The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English, Vol. 1: With Introductions and Critical and Explanatory Notes to the Several Books; Apocrypha
Excerpt from The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English, Vol. 1: With Introductions and Critical and Explanatory Notes to the Several Books; Apocrypha
On the other hand, the Protestant Churches have universally declared their adhesion to the Hebrew Canon of the Old Testament. Yet amongst these a milder and a severer view prevailed. While in some Confessions, i. E. The Westminster, it is decreed that they are not to be any other wise approved or made use of than other human writings', a more favourable view is expressed regarding them in many other quarters e. G. In the preface prefixed to them in the Genevan Bible: As books proceeding from godly men (they) were received to be read for the advancement and furtherance of the knowledge of history and for the instruction of godly manners: which books declare that at all times God had an especial care of His Church, and left them not utterly destitute of teachers and means to confirm them in the hope of the promised Messiah'; and in the Sixth Article of the Church of England: the other books the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners.' In addition to the spiritual and moral service rendered by these books, the modern student recognizes that without them it is absolutely impossible to explain the course of religious develop ment between 200 B. C. And A. D. 100. In this respect the Apocrypha is to be regarded as embracing the Pseudepigrapha as well. If the Canonical and Apocryphal Books are compared in reference to the question of inspiration, no unbiased scholar could have any hesitation in declaring that the inspiration of such a book as Wisdom or the Testaments of the XII Patriarchs is incomparably higher than that of Esther.
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Robert Henry Charles (1855–1931) was an Irish biblical scholar and theologian. He left parochial work in 1889 to devote himself to biblical research and became the greatest authority of his time in matters of Jewish eschatology and apocrypha. He became a canon at Westminster Abbey in 1913 and archdeacon there in 1919. His books include Eschatology (1913, 2nd ed), Between the Old and New Testaments (1914), and his edition of The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament. (1913). He is known particularly for English translations of apocryphal and pseudepigraphal works, and editions including Jubilees (1895), the Book of Enoch (1906), and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (1908) which have been widely used. Among his other publications are The Apocalypse (1920), Divorce and Nullity (1927), and The Resurrection of Man (1930). He was educated at the Belfast Academy, Queen's College, Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. He gained a D.D. and became Professor of Biblical Greek at Trinity College.
I think the book of Judith was my favorite in this collection of texts. A challenge to work through some of the dryer texts, but interesting to read through nonetheless.
I spent a year reading through the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha so you won't have to. It is not easy reading, although it is useful for scholars who are interested in Jewish Literature around the time of Christ. Overall, these are dense books that do not make for fascinating reading.