Scott Shahan
Puritan Board Sophomore
I've been having a lively discussion with my Catholic coworker about
the Apocrypha. Of course I'm sure you're all well aware of the arguments
for/against the inclusion of the apocrypha in Scripture as well as
beliefs in the church before the Council of Trent. Rather than lobbing
wikipedia and other web based quotes back and forth, I was curious if
I could tap your knowledge for the following questions:
1. What was the churches belief prior to the Council of Trent? My
coworker would have me believe that the church always accepted the
Apocrypha as scripture and the statements coming from the Council of
Trent were a refutation of protestants and other "heretics." He
references Augustine's "approval" of the canon which included the
Apocrypha - I quote from wikipedia:
"The African Synod of Hippo, in 393, approved the New Testament, as it
stands today, together with the Septuagint books, a decision that was
repeated by Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419. These councils were
under the authority of St. Augustine, who regarded the canon as
already closed."
2. What evidence exists for or against the Apocrypha as inspired text?
3. Why didn't the Jews accept the Apocryphal books?
4. Can you recommend a book on the topic from an Evangelical which I
could use to formalize my own views?
the Apocrypha. Of course I'm sure you're all well aware of the arguments
for/against the inclusion of the apocrypha in Scripture as well as
beliefs in the church before the Council of Trent. Rather than lobbing
wikipedia and other web based quotes back and forth, I was curious if
I could tap your knowledge for the following questions:
1. What was the churches belief prior to the Council of Trent? My
coworker would have me believe that the church always accepted the
Apocrypha as scripture and the statements coming from the Council of
Trent were a refutation of protestants and other "heretics." He
references Augustine's "approval" of the canon which included the
Apocrypha - I quote from wikipedia:
"The African Synod of Hippo, in 393, approved the New Testament, as it
stands today, together with the Septuagint books, a decision that was
repeated by Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419. These councils were
under the authority of St. Augustine, who regarded the canon as
already closed."
2. What evidence exists for or against the Apocrypha as inspired text?
3. Why didn't the Jews accept the Apocryphal books?
4. Can you recommend a book on the topic from an Evangelical which I
could use to formalize my own views?