"Notes" to the Belgic
Confession - Rev. C. Bouwman
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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CANONICAL AND APOCRYPHAL BOOKS
We distinguish these holy books from the apocryphal, namely, 3 and 4 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, additions to Esther, the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men in the Furnace, Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasseh, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. The church may read and take instruction from these so far as they agree with the canonical books. They are, however, far from having such power and authority that we may confirm from their testimony any point of faith or of the Christian religion; much less may they be used to detract from the authority of the holy books.
In Article 6 a distinction
was made between the Canonical and the Apocryphal books. As it is confessed
in Article 4, the canonical books are the 39 Old Testament books, originally
written in Hebrew, and the 27 New Testament books, originally written in Greek.
During the years which separated the Old and New Testament times, some Jewish
writers wrote some 15 books in Greek. Later on the 39 Old Testament books
were translated from Hebrew into Greek. This translation was called 'the Septuagint.'
Into this translation were inserted these additional 15 Greek books. The early
church had to make a decision whether or not these 15 books were canonical,
and it decided against this.
However, when a man by
the name of Jerome translated the Septuagint (the O.T. plus the apocrypha)
into Latin, he chose to include the apocrypha in his final edition. As a result,
the apocrypha in time simply came to be accepted by the Church (of Rome).
Hence, by the time of the Great Reformation in the sixteenth century, the
Reformers inherited Bibles with the Apocrypha included. So they had to consider
whether or not to continue to accept the Apocrypha, or return to the conviction
of the early church. (Even till today, the Roman Catholic Church accepts the
Apocryphal books, and even uses these books to prove points of doctrine. For
example, the doctrine of purgatory is derived from the Apocrypha. )
DeBres, together with
the other reformers, maintained what he confessed in Article 4, that only
the 66 Old and New Testament books are canonical and that the additional 15
books are not the Word of God, but are apocryphal. (The term 'apocryphal'
means 'hidden', and probably refers to the obscure origin of these books.)
If they are not the Word of God, if they are not given by God, they consequently
cannot be used for the regulation, foundation and confirmation of our faith.
Therefore, one does not read them in order to find out what one must believe.
One may read them out of interest or curiosity, just like one reads any other
book, but they do not have the same authority as the canonical books. One
may take instruction from them in as far as what is contained in them is in
agreement with the Bible. This approach to the Apocrypha was accepted by the
Reformation and therefore Protestant Bibles do not include the Apocrypha.
(The first official Dutch translation of the Bible, the 'Staten Vertaling'
did include the Apocryphal books, but they were inserted at the back of the
Bible to indicate that they were not part of the Bible).
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE APOCRYPHA
Those who read the apocryphal books will sense quickly enough that they contain a different 'spirit' than we are used to from the inspired books of the Bible.
1. They
reflect typically Jewish sentiments as opposed to Scriptural sentiments. For
example, they show a contempt for women. The canonical books, on the other
hand, do teach the notion of submission to the man, but they do not condone
a contempt for women.
2. The Apocrypha emphasises good works
as being necessary for earning salvation, whereas the Bible explains good
works to be the evidence of gratitude for the free gift of salvation.
3. The Apocrypha contains distinct historical
inaccuracies. For example, in the Apocrypha, Nebuchadnezzar is said to have
lived in Nineveh, whereas in fact Nineveh was destroyed years before Nebuchadnezzar's
time.
4. Many writings within the Apocrypha
are fantasy.
FOR INTEREST: THE APOCRYPHAL BOOK OF SUSANNA.
Printed below, as an
example of apocryphal writing, is one of its shortest books.
There dwelt a man in
Babylon, called Joacim:2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter
of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.3 Her parents
also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.4
Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house:
and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.
5 The same year were
appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord
spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed
to govern the people.6 These kept much at Joacim's house: and all that had
any suits in law came unto them.
7 Now when the people
departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.8 And
the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust
was inflamed toward her.9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away
their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.10
And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another
his grief.11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired
to have to do with her.12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see
her.
13 And the one said to
the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.14 So when they were
gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they
came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause,
they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when
they might find her alone.
15 And it fell out, as
they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she
was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.16 And there was
no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.17
Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden
doors, that I may wash me.18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden
doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she
had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.
19 Now when the maids
were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,20 Behold,
the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with
thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.21 If thou wilt not, we will
bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou
didst send away thy maids from thee.
22 Then Susanna sighed,
and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death
unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.23 It is better for
me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the
Lord.
24 With that Susanna
cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.25 Then
ran the one, and opened the garden door.26 So when the servants of the house
heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what
was done unto her.27 But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants
were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.
28 And it came to pass
the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two
elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her
to death;29 And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of
Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent.30 So she came with her father and
mother, her children, and all her kindred.
31 Now Susanna was a
very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.32 And these wicked men commanded
to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with
her beauty.33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.
34 Then the two elders
stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.35
And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.36
And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in
with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.37 Then
a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.38 Then we
that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.39
And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger
than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.40 But having taken this woman,
we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do
we testify.
41 Then the assembly
believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they
condemned her to death.
42 Then Susanna cried
out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets,
and knowest all things before they be:43 Thou knowest that they have borne
false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such
things as these men have maliciously invented against me.
44 And the Lord heard
her voice.45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised
up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:46 Who cried with
a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.
47 Then all the people
turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?48
So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel,
that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter
of Israel?49 Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false
witness against her.
50 Wherefore all the
people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down
among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.51
Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and
I will examine them.
52 So when they were
put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O
thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed
aforetime are come to light.53 For thou hast pronounced false judgment and
hast condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord
saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.54 Now then, if thou
hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together?
Who answered, Under a mastick tree.55 And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast
lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the
sentence of God to cut thee in two.
56 So he put him aside,
and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan,
and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine
heart.57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear
companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.58
Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together?
Who answered, Under an holm tree.59 Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou
hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the
sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.
60 With that all the
assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that
trust in him.61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted
them of false witness by their own mouth:62 And according to the law of Moses
they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their
neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the
same day.
63 Therefore Chelcias
and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband,
and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.64 From
that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.