Apocrypha tldr
Q: Can anyone offer information as to why the Apocrypha was declared "writings of men" and not divinely inspired? Although I have never thought it should be, but never looked into the history and decision to keep them out or have them removed. I would appreciate insight on this. A: Truthfully it is because the Jews themselves rejected their canonicity. See Josephus, the early Jewish historian, who specifically names the "22 book" Jewish Canon (including several books that we separate as 1), which corresponds to the Protestant Canon, not the Roman Catholic Book. The Jews didn’t consider them scripture, Neither did the Apostles, or Jesus ! The books themselves don’t even call themselves scripture. They’re never quoted as Scripture in the New Testament, and whenever the scope of Scripture is made mention of they are not referenced (for example…‘from the blood of Abel to Zechariah’). Jerome argued against their inclusion in the Latin vulgate. Their status of canon bein...