Deutorocanonical Scripture or Apocrypha
The word Deuterocanonical comes from the Greek words Deutero and canona meaning "second canon." The word apocrypha comes from the Greek word ἀπόκρυφα, meaning "hidden." According to Orthodox teaching they may be read for personal edification but are not authoritative for doctrine. They are included in the Orthodox Bible because they were included in the Septuagint which was in use at the time of Jesus.
The Books of the Apocrypha
- I Esdras
- The portion of II Esdras called the "Prayer of Manasseh"
- Portions of Esther
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Wisdom of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
- Epistle of Jeremiah
- The portions of Daniel:
- Psalm 151
- I Maccabees
- II Maccabees
- III Maccabees
- IV Maccabees
The Psalms are also numbered and divided up differently.
The Apocrypha in Roman Catholicism and Protestant churches
In an Orthodox Bible which has the Apocrypha there are 49 books in its Old Testament. Roman Catholics only accept 7 Deuterocanonical books, so their Old Testament has a total of 46 books. Protestants do not accept the Apocrypha so in their Old Testament they only have 39 books. All 3 accept the same 27 books of the New Testament.