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Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature
Many Christians today divide ancient Jewish and Christian literature into two categories what is in the Bible and what is not. The Christian East, however, has traditionally described a third category considered beneficial for Christians to read in the "apocrypha." These texts, from the centuries before and after the Incarnation of Jesus Christ-beyond even the larger canons of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Old Testaments-reveal to us the religious world and theological framework of the apostles and early Church Fathers. In Apocrypha, a companion volume to The Religion of the Apostles, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys these works, which connect elements of Liturgy, Scripture, iconography, and patristic writings. Familiarity with them will enhance readers' understanding of the breadth and depth of the Orthodox Christian Faith.
346 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
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July 5, 2025
A fascinating study by Fr. Stephen De Young of the books of the Apocrypha.
As a former Protestant and convert to Orthodox Christianity, I was hoping that this book would be an examination of books traditionally considered by Protestants to be Apocryphal: book such as 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach, etc. However, in Orthodox Christianity (and, as well, I believe, Roman Catholicism [Catholics feel free to correct me if I am wrong on that]), these books are considered canonical.
Instead, Fr. Stephen's introduction is to a set of books that, in my Protestant days would have been classified as "Pseudoepigrapha" (literally, "false writing") -- works ascribed to some eminent Biblical figure, but, in fact, more likely written by someone else centuries later after that person's life. So what books are those? Books such as the books of 1, 2, and 3 Enoch, the Acts of Peter, the Gospel of Thomas, the Protoevangelion of St. James --- to name a few.
While some of these books seem to have been written by heretical groups such as the Gnostics, others are, as Fr. Stephen shows, are more likely written works embodying the oral traditions of Early Christians -- or Jews --- from centuries before.
Books like the Enoch literature do seem to profoundly reflect traditions held by the Jews regarding the earliest times before the Great Flood and the time of Noah. So much so, that 1 Enoch is even quoted in the Bible's Epistle of Jude. Indeed, Fr. Stephen shows how a number of Biblical passages are remarkably similar to many of those in some of these apocryphal works that preceded their writing.
Does that make them canonical or mean that later Biblical writers used those writings in their own? Not necessarily, but Fr. Stephen avers that part of the importance of some of these apocryphal writings is that they are a reflection of how many Jewish or Christian thinkers saw the doctrine or traditions of their times.
So, while I was a disappointed that Fr. Stephen did not discuss any of the books considered as "Apocrypha" by Protestants, I did find his examination of these other books to be very interested, and I recommend it for anyone desiring to look into a number of Jewish and Christian writings that may have come close to making it into the Bible --- but never quite made the cut!
As a former Protestant and convert to Orthodox Christianity, I was hoping that this book would be an examination of books traditionally considered by Protestants to be Apocryphal: book such as 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Sirach, etc. However, in Orthodox Christianity (and, as well, I believe, Roman Catholicism [Catholics feel free to correct me if I am wrong on that]), these books are considered canonical.
Instead, Fr. Stephen's introduction is to a set of books that, in my Protestant days would have been classified as "Pseudoepigrapha" (literally, "false writing") -- works ascribed to some eminent Biblical figure, but, in fact, more likely written by someone else centuries later after that person's life. So what books are those? Books such as the books of 1, 2, and 3 Enoch, the Acts of Peter, the Gospel of Thomas, the Protoevangelion of St. James --- to name a few.
While some of these books seem to have been written by heretical groups such as the Gnostics, others are, as Fr. Stephen shows, are more likely written works embodying the oral traditions of Early Christians -- or Jews --- from centuries before.
Books like the Enoch literature do seem to profoundly reflect traditions held by the Jews regarding the earliest times before the Great Flood and the time of Noah. So much so, that 1 Enoch is even quoted in the Bible's Epistle of Jude. Indeed, Fr. Stephen shows how a number of Biblical passages are remarkably similar to many of those in some of these apocryphal works that preceded their writing.
Does that make them canonical or mean that later Biblical writers used those writings in their own? Not necessarily, but Fr. Stephen avers that part of the importance of some of these apocryphal writings is that they are a reflection of how many Jewish or Christian thinkers saw the doctrine or traditions of their times.
So, while I was a disappointed that Fr. Stephen did not discuss any of the books considered as "Apocrypha" by Protestants, I did find his examination of these other books to be very interested, and I recommend it for anyone desiring to look into a number of Jewish and Christian writings that may have come close to making it into the Bible --- but never quite made the cut!
September 18, 2023
I’ve taken this as an explanation of DeYoung’s purpose from the book’s afterword:
“In the twenty-first century, Christianity has become a stripped down affair. It now exists as a “belief system.” In this system, what separates Christianity from other religions is…the truth of certain propositions concerning the nature of God, the nature of Christ, the nature of the Bible, and so on… This view of Christianity, however, is a relatively recent development. It represents a denuded and watered-down version even of the teaching of the Protestant Reformers… Modern attempts to taxonomize the elements of the Christian religion, to boil Christianity down to merely the “necessary” elements, or to cut away whatever is deemed unnecessary or lesser, are attempts at dissection. A living organism cannot be dissected without killing it in the process.
“These [extra-Biblical] works present us with important links between Scripture and our Christian practice…Becoming familiar with the writings that the apostles read and that their disciples wrote fills an important hole in our knowledge of tradition. Potentially, the understanding of these texts may even fill significant holes in our lives.”
For the first time, I have bought a book the day it was released. The Apocrypha by Stephen DeYoung happened to cross my feed at just the right time, as I was finishing up his Religion of the Apostles, for which this volume makes an excellent companion. This new one is an intro to non-canonical Biblical-era literature, but that needs a bit of explanation.
Rather than strictly defining a canon of Scripture and then debating others with competing canons, Christian bishops in the first few centuries began to list which texts their churches used in public liturgy. These lists often differed, with certain texts widely in common and others only used by a minority. That was fine with them, it seems; rigor and debate were simply not applied to defining Scripture or doctrines about it. The bishops though, far from being neglectful to encourage the reading of Scripture, defined in these lists three categories of text: 1) books to be read in church, 2) books to be read in the home, and 3) books not to be read. The first category consisted of books used in public: to be read in the liturgy of the local church. The second consisted of what Greek speakers called “apocrypha,” or “hidden things.” “Hidden” meaning not so much “secret” as “private.” The reading of these texts, while not part of the public liturgy, was nevertheless encouraged and the texts were held in high esteem.
