A STUDY OF THE APOCRYPHA

In Session 1, it was pointed out that the "Apocrypha" (capital A) consists of a group of fourteen books.

It has been noted also, that "apocrypha" (small a) has a connotation implying "of dubious authority" or "spurious." There are many books other that those above which are apocryphal, not belonging to the Apocrypha or the canon. These are called apocrypha by the Catholic Church, and pseudepigrapha by the Protestant Church.

Examples include:

• Books of Enoch
• Assumption of Moses
• Ascension of Isaiah
• Book of Jubilees
• Psalms of Solomon
• Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
• Sibylline Oracles

There are also many New Testament apocryphal books:

• The Gospel of Nicodemus
• The Protevangelium of James
• The Passing of Mary
• The Gospel according to the Hebrews
• The Gospel of the Ebionites
• The Gospel of the Egyptians
• The Gospel of Peter

None of these are covered in this study.

Generally, authorities agree that the claimed authorship is impossible, but is intended to provide credibility to the work. However, this leads to distrust as a whole. The books probably were written to expand the canon in a manner which would persuade the readers toward the doctrinal position of the authors. However, the expansion is man breathed, not God breathed.

Many of the Apocrypha include verses which are doctrinally correct. It is important to recognize that these verses do not authenticate the books. This study will focus on a book which contains many such examples. The reader should recognize that credibility of the book has to be taken as a whole. Some clear truths sprinkled in do not make the book acceptable as Scripture.

Ecclesiasticus falls into the category of Wisdom Literature. Scriptural examples are Job, Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs. the original book was written by Jesus, the son of Sirach. The grandson of "Jesus, the son of Sirach" felt that the book was worthy of translation into Greek from the original Hebrew. In his prologue, he states "You are therefore invited to read it through, with favorable attention, and to excuse us for any failures we may seem to have made in phraseology, in what we have labored to translate. For things once expressed in Hebrew do not have the same force in them when put into another language: and not only this book, but the Law itself, and the prophecies, and the rest of the books, differ not a little in translation from the original."

1. Comment on the observation of the grandson relative to "For things once expressed in Hebrew do not have the same force in them when put into another language: and not only this book, but the Law itself, and the prophecies, and the rest of the books"

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The book of Ecclesiasticus has 51 chapters and is extremely broad in it's teachings. There is far too much to adequately cover the material with proper emphasis as intended by the author. therefore our survey will focus only on selected portions. Those with interest should read and evaluate the book for themselves

At the conclusion of this session the following question will addressed:

Try to keep this in mind during the session.

2. Read Ecclesiasticus 1:14-19. Does this have a familiar ring? Compare these verses with Prov 1:7, Prov 1:9, and Prov 15:33. What is consistent, and what is new?

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3. Compare Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18 with James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. Does one or the other have greater emphasis?

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4. Ecclesiasticus 3:30 compares with Mark 2:7. Does this raise a doctrinal issue?

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5. Read Ecclesiasticus 5:5-7, and compare with Rom 6:1-2.

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6. Read Ecclesiasticus 11:8, and compare to Pv 17:28 and Pv 18:2. Do these verses fit together?

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7. How would you evaluate Ecclesiasticus 11:9 compared with Prov 26:17?

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8. Read Ecclesiasticus 11:18-19. Compare these verses with the parable in Luke 12:16-21. Is the message consistent?

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9. Compare Ecclesiasticus 35:12-15 with Luke 18:2-8. Is there consistency in the message, and is insight added without changing the message?

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10. Ecclesiasticus 37:8-12 vs. Proverbs 15:22 is another comparison. Would you say the Ecclesiasticus verses are helpful or contradictory?

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11. Ecclesiasticus 38:1-15 has a comparison is James 5:14-16. Discuss the relevancy and possible contradictions.

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12. Compare Ecclesiasticus 41:12-13 with Proverbs 22:12. Any difficulty here?

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Ecclesiasticus 43 compares with Job 28. Read and compare these chapters later. Also note that Ecclesiasticus 44-through 50 is the "Ecclesiasticus Hall of Fame" which is likened to the eleventh Chapter of Hebrews. The chapters are too extensive for inclusion here. Rather, note the list, and compare it later with the list of Hebrews 11:

This will conclude the review of Ecclesiasticus.

13. Does the teaching of Ecclesiasticus conflict with, or complement Scripture?

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Leader notes for Session 8

EXCERPTS FROM ECCLESIASTICUS

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