This is the position of the Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Communion. As of 1981 the Apocrypha is included in the lectionaries of Anglican and Lutheran Churches. The history of the inclusion and exclusion of the Apocrypha in early Bible editions is confusing, and in my opinion, it is not important. What is important is the agreed upon books accepted in the Apocrypha and found in the New Revised Standard Version, which is the translation of the Bible used by the Episcopal Church:
The Apocrypha is not found in all Bibles. Of the several Bibles I have in my library, only my NRSV Bible has the Apocrypha plus 3Macabees, 4 Macabees, and Psalm 51. Besides its spiritual impact on religion and it has had a pervasive influence on American culture for centuries. In the Roman Catholic burial mass “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them” comes from 4 Esdras 2: 34-35. A line from The Merchant of Venice comes from Susanna. James Agee used a line from Ecclesiasticus 44:1 in his book about sharecroppers, and John Bunyan in his spiritual biography took a line from Ecclesiasticus. These books have inspired homilies, meditations, poets, dramatists, composers, and artists. Some of the most common expressions and proverbs come from the Apocrypha. A passage from the Apocrypha encouraged Christopher Columbus in his enterprises. We could go on discussing the influences of the Apocrypha, but perhaps we should save that for another blog. The Lectionary of the Episcopal Church offers readings on Sunday from the Apocrypha. For example, on the fifth Sunday after Epiphany, which is not too far off, we are scheduled to read Ecclesiasticus 15: 11-20. So, let’s take a look at a portion of this passage: Do not say, “it was the Lord’s doing that I fell away”; for he does not do what he hates. As you can see, this passage reads very much like lines from the Old Testament. It actually reads like a psalm. Apparently, Ecclesiasticus was a favorite of mine because as I thumbed through the passage, I found an old and frayed piece of paper in it with the following inscription in my handwriting: “Let us fall into the hands of the Lord” from Ecclesiasticus 2:17b. Apparently, this line was a favorite of mine.
The Apocrypha belongs definitely to the genre of wisdom literature because it stresses the lessons of experience and on the “fear of the Lord.” It began as a “church book” in the early Christian community which accepted it into its canon. If you are interested in ancient and military history, I suggest that you read Books 1 and 2 of the Maccabees, which are considered fairly accurate. I hope these books in the Bible are no longer “hidden” from you. If your Bible does not have the Apocrypha, go out and find an edition of the NRSV and start reading it and let me know what you think.
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He mastered the Old Testament and Jewish history, and after graduation he continued his education by studying Jewish law. Saul then became a member of the Sanhedrin, an elite group of 71 men who governed Israel. His pre-conversion actions as Saul were violent. He persecuted Christians, arresting men and women and dragging them to prison. Saul approved and watched the stoning death of Deacon Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He actively sought out Christians, intending to bring them bound to Jerusalem for punishment and potentially death. Chapter 9 of the Acts of the Apostles described Saul as “breathing out murderous threats.” Saul earnestly tried to stop the growth of Christianity. The conversion (31-36 AD) of Saul was a pivotal event where the zealous persecutor of Christians experienced a divine encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. His miraculous transformation can be found in Acts 9:1-9. He was blinded by a brilliant light from heaven and heard the heavenly voice of Jesus asking, “Why do you persecute me?” Saul was led into Damascus where Ananias, a disciple of Jesus, healed him and baptized him. Upon his recovery Saul later changed his name to Paul, embraced Christianity, and dedicated his life to missionary work, becoming a prolific writer and the founder of churches.  By Bartolomé Esteban Murillo - [2], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17427199 Paul became the leading missionary to non-Jews. He emphasized faith in Jesus over strict adherence to the Jewish law. He revealed Jesus’ identification with the Gentiles. Paul’s conversion is viewed as a supreme example of divine grace and proved that no one is beyond redemption.
Following his conversion, Paul traveled tens of thousands of miles around the Mediterranean in three missionary journeys, established numerous churches and authored at least 7 of the13 books of the New Testament, known as the Epistles of Paul or the Letters of Paul. They are important because they provide an insight into the beliefs and controversies of early Christianity. The epistles are considered foundational texts for both Christian theology and ethics. Most scholars believe that Paul actually wrote seven of the thirteen Pauline epistles: Galatians, Roman, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians. Three of the epistles that bear his name are generally seen as pseudepigraphic: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Whether Paul wrote three other epistles that bear his name (2 Thessalonians, Ephesians and Colossians) is hotly debated in academic circles. The last six epistles are generally believed by scholars to have come from followers writing in his name, using material from his surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survived. Finally, scholars generally don’t consider the Epistle to the Hebrews was written by Paul. Many scholars argue that Paul suffered from some physical ailment such as vision loss or damaged hands. Paul himself admitted in his writings that he used secretaries, which may explain the non-Pauline epistles. Some scholars believe the disputed epistles were written in his name, using material from his surviving letters and letters written by him that no longer survive. Paul was human and was in my opinion affected by the culture of his time and the fact that he was a devoted Pharisee. Consequently, some of his writings were controversial. His views on women were complex. In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 he instructs women to “remain silent in the churches" and “not to teach.” They were to “learn in silence with full submission.” He often cited order or Jewish custom as context. On the other hand, he commended female leaders like Deaconess Phoebe and co-workers Prisca and Junia. Paul often affirmed the ministry of women despite the gender prejudices of his culture. This topic is too complex and needs to be saved for another blog. He is often criticized for not condemning slavery in his letter to Philemon (16). However, he does request Philemon to view his slave Onesimus as a brother in Christ which was a revolutionary idea that transcends legal status and challenges the idea of ownership within the culture. Basically, what Paul was saying was that all believers in Christ are equal partners in God’s grace. He wanted Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome Paul himself Philemon (17). Paul sowed the seeds for liberation by redefining the fundamental human status within the early church. Paul was almost certainly the most important person in the history of early Christianity. He was Christianity’s most influential missionary in spreading the teachings of Jesus. Paul was called by God to use his brilliant intellect to expound on critical matters of Christian doctrine through his letters. He was totally committed to Christ and his teachings for which he was martyred by beheading in 64/65 AD by order of Emperor Nero. This short blog cannot do justice to the importance of St. Paul. It is offered to introduce you to the life and importance of the Apostle Paul. If you are interested in his teachings, I recommend you read his epistles in the New Testament or read one of hundreds of books on his life and his contributions to Christianity. I have four books on St. Paul in my library, and I would be glad to loan them to you.
