Which Bible Books Do Protestants Reject? Understanding the Protestant Canon
When we talk about the Bible, most of us envision a single, definitive collection of books. However, different Christian traditions have different understandings of which books belong in that collection. For Protestants, a key distinction lies in their rejection of certain books that are included in the Bibles of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. These rejected books are commonly referred to as the "apocrypha" or, more accurately by Protestants, the "deuterocanonical" books. Let's delve into what this means and why this difference exists.
The Protestant Bible: A Shorter Collection
Protestant Bibles, for the most part, contain 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
The Old Testament: Where the Difference Lies
The divergence primarily occurs in the Old Testament. While Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books between the Old and New Testaments, Protestants generally do not. These books were written in the centuries between the close of the Old Testament canon (as recognized by Jewish tradition) and the beginning of the New Testament era.
The Deuterocanonical Books: What Are They?
The books that Protestants typically reject are those found in the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians consider these books to be inspired Scripture and part of their Old Testament canon. Protestants, however, view them differently. Here's a list of the books commonly found in the apocrypha section of Catholic and Orthodox Bibles:
- Tobit
- Judith
- The Wisdom of Solomon
- Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus)
- Baruch (including the Letter of Jeremiah as chapter 6)
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- Additions to Esther (these are typically chapters 10:4–16:24 in Catholic Bibles)
- Additions to Daniel (The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon)
Why the Rejection? Historical and Theological Reasons
The reasons for the Protestant rejection of these books are multifaceted, stemming from historical, linguistic, and theological considerations:
- Hebrew Canon: The Protestant Reformers, like Martin Luther, largely followed the Hebrew canon of Scripture. The Jewish rabbis who finalized the Hebrew canon in the late 1st or early 2nd century A.D. did not include these books. This was a significant factor for the Reformers, who sought to return to what they believed was the original and authoritative collection of Old Testament writings.
- Lack of Hebrew Originals: Many of these books do not have surviving original Hebrew manuscripts. They exist primarily in Greek, which raised questions for the Reformers about their original divine inspiration compared to books with clear Hebrew origins.
- Theological Concerns: Some theological ideas or practices presented in these books were seen by the Reformers as either not in line with or even contradictory to core biblical doctrines. For example, 2 Maccabees contains passages that some believe allude to prayers for the dead, a practice that Protestants do not consider biblically supported.
- Historical Usage: While the early Church did sometimes use these books in their teachings and recognized their value, they were not universally accepted as canonical in the same way as other Old Testament books. There was a historical debate within the early Church about their exact status.
Martin Luther's Role
Martin Luther, a central figure in the Protestant Reformation, was particularly influential in establishing the Protestant canon. He placed these deuterocanonical books in a separate section of his German Bible translation, between the Old and New Testaments, with a preface stating that they were "good to read, but not to be considered equal to Holy Scripture." This position, while acknowledging their historical and moral value, essentially set them apart from the divinely inspired books.
The New Testament: No Disagreement
It's important to note that there is virtually no disagreement among Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Orthodox Christians regarding the canon of the New Testament. All these traditions accept the same 27 books as inspired Scripture.
Are They "Worthless"?
It's not accurate to say that Protestants consider these books "worthless." Many Protestant scholars and pastors acknowledge that the deuterocanonical books can offer historical insights, moral teachings, and interesting narratives. They are often studied for their historical context and ethical lessons. However, they are not considered divinely inspired Scripture in the same category as the 66 books of the Protestant Bible.
Conclusion
The difference in the Old Testament canon between Protestant Bibles and those of other Christian traditions lies in the acceptance of the deuterocanonical books. The Protestant Reformation, guided by a return to the Hebrew canon and concerns about the origin and theological content of these books, led to their exclusion from the Protestant Bible. While valuable for study, they are not held to be the Word of God in the same authoritative way as the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament.
FAQ: Common Questions About the Protestant Bible Canon
How did Protestants decide which books to include?
Protestants, particularly during the Reformation, largely followed the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament. They looked to the collection of books recognized by Jewish tradition as authoritative. For the New Testament, they generally followed the consensus of the early Christian church, which had largely settled on the 27 books we have today.
Why are these extra books called "apocrypha" by Protestants?
The term "apocrypha" generally means "hidden" or "secret." Protestants use this term to distinguish these books from the widely accepted, canonical books. While Catholics refer to them as "deuterocanonical" (meaning "second canon"), Protestants tend to view them as outside of the primary, divinely inspired canon, and therefore, "apocryphal" in the sense of not being divinely inspired Scripture.
Did all Protestants reject these books from the beginning?
While the majority of Protestant reformers established a canon without these books, there was some variation in the early days. However, the trend quickly solidified into the 66-book canon that is standard today. Some early editions of the King James Bible, for instance, did include them, but typically in a separate section.
Are these books still relevant today for Protestants?
Yes, the books are still relevant for study. Many Protestant scholars and denominations recognize their historical value and the moral or ethical teachings they contain. They can provide valuable context for understanding the history and culture of the intertestamental period, but they are not used for establishing doctrine or as authoritative Scripture.
