The Case for the Apocrypha

Probably one of the most disputed issues between Protestants and Catholics is whether or not the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books are canon. These books are disputed because many Protestants claim they are not inspired and were added by the Catholic Church to support its doctrines. The books are also controversial because they support the doctrine of Purgatory and the practice of praying for the dead. The purpose of this article is to strengthen the Catholic laity in their knowledge of the scriptures and to present a reasonable case to our separated brethren in the Protestant denominations.

I will first begin by giving a historical case for the deuterocanon and answering questions and objections brought against the historicity of the deuterocanonicals. I will then illustrate the evidence in Scripture that points to the apocryphal books. And, as a side note, I recommend you read all the sources I have linked to and cited in this article.

And without further ado, I give you the case for the Apocrypha.

The Historicity of the Apocrypha

One of the aspects often overlooked by Protestants is the history behind the deuterocanonical books. Many believe that the 7 books were added by the Council of Trent to refute the Protestant reformers and to prop up Catholic doctrine. This notion is absolutely false. For instance, the Catholic and Orthodox traditions use the same bible, but the Eastern Orthodoxies were not included in the Council of Trent due to the Great Schism. The Catholic OT canon (depending on the translation) is rooted in the Septuagint (the Hebrew to the Greek translation of the OT), which was the scripture used by the Apostles and Christ himself. And which includes the so called "apocryphal" books.

Even in the early councils of Hippo and Carthage, the deuterocanonical books were endorsed and approved by the Church (Armstrong, 260). Even after the reformation, the deuterocanonicals were not given up entirely:

Despite this lowering of the status of the deuterocanonical books by Protestantism, the books were still widely retained separately in Protestant Bibles for a long period (unlike the prevailing practice today). John Wycliffe, considered a forerunner of Protestantism, included them in his English translation. Luther himself kept them separately in his Bible. describing them generally as (although subscriptural) "useful and good to read." Zwingli and the Swiss Protestants, and the Anglicans maintained them in this secondary sense also. The English Geneva Bible (1560) and Bishop's Bible (1568) both included them as a unit. Even the Authorized or King James, Version of 1611 contained the "Apocrypha" as a matter of course. And up to the present, many Protestant Bibles continue this practice. The revision of the King James Bible (completed in 1895) included these books, as did the Revised Standard Version (1957), the New English Bible (1970), and the Goodspeed Bible (1939), among others (Armstrong, 264).

But didn't St. Athanasius reject these books?

While Athanasius did say the apocryphal writings are heretical, but he does not refer to the deuterocanonical books as "apocryphal" (here and here). Even if Athanasius denied the deuterocanon, It wouldn't matter. It would only be Athanasius' opinion, and would not hold any weight to what the Church Universal says, and the Church Universal has spoken.

What do the Church Fathers have to say?

Here are just a few quotes from the Church Fathers citing the deuterocanonical books as Scripture (annotations have been added by the original source, but if you want to see all the citations go to catholic.com): 

Jerome:

"What sin have I committed if I follow the judgment of the churches? But he who brings charges against me for relating [in my preface to the book of Daniel] the objections that the Hebrews are wont to raise against the story of Susannah [Dan. 13], the Song of the Three Children [Dan. 3:29–68, RSV-CE], and the story of Bel and the Dragon [Dan. 14], which are not found in the Hebrew volume, proves that he is just a foolish sycophant. I was not relating my own personal views, but rather the remarks that they are wont to make against us. If I did not reply to their views in my preface, in the interest of brevity, lest it seem that I was composing not a preface, but a book, I believe I added promptly the remark, for I said, ‘This is not the time to discuss such matters’" (Against Rufinius 11:33 [A.D. 401]). 

Irenaeus:

 "Those . . . who are believed to be presbyters by many, but serve their own lusts and do not place the fear of God supreme in their hearts, but conduct themselves with contempt toward others and are puffed up with the pride of holding the chief seat [Matt. 23:6] and work evil deeds in secret, saying ‘No man sees us,’ shall be convicted by the Word, who does not judge after outward appearance, nor looks upon the countenance, but the heart; and they shall hear those words to be found in Daniel the prophet: ‘O you seed of Canaan and not of Judah, beauty has deceived you and lust perverted your heart’ [Dan. 13:56]. You that have grown old in wicked days, now your sins which you have committed before have come to light, for you have pronounced false judgments and have been accustomed to condemn the innocent and to let the guilty go free, although the Lord says, ‘You shall not slay the innocent and the righteous’ [Dan. 13:52, citing Ex. 23:7]" (Against Heresies 4:26:3 [A.D. 189]; Daniel 13 is not in the Protestant Bible). 
"Jeremiah the prophet has pointed out that as many believers as God has prepared for this purpose, to multiply those left on the earth, should both be under the rule of the saints and to minister to this [new] Jerusalem and that [his] kingdom shall be in it, saying, ‘Look around Jerusalem toward the east and behold the joy which comes to you from God himself. Behold, your sons whom you have sent forth shall come: They shall come in a band from the east to the west. . . . God shall go before with you in the light of his splendor, with the mercy and righteousness which proceed from him’ [Bar. 4:36—5:9]" (ibid., 5:35:1; Baruch was often considered part of Jeremiah, as it is here).

Clement of Rome:

"By the word of his might [God] established all things, and by his word he can overthrow them. ‘Who shall say to him, "What have you done?" or who shall resist the power of his strength?’ [Wis. 12:12]" (Letter to the Corinthians 27:5 [ca. A.D. 80]).

 The Scriptural Evidence of the Apocrypha

Some claim that the apocryphal books are never mentioned in the NT. This is pure hogwash! There are plenty of allusions to the deuterocanon in the NT.

As we can see, the book of Revelation reiterates what the archangel Rafael told us in the book of Tobit:

Revelation 1:4

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne

Revelation 8:3-4

Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.

Tobit 12:15

"I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord."

Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians nearly resembles the language of Judas Maccabee:

1 Corinthians 15:29

Otherwise, what will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they having themselves baptized for them?

2 Maccabees 12:44

for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.

Paul even alludes to Maccabees a second time in his epistle to the Hebrews:

Hebrews 11:35

Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection.

2 Maccabees 7:25-26, 29

When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. After he had urged her for a long time, she agreed to persuade her son ... "Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with your brothers.”

I believe the evidence I have presented is enough to prove the authenticity of the Apocrypha. This article is in no way scholarly or extensive, but if you want to know more about what I've mentioned, or aren't convinced yet, please check out the links I have left in the article. And as always, may God bless you, Our Lady pray for you, and St. Michael protect you.

"Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." - Matthew 13:43 

Non-URL Sources:
Armstrong, Dave. A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. 2003 ed., Bloomington: 1stBooks Library, 2001.