The question of who was responsible for removing books from the Bible is a complex one, involving historical, theological, and ecclesiastical considerations. To address this question, we must delve into the development of the biblical canon, the historical context of the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and the decisions made by various religious communities throughout history.
The term "canon" refers to the collection of books recognized as authoritative scripture by a religious community. The process of canonization was not a single event but rather a series of decisions made over centuries. For the Christian Bible, this involved the formation of both the Old Testament and the New Testament canons, with variations between different Christian traditions.
The Old Testament Canon
The Jewish community had a collection of sacred writings long before the birth of Christianity. By the time of Jesus, what we now know as the Hebrew Bible was largely established, although debates about certain books continued among Jewish scholars. The Hebrew Bible consists of the Law (Torah), the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim), which together form the Tanakh.
The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, included additional books not found in the Hebrew Bible. These books, known as the Apocrypha, were widely used in the early Christian Church. The term "Apocrypha" means "hidden" and refers to texts that were considered valuable but not on the same level as the canonical books.
The Role of Early Christianity
In the early centuries of Christianity, there was no universally accepted canon. Different Christian communities used different texts. The early Church Fathers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen, quoted from a variety of writings, including some now considered Apocryphal.
By the 4th century, Church councils began to address the issue of the canon. The Council of Rome in 382, under Pope Damasus I, and the subsequent Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397, 419) played significant roles in affirming the canon, which included the Apocrypha. The Latin Vulgate, translated by Jerome at the behest of Pope Damasus, included these books, although Jerome himself was skeptical of their canonical status.
The Protestant Reformation
The most significant change to the biblical canon came during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Reformers like Martin Luther challenged the authority of the Church and sought to return to the original scriptures. Luther questioned the canonicity of several Old Testament books that were not part of the Hebrew Bible, including those in the Apocrypha.
In his translation of the Bible into German, Luther placed the Apocryphal books in a separate section, noting that they were useful for reading but not for establishing doctrine. This decision influenced other Protestant traditions, leading to the exclusion of these books from the Protestant Old Testament.
The Council of Trent (1545-1563), in response to the Reformation, reaffirmed the canonicity of the Apocryphal books, which the Catholic Church refers to as the "Deuterocanonical" books. This decision solidified the differences between the Catholic and Protestant canons.
The Pseudepigrapha
The term "Pseudepigrapha" refers to a collection of ancient Jewish writings attributed to biblical figures but not included in any canon. These texts were never widely accepted as scripture by any major Christian tradition, although they were influential in early Jewish and Christian thought.
Conclusion
The question of who removed books from the Bible is not a matter of a single individual or group making a unilateral decision. Instead, it is a reflection of the diverse and dynamic history of the development of the biblical canon. The differences in the canon among various Christian traditions—Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox—illustrate the complex interplay of theology, tradition, and historical context.
For non-denominational Christians, understanding this history is crucial. It highlights the importance of discernment and study in approaching the scriptures. The Bible, as we have it today, is the result of centuries of prayerful consideration and debate among believers seeking to understand God's revelation.
While the Protestant tradition does not include the Apocrypha in its canon, these books remain valuable for historical and theological study. They provide insight into the religious and cultural milieu of the intertestamental period and help us understand the context in which the New Testament was written.
In the end, the formation of the biblical canon is a testament to the enduring power and influence of the scriptures. It is a reminder of the responsibility we bear to engage with the Bible thoughtfully and reverently, seeking to discern God's truth in a world of many voices.
