Understanding the Biblical Canon and the Apocrypha

Canon

An authoritative collection of biblical texts.

Tanakh

Jewish threefold division of the Hebrew Bible.

Torah

First division of the Tanakh; means 'Law'.

Nevi'im

Second division of the Tanakh; means 'Prophets'.

Ketuvim

Third division of the Tanakh; means 'Writings'.

Septuagint

Greek translation of Hebrew scriptures; means 'seventy'.

Apocrypha

Jewish texts not included in the Protestant Bible.

First Maccabees

Details Jewish rebellions against the Syrians.

Second Maccabees

Discusses intercession for the dead; purgatory justification.

Tobit

Fanciful story of Tobit and demon exorcism.

Judith

Story of a woman beheading an Assyrian king.

Sirach

Wisdom literature similar to Proverbs.

Baruch

Apocryphal book not authored by Baruch.

Wisdom of Solomon

Apocryphal book not written by Solomon.

Josephus

First-century historian who discussed Jewish scriptures.

Babylonian Talmud

Collection of Rabbinical traditions on scripture.

Council of Jamnia

AD 90 assembly reaffirming Jewish biblical canon.

New Testament

Christian texts that do not reference Apocrypha.

Luke 24:44

Jesus affirms the threefold division of the Tanakh.

Intertestamental period

Time between the Old and New Testaments.

Hellenization

Spread of Greek culture after Alexander the Great.

Seventy-two translators

Legendary number of translators for the Septuagint.

Psalms

Largest book in the Ketuvim division.

Historical value

Significance of texts in understanding Jewish history.

Indulgences

Catholic practice justified by Apocryphal texts.

Prophets

Messengers of God in the Hebrew Bible.

Scripture

Sacred writings considered authoritative in faith.