Does the Apocrypha belong in your Bible? Should it be avoided, studied as Scripture, or somewhere in between?

Biblical scholars Brian J. Tabb and David E. Briones argue that the ancient writings of the Apocrypha deserve a closer look, not because they carry canonical authority, but because they carry scholarly and spiritual value for anyone serious about understanding Scripture.

The Significance of the Apocrypha offers an accessible, discerning, and theologically grounded introduction to the books that fall between the Old and New Testaments. Tabb and Briones offer an overview of the Apocrypha's history, its reception, and the canonization process. While they maintain that these books fall outside the Protestant canon, they make a compelling case for why they are still worth studying for Protestants.

What you'll find in The Significance of the Apocrypha:



- A clear Protestant framework for understanding and studying the Apocrypha, distinguishing it from canonical Scripture without dismissing its historical and spiritual value

- An overview of each book of the Apocrypha, including background, themes, connection to the New Testament, and insights for Christians today

- A history of canonization, addressing who decided what belongs in the Bible and how those decisions were made

- Historical context that illuminates the cultural and religious landscape of the world in which Jesus lived, between the Old and New Testaments

This book argues that the Apocrypha is an uninspired yet inspiring collection of texts that direct us back to the text of Holy Scripture. Reading the Apocrypha with understanding illuminates the world in which the New Testament was written and enriches your understanding of Second Temple Judaism. You'll walk away with deeper confidence in the trustworthiness of God and his promises, his preservation of his people throughout history, and the uniqueness of the Bible.



David E. Briones is associate professor of New Testament at Westminster Seminary California. He is the author of Paul's Financial Policy and coeditor of Paul and Seneca in Dialogue and Paul and the Giants of Philosophy. He has contributed essays to major reference works, including the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.), and published articles in New Testament Studies, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, and Catholic Biblical Quarterly.



Brian J. Tabb (PhD, London School of Theology) is president and professor of biblical studies at Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is general editor of Themelios and author of All Things New and other books.



Abbreviations



1. Why the Apocrypha Matters



2. The Apocrypha and the Canon: Who Decides What Belongs in the Bible? 



3. The Apocrypha in the Church: A History of Reception and Rejection



4. The Apocrypha and the World of Jesus: The Hellenization Crisis and the Maccabean Revolt



5. Reading the Apocrypha: Histories, Heroes, and Holy Imagination



6. Reading the Apocrypha: Wisdom, Poetry, and the Life of Faith



7. Reading the Apocrypha: Supplements, Expansions, and Sacred Story



8. Between Promise and Fulfillment: The Apocrypha as a Canonical Bridge



9. The Value of the Apocrypha: Immensely Useful but Not Canonical



Bibliography