Apocrypha 101

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[Seminary-Notes] ==================================== FOR YOUR INFORMATION... ====================================    When you turn the page from Malachi in the Old Testament to Matthew in the New Testament, the little swooshing sound you hear is the rapid passing of more than 400 years of Jewish history. Understanding the period between the Old and New Testaments is extremely important to understanding the New Testament. Much of the Apocrypha was reportedly written during the missing 400-year period, and it is worth your while to become familiar with it. Each time I have taught the New Testament, I have received questions from students about the Apocrypha. Doctrine and Covenants 91 notes that the Apocrypha "is mostly translated correctly" and includes the important counsel that "whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;" Here are two useful things you can do to start learning about the Apocrypha: Read the excellent entry in the Bible Dictionary. It also contains short summaries from each book in the Apocrypha. If you have time to read one or two books from the Apocrypha, I recommend reading First Maccabees (for some of the "missing" Jewish history) or Ecclesiasticus (for some excellent advice that you can share with your students). To possibly save you some time... You may wish to note that there is a large glue-in entitled "Changes in the Land of Israel" in the New Testament Volume 1 Seminary Scripture Mastery Resource packet that lists changes in government, language, location of the Jews, religious authority, priesthood, religious unity, idolatry, and religious centers that took place in Israel between 587 B.C. and 30 A.D. There is also a handout entitled "Section 91 -- The Apocrypha" in the Doctrine & Covenants Volume 2 Seminary Scripture Mastery Resource packet. It lists almost two dozen excellent quotations from the books of Ecclesiasticus and 1 Maccabees in the Apocrypha. Best wishes, Ken www.KenAlford.com ScriptureMastery@KenAlford.com