When Were the Apocrypha Added?

Overview

The 7+ Greek books, known as the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonicals, were never part of the original Hebrew Bible (Paleo-Hebrew, Aramaic, or Dead Sea Scrolls). These Greek-written texts were introduced in the Septuagint (~250–100 BC), included in Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (~405–406 AD) under pressure, treated as Scripture by the Roman Church (~500s AD), and officially canonized by the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent (1546 AD). This timeline reveals how later additions diverged from the Hebrew worldview.

Timeline and Breakdown

📜 250–100 BC: Greek Septuagint (LXX)

Greek-written books were first included in the Septuagint, created in Alexandria, Egypt under Ptolemaic rule. They were never part of the original Hebrew Bible.

Examples: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Additions to Daniel (Bel and the Dragon, Song of the Three Youths), Additions to Esther.

⚠️ 200–100 BC: Greek Jewish Acceptance

Greek-speaking Jews accepted some Apocryphal books as part of their reading tradition, but Hebrew Jews rejected them as non-canonical.

🟥 382 AD: Rome Begins Canon Process

Pope Damasus I commissions Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin. Jerome initially rejects the Apocrypha, noting they’re not in the Hebrew canon, but includes them in an appendix under pressure.

🔥 405–406 AD: Latin Vulgate Finalized

Jerome completes the Vulgate, including the Apocrypha alongside Hebrew Scriptures, blurring the line between canonical and non-canonical texts.

🧱 500s AD: Western Church Adopts Apocrypha

The Roman Church begins publicly reading Apocryphal books like Wisdom and Maccabees as Scripture, treating them as equal to Hebrew texts.

🛑 1546 AD: Council of Trent

After the Reformation, the Catholic Church declares all 7+ Apocryphal books as official canon, pronouncing anathema (curse) on those who reject them.

Summary Chart

Year	Event	Action Taken
250–100 BC	Septuagint Created	Greek Apocrypha inserted
~400 AD	Jerome’s Vulgate	Apocrypha included under pressure
500s AD	Roman Use Increases	Read publicly as if Scripture
1546 AD	Council of Trent	Declared official Catholic Scripture

🔥 Bottom Line: The Greek Apocrypha were never in Paleo-Hebrew, Aramaic, or Dead Sea Scrolls. They were added by Greek Jews, tolerated by Rome, and enforced by the Catholic Church.

Old Testament Book Classification

Category	Books	Details
✅ Hebrew-Original	Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi	39 books in Paleo-Hebrew, preserved in Dead Sea Scrolls, core of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
⚠️ Aramaic-Period	Daniel (2:4b–7:28), Ezra (4:8–6:18, 7:12–26), Jeremiah (10:11)	Portions written in Aramaic (~600–400 BC), reflecting Babylonian/Persian exile context.
❌ Greek-Added (Apocrypha)	Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch, 1-2 Maccabees, Additions to Daniel (Bel and the Dragon, Song of the Three Youths), Additions to Esther	7+ books written in Greek (~250–100 BC), included in Septuagint, not in Hebrew Bible.

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