not be placed on the same level of authority as Holy Writ. Considering all the adverse effects of tradition, of which the Apocrypha is a result, one can see why Jesus refuted tradition and error as He did (Matthew 15:1–14; Mark 7:6–13; Luke 11:37–52; and Matthew 16:6,12)!
Christians who desire to please God first should unhesitatingly give logical reasons why the Apocrypha is not inspired as they “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and “contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).