We distinguish between these holy books and the apocryphal books which are
the third and fourth books of Esdras;
the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Jesus Sirach, Baruch;
what was added to the Story of Esther;
the Song of the Three Children in the Furnace;
the Story of Susanna;
the Story of Bel and the Dragon;
the Prayer of Manasseh;
and the two books of Maccabees.
The church may certainly read these books and learn from them as far as they agree with the canonical books. But they do not have such power and virtue that one could confirm from their testimony any point of faith or of the Christian religion. Much less can they detract from the authority of the other holy books.
After reading this article for the first time, many people (including myself) react in similar fashion to how they reacted after reading Article 4: "The Canonical Books" which did just that, listed the canonical books. We tend to ask the question:
Why did Guido spend time doing this?
Well, to begin; Guido is writing this to King Phillip II in order to set the believers of the Reformed faith apart from the Roman Catholics as well as the Anabaptists. Therefore, this was one way that he could do this since the Roman Catholics understand and believe the Apocryphal books to be in the canon.
To read the Apocrypha, click here.
Guido states third important things to know about the distinction between the Canonical books and the Apocrypha books.
First, "the church may certainly read these books [Apocrypha] and learn from them..." Guido is giving us permission to read from them and learn some valuable information that might be in them. It is like reading a novel or some other sort of literature other than the Bible. It is okay to read other literature than just the Bible and certainly learn from these various types of literature, but there is a word of warning or a stipulation named by Guido also
"..as far as they agree with the canonical books."
We can read these books and learn a great deal from them just like any other piece of literature that isn't in the Biblical Canon, but we cannot believe what they say if it doesn't agree with the Biblical Canon. If it doesn't agree with the Biblical Canon, then we shall not and must not believe what they say. This is one issue that the Apocrypha has. In and of itself it contradicts itself throughout the various books as well as contradicting what is in the Biblical Canon.
Secondly, "But they [Apocrypha books] do not have such power and virtue that one could confirm from them their testimony any point of faith or of the Christian religion." Guido clearly lays it out that the power and virtue that the Apocrypha books have is nothing in comparison to the authority and power that the Biblical Canon has in which he just explained in Article 5. There is absolutely no power because nothing of faith can be learned from them and nothing of the Christian religion can be learned from them; therefore, ultimately, they are simply a form of literature just like any other piece of literature outside the Bible. This proves also that when we read them, we shall not take what they say and raise it to a greater importance over what the Biblical Canon states for us clearly.
And thirdly, "Much less can they [Apocrypha books] detract from the authority of the other holy books." The Apocrypha books' authority cannot take away the authority that the Biblical Canon can. They cannot prove them false or trump them in any way, shape or form.
I have personally read a good number of the 14 Apocrypha books and bits and pieces of others and I have learned some things from them, but ultimately I think that there is a great contradiction between them and the Biblical Canon. I personally, cannot stand reading them because they are frustrating to read at some points.
I also never really liked to read anything outside of the Biblical and theological realm. However, as a Senior in college, I needed to take a World Literature class in which we had to read a good 150-200 page novel each week and write a paper about it (therefore we had to actually read it!). I was dreading this class. However, I finished that class full of a great and new respect for other literature outside the Biblical and theological realm.
Therefore, I don't regard it as bad to read them;
however I think many Christians
neglect the Book they should be reading
for the books that they don't necessarily have to read.
I have heard far to many Christians getting all wrapped up in a novel or novel series that they literally can finish a 250 page novel in 6 hours or something similar to that outrageous number. But then you ask them when was the last time they read the Bible, they often respond, "I don't know; I just don't have much time for that."
My heart sinks.
It becomes hard (for me) not to judge them and ridicule them for what they are doing.
Reading God's Word revives our souls.
Reading God's Word provides us with wisdom.
Reading God's Word causes us to rejoice.
Reading God's Word gives light to our eyes.
Reading God's Word is to be desired like one may desire a piece of gold.
Reading God's Word is to be desired like sweet honey.
Reading God's Word directs us in the way to live our life in which there is a great reward.
For reading God's Word affects the words we use and the meditations of our hearts.
[That list of things about the Word of God is from Psalm 19:7-14]
So take the challenge.
Open your Bible and read it.
Did you know that reading 3 chapters a day for 365 days will get you through the entire Bible?
Praise God for His Word given to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment