The Song of the Three Holy Children.— One of the principal additions to Daniel. It was written about 100 B.c. and was found in serted in the book of Daniel, the third chapter, right after the 23d verse.
The History of Susanna.—Another 1st cen tury B.C. addition to the book of Daniel. It is generally found prefixed to the book. The purpose of the story is to magnify the powers and the judgment of the hero of the book.
Bel and the Dragon.— It was written about 100 ac. It is the story of Daniel's sagacity in exposing some of the flagrant abuses of idolatry.
The Rest of Esther.—This writing consists of a number of additions to the Biblical book of Esther. The additions were made to add de tail and make up for some of the deficiencies of the canonical book. It was written about 100 B.C.
1 Esdras.— It is the Greek version of and in some parts a reconstruction of the canonical Ezra. It was written about 100 a.c Some of additional subject matter is from the book of Nehemiah.
Baruch.—The greater part of this book was written in the 1st century A.D. The book is written under the assumed name of Baruch, the private secretary of Jeremiah. The 6th chapter is known as the Epistle of Jeremiah. Both books contain a series of exhortations and encouragements and severe denunciations of idolatry.
1 Maccabees.— It is one of the best sources on the period from 175 to 135 B.C. It treats of the causes of the Maccabean rebellion and the rebellion itself down to the death of Simon in 135 B.C. It was written by a Jew in Palestine during the latter part of the 2d century B.C.
2 Maccabees.— It is a mixture of history and fiction. It is an abridgment of a much larger work in existence at the time of its writ ing in latter part of the 2d century a.c. It treats of the period leading up to the rebellion of the Maccabees under Mattathias in Modein, and the rulership of Judas down to 161 B.c.
Tobit.— It is a popular story of romance and legend from the Jewish Dispersion in Egypt. The story was written in the 3d century p.c., and was based upon the well-known Egyptian stories of (The Fable of the Ungrateful Dead) and 'The Tractate of Khons.> The purpose of the story was to teach some useful lessons, and at ale same time to correct some of the current superstitions.
Judith.— It is a legendary story of a Jewish widow who succeeded in outwitting and finally slaying a great Assyrian general, thus bringing deliverance to her oppressed people. It was written in Palestine during the latter half of the 2d century B.c, probably by a Pharisee.
Ecclesiasticus.— It is a book of proverbs and practical observations on life closely re sembling the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. It was written about 180 B.C. and forms one of the most valuable records of early Rabbinical thought. It was translated into Greek in 132 B.c. by a grandson of the author (Jesus ben Sira).
Wisdom of Solomon.— In some respects it is one of the most valuable of the books of the Apocrypha. It was written by a Jew of
the Dispersion about 65 B.c. It is similar to the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament. It was written with the distinct purpose to combat the materialistic tendencies of the canonical book of Ecclesiastes.
2 Esdras.—It is an apocalypse, especially chapters 3-14. It is composite in origin, dating from 65 B.c. to 120 A.D. The book is especially valuable, as it bears on the period of Jewish thought in relation to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Its views on eschatology are closely allied to the teachings of the New Testament.
There are several books worthy of note be longing to the general class of Jewish apocry phal literature but still outside of the Apocry pha proper of the Old Testament. The most noteworthy books of this class are the books of Jubilees, 3 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees, Psalms of Solomon and the Martyrdom of Isaiah. See APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE.
Jubilees.— It has been called the '
3 Maccabees.— It is a religious novel com ing from Hellenistic Judaism in the 1st cen tury B.c. Its central theme is the marvelous deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian perse cution by divine intervention.
4 Maccabees.— It belongs to the great body of Jewish Wisdom literature, coming from Hellenistic centres. It attempts to discuss in treatise form the power of inspired reason over the passions. It was written during the 1st century A.D.
Psalms of Solomon.—A collection of Psalms resembling the Hebrew Psalter. They were written about 50 B.c. by Pharisees.
Martyrdom of Isaiah.—It is a product of the 1st century A.D. It records the tradition of the death of Isaiah at the hands of Manasseh, King of Judah.
New Testament Apocrypha.— The general character of the books of the New Testament Apocrypha is quite different from that of the Old Testament Apocrypha. In the first place the books of the New Testament group form some what of an indefinite body of literature, as new ones are being discovered from time to time. The majority of the writings come from the 2d century A.D. and represent all shades of re ligious belief. Further the literature differs from the Old Testament in that there is a deliberate attempt to fill in the gaps in the New Testament narratives, and in some cases even to supersede the earlier ones. For the most part they are writings filled with tra dition, fiction and the description of the mar velous. Many of the ecclesiastical dogmas of the Middle Ages can be traced to this fruitful source.
The books of the New Testament Apocry pha can be arranged under three heads, namely: Gospels, Acts, and Epistles. A few of the more important under each group will be mentioned: