Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

document by that name in the Greek Psalter and, together with Psalms 154

and 155, is preserved in Hebrew among the Dead Sea manuscripts (11Q5).

In addition, a fourth-century document calledCanons of the Apostles,the

Syriac text of which goes back to at least the seventh century, includes Ju-

dith, Tobith, and Ben Sira in its list of “accepted books.”

Apocrypha in Greek Codices of the Bible

The “Apocrypha” are sometimes casually defined as those books or parts

of books found in the Septuagint but not in the Jewish Hebrew Bible. If we

consult the three prominent Greek codices that contain the Old Testament

writings — Codices Sinaiticus (fourth century), Vaticanus (fourth cen-

tury), and Alexandrinus (fifth century) — the following books come into

view:

Sinaiticus Vaticanus Alexandrinus

Greek Esther Greek Esther Greek Esther

Judith Judith Tobit

Tobit Tobit Judith

1 Maccabees 1 Maccabees

2 Maccabees

3 Maccabees

4 Maccabees 4 Maccabees

Wisdom of Solomon Wisdom of Solomon Wisdom of Solomon

Sirach Sirach Sirach

Psalms of Solomon

1 Baruch 1 Baruch 1 Baruch

Epistle of Jeremiah Epistle of Jeremiah Epistle of Jeremiah

Susannah Susannah

Bel and the Dragon Bel and the Dragon

Psalms and Odes

(including Prayer

of Manasseh)

In addition, two somewhat later biblical codices preserve copies of

several of these writings: Marchalianus (sixth/seventh century) includes

1 Baruch, Epistle of Jeremiah, Susannah, and Bel and the Dragon, while

Venetus (eighth century) has Greek Esther, Judith, Tobit, 1-4 Maccabees,

183

Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:01 PM