What does "deuterocanonical" mean?
Q: What does "deuterocanonical" mean?
A: Deuterocanonical means "second canon" in Greek and usually refers to the parts of the Bible that are only used by some Christian churches (mostly Roman Catholic and Orthodox).
Q: When were deuterocanonical books written?
A: The deuterocanonical books were written in Greek language manuscripts by Jewish people living in Greek speaking areas of the Mediterranean Sea between 250 and 50 BC, as were all of the books of the Old Testament.
Q: When was the Old Testament known in Jewish and Protestant religions written in Hebrew?
A: It was not until circa 900 AD that the Old Testament as known in Jewish and Protestant religions was written in Hebrew and limited to what is now referred to as "canons".
Q: Are deuterocanonical books part of the Jewish Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)?
A: No, they are not part of the Jewish Tanakh (also called the Hebrew Bible), although they were quoted as Scripture well into the Middle Ages as is found in Jewish Mishna and later Rabbinical writings, even into the 6th century AD. The current Jewish canon was closed by 10th century AD.
Q: What are some examples of deuterocanonical books?
A: Some examples of deuterocanonical books include The Book of Tobit, The Book of Judith, The First Book of Maccabees (1 Maccabees), The Second Book Of Maccabees (2 Maccabees), The Wisdom Of Solomon (The Book Of Wisdom), The Book Of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), The Book Of Baruch with its last chapter being Letter Of Jeremiah, Daniel, Esther.
Q: Why are these books longer than those found in Protestant Bibles? A: These books are longer than those found in Protestant Bibles because they contain more stories.
Q: How do Protestants view these books? A: Many Protestants do not accept these books as inspired by God and use a derogatory term for them - Apocrypha. Martin Luther considered them good to read while John Calvin read and studied them but did not think they should be part of the Bible.
