The Apocrypha in Church Life

[Shane R]

The Apocrypha, The Lutheran Edition With Notes was released from CPH recently. In the introduction to the book the history of Lutheran retention of the Apocrypha in the Luther Bibel and other works up until the later 19th century is discussed. It is suggested that the new publication may lead to an expanded familiarity with the Apocrypha in churches and also incorporation into the liturgy.

I am pleased with this new view and the efforts to increase religious literacy through the preparation of these writings. This leads to a few question:
- Are you personally familiar with the Apocryphal literature?
- Has your parish previously made use of the Apocrypha in any way?
- Will the new edition motivate you or your parish to look at the Apocrypha?
- Are studies in the works in your parish, or do you hope to see them?
- How might the Apocrypha be incorporated into the liturgy, and possibly even the lectionary?

 

[decent orange]

- Are you personally familiar with the Apocryphal literature?

I read: 1 Esdras , Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Eclesiasticus, Baruch, Epistle of Jerimiah, Song of the Three Children, Story of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Mannasah, 1 2 3 & 4 Maccabees, Psalm 151.

It's good that Lutherans maintain an open mind in spiritual matters. If I was Protestant I would probably attend a Lutheran Church because of their depth. I've never read that particular book, but I'll download it if they have it on the kindle to see what the footnotes say.

I think it's good people are recognizing the 'apocrypha' these days. I think it's important for Christians to read the 'apocrypha', because they were read by both Jews and Jewish Christians. The Old Testament Canon today was set by the Jews after Jesus was crucified. They abandoned many of those books because Christians would argue their cause using many of those books. They also shrugged support for the septuagint which was in the temple and accepted by their fathers, but rejected by them because that is the language that the Christians wrote in.

So overall, I think those books are important. People often fight over a strict Christian canon, but there was a Church before there was a canon. All scripture is useful.

 

[jonmolby]

I am pleased with this new view and the efforts to increase religious literacy through the preparation of these writings. This leads to a few question:
- Are you personally familiar with the Apocryphal literature?
- Has your parish previously made use of the Apocrypha in any way?
- Will the new edition motivate you or your parish to look at the Apocrypha?
- Are studies in the works in your parish, or do you hope to see them?
- How might the Apocrypha be incorporated into the liturgy, and possibly even the lectionary?

I have only read a few parts of the Apocrypha. I know that the bibles of the reformers contained the Apocrypha. Is there any history of the Apocrypha being in Protestant liturgy? I would be interested to become more familiar with it. I have heard that studying it helps better understand the Jewish world view at the time of Jesus.

 

[Kalevalatar]

Yes, I'm familiar with the Apocryphal literature and own a Bible that contains the Apocrypha. Our parishes typically use the Apocrypha in Bible study and reading groups. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland does have a 151-page booklet-guidelet (.PDF in Finnish) on how to use the Apocrypha in church services throughout the church year as well as in vespers, confirmations, baptisms etc., starting with the first Advent with Sirach 51:1-12:

I give you thanks, Lord and King, I praise you, God my savior!
I declare your name, refuge of my life,
because you have ransomed my life from death!
​

 

[Shane R]

Kalevalatar, thank you for this perspective from across the sea. It is good to hear of what the churches are doing in a distant place. I am sure the American church can take some lessons from current Finnish practice on this matter.

jonmolby, I think some of the traditional collects are taken from the apocrypha. The Book of Common Prayer made use of apocryphal sources. In the Orthodox churches the Prokeimenon is chanted during the portion of the service in which the epistle is read; as often as not the source is apocryphal. It is in graduals and collects, brief and easily modified parts of the liturgy, that I would expect to see more implementation of the apocryphal texts. I also would not be opposed to adding apocryphal readings to the lectionary.

 

[jonmolby]

jonmolby, I think some of the traditional collects are taken from the apocrypha. The Book of Common Prayer made use of apocryphal sources. In the Orthodox churches the Prokeimenon is chanted during the portion of the service in which the epistle is read; as often as not the source is apocryphal. It is in graduals and collects, brief and easily modified parts of the liturgy, that I would expect to see more implementation of the apocryphal texts. I also would not be opposed to adding apocryphal readings to the lectionary.

That's really interesting and helpful. Thanks

 

[wordsoflife]

I don't think the Apocrypha will ever be used in my Church service because my Pastor does not consider it to be scripture.

 

[DaRev]

I don't think the Apocrypha will ever be used in my Church service because my Pastor does not consider it to be scripture.

It's not Scripture. But it has historically been used in Lutheran church services on special occasions.

 

[ThePilgrim]

I read: 1 Esdras , Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Eclesiasticus, Baruch, Epistle of Jerimiah, Song of the Three Children, Story of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Mannasah, 1 2 3 & 4 Maccabees, Psalm 151.

It's good that Lutherans maintain an open mind in spiritual matters. If I was Protestant I would probably attend a Lutheran Church because of their depth. I've never read that particular book, but I'll download it if they have it on the kindle to see what the footnotes say.

I think it's good people are recognizing the 'apocrypha' these days. I think it's important for Christians to read the 'apocrypha', because they were read by both Jews and Jewish Christians. The Old Testament Canon today was set by the Jews after Jesus was crucified. They abandoned many of those books because Christians would argue their cause using many of those books. They also shrugged support for the septuagint which was in the temple and accepted by their fathers, but rejected by them because that is the language that the Christians wrote in.

So overall, I think those books are important. People often fight over a strict Christian canon, but there was a Church before there was a canon. All scripture is useful.

Out of curiosity, what are you?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

The Apocrypha, The Lutheran Edition With Notes was released from CPH recently. In the introduction to the book the history of Lutheran retention of the Apocrypha in the Luther Bibel and other works up until the later 19th century is discussed. It is suggested that the new publication may lead to an expanded familiarity with the Apocrypha in churches and also incorporation into the liturgy.

I am pleased with this new view and the efforts to increase religious literacy through the preparation of these writings. This leads to a few question:

I believe my wife has ordered this and the Study guide for me, for Christmas.

- Are you personally familiar with the Apocryphal literature?

Yes, although it has been many years since I read through them in a RC Bible.

- Has your parish previously made use of the Apocrypha in any way?

Yes, some of the Seasonal Atiphons are drawn from these books.

- Will the new edition motivate you or your parish to look at the Apocrypha?

Possibly.

- Are studies in the works in your parish, or do you hope to see them?

I don't know if they are or not, I've been meaning to speak with the Pastor regarding this. I think such studies would be good.

- How might the Apocrypha be incorporated into the liturgy, and possibly even the lectionary?

I'm good with the present use in some of the seasonal Atiphons; however, I'm not sure that they should be incorporated into the Sunday Lectionary; possibly in the daily office though.

 

[decent orange]

Out of curiosity, what are you?

I attend an Antiochian Orthodox Church, but I have not yet taken communion with them. One day when they haul me in and my thoughts are consistent, I will hopefully join. Sometimes I get off on tangents and find my thoughts contesting with the Church. This is usually caused by me relying on my own understanding, which is another reason I enjoy the spiritual authority of the Church that I attend, because ignoring myself and listening to the old fathers and the new leaders I've found benefits me the most.

The way I see it, music, movies, poems, and scriptures can be interpreted millions of different ways. This is why I need to be led by them. They have not hurt me yet, only helped me, so why stop? It is different because they accept other books, and as I was an American evangelical protestant before, it was really hard for me to make so many changes (and it still is). Mainly the hardest for me was letting myself go, and submitting to greater authority even though evil slipped its way up the chain of command at times. The fact that politically I was libertarian made that even harder..LOL

But overall I feel much more relieved and at peace. Anyway, perhaps I just should have responded "Orthodox Catechumen" , rather than write a paragraph.

 

[Shane R]

Mark Rohfrietsch, thank you for commenting. Could you comment further on why you feel as you do about incorporating the apocrypha in the lectionary?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Mark Rohfrietsch, thank you for commenting. Could you comment further on why you feel as you do about incorporating the apocrypha in the lectionary?

Shane, we have only 52 Sundays each year; the majority of our our parishoners who attend services are "Sunday Christians"; it is therefore important that we concentrate on the Gospels; the Epistles which explain the Gospels; and the OT lessons which which also convey and support the Gospel in light of the Law.

Most, even a couple of hours later, can not recall the message elaborated on in a sermon. We need not so much to keep the message simple, but to keep it clear for the majority at Sunday worship.

Daily prayer, the Daily Office, unfortunately is utilized by a minority in the Church; but for those who do, who have steadfast faith, the proper, contextual use of readings from these books can indeed help us grow in our faith.

The big risk is that some will dwell on these writings, and lose sight of the Gospel; such should not happen, but, for example, we see from the Dogmas of the RCC; the concept of Purgatory being derived from a few words.

The Bible tells us to "feed" the sheep; we must feed the sheep but not give them a "gut ache".