Now for the curveball. This book is (mostly) not about the books labeled “The Apocrypha” in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. You know, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Sirach- all those weird books of which protestants often have a vague awareness and/or mild suspicion. After all, DeYoung is an Orthodox priest and considers those books not “Apocrypha,” but “the Bible.” Instead, DeYoung’s The Apocrypha deals with the non-canonical books, texts “at the edges” of Scripture,” Christian and second Temple Jewish books that are almost universally not accepted AS Scripture, and yet often have great value for understanding Scripture or its text traditions, or nuances of the faith practiced during that period. Examples from the OT period: Jubilees, The Apocalypse of Abraham, Enoch and related literature; from the NT: The Gospel of Peter, The Acts Of Paul, The epistles of Clement, The Shepherd of Hermas.
DeYoung’s book serves as a thorough introduction to the reading of this literature, giving an overview of each text that explains its provenance, debates about authorship, time period, contents, and possibly most importantly: their significance to the church. This can be dry as dust reading for some, but I happen to find it endlessly fascinating. It’s possibly the only kind of book where a mark of its value is how many times I wanted to put it down and start reading something else; namely, the books under discussion. I assume there are other books like The Apocrypha, though I don’t know what they are, and honestly it’s hard to imagine one written as simply and directly as this. For any layperson interested in exploring this literature, this volume is probably a must have. It added about twenty entries to my to-read list. Thanks a lot, DeYoung.😉
“In the twenty-first century, Christianity has become a stripped down affair. It now exists as a “belief system.” In this system, what separates Christianity from other religions is…the truth of certain propositions concerning the nature of God, the nature of Christ, the nature of the Bible, and so on… This view of Christianity, however, is a relatively recent development. It represents a denuded and watered-down version even of the teaching of the Protestant Reformers… Modern attempts to taxonomize the elements of the Christian religion, to boil Christianity down to merely the “necessary” elements, or to cut away whatever is deemed unnecessary or lesser, are attempts at dissection. A living organism cannot be dissected without killing it in the process.
“These [extra-Biblical] works present us with important links between Scripture and our Christian practice…Becoming familiar with the writings that the apostles read and that their disciples wrote fills an important hole in our knowledge of tradition. Potentially, the understanding of these texts may even fill significant holes in our lives.”
For the first time, I have bought a book the day it was released. The Apocrypha by Stephen DeYoung happened to cross my feed at just the right time, as I was finishing up his Religion of the Apostles, for which this volume makes an excellent companion. This new one is an intro to non-canonical Biblical-era literature, but that needs a bit of explanation.
Rather than strictly defining a canon of Scripture and then debating others with competing canons, Christian bishops in the first few centuries began to list which texts their churches used in public liturgy. These lists often differed, with certain texts widely in common and others only used by a minority. That was fine with them, it seems; rigor and debate were simply not applied to defining Scripture or doctrines about it. The bishops though, far from being neglectful to encourage the reading of Scripture, defined in these lists three categories of text: 1) books to be read in church, 2) books to be read in the home, and 3) books not to be read. The first category consisted of books used in public: to be read in the liturgy of the local church. The second consisted of what Greek speakers called “apocrypha,” or “hidden things.” “Hidden” meaning not so much “secret” as “private.” The reading of these texts, while not part of the public liturgy, was nevertheless encouraged and the texts were held in high esteem.
Now for the curveball. This book is (mostly) not about the books labeled “The Apocrypha” in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles. You know, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Sirach- all those weird books of which protestants often have a vague awareness and/or mild suspicion. After all, DeYoung is an Orthodox priest and considers those books not “Apocrypha,” but “the Bible.” Instead, DeYoung’s The Apocrypha deals with the non-canonical books, texts “at the edges” of Scripture,” Christian and second Temple Jewish books that are almost universally not accepted AS Scripture, and yet often have great value for understanding Scripture or its text traditions, or nuances of the faith practiced during that period. Examples from the OT period: Jubilees, The Apocalypse of Abraham, Enoch and related literature; from the NT: The Gospel of Peter, The Acts Of Paul, The epistles of Clement, The Shepherd of Hermas.
DeYoung’s book serves as a thorough introduction to the reading of this literature, giving an overview of each text that explains its provenance, debates about authorship, time period, contents, and possibly most importantly: their significance to the church. This can be dry as dust reading for some, but I happen to find it endlessly fascinating. It’s possibly the only kind of book where a mark of its value is how many times I wanted to put it down and start reading something else; namely, the books under discussion. I assume there are other books like The Apocrypha, though I don’t know what they are, and honestly it’s hard to imagine one written as simply and directly as this. For any layperson interested in exploring this literature, this volume is probably a must have. It added about twenty entries to my to-read list. Thanks a lot, DeYoung.😉
July 13, 2023
First, I would like to say what this book is not about. It is not about books that Orthodox Christians consider to be canonical (Judith, Tobit, 1-3 Maccabees, etc). I mention this because the title "Apocrypha" may cause someone to assume that Fr. Dr. De Young is saying that these books are less than canonical and then get all upset (saying things like "These books aren't apocryphal! We're Orthodox, not Protestants!"). Well, if that's how you reacted, you've been trolled.
What this book is actually about is books that are actually apocryphal (i.e. books that are not to be read authoritatively in public in the Church, but that may be read privately in the home). The introductory chapter that explains things like the meaning of canon and the more general definition of apocrypha is very helpful for this former Protestant. The Fathers did not view books in a binary way (Canonical and good vs Heretical and bad). Rather, some things were canonical and to be read in church and considered to be perfectly profitable. Some books were helpful and to be read in the home and considered to be imperfectly profitable. And still some books were considered to be heretical and not worth the papyrus they were copied onto. De Young's book concerns itself with books listed by St. Nikephoros that belong in the second category.
The book is then split up into two major parts; the first part being Old Testament and Second Temple literature, and the second part being New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers. Each part is then composed of several different chapters which each focus on a particular book of that era. In my opinion, the chapters on the book of 1 Enoch and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs alone are worth the price of admission. My one criticism is that I wish that Fr. Dr. De Young had included more quotes from the texts being surveyed, but he often includes references so you can track down the text that he is writing about.
Some may wonder why Fr. Dr. De Young spent so much time writing a book like this, and maybe you are wondering if you purchase a copy and take the time to read it. I would say it is a very worthwhile read. A book like this does not teach dogmatics. This book also does not teach practical Christian life. What this book helps with is teaching one about the world in which Christ and the Apostles lived and taught. It gives context to the events of the New Testament. There are things that the Apostles wrote that the original audience would have immediately grasped because they were familiar with the general content of these books. Twenty-one centuries have passed since the time of the Apostles, and because of that, there may be things that we do not easily grasp because we are so disconnected from their time and context. This book helps to close that gap.
All in all, it's a great book. It is helpful for understanding the world of the Apostles and early Church. It is useful for not having a binary understanding of canonicity. True, the Apocryphal books are not canonical and are not read in Church, but the holy Fathers have advised that these books be read at home for our benefit. This book will help us all to do that intelligently.
What this book is actually about is books that are actually apocryphal (i.e. books that are not to be read authoritatively in public in the Church, but that may be read privately in the home). The introductory chapter that explains things like the meaning of canon and the more general definition of apocrypha is very helpful for this former Protestant. The Fathers did not view books in a binary way (Canonical and good vs Heretical and bad). Rather, some things were canonical and to be read in church and considered to be perfectly profitable. Some books were helpful and to be read in the home and considered to be imperfectly profitable. And still some books were considered to be heretical and not worth the papyrus they were copied onto. De Young's book concerns itself with books listed by St. Nikephoros that belong in the second category.
The book is then split up into two major parts; the first part being Old Testament and Second Temple literature, and the second part being New Testament and the Apostolic Fathers. Each part is then composed of several different chapters which each focus on a particular book of that era. In my opinion, the chapters on the book of 1 Enoch and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs alone are worth the price of admission. My one criticism is that I wish that Fr. Dr. De Young had included more quotes from the texts being surveyed, but he often includes references so you can track down the text that he is writing about.
Some may wonder why Fr. Dr. De Young spent so much time writing a book like this, and maybe you are wondering if you purchase a copy and take the time to read it. I would say it is a very worthwhile read. A book like this does not teach dogmatics. This book also does not teach practical Christian life. What this book helps with is teaching one about the world in which Christ and the Apostles lived and taught. It gives context to the events of the New Testament. There are things that the Apostles wrote that the original audience would have immediately grasped because they were familiar with the general content of these books. Twenty-one centuries have passed since the time of the Apostles, and because of that, there may be things that we do not easily grasp because we are so disconnected from their time and context. This book helps to close that gap.
All in all, it's a great book. It is helpful for understanding the world of the Apostles and early Church. It is useful for not having a binary understanding of canonicity. True, the Apocryphal books are not canonical and are not read in Church, but the holy Fathers have advised that these books be read at home for our benefit. This book will help us all to do that intelligently.
July 16, 2023
An invaluable book of wisdom to help you read the wisdom literature in your home.
Depending on your religious tradition, it is likely that when confronted with the term “apocrypha” one might imagine a spectrum that runs between images of mysterious scrolls imbued with spiritual significance from distant times and lands to the far more nefarious picture of false gospels written by men whose chief goal was the manipulation of truth for their own gain. Apocrypha quite literally translates to “hidden thing,” so a certain degree of mystery may, indeed, be inevitable – but are Christian readers that seek wisdom, truth, and a healthily measured approach to ancient texts that formed (and informed) the ancients doomed to reside in the fog of fear and ignorance? With “Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature” the V. Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young answers by separating a false conflation between mystery and cynicism by articulating what the historic and Orthodox Church have said on the topic to reveal what we know about the mysterious category of apocryphal literature of ancient Jews and (later) Christians. In doing so he has offered an incredibly useful text for navigating debates about canonicity, demonstrates how to use wisdom by critically distinguishing how a contemporary reader might receive apocryphal texts as is consistent with the Orthodox tradition, all the while delivering on the promise of the book’s title: an introductory overview to extra-biblical literature that act as, as he says, “missing puzzle pieces” to elaborate on the richness and beauty of the Orthodox Christian tradition. If you are looking for a book that helps explain some of the most important books that might not be included in your bible then the V. Rev. De Young’s “Apocrypha” is the place to start.
“Apocrypha” is divided into two parts: texts that would have both arose and been influential regarding the “Old Testament and Second Temple Literature” and those that Christians might identify in a later historical period concerning the “New Testament and Apostolic Fathers.” Expertly, the V. Rev. De Young outlines what texts the book will critically examine to help elucidate on different apocryphal text’s importance in shaping church history. Moving beyond the Western binary of “accepted biblical canon” and “rejected anti-canonical humanistic literature,” this book recognizes that the historic positions of the Christian East regarding scripture has been one enunciated as “literature to be read publicly in the church,” “literature to be read privately in the home,” and “literature to be avoided/not be read.” Such texts that the author works through are 4 Ezra, 4 Maccabees, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, the book of Jubilees, the book of Giants, 3 Enoch, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses, the books of Baruch, Joseph and Aseneth, the Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Gospel of the Hebrews, the Noncanonical Gospels (Thomas, Peter, and Nicodemus), the Shepherd of Hermas, the Protoevangelium of James, the Acts of Various Apostles (Paul, Peter, John, Thomas, and the Didache), and a review of Clementine literature. I make explicit mention of which books are reviewed and included here to illustrate two points: firstly being that the V. Rev. Stephen De Young sets out to guide the reader through an extraordinary quantity of texts, and secondly to highlight that his knowledge covers many different communities, histories, and beliefs concerning a broad number of spiritual texts that are foundational to different expressions of the Christian faith.
