The Apocrypha — Is It the Word of God or Just History?
Introduction:
Imagine someone hands you a book and says,
“Some of this is true…some of it sounds spiritual…but parts of it don’t fully match what God already said.”
Would you build your faith on it?
That’s exactly where the conversation about the Apocrypha comes in.
Many people don’t realize that early printings of the King James Version included additional writings called the Apocrypha. So the question becomes:
Are these books inspired by God like the rest of the Bible?
Should we treat them as Scripture—or just history?
Let’s go to the Word of God and find out.
What Is the Apocrypha?
The Apocrypha is a collection of Jewish writings written between the Old and New Testament (about 400 BC – 100 AD).
Some of the main books include:
Tobit
Judith
Wisdom of Solomon
Sirach
Baruch
1 & 2 Maccabees
These books were placed in a separate section in the 1611 KJV—not mixed with the Old Testament.
What Makes a Book Scripture?
Before we decide on the Apocrypha, we must understand what qualifies something as the Word of God.
1. It must be inspired by God
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV)
2. It must agree with previously revealed truth
“God is not the author of confusion…” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
3. It carries prophetic authority
Throughout Scripture, we see:
“Thus saith the Lord…”
Does the Apocrypha Meet These Standards?
Let’s examine it honestly.
1. It Teaches Things That Conflict With Scripture
Example: Salvation through giving
Apocrypha (Tobit 12:9)
“Alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin…”
That teaches: Giving money removes sin
Bible says:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… not of works…” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized…” (Acts 2:38)
Conclusion:
The Bible never teaches that money removes sin.
Salvation comes through repentance, baptism, and the Spirit—not payment.
2. It Introduces Doctrines Not Found in Scripture
Example: Praying for the dead
Apocrypha (2 Maccabees 12:45)
Encourages prayers for the dead
Bible says:
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27)
Luke 16 shows no crossing between the saved and lost after death
Conclusion:
After death, your eternity is sealed.
There is no second chance and no benefit from prayers after death.
3. It Contains Historical Errors
Example:
Judith 1:1 claims:
Nebuchadnezzar ruled in Nineveh over Assyria
But historically and biblically:
Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, not Assyria
Nineveh had already fallen
Conclusion:
God’s Word does not contradict truth.
This raises serious concerns about divine inspiration.
4. Some Parts May Be Historically Useful
Let’s be balanced.
1 Maccabees
Describes the Jewish revolt
Historically reliable
Helps explain the world Jesus stepped into
But even then:
It never claims:
“Thus saith the Lord”
Meaning: It may be history—but not Scripture
Modern-Day Analogy:
Think of it like this:
You have:
A doctor’s official prescription (the Bible)
A medical blog with some good info but some bad advice mixed in (Apocrypha)
Would you trust your life to both equally?
No.
You might read the blog—but you only build your life on what’s proven and authoritative.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about books—it’s about truth.
If we accept writings that:
Add to salvation
Contradict Scripture
Introduce new doctrines
Then we open the door to confusion and deception
The Bible Gives a Warning
“Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you…” (Proverbs 30:6)
“If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues…” (Revelation 22:18)
Final Conclusion:
The Apocrypha may contain some historical truth
It is not inspired Scripture
It contains teachings that conflict with the Word of God
Final Thought:
God didn’t leave us guessing.
He gave us a Word that is:
Pure
Consistent
Without contradiction
So we don’t build our faith on “maybe”
We build it on what God clearly said
Simple Takeaway:
The Apocrypha can be read for history, but it should never be used to build doctrine, because it does not carry the same authority or consistency as the Word of God.
