BibleProject Podcast Summary: “What Is the Deuterocanon or Apocrypha?”

Release Date: May 12, 2025
Hosts: Jonathan Collins & Tim Mackie
Duration: Approximately 57 minutes

Introduction

In the episode titled “What Is the Deuterocanon or Apocrypha?”, hosts Jonathan Collins and Tim Mackie delve into the intricate history and significance of the Deuterocanonical books, also known as the Apocrypha. They explore the distinctions between Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Bibles, shedding light on why certain books are included or excluded across different Christian traditions.

Defining the Deuterocanon and Apocrypha

Jonathan Collins [00:05]: "There's a difference between a Protestant Bible and a Catholic Bible. Namely, the Catholic Bible has extra books in it."

Tim Mackie [00:12]: "We're talking Tobit, Judas first and second, Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Ben Sira, Baruch and Letter of Jeremiah..."

The Deuterocanon refers to a set of books included in the Catholic Bible but excluded from the Protestant canon. These texts include Tobit, Judith, the two books of Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ben Sira), Baruch, and the Letter of Jeremiah, along with expanded versions of Daniel and Esther.

Historical Origins of the Deuterocanonical Books

Jonathan Collins [00:38]: The literature emerged during the period when the Jewish people were under Syrian and later Alexander the Great’s rule. Faced with upheaval, Jewish scholars produced new literary works to interpret and preserve their faith.

Tim Mackie [00:55]: These works are "restatements of the Bible for new communities in that Second Temple period."

These books were created in the Second Temple period, offering fresh perspectives and narratives that addressed the contemporary challenges faced by Jewish communities.

Early Christian Engagement with the Deuterocanon

Tim Mackie [01:15]: "Jesus and the apostles and the generations after them of Christianity read these books and valued them so much that they begin to be preserved and included along with biblical manuscripts in the earliest centuries of the Jesus movement."

Early Christians, including Jesus and the apostles, engaged with these texts, integrating them into their religious practices and liturgies. However, debates arose regarding their canonical status.

Canon vs. Apocrypha: Early Debates

Tim Mackie [02:32]: "Protestants removing these books from their printed Bibles, while Catholics left them in. So who's right? Are these books part of the Bible or not?"

Jonathan Collins [02:07]: "If you call these books Deuterocanon, it's because these books have always been an important part of your discipleship to Jesus."

The early Christian community split into factions regarding the status of these books. Those who valued them elevated them to the Deuterocanon, viewing them as integral to discipleship. Conversely, others labeled them Apocryphal, suggesting they were beneficial but not essential for new converts.

Impact of the Protestant Reformation on the Biblical Canon

Tim Mackie [21:07]: "The Protestant Reformation... had some precursors connected to famous figures. Martin Luther... started placing these books in a separate appendix."

Jonathan Collins [24:10]: "The first one hundred ish years of the Protestant movement, they hadn't kicked them out yet. Protestant Christian Bibles had three sections: Old Testament, New Testament, and Apocrypha."

Initially, Protestant Bibles included the Apocrypha but relegated them to a separate section. It wasn’t until the mid to late 1600s that major Protestant translations, like the King James Bible, began omitting these books entirely, solidifying their exclusion from the Protestant canon.

Different Christian Traditions and Their Canons

Tim Mackie [16:10]: "Orthodox traditions... have a slightly wider Deuterocanon. For example, the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition includes additional books like Jubilees and the Enoch literature."

Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions each maintain distinct canonical lists:

• Catholic Bibles include the Deuterocanon.
• Orthodox Bibles often contain an expanded canon, including books like 3 Maccabees and Psalm 151.
• Protestant Bibles exclude these books, classifying them as Apocrypha.

The Role of the Codex in Canon Formation

Tim Mackie [42:35]: "The invention of the codex... forced the issue of clarity in a way that wasn't fully necessary before."

The transition from scrolls to codices (the book format) was pivotal in shaping the biblical canon. The codex facilitated the binding of texts into a unified collection, prompting early Christians to deliberate on which books should be included, thereby influencing the formation of the canon.

Intertextuality and the Influence of Second Temple Literature

Tim Mackie [35:26]: "There's one place in the New Testament, the letter of Jude, where he just comes out and quotes from a book connected to the figure of Enoch."

The New Testament writers often referenced texts outside the Hebrew Bible, drawing from Second Temple Jewish literature. For instance, Paul’s writings sometimes reflect themes and narratives found in the Deuterocanonical books, indicating their influence and perceived authority in early Christian thought.

Modern Implications and Ongoing Debates

Jonathan Collins [51:54]: "It's almost unfortunate that we ripped them completely out and didn't just keep them in even at the end and say, like, hey, these have always been here."

The exclusion of the Deuterocanon from Protestant Bibles has led to confusion and questions among believers unfamiliar with these texts. The ongoing debates center on the theological implications of including or excluding these books and their role in understanding the broader biblical narrative.

Conclusion: The Significance of the Deuterocanon

Tim Mackie [51:37]: "These texts have always been around in the Christian tradition from the beginning."

Jonathan and Tim emphasize that the Deuterocanonical books have been integral to Christian history and theology from the outset. They recognize the value these texts bring in bridging the Old and New Testaments and offer a deeper understanding of the faith's evolution.

Jonathan Collins [54:29]: "We're producing a series of videos to introduce our audience to these works and to help them learn what these are."

The episode concludes with an announcement of an upcoming series of videos aimed at educating listeners about the Deuterocanon, highlighting BibleProject’s commitment to providing comprehensive biblical education across various traditions.

Key Takeaways

• Deuterocanon vs. Apocrypha: Terms used to describe a set of books included in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles but excluded from Protestant ones.

• Historical Context: These books originated in the Second Temple period, addressing the needs of Jewish communities under foreign rule.

• Early Christian Use: Valued by early Christians, these texts were integrated into liturgies but debated for their canonical status.

• Protestant Reformation: Led to the exclusion of these books from Protestant Bibles, a decision influenced by theological disputes and the desire to differentiate from Catholicism.

• Diverse Canons: Different Christian traditions maintain varying lists of canonical books, reflecting their unique theological perspectives.

• Codex Influence: The shift to the codex format played a crucial role in formalizing the biblical canon, prompting early debates on which texts to include.

• Ongoing Relevance: Understanding the Deuterocanon is essential for a comprehensive grasp of biblical history and theology, bridging gaps between the Old and New Testaments.

This episode provides a thorough exploration of the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of its role and significance in various Christian traditions. By examining historical developments and theological debates, Jonathan Collins and Tim Mackie illuminate the complexities surrounding the biblical canon's formation.