apocrypha(n = noun.communication) - 14 books of the Old Testament included in the Vulgate (except for II Esdras) but omitted in Jewish and Protestant versions of the Bible; eastern Christian churches (except the Coptic Church) accept all these books as canonical; the Russian Orthodox Church accepts these texts as divinely inspired but does not grant them the same status;
is a kind of religious text, religious writing, sacred text, sacred writing
is a part of old testament
has parts: additions to esther, prayer of azariah and song of the three children, book of susanna, susanna, bel and the dragon, baruch, book of baruch, epistle of jeremiah, letter of jeremiah, book of tobit, tobit, book of judith, judith, 1 esdras, i esdra, 2 esdras, ii esdras, ben sira, ecclesiasticus, sirach, wisdom of jesus the son of sirach, wisdom, wisdom of solomon, 1 maccabees, i maccabees, 2 maccabees, ii maccabees
Derived form adjective apocryphal2
1. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. Locke. [1913 Webster]
2. Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others. [1913 Webster]
" Fourteen such writings, or books, formed part of the Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by the Jews of Palestine. The Council of Trent included all but three of these in the canon of inspired books having equal authority. The German and English Reformers grouped them in their Bibles under the title Apocrypha, as not having dogmatic authority, but being profitable for instruction. The Apocrypha is now commonly " [1913 Webster]
apocrypha, n.pl.
1 the books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions of the Old Testament but not in the Hebrew Bible.
Usage:
Modern Bibles sometimes include them in the Old Testament or as an appendix, and sometimes omit them.
2 (apocrypha) writings or reports not considered genuine.
Etymology:
ME f. eccl.L apocrypha (scripta) hidden writings f. Gk apokruphos f. apokrupto hide away
N Judeo-christian revelation, revelation, inspiration, afflatus, theophany, theopneusty, Word, Word of God, Scripture, the Scriptures, the Bible, Holy Writ, Holy Scriptures, inspired writings, Gospel, Old Testament, Septuagint, Vulgate, Pentateuch, Octateuch, the Law, the Jewish Law, the Prophets, major Prophets, minor Prophets, Hagiographa, Hagiology, Hierographa, Apocrypha, New Testament, Gospels, Evangelists, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypse, Revelations, Talmud, Mishna, Masorah, prophet, evangelist, apostle, disciple, saint, the Fathers, the Apostolical Fathers, Holy Men of old, inspired penmen, scriptural, biblical, sacred, prophetic, evangelical, evangelistic, apostolic, apostolical, inspired, theopneustic, theophneusted, apocalyptic, ecclesiastical, canonical, textuary.