When reflecting on how I might recommend this book I was struck by its accessibility. One might be tempted to term the book as “academic,” but the term would only really apply in the sense that the author is summarizing and offering brief reviews of literature from early Christian history. While the book is intellectually written, it shouldn’t be classified as for “just academics,” as it is written in a way that is just as helpful to the average clergyperson as it would be the aspiring religious philosopher. The writing never speaks down to the reader; it neither requires the reader to summon several dictionaries to understand what it intends to say, nor does it shy away from offering a critical voice against heterodox, heretical, and presentist readings so that the reader can pursue the most faithful perspective with the resources available. I was asked if a non-academic reader with less context for church history, theology, or any extra-biblical literature would be able to pick up this book and learn from it: unquestionably, the answer is yes. The V. Rev. De Young helps here by offering a brief framework for how to approach each text and by asking important questions pertinent to each book, and in each section. Although specific points of concern are addressed, the author does an excellent job of always making sure to work through an important set of general questions, such as “what does the reader need to know about the textual history(?),” “what is the content/background(?),” and “what is the significance of reading this book to the historic and current church?” The third question+answer is the true gem of the book, as it preserves the mystery of why each example of extra-biblical literature is and isn’t considered as part of the traditional “canon” whilst offering highlights for how they can still enrich any Christian readers’ life.
To say it all differently, this book perfectly delivers on its intention to introduce readers to extra-biblical literature. I was born and raised in Western Christianity before converting to Eastern Orthodoxy as an adult, and there was a certain tendency to treat anything termed “apocrypha” as the extra-biblical books of the boogeyman. Those church elders never taught me about what any of these extra-biblical books were – and I was certainly not shown how to read books like these with a critical eye and/or a humble heart. What the V. Rev. Stephen De Young has accomplished here is a navigation of many books listed by St. Nikephoros that does both. If an earnest Christian reader sees this book and reads it to have an improved approximation of how to prayerfully and critically read through their bible, I believe the book will have been worth it. If the same reader uses this as a guiding tool to read through Enochic literature, non-canonical gospels, or the acts of the various apostles (to offer just a brief few examples) to aid in bible studies of different kinds – that would be equally plausible and equally worth it.
Said shortly: “Apocrypha” is an incredibly worthwhile book that any reader of the bible would want to have, and all would stand to benefit from.
Depending on your religious tradition, it is likely that when confronted with the term “apocrypha” one might imagine a spectrum that runs between images of mysterious scrolls imbued with spiritual significance from distant times and lands to the far more nefarious picture of false gospels written by men whose chief goal was the manipulation of truth for their own gain. Apocrypha quite literally translates to “hidden thing,” so a certain degree of mystery may, indeed, be inevitable – but are Christian readers that seek wisdom, truth, and a healthily measured approach to ancient texts that formed (and informed) the ancients doomed to reside in the fog of fear and ignorance? With “Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature” the V. Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young answers by separating a false conflation between mystery and cynicism by articulating what the historic and Orthodox Church have said on the topic to reveal what we know about the mysterious category of apocryphal literature of ancient Jews and (later) Christians. In doing so he has offered an incredibly useful text for navigating debates about canonicity, demonstrates how to use wisdom by critically distinguishing how a contemporary reader might receive apocryphal texts as is consistent with the Orthodox tradition, all the while delivering on the promise of the book’s title: an introductory overview to extra-biblical literature that act as, as he says, “missing puzzle pieces” to elaborate on the richness and beauty of the Orthodox Christian tradition. If you are looking for a book that helps explain some of the most important books that might not be included in your bible then the V. Rev. De Young’s “Apocrypha” is the place to start.
“Apocrypha” is divided into two parts: texts that would have both arose and been influential regarding the “Old Testament and Second Temple Literature” and those that Christians might identify in a later historical period concerning the “New Testament and Apostolic Fathers.” Expertly, the V. Rev. De Young outlines what texts the book will critically examine to help elucidate on different apocryphal text’s importance in shaping church history. Moving beyond the Western binary of “accepted biblical canon” and “rejected anti-canonical humanistic literature,” this book recognizes that the historic positions of the Christian East regarding scripture has been one enunciated as “literature to be read publicly in the church,” “literature to be read privately in the home,” and “literature to be avoided/not be read.” Such texts that the author works through are 4 Ezra, 4 Maccabees, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, the book of Jubilees, the book of Giants, 3 Enoch, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses, the books of Baruch, Joseph and Aseneth, the Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, Gospel of the Hebrews, the Noncanonical Gospels (Thomas, Peter, and Nicodemus), the Shepherd of Hermas, the Protoevangelium of James, the Acts of Various Apostles (Paul, Peter, John, Thomas, and the Didache), and a review of Clementine literature. I make explicit mention of which books are reviewed and included here to illustrate two points: firstly being that the V. Rev. Stephen De Young sets out to guide the reader through an extraordinary quantity of texts, and secondly to highlight that his knowledge covers many different communities, histories, and beliefs concerning a broad number of spiritual texts that are foundational to different expressions of the Christian faith.
When reflecting on how I might recommend this book I was struck by its accessibility. One might be tempted to term the book as “academic,” but the term would only really apply in the sense that the author is summarizing and offering brief reviews of literature from early Christian history. While the book is intellectually written, it shouldn’t be classified as for “just academics,” as it is written in a way that is just as helpful to the average clergyperson as it would be the aspiring religious philosopher. The writing never speaks down to the reader; it neither requires the reader to summon several dictionaries to understand what it intends to say, nor does it shy away from offering a critical voice against heterodox, heretical, and presentist readings so that the reader can pursue the most faithful perspective with the resources available. I was asked if a non-academic reader with less context for church history, theology, or any extra-biblical literature would be able to pick up this book and learn from it: unquestionably, the answer is yes. The V. Rev. De Young helps here by offering a brief framework for how to approach each text and by asking important questions pertinent to each book, and in each section. Although specific points of concern are addressed, the author does an excellent job of always making sure to work through an important set of general questions, such as “what does the reader need to know about the textual history(?),” “what is the content/background(?),” and “what is the significance of reading this book to the historic and current church?” The third question+answer is the true gem of the book, as it preserves the mystery of why each example of extra-biblical literature is and isn’t considered as part of the traditional “canon” whilst offering highlights for how they can still enrich any Christian readers’ life.
To say it all differently, this book perfectly delivers on its intention to introduce readers to extra-biblical literature. I was born and raised in Western Christianity before converting to Eastern Orthodoxy as an adult, and there was a certain tendency to treat anything termed “apocrypha” as the extra-biblical books of the boogeyman. Those church elders never taught me about what any of these extra-biblical books were – and I was certainly not shown how to read books like these with a critical eye and/or a humble heart. What the V. Rev. Stephen De Young has accomplished here is a navigation of many books listed by St. Nikephoros that does both. If an earnest Christian reader sees this book and reads it to have an improved approximation of how to prayerfully and critically read through their bible, I believe the book will have been worth it. If the same reader uses this as a guiding tool to read through Enochic literature, non-canonical gospels, or the acts of the various apostles (to offer just a brief few examples) to aid in bible studies of different kinds – that would be equally plausible and equally worth it.
Said shortly: “Apocrypha” is an incredibly worthwhile book that any reader of the bible would want to have, and all would stand to benefit from.
June 25, 2023
Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature by Fr. Stephen de Young
This book provides a comprehensive overview of ancient Jewish and Christian texts that fall outside the traditional biblical canon. The book explores the category of "apocrypha," a term he uses to refer to texts that were meant to be read privately in the home rather than being hidden or secret. These aren't the books that Protestants exclude from their bibles but Orthodox and Catholics include, but those books read in priviate study in antiquity by Christians but are no longer commonly read. Fr. Stephen is an Eastern Orthodox priest (Antiochian), and this is the audience he is aiming for- and he skillfully connects elements of Liturgy, Scripture, iconography, and patristic writings found in these texts, enabling readers to deepen their understanding of the Orthodox Christian Faith. But this book could be read by anyone interested in an overview of these texts.
Something Fr. Stephen draws out while discussing the Old Testament era works is the diversity of Judaisms throughout history, particularly focusing on the first century, but also in earlier periods. He sheds light on contemporary rabbinical Judaism, which emerged as a response to the destruction of the Second Temple and as a rejection of the Christian element that had influenced Judaism in the first century following the life and ministry of Jesus. The unique canon of the Ethiopian Judaic community and its impact on the Ethiopian Orthodox Church also gets frequent mention, as Fr. Stephen spends a significant portion of the book discussing the Enochian literature that has a more settled inclusion in the Ethiopian tradition.
Fr. Stephen's scholarship is evident throughout the book, offering a valuable gateway for studying apocryphal and pseudoepigraphic books. The overview provided encompasses both texts written in what we could call Old and New Testament eras. Fr. Stephen delves into various works, including 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, 4 Ezra (2 Esdras), 4 Maccabees, the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, and many others. Each text is introduced, summarized, and accompanied by brief commentary, ensuring readers gain a comprehensive understanding of their content.
The book also explores the significance of these texts within the early Church and their connections to liturgical practices, scriptural interpretations, and patristic writings and why they should matter to the contemporary Orthodox Church. Fr. Stephen highlights how familiarity with these apocryphal works can help explain puzzling readings in liturgy, unusual expressions in Scripture, and surprising interpretations found in the writings of early Church Fathers.
Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature succeeds in being accessible to readers with varying levels of knowledge on the subject. It is not a dry academic text but rather an engaging resource suitable for both the scholarly and the modern Christian seeking spiritual enrichment. Fr. Stephen presents the historical background, reactions from Church Fathers and surrounding cultures, and the practical takeaways from each text. This approachability ensures readers can engage with the material effectively. This book does not replace reading these texts, but instead says that we have too long ignored them and should take another look. He is peepling back the covers and providing a solid introduction to someone that wants an over view of the literature.
The texts covered:
-1 Enoch
-2 Enoch
-3 Enoch
-The Book of Giants
-The Book of Jubilees
-Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
-4 Ezra (2 Esdras)
-4 Maccabees
-2 Baruch
-3 Baruch
-4 Baruch
-The Apocalypse of Abraham
-The Ascension of Isaiah
-The Assumption of Moses
-Joseph and Aseneth
-The Protoevangelium of James
-The Gospel of the Hebrews
-The Gospel of Peter
-The Gospel of Thomas
-The Gospel of Nicodemus
-The Acts of Peter
-The Acts of Paul
-The Acts of John
-The Acts of Thomas
-The Shepherd of Hermas
-The Didache
-The Epistle of Barnabas
-1 Clement
-2 Clement
-Clementine Homilies
-The Apocalypse of Peter
December 8, 2023
The author, Fr. Stephen De Young, is an Eastern Orthodox priest and wrote this book as a discussion of the intellectual and theological milieu beginning at the start of what he calls the Second Temple period - the time between the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple described in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament and its destruction by the Romans in 70 AD - and extending into the early centuries after the New Testament books were written - the age of the early Church Fathers.
The first part of the book discusses books like 4 Ezra (AKA 2nd Esdras), 4th Maccabees, First Enoch and other Enochian literature - Slavonic Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, The Book of Jubilees, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and several others.
The second part of this book discusses books that were written by Christians including some of the Apostolic Fathers. This includes works like the Epistle of Barnabas, several non-canonical gospels, The Shepherd of Hermas, The Protoevangelium of James, The Acts of various apostles, and works attributed to St. Clement, an early bishop of Rome, and others.
Note that the word "Apocrypha" as used in the title does not refer to books found in the Old Testaments of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches - e.g. Tobit, Judith, the Book of Wisdom, Sirach, 1 & 2 Maccabees, etc., but are rejected by Protestants. Rather, following the lead of St. Nikephoros, a 9th century Patriarch of Constantinople, he divides the Biblical and extra-biblical writings into three categories: 1. the books of the Bible that are read in church during church services (i.e. they are fully canonical). 2. books that are not to be read during church services, but which can profitably be read in one's home, for one's private study. 3. Books that are downright heretical and are condemned. All of the writings discussed in this book are in category two. In Appendix A at the back of this book, he gives a chart showing books that St. Nikephoros places in the first two categories, and notes that there was disagreement among churches as to which category some of these books belonged in. This persists to this day, as the Church of Ethiopia, for example, includes 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees in its Old Testament. And some of the Slavic Orthodox churches include 4 Maccabees.
Fr. De Young also includes a glossary at the back of the book and gives a list for further reading - compilations which include the works discussed in his book.
Book is highly recommended to anyone wanting to know more about these works, the thought world of the Judaisms and early Christianity of those centuries, and why they remain relevant to us today. Note that he says "Judaisms" - plural - because there were a number of competing Jewish varieties back then - Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, the Qumran sectarians who produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, and others. This was the mixture that Jesus and the early church emerged from, and eventually diverged and split from what became Rabbinic Judaism.
The first part of the book discusses books like 4 Ezra (AKA 2nd Esdras), 4th Maccabees, First Enoch and other Enochian literature - Slavonic Enoch, The Apocalypse of Abraham, The Book of Jubilees, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs and several others.
The second part of this book discusses books that were written by Christians including some of the Apostolic Fathers. This includes works like the Epistle of Barnabas, several non-canonical gospels, The Shepherd of Hermas, The Protoevangelium of James, The Acts of various apostles, and works attributed to St. Clement, an early bishop of Rome, and others.
Note that the word "Apocrypha" as used in the title does not refer to books found in the Old Testaments of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches - e.g. Tobit, Judith, the Book of Wisdom, Sirach, 1 & 2 Maccabees, etc., but are rejected by Protestants. Rather, following the lead of St. Nikephoros, a 9th century Patriarch of Constantinople, he divides the Biblical and extra-biblical writings into three categories: 1. the books of the Bible that are read in church during church services (i.e. they are fully canonical). 2. books that are not to be read during church services, but which can profitably be read in one's home, for one's private study. 3. Books that are downright heretical and are condemned. All of the writings discussed in this book are in category two. In Appendix A at the back of this book, he gives a chart showing books that St. Nikephoros places in the first two categories, and notes that there was disagreement among churches as to which category some of these books belonged in. This persists to this day, as the Church of Ethiopia, for example, includes 1 Enoch and the Book of Jubilees in its Old Testament. And some of the Slavic Orthodox churches include 4 Maccabees.
Fr. De Young also includes a glossary at the back of the book and gives a list for further reading - compilations which include the works discussed in his book.
Book is highly recommended to anyone wanting to know more about these works, the thought world of the Judaisms and early Christianity of those centuries, and why they remain relevant to us today. Note that he says "Judaisms" - plural - because there were a number of competing Jewish varieties back then - Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, the Qumran sectarians who produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, and others. This was the mixture that Jesus and the early church emerged from, and eventually diverged and split from what became Rabbinic Judaism.
January 6, 2025
This is a great introduction to apocryphal works. Each chapter is an overview of one or many books, including information like dating, authorship, audience, book overview, and how it relates to the Orthodox Church today. I was consistently amazed at the ideas that were floating around during, and in some cases significantly before, the time of Christ. This book helps the reader get in the mind of the "Judaisms" of Second Temple Judaism (there wasn't just one uniform worldview!).
In the community of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran, the top three manuscripts they had copied by number were Genesis, 1 Enoch, and Jubilees. This was this community's "Torah" so to speak. Fr. Stephen does a great job showing how New Testament authors are influenced by traditions that are documented in these works. There is a great deal of 1 Enoch in Matthew, the Johannine corpus, and, of course, Peter and Jude. It's amazing how much Christ-centered information is in 1 Enoch, especially the Animal Apocalypse. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs too.
One example that I found interesting is that Paul's mention of the 430 years from the time the covenant was given to Abraham to the time of the Mosaic covenant isn't something you can explicitly find in the Torah. If you try to add up the timelines we're given in the OT, you'll end up with different numbers. However, if you have Jubilees as part of your OT, there is a chronology of the Patriarchs that is more in line with the 430 years that Paul is mentioning, as well as language he uses, such as the law being put in place by angels (Galatians 3:19) that isn't included in the Torah but is in Jubilees (1:27-29, 2:1). This is what I mean by traditions circulating during the time, and before, the New Testament influencing NT teachings. Fr. Stephen points out a bunch of them in this book. Pretty cool!
I hadn't considered the oral and written traditions of the NT authors influencing what they taught. I didn't consider the teachings of Christ as falling in line with some of these "extra-biblical" traditions either. I think I, somewhat gnostically, thought they were simply divinely inspired and just knew the information to teach according to the promptings of the Spirit. But that's not really how it works. God's providence shapes us and teaches us. These people were formed during a particular time in history, according to God's providence, and were surrounded by teachings that shaped them, including the Torah Himself (the Teachings of Christ). Of course there is inspiration and gifting from the Holy Spirit, but there is also history, tradition, and the providence of God. That brings a lot more life to my reading and understanding of the NT authors than I previously had.
Great book. Highly recommend!
In the community of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran, the top three manuscripts they had copied by number were Genesis, 1 Enoch, and Jubilees. This was this community's "Torah" so to speak. Fr. Stephen does a great job showing how New Testament authors are influenced by traditions that are documented in these works. There is a great deal of 1 Enoch in Matthew, the Johannine corpus, and, of course, Peter and Jude. It's amazing how much Christ-centered information is in 1 Enoch, especially the Animal Apocalypse. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs too.
One example that I found interesting is that Paul's mention of the 430 years from the time the covenant was given to Abraham to the time of the Mosaic covenant isn't something you can explicitly find in the Torah. If you try to add up the timelines we're given in the OT, you'll end up with different numbers. However, if you have Jubilees as part of your OT, there is a chronology of the Patriarchs that is more in line with the 430 years that Paul is mentioning, as well as language he uses, such as the law being put in place by angels (Galatians 3:19) that isn't included in the Torah but is in Jubilees (1:27-29, 2:1). This is what I mean by traditions circulating during the time, and before, the New Testament influencing NT teachings. Fr. Stephen points out a bunch of them in this book. Pretty cool!
I hadn't considered the oral and written traditions of the NT authors influencing what they taught. I didn't consider the teachings of Christ as falling in line with some of these "extra-biblical" traditions either. I think I, somewhat gnostically, thought they were simply divinely inspired and just knew the information to teach according to the promptings of the Spirit. But that's not really how it works. God's providence shapes us and teaches us. These people were formed during a particular time in history, according to God's providence, and were surrounded by teachings that shaped them, including the Torah Himself (the Teachings of Christ). Of course there is inspiration and gifting from the Holy Spirit, but there is also history, tradition, and the providence of God. That brings a lot more life to my reading and understanding of the NT authors than I previously had.
Great book. Highly recommend!
July 23, 2023
This review was completed after listening to the audiobook version of Fr. Stephen De Young’s Apocrypha.
Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature is precisely what it says on the cover. Like many readers coming from anon-Orthodox Christian background, I wasn’t sure if this text would discuss that we commonly call “the Apocrypha,” but this is addressed directly in the introduction. De Young’s intent is to provide readers with an understanding of those texts often utilized by Orthodox Christians but not typically regarded as “Scripture” in the same sense as other books typically found in an English Bible. He seems comfortable in the grey areas of “canon,” as he spends some time describing how a standardized Biblical canon isn’t really found within the Orthodox church. This grey area is where we spend the rest of our time with De Young, as he guides the reader through a survey of texts critical to the development of Orthodox theology. Notably, this book is not a collection of texts nor a Sparknotes ripoff; De Young carefully describes each text before explaining its importance within the Orthodox context. Readers will also find more information, such as a list of which texts were considered critical to the early Church, after DeYoung’s analysis. I was a little wary about listening to an audiobook. I have always been a visual learner and though I’ve been picking up a podcast habit, audiobooks are quite different. Fortunately, De Young’s concise writing lends itself well to an audiobook and I didn’t find myself getting lost or confused, even though the subject matter is fairly dense. De Young also does well to present the audiobook with a pleasant affect. I would recommend this audiobook toothers who typically struggle with auditory learning.
Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature is precisely what it says on the cover. Like many readers coming from anon-Orthodox Christian background, I wasn’t sure if this text would discuss that we commonly call “the Apocrypha,” but this is addressed directly in the introduction. De Young’s intent is to provide readers with an understanding of those texts often utilized by Orthodox Christians but not typically regarded as “Scripture” in the same sense as other books typically found in an English Bible. He seems comfortable in the grey areas of “canon,” as he spends some time describing how a standardized Biblical canon isn’t really found within the Orthodox church. This grey area is where we spend the rest of our time with De Young, as he guides the reader through a survey of texts critical to the development of Orthodox theology. Notably, this book is not a collection of texts nor a Sparknotes ripoff; De Young carefully describes each text before explaining its importance within the Orthodox context. Readers will also find more information, such as a list of which texts were considered critical to the early Church, after DeYoung’s analysis. I was a little wary about listening to an audiobook. I have always been a visual learner and though I’ve been picking up a podcast habit, audiobooks are quite different. Fortunately, De Young’s concise writing lends itself well to an audiobook and I didn’t find myself getting lost or confused, even though the subject matter is fairly dense. De Young also does well to present the audiobook with a pleasant affect. I would recommend this audiobook toothers who typically struggle with auditory learning.
July 5, 2023
In this delightful and somewhat scholarly jaunt through the apocryphal books, the author introduces us to the different genres found under that heading, giving an overview of each work, discussing the importance of each to the Church—or lack thereof, as the case may be. He discusses references to and quotes from specific apocryphal passages which can be found in Scripture, showing the significance of these works to 1st century Christians, as well as uses of the texts by the early Church Fathers. Part ancient world history, part Church history, part theological studies, and fully engaging, “Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature,” by Fr. Stephen De Young is a must read for the serious student of the Church and Holy Scriptures. Highly recommend.
As an added note, having twice listened to this free audio version, given in exchange for an honest review, I will be purchasing a hard copy of the book in order to mark it up, add flags, etc. This is a reference piece to which I expect to return again and again.
As an added note, having twice listened to this free audio version, given in exchange for an honest review, I will be purchasing a hard copy of the book in order to mark it up, add flags, etc. This is a reference piece to which I expect to return again and again.
February 14, 2024
While I think the title could be misleading to those looking for the Orthodox Catholic perspective on the texts of the Old Testament commonly referred to as apocrypha by Protestants (Maccabees, Tobit, Wisdom, Sirach, etc.). This book discusses those texts which are even past those apocrypha of both the old and new testaments.
Aside from a pair of bizarre references to the figures of Clement of Alexandria and Diddymus the Blind as "saints" of the Orthodox Catholic Church. This is a very good introduction to the extra scriptural literature that informs/confirms much of oral holy tradition.
Aside from a pair of bizarre references to the figures of Clement of Alexandria and Diddymus the Blind as "saints" of the Orthodox Catholic Church. This is a very good introduction to the extra scriptural literature that informs/confirms much of oral holy tradition.
March 13, 2024
Must Read For All Christians
I highly recommend Fr. Stephen De Young's book for all Christians. It is a wealth of information and resources and has been meticulously written for a greater awareness and appreciation for Holy Tradition. Especially notable is the Afterword which would not hurt in the least to be read at the beginning of this great read and then read again at the end. Thank you Fr. Stephen De Young for the exhaustive time you put into this work. I will definitely be reading this again.
I highly recommend Fr. Stephen De Young's book for all Christians. It is a wealth of information and resources and has been meticulously written for a greater awareness and appreciation for Holy Tradition. Especially notable is the Afterword which would not hurt in the least to be read at the beginning of this great read and then read again at the end. Thank you Fr. Stephen De Young for the exhaustive time you put into this work. I will definitely be reading this again.