The Sadducees were a powerful aristocratic Jewish sect in ancient Israel (2nd century BCE-70 CE). They were the religious and political elite who controlled the Jerusalem Temple and the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish ruling council. They were generally wealthy, land owning aristocrats and belonged to the priestly class. They only accepted the written Torah (the first five books of the Bible). They rejected all of the oral traditions upheld by the Pharisees. The Sadducees denied the resurrection, immortality of the soul, angels, and demons. They believed in human free will and not predestination. Some of the Sadducees were considered corrupt and power-hungry, and they generally collaborated with Roman authorities. Their influence and power vanished with the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. It is important to note that Jesus was not a fan of the Sadducees because of their denial of the resurrection, angels, and spirits which goes to the heart of Christianity. Jesus said the Sadducees did not understand the Scriptures or the power of God. An example of the Sadducees trying to trick Jesus can be found in Matthew 22:23-33 with parallel accounts in Mark 12:18-27 and Luke 20:27-40. The Sadducees presented a hypothetical scenario about a woman married to seven brothers. Since the woman and the seven brothers are now in heaven, the Sadducees want to know who is her husband in the resurrection. Jesus replied that the resurrected are now like angels and do not marry. He referenced God as the God of the living not of the dead. Fearing his popularity, they joined the Pharisees to plot His death. They presided over the religious trial of Jesus and were instrumental in demanding His execution before Pontius Pilate. In Matthew 3:7 John the Baptist rebukes them as a “brood of vipers” when they come to his baptism. In the Acts of the Apostles, the Sadducees are portrayed as leading the legal and physical persecution of the apostles. For example, the Sadducees and temple guards arrest Peter and John for preaching the resurrection of Jesus. The power of the Sadducees was derived from their association with the Temple’s rituals, especially the sacrificial cult. Therefore, when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Sadducees lost their core function, leading to their assimilation or extinction. We know little about them because none of their writings survived.  James Tissot: The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus, Source: Wikimedia Commons On the other hand, the Pharisees adapted to the destruction of the Temple by developing the oral law and synagogue practices that became the foundation of Rabbinic Judaism, which is the basis for all modern Jewish denominations. The Pharisees were also a prominent Jewish social movement and religious sect that existed from roughly the 2nd century B.C. through the late 1st century A.D. Their theological and social commitments often set them apart from the aristocratic Sadducees. They believed that God gave Moses an “Oral Law” in addition to the written Torah. This belief provided a justification for interpreting and applying Biblical laws to everyday life. While the Sadducees focused on Temple rituals performed only by priests, Pharisees believed every Jew should live with a level of ritual purity reserved only for the priesthood. Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees believe in the resurrection of the dead, a future judgement before God, and the existence of angels and spirits. They acknowledged that God has foreknowledge of all things, and humans still have free will to make their own choices.
Most Pharisees were small landowners, tradespeople, or scribes. They were generally more popular with the common people than the wealthy priestly elite. Their power base was the synagogue, which helped develop as a local center for prayer and education, making worship accessible outside of the Jerusalem Temple. Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees adapted to the destruction of the temple by developing the oral law and synagogue practices that became the foundation of Rabbinic Judaism, which is the basis for all modern Jewish denominations of today. They held significant influence in the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish high council, but they had to share power with the Sadducees. In the Gospels the Pharisees are often portrayed as antagonists to Jesus, but this might be overstated. Jesus often criticized them for the hypocrisy with their focus of legal observance such as tithing while neglecting more important matters like justice and mercy. On the other hand, they were closely aligned with Jesus’ teachings such as the belief in the resurrection and the importance of loving God and neighbor. Not all Pharisees opposed Jesus. For example, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were Pharisees who respected and followed Jesus and both play important roles in the Gospels. The Apostle Paul continued to identify as a Pharisee even after his conversion. Conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees in the Gospels primarily centered on differing interpretations of religious law and the priority of internal faith over external ritual. For example, the Pharisees criticized Jesus for performing miracles on the Sabbath. Conflicts arose regarding ceremonial washing and the definition of what makes a person unclean. The conflicts were numerous throughout the Gospel, and they probably should be saved for another article. |
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