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https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/

The apocrypha is a selection of books which were published in the original 1611 King James Bible. These apocryphal books were positioned between the Old and New Testament (it also contained maps and geneologies). The apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years until being removed in 1885 A.D. A portion of these books were called deuterocanonical books by some entities, such as the Catholic church.

Many claim the apocrypha should never have been included in the first place, raising doubt about its validity and believing it was not God-inspired (for instance, a reference about magic seems inconsistent with the rest of the Bible: Tobit chapter 6, verses 5-8). Others believe it is valid and that it should never have been removed- that it was considered part of the Bible for nearly 2,000 years before it was recently removed a little more than 100 years ago. Some say it was removed because of not finding the books in the original Hebrew manuscripts. Others claim it wasn't removed by the church, but by printers to cut costs in distributing Bibles in the United States. Both sides tend to cite the same verses that warn against adding or subtracting from the Bible: Revelation 22:18. The word 'apocrypha' means 'hidden.' Fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls dating back to before 70 A.D. contained parts of the apocrypha books in Hebrew, including Sirach and Tobit [source].

Keep this in mind when reading the following apocryphal books. Martin Luther said, "Apocrypha--that is, books which are not regarded as equal to the holy Scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to read." (King James Version Defended page 98.)

So in theological terms how does the King James Only movement see the Apocrypha? And how do the people here see the Apocrypha?

Note: crossposting here so maybe more people can answer my question.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/ >The apocrypha is a selection of books which were published in the original 1611 King James Bible. These apocryphal books were positioned between the Old and New Testament (it also contained maps and geneologies). The apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years until being removed in 1885 A.D. A portion of these books were called deuterocanonical books by some entities, such as the Catholic church. >Many claim the apocrypha should never have been included in the first place, raising doubt about its validity and believing it was not God-inspired (for instance, a reference about magic seems inconsistent with the rest of the Bible: Tobit chapter 6, verses 5-8). Others believe it is valid and that it should never have been removed- that it was considered part of the Bible for nearly 2,000 years before it was recently removed a little more than 100 years ago. Some say it was removed because of not finding the books in the original Hebrew manuscripts. Others claim it wasn't removed by the church, but by printers to cut costs in distributing Bibles in the United States. Both sides tend to cite the same verses that warn against adding or subtracting from the Bible: Revelation 22:18. The word 'apocrypha' means 'hidden.' Fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls dating back to before 70 A.D. contained parts of the apocrypha books in Hebrew, including Sirach and Tobit [source]. >Keep this in mind when reading the following apocryphal books. Martin Luther said, "Apocrypha--that is, books which are not regarded as equal to the holy Scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to read." (King James Version Defended page 98.) So in theological terms how does the King James Only movement see the Apocrypha? And how do the people here see the Apocrypha? Note: crossposting here so maybe more people can answer my question.

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[–] • 2 pts (edited )

I don't think they are where someone should begin their journey in Christianity. They are not the place to start.

Gaining an appreciation for the apocrypha will come later, after you have a foundation, and after you've done enough study that you can begin to appreicate the esoteria in the Christian faith - and not simply some absolute ideal of hidden messages, but learn what esotericism is period.

Greater appreciation will also come if you can study some analytic theology, and some history and culture of the ancient Hebrews. Study some philosophy, especially Plato. Even some religious history of the ancient near East, including Egypt and Sumeria.

Then later you can approach the apocrypha. Put it this way, the apocrypha, while important, are probably not included in the canonical texts not simply for the reason that they aren't God-inspired, but that they require a certain amount of intelligence and initiation into the truth of Christianity before they are approached. In honesty, they are not something which is essential to the core doctrines of the faith, or to salvation, and it is probably better that many Christians don't approach them, because doing so without the right intelligence, knowledge and context might actually cause them to be a detriment to your faith. If they are unessential but have the potential to lead a Christian down a heretical road (despite good intentions), then it is better they are not canonized.

Ancient keepers of religious tradition understood that some people are called to the faith in ways that justify their being initiated into the deeper 'mysteries', while others who are not, do not require this knowledge and/or don't have the capacities for it. Guiding how to conceal what needs to be concealed for the right eyes is an important function of the Church. When that's not done, then you get days and days worth of Youtube videos about Enoch and the Annunaki and how God was an alien.

@PS @KingOfWhiteAmerica

Both of these fellas could probably do more justice to the explanation than I am able to, but I believe I've gotten across a basic idea about the dangers and the the practical considerations of esoteria. Without the right (highly contextualized) hermeneutic, they're likely to lead most people to wrong ideas. Esoteria was typically confined to people who chose the ecclesiastic or monastic lifestyle and could be 'brought up' with the hidden interpretations of things, taught by the right people, in the right place, and with the right adjacent knowledge for it to make sense.

Let's say you aren't a mechanic, but you enjoy having a running car, and you care about your car's wellbeing. You don't have any desire to know all of the intimate details of your car's parts/functions - after all, that's not your life's mission. So take the apocrypha to be things that aren't in the car's manual. They aren't necessary for you. If it comes to something that requires the apocrypha, leave it to the mechanic. The mechanic will know all of the parts of your car's engine that you don't have the context to know about, and he knows all of that esoteria so he can do what he does better on your behalf, which is to save your car. If you tried to understand the esoteria on your own, unaided, you might ruin your own car.

People generally get the wrong idea about esoteric knowledge. They think if they can just get their hands on it and read it, FOR REAL, that they'll have the secret. No. You can read it all day. It will do absolutely fuck all for you; it will mean nothing to you, unless you've spent your life getting yourself to the point where it does. Just like seeing some complicated spec on a machine you don't know would mean nothing to you, the idea of esoteria is the same: it won't mean shit to you, except wrong ideas, until it does. It's not something to lust after unless you want to make deep spiritual understanding a primary mission in your life. If not, it would be like wanting to know the deep specs on a machine that you're never going to touch. It's just not necessary if what you want is spiritual salvation.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Very thoughtful and well articulated post. Although I've heard different things about the importance the Apocrypha on my other post, I'll try to take what you said in mind as well. These responses are above my paygrade in terms of discernment and understanding, but know that I appreciate them.