APOCRYPHA, APOCALYPTIC, PSEUDEPIGRAPHA

Literature of the Second Temple Era

INTRODUCTION:

What we have in mind in this brief study is nothing more than an identification and brief explanation of the nature of the extra biblical literature of the Second Temple era.
The list of writings is not comprehensive, but merely a sample of this literature.
These Extra Biblical writings of Judaism, most of which come from the period after the close of the Old Testament Cannon, and during the periods of Hellenistic, Seleucid,  and Roman oppression, are a valuable resource for understanding the matrix of Second Temple Judaism.
 

APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE:
Apocrypha is a Greek word (ajpovkrufa, neuter plural of ajpovkrufo").  The term is formed by the combination of apo (away) with kryptein (hide). Thus it connotes the idea of "closed" or "hidden." (In this sense apocrypha is in contrast with apocalypse, which means "opened," "revealed," or "uncovered".)
Apocryphon is the singular noun, apocrypha the plural noun, and apocryphal the adjective. These words are used to describe the character of a certain class of religiously oriented ancient writings.

The term "Apocrypha" was coined by the 5^th century Christian biblical scholar St. Jerome and basically refers to the biblical books included as part of the Septuagint (the LXX, the Greek version of the Old Testament), but not included in the Hebrew Bible.

As a result of the inclusion of the Apocrypha in the Septuagint, and Jerome’s influence, the Apocrypha found its way into some Bibles.  The Apocrypha have been variously included and omitted from bibles over the course of the centuries.  Roman Catholic Bibles normally include the Apocrypha, often in between the Old and New Testaments.  Protestant Bibles generally exclude the Apocrypha.

The original King James version of 1611, and several later printings of he KJV, included the Apocrypha between the Old Testament and New Testaments.  Eventually the Apocryphal books were excluded from KJV Bibles.  Recent printings of the New Revised Standard Version, and some other versions of the Bible have included the Apocryphal books.

The Apocrypha includes writings ranging from the 4th century B.C. to New Testament times.  The Apocrypha thus normally includes Judith, The Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, First and Second Maccabees, the Two Books of Esdras, various additions to The Book of Esther (10:4-10), portions of The Book of Daniel (3:24-90;13;14), and The Prayer of Manasseh.

The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches include all of the Apocrypha (except for the books of Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh), but refer to them as "Deuterocanonical" books.
Protestant churches normally refer to the Apocryphal books as the "Pseudepigrapha."

In summary, one way of looking at the Apocryphal books is to see them as very similar to the Old Testament books, yet not inspired as are the Old and New Testaments, valuable resources for New Testament studies, but no suitable for reading in the worship assemblies of the church.

APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE:
Apocalyptic is a term derived form the Greek ajpokavluyi" which means uncovered or revealed.  It is in contrast to the Greek word ajpovkrufo" which means covered or hidden.  The word is an adjective which has become in general usage a noun referring to a type of thinking, expression, communication, or writing.

Apocalyptic type expression has roots as early as Ancient Babylon and Ancient Greece.  Much of Jewish Apocalyptic expression derives from Israel’s Babylonian captivity (ca BC 586).

In general the term Apocalypse is used of a class of literature or literary expression found in both the Old and New Testament, but more commonly as a separate class of literature dating from ca 200 BC to 200 AD.  The Book of Revelation, although not defined by its writer as an Apocalypse but rather as a book of Prophecy, is significantly influenced by the Apocalyptic literature of its period.

In some cases Apocalyptic books are included under the term Pseudepigrapha since the authorship of the books is pseudonymous.

Apocalyptic Literature can be found among both the Jewish and Christian traditions, and is the literature of people enduring suffering and persecution.  Apocalyptic expression reflects a pessimistic view of human potential and an optimistic view of divine intervention and redemption.

Apocalyptic expression and literature is highly symbolic, figurative, and dramatic.  Often Apocalyptic  is heavily influenced by angelic interventions, cosmic visions, a dramatic cosmic battles.

Books that are considered Apocalyptic include The Testament of Levi, Esdras, Slavonic Enoch, 1 Enoch, 3 Enoch, The Sibylline Oracles,  2 Baruch, 3 Baruch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, The Apocalypse of Daniel, The Apocalypse of Peter.

Since Apocalyptic has roots in ancient Babylonian times several portions of the Old Testament adopt the apocalyptic genre, e.g. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Zechariah, et al.

Due to the influence of the Old Testament on the New Testament, and the context of persecution encountered by Christians in the 1^st century, several portions of the New Testament are influenced by Old Testament and Extra Biblical Jewish Apocalyptic expression, e.g. The Book of Revelation, Mat 24, Mark 13, Lk 21, Rom 8:18-39.

PSEUDEPIGRAPHICAL LITERATURE:
The word Pseudepigrapha derives from the terms pseudo meaning false, and epigraph meaning writings.  It has reference to religious writings, Jewish and Christian, written under a pseudonym.

Pseudonymous writing, although questioned by modern conservative Christians, was nevertheless for several reasons an accepted genre of ancient times.

Some of the Apocryphal books, as well as some of the Apocalyptic library, are also listed under the concept of Pseudepigrapha, e.g. 1 and 2 Maccabees, The Wisdom of Solomon, Esdras (Ezra),  The Apocalypse of Peter, 1, 2, 3 Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham The Apocalypse of Daniel, The Apocalypse of Abraham.

Other Pseudepigraphical books of Judaism would be The Assumption of Moses,  Jubilees, The Testament of Solomon, The Testament of Job, The Ladder of Jacob, The Testament of Adam, The Odes of Solomon.

Click here to go to Modern Judaism