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Five arguments against recognizing the O.T. Apocrypha as canon.
1. Philo, Alexandrian Jewish philosopher (20 B.C. - A.D. 40), quoted the O.T. prolifically, and even recognized the threefold classification, but never quoted from the Apocrypha as inspired.
2. Josephus(A.D. 30-100), Jewish historian, explicitly excludes the Apocrypha. Neither does he quote the apocryphal books as Scripture.
3. Jesus and the New Testament writers never once quote the Apocrypha, although there are hundreds of quotes and references to almost all of the canonical books of the O.T.
4. Thew Jewish scholars of Jamnia (A.D. 90) did not recognize the Apocrypha.
5. No canon or council of the Christian church recognized the Apocrypha as inspired for nearly four centuries.
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Five more arguments against recognizing the O.T. Apocrypha as canon. 6. Many of the great Fathers of the early church spoke out against the Apocrypha. ex. Origen, Cyril of Jerusalem, and Athanasius. 7. Jerome (A.D. 340-420), the great scholar and translator of the Latin Vulgate, rejected the Apocrypha as part of the canon. 8. Many Roman Catholic scholars through the Reformation period rejected the Apocrypha. 9. Luther and the Reformers rejected the canonicity of the Apocrypha. 10. Not until A.D. 1546, in a polemical action at the counter-Reformation Council of Trent (1545-63), did the apocryphal books receive full canonical status by the Roman Catholic Church.
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In the story of David & Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:4 claims that Goliath was a giant from Gath. In Numbers 13:32 we are told about these giants, and in Joshua 11:21-22 we are told that Joshua and his army wiped out all of these giants except for in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. This is amazing considering that 1 Samuel was written 400 years after the Book of Joshua!
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The Bible is the oldest and most ancient book in the world, beginning with its first section of five books written by Moses 3500 years ago.
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There is no other book in history which has suffered more opposition, hatred, persecution and outright burning. Yet, after thousands of years of opposition, the Bible has not only survived, it has triumphed over emperors, kings and dictators who sought to silence its message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ.
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