The Greek term "apocrypha" refers to books that are "hidden away." There are three interpretations of this term:

1. Certain books were withdrawn or "hidden," because they were mysterious or esoteric and required only the profound to understand.

2. Certain books deserved to be "hidden," because they were questionable or heretical.

3. Certain books that some consider authoritative but outside of the Hebrew canon.

Jerome (347-420 A.D.), who did most of the translation for the Latin Vulgate, was credited for being the first to translate the Old Testament into Latin directly from the Hebrew Old Testament (Tanakh) rather than the Greek Septuagint, and he viewed the Apocrypha, those certain books that some considered authoritative, as outside of the Hebrew canon.

The designation Apocrypha applies to a collection of fourteen or fifteen books (or parts of) that were written originally in either Hebrew or Greek during the period of 200 B.C. – 100 A.D.

The basis for the confusion, whether the Apocrypha was part of the Hebrew Old Testament canon or not, began when the Septuagint was translated for the Greek speaking Jews in Egypt. Of these two traditions of the Hebrew Tanakh, the Palestinian Canon and the Alexandrian Canon, many theories are debated on how and why the Apocrypha was included in the Septuagint / Alexandrian Canon. Some questions include whether findings in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate the possibility of some apocryphal works in earlier Hebrew versions.

Palestinian Canon – this represents Rabbinic Judaism’s recognition of the twenty-two books of the Hebrew Bible with Ruth within the book of Judges and Lamentations within the book of Jeremiah. This is equivalent to the current modern form of the Hebrew Bible of 24 books with the recognition of Ruth and Lamentations as separate books. In this canon, the Apocrypha is not included, because the works are not considered inspired.

Alexandrian Canon – this represents the Greek collection of Old Testament books that was allegedly developed during the translation of the Septuagint in Alexandria, Egypt. This canon includes the Apocrypha as separate books or interwoven within the twenty-two original canonical Hebrew books.

Listing the Apocrypha and which works are accepted by either Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches, this table shows the order of Old Testament books and how the Apocrypha is integrated within it.

Roman Catholic Bible - To see how the Apocrypha was integrated into the Old Testament, the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition is shown.

Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible – The Eastern / Greek Orthodox church uses the Septuagint for their Old Testament.

With the acceptance of the Apocrypha as Scripture by both western and eastern Catholic churches, there has been considerable debate about their canonicity over a thousand years. The arguments for and against the authority of these writings are summarized in the following table.

Like all ancient extrabiblical works, the Apocrypha has historical value and provides a better understanding of the people of that time. Many who read the Apocrypha find enjoyment and edification through their study, which enhances their devotional experience.

However, as an authoritative rule for doctrine and faith, the Apocrypha is disqualified. As an example, the principle proof text used for the doctrine of purgatory, prayer for the dead, and making an offering to God for the purpose of delivering the dead from the punishment of their sin is 2 Maccabees 12:42-45.