Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", and "Christian texts that are not canonical".
"The Apocrypha is included in Catholic Bibles. All are unauthentic, of unknown authorship, and without claim of inspiration or authority. Jews do not accept the Apocrypha as part of their Scriptures. The most influential benefactor of the Apocrypha was Augustine (354-420 AD), the "Father of corrupt theology." He influenced the Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD) to declare the Apocrypha canonical. Augustine saw to it that any opposition to the Apocrypha was suppressed.
"Some of the unscriptural Roman Catholic doctrines supported by the Apocrypha are:
Purgatory (II Maccabees 12:39-45),
Salvation by Almsgiving (Ecclesiasticus 3:30),
Slavery and cruelty (Ecclesiasticus 33:24-28), and
Reincarnation (Wisdom of Solomon 8:19-20).
"Lying, assassination, and magical incantations are also approved of in the Apocrypha. Most Church Fathers rejected them; Josephus explicitly excluded them from his list; many of the Apocryphal books contain historical, geographical, and chronological errors; many of the Apocryphal books teach heresy, contrary to the Word of God; their literary style is legendary and fantasy, and some stories are grotesque and demonic; and they lack the power and distinctive elements of the Word of God."
List of Old Testament Apocrypha books (Roman Catholic):
Tobit; Judith; I Maccabees; 2 Maccabees; Wisdom (of Solomon); Sirach (Ecclesiasticus); and Baruch.
List of Old Testament Apocrypha books (Eastern Orthodox):
1 Esdras; Tobit; Judith; I Maccabees; 2 Maccabees; 3 Maccabees; 4 Maccabees; Odes; Wisdom (of Solomon); Sirach (Ecclesiasticus); Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah.
Other Biblical Apocrypha books recognized by the Roman Catholic, Easter Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox Churches as being a part of scripture (whereas most Protestants do not recognize them except as part of The Aprocrypha. These books are:
Additions to Esther; Song of the Three Young Men and Prayer of Azariah; Story of Susanna; Bel and the Dragon; Prayer of Manasseh.
Additional books used by Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Georgian, Syriac, and Ethiopian traditions are:
Apocalypse of Ezra; Psalms 151-155; Enoch; Jubilees; Rest of Baruch (4); Apocalypse of Baruch (2); Letter of Baruch; 1-3 Meqabyan.
A complete list of the Aprcryphal books:
"The Gospel of the Birth of Mary; The Protevangelion; The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ; Thomas's Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ; The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa; The Gospel of Nicodemus, Formerly Called the Acts of Pontius Pilate; The Apostles' Creed; The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Laodiceans; The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca's to Paul; The Acts of Paul and Thecla; The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians; The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians; The General Epistle of Barnabas; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians; The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrneans; The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp; The Epistle of Polycarp to the Phillippians; The Shepherd of Hermas; The Second Book of Hermas, Called His Commands; The Third Book of Hermas, Which is Called His Similitudes; Letters of Herod and Pilate; The Lost Gospel According to Peter."
Source:
Sargent, Robert J.; "Canonization: The Apocrypha;" "Landmarks of English Bible: Manuscript Evidence" (pg 70-75)
Lecture 5 "Canonization"
Miller, H. S.; "General Biblical Introduction;" Houghton; New York: The Word Bearer Press (1960)
Fallows, Samuel; "The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia and Scriptural Dictionary, Fully Defining and Explaining All Religious Terms, Including Biographical, Geographical, Historical, Archeological and Doctrinal Themes;" Howard-Severance Company (1901, 1910)
List from "The Lost Books of the Bible;" by Platt, Jr., Rutherford H.; A&b Publishers Group (1926 Edition)
