Question:

Why were the apocryphal books removed from the Bible after having been included for nearly 1,000 years. Doesn’t Scripture tell us that we are not to delete or add to the Bible?

Thank you and God bless

Answer:

Hello Dave,

This topic can be a divisive one for Protestants and Catholics. Here’s the way the argument usually goes. The Protestants say – the original canon the 66 books we know as the Protestant Bible. Why did you guys (Catholics, Orthodox, etc.) add to the canon with these books? You had no authority to do this. The Bible says don’t add or take away – you guys added.

Catholics and Orthodox folks often say – the canon wasn’t complete until God led us to add the apocryphal books. You guys, Protestants, weren’t even on the scene. Then you come along with the Reformation, make a big deal about some of the problems we were going to deal with anyway, (and eventually did) – and among other things, take things out of the Bible. The Bible says don’t take away from the Bible.

Plain Truth Ministries doesn’t divide with our brothers and sisters in Christianity over this issue, however, we have a Protestant background and perspective. The Apocryphal books are to be taken as ancient literature (which may or may not be doctrinally correct) rather than sacred Scripture.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht