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Exploring the Apocrypha from a Latter-day Saint Perspective
Discover a wealth of ancient writings that can add depth to and enhance your study of the scriptures. Popular speaker and BYU professor Jared W. Ludlow examines each book in the apocrypha from an LDS view to show you what we can learn from these stories and how they relate to our own history and beliefs. Easy to read and filled with spiritual insights!
240 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 29, 2022
I didn't know much about the Apocrypha before reading this book and I found it a helpful overview and summary, describing where it came from, how it can be trusted, and what it says. Here are some good quotes:
"When a reader turns the page from the last chapter of Malachi in the Old Testament to the first page of Matthew in the New Testament, he has skipped a period of approximately four hundred years. This simple turn of page oversteps an important era of Jewish development that led to sectarian groups such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, as well as set the stage for the rise of Christianity. The study of the roots of Christianity leads to encountering a variety of texts not found in the Bible... The apocrypha is one list or collection of books related to the Old Testament that forms an important backdrop to early Christianity. Found in some faith traditions' canons... these books tell us more about the events and religious thought of the first centuries BC and AD... They are extremely valuable to understanding more about this historical time period as well as the creativity and religious thought of early Jews and Christians (p. ix)."
"Many stories found in the Apocrypha highlight the tension and accommodations made to live nearer to or among Gentiles. Although ultimately the Apocrypha would be excluded from later Jewish canons, its influence, especially from the wisdom sayings of Sirach, can be seen in rabbinic writings (p. x)."
"When the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) was translated into Greek, the resulting manuscript tradition came to be know as the Septuagint. Besides the Greek translations of Hebrew books, some additional stories were included that were popular among Greek-speaking Jews living in diaspora... many of which dealt with events after the time of Ezra and Malachi. Essentially, the Apocrypha, with the exception of one Old Latin text, consists of the additional books or stories found in the Septuagint, but not in the original Hebrew Bible (p. 2)."
"A Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures was not just necessary for making God's word accessible to Gentiles; it was also necessary to give Diaspora Jews access to their own religious heritage (p. 3)."
"For modern readers, the Apocrypha can be a valuable tool for helping us understand the political, cultural, and religious background of Jesus Christ and his contemporaries (p. 5)."
"Some stories may have been actual oral or written accounts of biblical figures that were passed down until found in these later manuscripts, but they had never become part of the canonical Old Testament (p. 7)."
"Despite being written by Jews for a Jewish audience, the books of the Apocrypha were largely preserved and passed down by Christians (p. 8)."
"The final status for these books in the Catholic Church was determined at the Council of Trent in 1546. At this council, all the books were deemed canonical except 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh (p. 11)."
"On a spring morning in 1833, Joseph Smith finished the Old Testament portion of his revision of the Bible... Joseph Smith's Protestant Bible... included the Apocrypha, so the Prophet asked the Lord if he should likewise revise the Apocrypha as part of this revelatory project. The Lord's response... is now included in the Doctrine and Covenants as section 91:... 'There are many things which contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth' (p. 22)."
"It seems Joseph Smith placed enough respect on the Apocrypha to include it in the 'complete Bible' that was going to be deposited in the Nauvoo Temple (p. 24)."
"A few Church leaders have quoted small passages from the Apocrypha in General Conference talks or in their writings, mostly to provide historical context for the period right before the New Testament... the two most cited sources are Esdras... and the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira (p. 27)."
"It is interesting that some General Authorities demonstrate familiarity with the Apocrypha by pulling out small quotations, but they do not grant the Apocrypha as a whole authoritative status (p. 29)."
"'There is much interesting and useful reading in the apocryphal literature and one can often decide what is correct by the Spirit' (Robert J. Matthews, p. 30)."
"'It has been my experience that Latter-day Saints are usually much too anxious to accept ancient documents at face value and seldom bother to ask themselves whether the apocrypha they so readily employ to support their modern arguments might not have been forgeries even when they were first written. Of course, not all the apocryphal books involved the possibility of deceit. Some of the documents were written anonymously merely for edification and entertainment and were circulated in antiquity merely as good and useful books. They were never intended to be taken as inspired or authoritative' (Stephen Robinson, p. 30)."
"It may be that some books from the Apocrypha were meant to be read as fictional stories teaching valuable lessons (p. 30)."
"Maybe figures like Judith were not historical people in real historical moments, but the story of her courage and piety can be used to encourage strength in others (p. 31)."
"The single biggest theological issue with the Hebrew book of Esther is the absence of God in the story: he is not mentioned once (p. 34)."
"Unlike many other biblical stories that go to great lengths to condemn marriage outside of the covenant or to live separately from the Gentiles, the book of Esther seems to commend it (p. 35)."
"She recognizes God as the only true king and asks for his help (p. 37)."
"It also reveals Esther's true feelings about many issues that Jewish interpreters probably had concerns about in the Hebrew version of Esther. She abhors being married to a Gentile, does not like the lofty status of queen, avoids Gentile food, does not participate in the king's feast, and her only joy is in God (p. 37)."
"God's role is clearly added: he changed the spirit of the king so the subsequent events could unfold in the Jews' favor (p. 38)."
"As long as they remained humble and gave the glory to God, they could receive God's power and fulfill their desires to be God's instruments in delivering his children from sin and spiritual captivity (p. 41)."
"Ever wondered what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego thought or said while stuck in the fiery furnace? The Septuagint version of Daniel answers this question with a report from the midst of the furnace. This addition to Daniel is placed at the moment when the three young men are thrown into the furnace int the Hebrew version of Daniel. It consists of three parts: the prayer of Azariah, a description of the state of the three young men in the furnace, and a long hymn sung by the three while they were enveloped by flames (p. 47)."
"'The angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it' (p. 49)."
"There are different versions of Susanna found among ancient Greek witnesses that change some of the setting or details, but the basic story is consistent (p. 50)."
"'Susanna cries out and petitions God for assistance, 'O eternal God, you know what is secret and are aware of all things before they come to be; you know that these men have given false evidence against me' (p. 51)."
"The story of Susanna provides a strong, positive role model of a virtuous woman who is willing to stick to her beliefs even while those who should be righteous leaders fail. She demonstrated integrity as she lived up to her honorable reputation (p. 57)."
"In many ways, Ezra is viewed as a second Moses because he reconstituted the religious community returning from exile and brought forth the law to the people (p. 67)."
"Darius promptly writes letters to various officials that include orders to give safe conduct to those going to Jerusalem, requests for building supplies, and approval for royal funds to be used to support the Jerusalem temple. Zerubbabel and the Jews praise God for this positive turn of fortunes (p. 70)."
"Some who claimed to be priests were put on 'probation' because they could not prove their genealogy so they could not 'share in the holy things until a high priest should appear wearing Urim and Thummin' (p. 71)."
"The chronology of Ezra and Nehemiah is notoriously difficult (p. 72)."
"1 Esdras places great emphasis on the reconstruction of the temple and the reconstitution of the religious community in Jerusalem after the exile based on Ezra's and others' ministries. However, there are many historical issues with this text--the reigns of the Persian kings, the return of the temple vessels with three separate groups, the relationships among community leaders and neighboring opponents, and so on--that indicate the text's composite character from different sources by someone either unaware of or ignoring the historical inaccuracies (p. 73)."
"LDS readers may see in 1 Esdras the challenge of creating a society of faithful believers in the midst of a wider society (p. 74)."
"There are some chronological issues with this text: Ezra is supposedly writing about thirty years after the temple was destroyed in 586 BC, but he was not born until about a century later (p. 77)."
"These passages include prophecies related to the Second Coming, such as the resurrection and exaltation of the just and the return of the Lost Ten Tribes to receive their rewards. It also quotes the efforts of Esdras to restore lost Old Testament texts that were destroyed or hidden due to the conflicts of his day (p. 78)."
"There are typically angelic intermediaries interpreting what is being seen and it is the dialogue or instruction between the mortal figure and the angels that gets recorded in these texts for others to read. Two of the most common topics of apocalypses are predictions of the future divided into sequential periods and descriptions of heavenly settings such as God's throne, the heavenly temple, and judgment scenes (p. 78)."
"Ezra humbles himself and falls on his face, allowing Uriel to explain through a parable that those 'who inhabit the earth can understand only what is on the earth, and he who is above the heavens can understand what is above the height of the heavens' (4:21, p. 81)."
"God has set a plan and has a predetermined number of souls who will come to earth, and until that number is completed they will continue to wait (p. 82)."
"The third vision is a lengthy overview of the postmortal state of the wicked and righteous, and a discussion of the final judgment. Ezra first reviews God's creative acts for each day of the creation of the world leading up to the creation of mortals. God created this world especially for his chosen people, chosen from among all humankind, but during this difficult period God's elect are dominated by others (p. 83)."
"Thus the responsibility for one's final reward or punishment falls on oneself. Each faces a 'contest' here on earth and must choose 'life' and avoid the common lack of eternal perspective spelled out by Ezra: 'For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we should suffer after death' (7:56, p. 84)."
"After the tremendous scene of destruction, the Messiah gathers together the righteous to him (p. 88)."
"Ezra points out that the law has been burned... so the people have been left in darkness and 'no one knows the things which have been done or will be done by you' (14:21, p. 89)."
"The book of 2 Esdras is a sweeping, often confusing apocalypse covering many different topics and doctrines. It is reminiscent of the book of Revelation as it points toward many end time events (p. 91)."
"If one were searching for a prime example of how God could show forgiveness and mercy to a horrible sinner, then Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings in the Old Testament, fits the bill. The Prayer of Manasseh is an extremely brief text (15 verses) in which the wicked king petitions the Lord for forgiveness of the many sins that weigh him down (p. 94)."
"There is no mention in 2 Kings about Manasseh's captivity, repentance, prayer, or reforms, but 2 Chronicles includes all this as it provides a redeeming end to Manasseh's reign and even points to other accounts of his prayer and life changes (p. 96)."
"The prayer can be organized into three sections: invocation... confession... entreaty (p. 96)."
"'I earnestly implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions! Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth' (v. 13-14, p. 97)."
"Baruch weeping for the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. As he weeps, an angle sent by the Lord comforts Baruch and takes him on a tour of five heavens (p. 100)."
"The Letter of Jeremiah is... a short... homily against idolatry. Its purpose was to prepare the Israelites for the polytheistic environment they would encounter in Babylon (p. 103)."
"When fragments of Tobit in both Hebrew and Aramaic were discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls, they confirmed that the book was initially a Semitic text that was later translated into various other tongues (p. 107)."
"The main character, Tobit, is devout and despite living in a foreign land, observes all the commandments and customs of his Jewish religion (p. 108)."
"Among those prophecies are the warnings of the scattering of the House of Israel and the eventual gathering and restoration of the people. All the nations will be converted to worship the true God (p. 115)."
"Despite its charm and apparent popularity among ancient Jews, the book of Tobit was eventually excluded from the collection of authoritative Jewish texts... its late date of composition and its antiquated views on marriage contracts were likely rationales for Jewish rejection (p. 115)."
"While the description of Judith's religious piety sound nearly Pharisaic, there is no concrete evidence that the author was a Pharisee (p. 129)."
"Many early Christian authors praised Judith in their writings and cited her story frequently (p. 140)."
"Perhaps this story was like other parables or tales of fictional characters... that inspire hope and courage in trying times and teach important lessons in memorable fashion (p. 141)."
"1 Maccabees is the most historical book int he Apocrypha, recounting some of the key Jewish events from the second century BC. It follows in the style and genre of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings (p. 152)."
"Hanukkah has become a symbol of God's assistance in dire circumstances and the rejoicing associated with the rededication of the Temple (p. 161)."
"1 Maccabees also confronts the issue of how to respond to extreme persecution and may have even served as inspiration for those facing Nazi persecution (p. 163)."
"Perhaps the most important questions is whether we will remain strong and loyal to our covenants in the midst of the worldly pressure and avoid the temptations to assimilate to the world around us (p. 165)."
"2 Maccabees is another book about the Maccabean Revolt... but the material contains more direct references to divine assistance and clearly explains the heavenly rationale for why events happened the way they did (p. 172)."
"2 Maccabees emphasizes the principle that history is unfolding according to God's plan, which includes periods of trial and persecution followed by deliverance and heavenly assistance (p. 173)."
"'Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities, but to recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our people' (p. 178)."
"The Maccabees are regularly seen petitioning God for help and guidance, so interspersed among various battles are manifestations of heavenly aid often in the form of angelic forces supporting the Maccabees and leading them to victories (p. 181)."
"As a genre, these texts encourage the pursuit of knowledge so that one can achieve a successful and fulfilling life. The varied topics of wisdom literature are often practical, such as advice about marriage, raising children, ethics, occupations, and so forth (p. 185)."
"The Wisdom of Solomon is 'probably the best example of a writing in the Apocrypha that attempts in one way or another to interpret preexisting biblical texts' (p. 187)."
"The Wisdom of Solomon teaches that God's judgment looks on the inside of an individual (similar to 1 Samuel 15). 'God is a witness of their inmost feelings, and a true observer of their hearts' (1:6, p. 190)."
"God's kindness over his people is illustrated through his gift of manna in the wilderness. It is called 'food of angels' and without toil God 'supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone's liking' (16:20-21, p. 193)."
"Righteous knowledge and wisdom should be our never-ending pursuit in mortality (p. 196)."
"Sirach emphasizes that each person has the choice between life and death (15:17, p. 203)."
"Avoidance of anger is another common exhortation in Sirach (p. 203)."
"Rather than speaking out rashly, one should be deliberate in answering. 'If you know what to say, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth' (5:11-12, p. 204)."
"Throughout Sirach, wisdom is often coupled with the biblical notion of the 'fear of God' which denotes obedience and reverence toward God (p. 206)."
"'If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will lavish her upon you... None is superior to the one who fears the Lord' (p. 207)."
"'The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their mind' (p. 208)."
"Good friends are vital for living a good life (p. 209)."
"A joyful heart is life itself (p. 211)."
"One principle that can help someone remain humble is to remember their proper relationship to God's greatness (p. 212)."
"When one is trying to follow the Lord, complete sincerity is required (p. 212)."
"Although God is merciful, he is also a God of justice (p. 213)."
"Sirach encourages the sinner to repent (p. 215)."
"When a reader turns the page from the last chapter of Malachi in the Old Testament to the first page of Matthew in the New Testament, he has skipped a period of approximately four hundred years. This simple turn of page oversteps an important era of Jewish development that led to sectarian groups such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, as well as set the stage for the rise of Christianity. The study of the roots of Christianity leads to encountering a variety of texts not found in the Bible... The apocrypha is one list or collection of books related to the Old Testament that forms an important backdrop to early Christianity. Found in some faith traditions' canons... these books tell us more about the events and religious thought of the first centuries BC and AD... They are extremely valuable to understanding more about this historical time period as well as the creativity and religious thought of early Jews and Christians (p. ix)."
"Many stories found in the Apocrypha highlight the tension and accommodations made to live nearer to or among Gentiles. Although ultimately the Apocrypha would be excluded from later Jewish canons, its influence, especially from the wisdom sayings of Sirach, can be seen in rabbinic writings (p. x)."
"When the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) was translated into Greek, the resulting manuscript tradition came to be know as the Septuagint. Besides the Greek translations of Hebrew books, some additional stories were included that were popular among Greek-speaking Jews living in diaspora... many of which dealt with events after the time of Ezra and Malachi. Essentially, the Apocrypha, with the exception of one Old Latin text, consists of the additional books or stories found in the Septuagint, but not in the original Hebrew Bible (p. 2)."
"A Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures was not just necessary for making God's word accessible to Gentiles; it was also necessary to give Diaspora Jews access to their own religious heritage (p. 3)."
"For modern readers, the Apocrypha can be a valuable tool for helping us understand the political, cultural, and religious background of Jesus Christ and his contemporaries (p. 5)."
"Some stories may have been actual oral or written accounts of biblical figures that were passed down until found in these later manuscripts, but they had never become part of the canonical Old Testament (p. 7)."
"Despite being written by Jews for a Jewish audience, the books of the Apocrypha were largely preserved and passed down by Christians (p. 8)."
"The final status for these books in the Catholic Church was determined at the Council of Trent in 1546. At this council, all the books were deemed canonical except 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh (p. 11)."
"On a spring morning in 1833, Joseph Smith finished the Old Testament portion of his revision of the Bible... Joseph Smith's Protestant Bible... included the Apocrypha, so the Prophet asked the Lord if he should likewise revise the Apocrypha as part of this revelatory project. The Lord's response... is now included in the Doctrine and Covenants as section 91:... 'There are many things which contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth' (p. 22)."
"It seems Joseph Smith placed enough respect on the Apocrypha to include it in the 'complete Bible' that was going to be deposited in the Nauvoo Temple (p. 24)."
"A few Church leaders have quoted small passages from the Apocrypha in General Conference talks or in their writings, mostly to provide historical context for the period right before the New Testament... the two most cited sources are Esdras... and the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira (p. 27)."
"It is interesting that some General Authorities demonstrate familiarity with the Apocrypha by pulling out small quotations, but they do not grant the Apocrypha as a whole authoritative status (p. 29)."
"'There is much interesting and useful reading in the apocryphal literature and one can often decide what is correct by the Spirit' (Robert J. Matthews, p. 30)."
"'It has been my experience that Latter-day Saints are usually much too anxious to accept ancient documents at face value and seldom bother to ask themselves whether the apocrypha they so readily employ to support their modern arguments might not have been forgeries even when they were first written. Of course, not all the apocryphal books involved the possibility of deceit. Some of the documents were written anonymously merely for edification and entertainment and were circulated in antiquity merely as good and useful books. They were never intended to be taken as inspired or authoritative' (Stephen Robinson, p. 30)."
"It may be that some books from the Apocrypha were meant to be read as fictional stories teaching valuable lessons (p. 30)."
"Maybe figures like Judith were not historical people in real historical moments, but the story of her courage and piety can be used to encourage strength in others (p. 31)."
"The single biggest theological issue with the Hebrew book of Esther is the absence of God in the story: he is not mentioned once (p. 34)."
"Unlike many other biblical stories that go to great lengths to condemn marriage outside of the covenant or to live separately from the Gentiles, the book of Esther seems to commend it (p. 35)."
"She recognizes God as the only true king and asks for his help (p. 37)."
"It also reveals Esther's true feelings about many issues that Jewish interpreters probably had concerns about in the Hebrew version of Esther. She abhors being married to a Gentile, does not like the lofty status of queen, avoids Gentile food, does not participate in the king's feast, and her only joy is in God (p. 37)."
"God's role is clearly added: he changed the spirit of the king so the subsequent events could unfold in the Jews' favor (p. 38)."
"As long as they remained humble and gave the glory to God, they could receive God's power and fulfill their desires to be God's instruments in delivering his children from sin and spiritual captivity (p. 41)."
"Ever wondered what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego thought or said while stuck in the fiery furnace? The Septuagint version of Daniel answers this question with a report from the midst of the furnace. This addition to Daniel is placed at the moment when the three young men are thrown into the furnace int the Hebrew version of Daniel. It consists of three parts: the prayer of Azariah, a description of the state of the three young men in the furnace, and a long hymn sung by the three while they were enveloped by flames (p. 47)."
"'The angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the inside of the furnace as though a moist wind were whistling through it' (p. 49)."
"There are different versions of Susanna found among ancient Greek witnesses that change some of the setting or details, but the basic story is consistent (p. 50)."
"'Susanna cries out and petitions God for assistance, 'O eternal God, you know what is secret and are aware of all things before they come to be; you know that these men have given false evidence against me' (p. 51)."
"The story of Susanna provides a strong, positive role model of a virtuous woman who is willing to stick to her beliefs even while those who should be righteous leaders fail. She demonstrated integrity as she lived up to her honorable reputation (p. 57)."
"In many ways, Ezra is viewed as a second Moses because he reconstituted the religious community returning from exile and brought forth the law to the people (p. 67)."
"Darius promptly writes letters to various officials that include orders to give safe conduct to those going to Jerusalem, requests for building supplies, and approval for royal funds to be used to support the Jerusalem temple. Zerubbabel and the Jews praise God for this positive turn of fortunes (p. 70)."
"Some who claimed to be priests were put on 'probation' because they could not prove their genealogy so they could not 'share in the holy things until a high priest should appear wearing Urim and Thummin' (p. 71)."
"The chronology of Ezra and Nehemiah is notoriously difficult (p. 72)."
"1 Esdras places great emphasis on the reconstruction of the temple and the reconstitution of the religious community in Jerusalem after the exile based on Ezra's and others' ministries. However, there are many historical issues with this text--the reigns of the Persian kings, the return of the temple vessels with three separate groups, the relationships among community leaders and neighboring opponents, and so on--that indicate the text's composite character from different sources by someone either unaware of or ignoring the historical inaccuracies (p. 73)."
"LDS readers may see in 1 Esdras the challenge of creating a society of faithful believers in the midst of a wider society (p. 74)."
"There are some chronological issues with this text: Ezra is supposedly writing about thirty years after the temple was destroyed in 586 BC, but he was not born until about a century later (p. 77)."
"These passages include prophecies related to the Second Coming, such as the resurrection and exaltation of the just and the return of the Lost Ten Tribes to receive their rewards. It also quotes the efforts of Esdras to restore lost Old Testament texts that were destroyed or hidden due to the conflicts of his day (p. 78)."
"There are typically angelic intermediaries interpreting what is being seen and it is the dialogue or instruction between the mortal figure and the angels that gets recorded in these texts for others to read. Two of the most common topics of apocalypses are predictions of the future divided into sequential periods and descriptions of heavenly settings such as God's throne, the heavenly temple, and judgment scenes (p. 78)."
"Ezra humbles himself and falls on his face, allowing Uriel to explain through a parable that those 'who inhabit the earth can understand only what is on the earth, and he who is above the heavens can understand what is above the height of the heavens' (4:21, p. 81)."
"God has set a plan and has a predetermined number of souls who will come to earth, and until that number is completed they will continue to wait (p. 82)."
"The third vision is a lengthy overview of the postmortal state of the wicked and righteous, and a discussion of the final judgment. Ezra first reviews God's creative acts for each day of the creation of the world leading up to the creation of mortals. God created this world especially for his chosen people, chosen from among all humankind, but during this difficult period God's elect are dominated by others (p. 83)."
"Thus the responsibility for one's final reward or punishment falls on oneself. Each faces a 'contest' here on earth and must choose 'life' and avoid the common lack of eternal perspective spelled out by Ezra: 'For while we lived and committed iniquity we did not consider what we should suffer after death' (7:56, p. 84)."
"After the tremendous scene of destruction, the Messiah gathers together the righteous to him (p. 88)."
"Ezra points out that the law has been burned... so the people have been left in darkness and 'no one knows the things which have been done or will be done by you' (14:21, p. 89)."
"The book of 2 Esdras is a sweeping, often confusing apocalypse covering many different topics and doctrines. It is reminiscent of the book of Revelation as it points toward many end time events (p. 91)."
"If one were searching for a prime example of how God could show forgiveness and mercy to a horrible sinner, then Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings in the Old Testament, fits the bill. The Prayer of Manasseh is an extremely brief text (15 verses) in which the wicked king petitions the Lord for forgiveness of the many sins that weigh him down (p. 94)."
"There is no mention in 2 Kings about Manasseh's captivity, repentance, prayer, or reforms, but 2 Chronicles includes all this as it provides a redeeming end to Manasseh's reign and even points to other accounts of his prayer and life changes (p. 96)."
"The prayer can be organized into three sections: invocation... confession... entreaty (p. 96)."
"'I earnestly implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions! Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth' (v. 13-14, p. 97)."
"Baruch weeping for the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. As he weeps, an angle sent by the Lord comforts Baruch and takes him on a tour of five heavens (p. 100)."
"The Letter of Jeremiah is... a short... homily against idolatry. Its purpose was to prepare the Israelites for the polytheistic environment they would encounter in Babylon (p. 103)."
"When fragments of Tobit in both Hebrew and Aramaic were discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls, they confirmed that the book was initially a Semitic text that was later translated into various other tongues (p. 107)."
"The main character, Tobit, is devout and despite living in a foreign land, observes all the commandments and customs of his Jewish religion (p. 108)."
"Among those prophecies are the warnings of the scattering of the House of Israel and the eventual gathering and restoration of the people. All the nations will be converted to worship the true God (p. 115)."
"Despite its charm and apparent popularity among ancient Jews, the book of Tobit was eventually excluded from the collection of authoritative Jewish texts... its late date of composition and its antiquated views on marriage contracts were likely rationales for Jewish rejection (p. 115)."
"While the description of Judith's religious piety sound nearly Pharisaic, there is no concrete evidence that the author was a Pharisee (p. 129)."
"Many early Christian authors praised Judith in their writings and cited her story frequently (p. 140)."
"Perhaps this story was like other parables or tales of fictional characters... that inspire hope and courage in trying times and teach important lessons in memorable fashion (p. 141)."
"1 Maccabees is the most historical book int he Apocrypha, recounting some of the key Jewish events from the second century BC. It follows in the style and genre of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings (p. 152)."
"Hanukkah has become a symbol of God's assistance in dire circumstances and the rejoicing associated with the rededication of the Temple (p. 161)."
"1 Maccabees also confronts the issue of how to respond to extreme persecution and may have even served as inspiration for those facing Nazi persecution (p. 163)."
"Perhaps the most important questions is whether we will remain strong and loyal to our covenants in the midst of the worldly pressure and avoid the temptations to assimilate to the world around us (p. 165)."
"2 Maccabees is another book about the Maccabean Revolt... but the material contains more direct references to divine assistance and clearly explains the heavenly rationale for why events happened the way they did (p. 172)."
"2 Maccabees emphasizes the principle that history is unfolding according to God's plan, which includes periods of trial and persecution followed by deliverance and heavenly assistance (p. 173)."
"'Now I urge those who read this book not to be depressed by such calamities, but to recognize that these punishments were designed not to destroy but to discipline our people' (p. 178)."
"The Maccabees are regularly seen petitioning God for help and guidance, so interspersed among various battles are manifestations of heavenly aid often in the form of angelic forces supporting the Maccabees and leading them to victories (p. 181)."
"As a genre, these texts encourage the pursuit of knowledge so that one can achieve a successful and fulfilling life. The varied topics of wisdom literature are often practical, such as advice about marriage, raising children, ethics, occupations, and so forth (p. 185)."
"The Wisdom of Solomon is 'probably the best example of a writing in the Apocrypha that attempts in one way or another to interpret preexisting biblical texts' (p. 187)."
"The Wisdom of Solomon teaches that God's judgment looks on the inside of an individual (similar to 1 Samuel 15). 'God is a witness of their inmost feelings, and a true observer of their hearts' (1:6, p. 190)."
"God's kindness over his people is illustrated through his gift of manna in the wilderness. It is called 'food of angels' and without toil God 'supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat, providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. For your sustenance manifested your sweetness toward your children; and the bread, ministering to the desire of the one who took it, was changed to suit everyone's liking' (16:20-21, p. 193)."
"Righteous knowledge and wisdom should be our never-ending pursuit in mortality (p. 196)."
"Sirach emphasizes that each person has the choice between life and death (15:17, p. 203)."
"Avoidance of anger is another common exhortation in Sirach (p. 203)."
"Rather than speaking out rashly, one should be deliberate in answering. 'If you know what to say, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth' (5:11-12, p. 204)."
"Throughout Sirach, wisdom is often coupled with the biblical notion of the 'fear of God' which denotes obedience and reverence toward God (p. 206)."
"'If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will lavish her upon you... None is superior to the one who fears the Lord' (p. 207)."
"'The mind of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their mind' (p. 208)."
"Good friends are vital for living a good life (p. 209)."
"A joyful heart is life itself (p. 211)."
"One principle that can help someone remain humble is to remember their proper relationship to God's greatness (p. 212)."
"When one is trying to follow the Lord, complete sincerity is required (p. 212)."
"Although God is merciful, he is also a God of justice (p. 213)."
"Sirach encourages the sinner to repent (p. 215)."
January 3, 2020
I enjoyed this book and shared many of the stories from the Apocrypha with my family. It gives a good introduction both to the better teachings in the various books and to an explanation of why they are not part of the Canon of scripture. His conclusion to each chapter shares a brief set of tie ins to Latter-day Saint theology or scripture, but really the book could be of benefit to people who are not of the faith mentioned in the book's title as well. Only the first chapter or two are specifically directed to a Latter-day Saint audience.
June 25, 2021
I have, at times, in former days, read some of the Apocryphal books, but never really had a good global understanding of them. Jared Ludlow provides for each book, interesting background, summary, and discussion of stories and items of particular interest to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The book is easy to read, not bogged down in scholarly prose, yet has ample footnotes, many of which are as interesting as the text.
Good book. I have a much greater understanding and appreciation of the Apocrypha. If I ever undertake to read it, I will use this book as my guide.
The book is easy to read, not bogged down in scholarly prose, yet has ample footnotes, many of which are as interesting as the text.
Good book. I have a much greater understanding and appreciation of the Apocrypha. If I ever undertake to read it, I will use this book as my guide.
July 2, 2018
Well-written, and exactly as advertised. I was looking for something that could explain a set of scripture I'm not as familiar with in understandable terms, with examples, and from a perspective I'm familiar with. This volume did nicely. A great primer to deeper study for LDS readers not familiar with the apocrypha.
November 14, 2019
For Latter-day Saints like myself, the apocrypha–also known as the "Deuterocanon," or "Second Canon," in the Catholic church–is a work of which I'd heard a little about, but knew next to thing about its actual substance. As we were studying the Old Testament this year, and I had been reading more about the period I knew the LEAST about–the exile–this book intrigued me, because I knew the apocrypha had something to do with that time period. And I'm glad I picked it up.
The book has an introduction to the Apocrypha, and a short summary of Latter-day Saint's usage of it. (It hasn't been used a lot, but it has been quoted in General Conference recently!) It then has a summary and background for each work of the apocrypha in the three main categories–scriptural expansions, heroic stories, and wisdom literature–alongside doctrinal and theological application for Latter-day Saints. It was like a tour guide, introducing me to new and old friends: Judith, Tobit, Raphael, Sarah, Ezra, Zerubabbel, Susannah, Daniel, Esther, Mattathias, Judas Maccabaeus, and others. The book doesn't contain the actual scripture, but I found the text in a few study bibles and on popular Bible apps. (The NRSV was, for me, the preferred versions.) But you don't have to have the actual apocrypha out and with you: Ludlow gives a pretty good plot summary, with lots of quotation.
In some ways, it was very simple: it does a lot of summarizing of existing research out there, as well as presenting (I think) novel summaries of how Latter-day Saint's have used the different texts. And the book chapters are summaries as well, with some theological reflection. But that's what I needed it to be. Ludlow is, I think, trying to introduce us to the apocrypha and to why we should read it. In that, he accomplished his purpose.
So: all in all, a very good read. And thanks to Ludlow, I have a better sense of some new favorite stories. Judith is a great story about a very proactive woman, something I might share with my daughters (when they're older, of course–it's not for the faint of heart). The story of Darius' bodyguards in 1 Esdras made me laugh out loud, but also contained the "Praise of Truth." The expansions of stories surrounding Daniel, and the emphasis on God as being the only Deity capable of any power and action, were both interesting and fun. The Prayer of Manasseh was profound, in that even someone like Manasseh, it seems, is out of reach from God's grace. And those were just a few of the stories that stuck out to me. The apocrypha, as Joseph Smith revealed, does contain some truth. And I'm glad for Ludlow's scholarship and faith in helping introduce me to the works, so I can continue searching for that truth on my own.
The book has an introduction to the Apocrypha, and a short summary of Latter-day Saint's usage of it. (It hasn't been used a lot, but it has been quoted in General Conference recently!) It then has a summary and background for each work of the apocrypha in the three main categories–scriptural expansions, heroic stories, and wisdom literature–alongside doctrinal and theological application for Latter-day Saints. It was like a tour guide, introducing me to new and old friends: Judith, Tobit, Raphael, Sarah, Ezra, Zerubabbel, Susannah, Daniel, Esther, Mattathias, Judas Maccabaeus, and others. The book doesn't contain the actual scripture, but I found the text in a few study bibles and on popular Bible apps. (The NRSV was, for me, the preferred versions.) But you don't have to have the actual apocrypha out and with you: Ludlow gives a pretty good plot summary, with lots of quotation.
In some ways, it was very simple: it does a lot of summarizing of existing research out there, as well as presenting (I think) novel summaries of how Latter-day Saint's have used the different texts. And the book chapters are summaries as well, with some theological reflection. But that's what I needed it to be. Ludlow is, I think, trying to introduce us to the apocrypha and to why we should read it. In that, he accomplished his purpose.
So: all in all, a very good read. And thanks to Ludlow, I have a better sense of some new favorite stories. Judith is a great story about a very proactive woman, something I might share with my daughters (when they're older, of course–it's not for the faint of heart). The story of Darius' bodyguards in 1 Esdras made me laugh out loud, but also contained the "Praise of Truth." The expansions of stories surrounding Daniel, and the emphasis on God as being the only Deity capable of any power and action, were both interesting and fun. The Prayer of Manasseh was profound, in that even someone like Manasseh, it seems, is out of reach from God's grace. And those were just a few of the stories that stuck out to me. The apocrypha, as Joseph Smith revealed, does contain some truth. And I'm glad for Ludlow's scholarship and faith in helping introduce me to the works, so I can continue searching for that truth on my own.
November 25, 2018
Latter-day Saint readers may be unfamiliar with a body of scripture called the Apocrypha. Helpfully, Jared Ludlow begins his book by explaining the origin of the book and how it fits into LDS theology. The Apocrypha is a collection of several stories and books that were popular among ancient Jews and were written before the time of Christ, but were ultimately not included in the Hebrew Bible. Some Christian sects include these books in their version of the Bible, others do not. * If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what happened in the 400 years between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, the Apocrypha is for you!
Some faithful LDS readers may question whether they have any business reading scripture that the church has not accepted as being canonical. Fortunately, Ludlow addresses these concerns in the second chapter. Joseph Smith prayed about whether he should revise the Apocrypha, providing a Joseph Smith translation as he did for the Bible. The revelation he received can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 91...
to read the rest of this review, please visit the Exponent: https://www.the-exponent.com/christma...
Some faithful LDS readers may question whether they have any business reading scripture that the church has not accepted as being canonical. Fortunately, Ludlow addresses these concerns in the second chapter. Joseph Smith prayed about whether he should revise the Apocrypha, providing a Joseph Smith translation as he did for the Bible. The revelation he received can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 91...
to read the rest of this review, please visit the Exponent: https://www.the-exponent.com/christma...
January 2, 2023
I had heard of the Apocrypha before and even encountered some of the stories through classical art (Judith slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi, anyone?) but had never really dug into what was in these books. I found Jared Ludlow's guide very helpful, particularly the context about the environment in which these books were (most likely) composed. The summaries of the books were very accurate, at least from the few books I went and read through afterwards. Ludlow made an interesting choice to include a comparison to a Book of Mormon story or something from church history at the end of each chapter. It felt a bit patronizing to me, as if members of the church couldn't appreciate these stories on their own without backing up their validity with LDS parallels. But that's such a small part of the book that I can let it go. Overall, a great introduction to the Apocrypha for non-scholars like myself and a good bridge to the New Testament.
August 30, 2022
Dr Ludlow helps to make the books of the Apocrypha make sense to me. I especially liked reading the extra information about Ester.
May 5, 2025
Great overview of books of the apocrypha. I wish it went a little further to recommend which books to start with in your personal study. Maybe a companion website would've been nice.
December 27, 2024
Ludlow does a good job at distilling the essences of the Apocryphal books into manageable chunks and shows applications to how each book interacts with Latter-day Saint traditions and beliefs.
January 18, 2019
I like the historical insights in this book. I have tried reading the Apocrypha but did not get far. I liked some of these chapters more than others, especially the ones about Esther, Judith and 1 Maccabees.
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