May 7, 2023
“Apocrypha” does a wonderful job of summarizing the main elements of important extra-biblical texts and their controversies and acceptances. What I found to be the most useful, in typical Fr De Young fashion, is his “significance to the Church” sections, where he gives the “application” of the text to the modern reader. These are a treasure trove of wisdom and insight into the Church, and are both encouraging and convicting. I would highly recommend the book!
July 31, 2023
A great introduction to apocryphical texts
I found the book to be very informative and well written. The author does not spend much time going into minute details, but instead focuses on main messages and significance of the texts. I find that very helpful for someone who is not an expert. It this an excellent introduction and gives a reader a clear general picture and a good starting poont for further reading.
I found the book to be very informative and well written. The author does not spend much time going into minute details, but instead focuses on main messages and significance of the texts. I find that very helpful for someone who is not an expert. It this an excellent introduction and gives a reader a clear general picture and a good starting poont for further reading.
May 1, 2023
Fr Stephen de Young discusses the importance of the extra-biblical literature in the tradition of the Christian Orthodox Church. He discusses several books from the Old and New Testament time periods giving a brief introduction to their content and reception.
I definitely will have to follow up by reading some of the texts he discusses.
I definitely will have to follow up by reading some of the texts he discusses.
July 22, 2023
Father Stephen sets out in this book to give a brief introduction to extra-biblical, or apocrypha, literature as it’s viewed within the Orthodox Church. To do that Father Stephen uses the introduction to discuss the view within orthodox tradition of how books are viewed within the church. Orthodoxy has three categories which it uses to define writings found inside and outside the church. The first two categories are the focus of this book; books that are used and read liturgically, and book that are read at home and are not used liturgically. Father Stephen does briefly address the third category of the tradition, which are books that should not be read as they can be harmful or are heretical, such as some of the books that were found at the Nag Hammadi library in 1945 which are of gnostic origin. The orthodox tradition varies from the Christian west that typically has had two categories, book that are in the bible and books that aren’t.
Father Stephen breaks down extra-biblical literature into two categories in this book, Old Testament and second temple literature, and New Testament and apostolic fathers. Father Stephen uses a list that was written in the 9th century by Saint Nikephoros the Patriarch of Constantinople, who published a work that had a list of books that at that time were used liturgically and accepted in all churches as well as books that only used in some churches but not in others. Father Stephen uses this list as a guide for the works that he addresses in this book. Father Stephen does not talk about books that are found within the orthodox study bible, such as Tobit, Judith, 1st – 3rd Maccabees, and several others, but address books that are used within Coptic, Ethiopian, and Slavic Orthodox traditions. These books include the Book of Enoch, The Book of Jubilees and other Enochic literature, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Ascension of Isaiah, The Books of Baruch, and Joseph and Aseneth. Father Stephen states that the difference in the Old Testament between different Orthodox churches is due to the Jewish Old Testament in those regions. Different regions in the world of Judaism used different books in services, which lead to different Old Testament books within the orthodox churches as Jewish converts brought their traditions to Christianity. All Orthodox churches as well as the western churches use the same New Testament books.
Each chapter Father Stephen breaks down a particular group of literature, by defining the popularity of it within the early church, textual history, the background, brief description of the text, and the significance to the church. Father Stephen uses the writing of the early church fathers to discuss all these topics by stating how they talked about these books when they wrote.
I listened to the audiobook and Father Stephen reads his own book. Father Stephen is an enjoyable audio listen as his pacing in his reading makes it easy to pay attention and doesn’t go too fast or slow. The foot notes are perfectly interjected into the audiobook by clearly stating the beginning and end of the foot note.
This book is a great resource for anyone who is intrigued about extra-biblical literature. Ultimately this book is a must have for all Christians as it deepens the traditions that have been lost over time in the west.
Father Stephen breaks down extra-biblical literature into two categories in this book, Old Testament and second temple literature, and New Testament and apostolic fathers. Father Stephen uses a list that was written in the 9th century by Saint Nikephoros the Patriarch of Constantinople, who published a work that had a list of books that at that time were used liturgically and accepted in all churches as well as books that only used in some churches but not in others. Father Stephen uses this list as a guide for the works that he addresses in this book. Father Stephen does not talk about books that are found within the orthodox study bible, such as Tobit, Judith, 1st – 3rd Maccabees, and several others, but address books that are used within Coptic, Ethiopian, and Slavic Orthodox traditions. These books include the Book of Enoch, The Book of Jubilees and other Enochic literature, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Ascension of Isaiah, The Books of Baruch, and Joseph and Aseneth. Father Stephen states that the difference in the Old Testament between different Orthodox churches is due to the Jewish Old Testament in those regions. Different regions in the world of Judaism used different books in services, which lead to different Old Testament books within the orthodox churches as Jewish converts brought their traditions to Christianity. All Orthodox churches as well as the western churches use the same New Testament books.
Each chapter Father Stephen breaks down a particular group of literature, by defining the popularity of it within the early church, textual history, the background, brief description of the text, and the significance to the church. Father Stephen uses the writing of the early church fathers to discuss all these topics by stating how they talked about these books when they wrote.
I listened to the audiobook and Father Stephen reads his own book. Father Stephen is an enjoyable audio listen as his pacing in his reading makes it easy to pay attention and doesn’t go too fast or slow. The foot notes are perfectly interjected into the audiobook by clearly stating the beginning and end of the foot note.
This book is a great resource for anyone who is intrigued about extra-biblical literature. Ultimately this book is a must have for all Christians as it deepens the traditions that have been lost over time in the west.
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July 31, 20242024
Read the introduction, 1 Enoch chapter. Excellent commentary, highlighted a lot that I missed.
Read the introduction, 1 Enoch chapter. Excellent commentary, highlighted a lot that I missed.
July 22, 2025
Superb introduction to these fascinating texts.
March 24, 2024
A great overview of extrabiblical text which fill in some of Scripture itself without adding heresy! Not as good a read as Fr. Stephen's The Religion of the Apostles but still worth your time.
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