The Apocrypha

Reprinted according to the authorized (King James) version of 1611.The Apocrypha refers to the 'hidden' or 'secret' books that were not included in the canonical Holy Scriptures. Also called the Pseudepigrapha, this title refers to the attribution of late works to earlier authors, such as 'Solomon' or 'Ezra.'The Apocryphal books were written or attributed to Jewish authors in the period between the Fourth Century BCE through the Second Century BCE. Some were written in Hebrew or Aramaic, while others were originally written in other languages, primarily in Greek.The Apocrypha includes books of widely divergent character, varying in style and content. There are historical writings, legends, imaginary tales and poetry. A close reading of the Apocrypha provides us with a great deal of information on the history of the Jewish people, their outlooks and customs during this historical period.The books of the Apocrypha had great direct and indirect influence on ancient poetry, legends, tales, moral fables and themes used in literature and the visual arts.