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Coram Deo · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 12:30 PM

Why did Augustine champion the apocrypha during his life and during the third Counsel of Carthage?

Also Why did the apocrypha remain in every bible including the Geneva, Lutheran, and KJV up to the mid 1800s? and continues in the Lutheran bible today?

Also of interest is why the Belgic Confession and the 39 Article Confession allows the apocrypha to be read in the churches?

Beglic Confession

Article VI - The Difference between the Canonical and Apocryphal Books

We distinguish those sacred books from the apocryphal, viz: the third and fourth books of Esdras, the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Sirach, Baruch, the Appendix to the book of Esther, the Song of the Three Children in the Furnace, the History of Susannah, of Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasseh, and the two books of the Maccabees. All of which the Church may read and take instruction from, so far as they agree with the canonical books; but they are far from having such power and efficacy that we may from their testimony confirm any point of faith or of the Christian religion; much less may they be used to detract from the authority of the other, that is, the sacred books.

39 Article Confession

All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them canonical.

And the other books (as Hierome [Jerome] saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine. Such are these following:

The Third Book of Esdras.
The Fourth Book of Esdras.
The Book of Tobias.
The Book of Judith.
The rest of the Book of Esther.
The Book of Wisdom.
Jesus the Son of Sirach.
Baruch the Prophet.
The Song of the Three Children.
The Story of Susanna.
Of Bel and the Dragon.
The Prayer of Manasses.
The First Book of Maccabees.
The Second Book of Maccabees.