Editing Apocrypha (section)

{{short description|Works of unknown authorship or of doubtful origin}}
{{about|the general concept of apocryphal literature|the section found in some Bibles called Apocrypha|Biblical apocrypha|other uses}}
[[File:Notes et extraits pour servir à l'histoire des croisades au XVe siècle, pp. 126-127 (Jorga, 1915).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|The apocryphal letter of Sultan [[Mehmed II]] to the Pope ({{lang|fr|Notes et extraits pour servir à l'histoire des croisades au XVe siècle}}), published by [[Nicolae Iorga]]. Series 4: 1453–1476, Paris; Bucarest, 1915, pages 126–127]]
'''Apocrypha''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|p|ɒ|k|r|ɪ|f|ə}}) are biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of scripture, some of which might be of doubtful authorship or authenticity.<ref>{{Cite OED|Apocrypha|id=9256}}</ref> In [[Christianity]], the word ''apocryphal'' (ἀπόκρυφος) was first applied to writings that were to be read privately rather than in the public context of church services. Apocrypha were edifying Christian works that were not always initially included as [[Biblical canon|canonical]] [[scripture]]. 

The adjective "apocryphal", meaning of doubtful authenticity, mythical, fictional, is recorded from the late 16th century,<ref>{{Cite OED|apocryphal|id=9258}}</ref> then taking on the popular meaning of "false," "spurious," "bad," or "heretical." It may be used for any book which might have scriptural claims but which does not appear in the canon accepted by the author. A related term for non-canonical apocryphal texts whose authorship seems incorrect is [[pseudepigrapha]], a term that means "[[false attribution]]".<ref name="ISBE">{{Cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Geoffrey William |editor-last = Bromley |title=Apocrypha |encyclopedia=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |edition=2 |publisher=W.B. Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |date= 2009}}</ref>

In Christianity, the name "[[biblical apocrypha|the Apocrypha]]" is applied to a particular set of books which, when they appear in a Bible, are sometimes placed between the Old and New Testaments in a section called "Apocrypha."<ref>{{cite book |last=Ewert |first=David |title=A General Introduction to the Bible: From Ancient Tablets to Modern Translations |date=11 May 2010 |publisher=Zondervan |isbn=9780310872436 |page=104 |quote=English Bibles were patterned after those of the Continental Reformers by having the Apocrypha set off from the rest of the OT. Coverdale (1535) called them "Apocrypha". All English Bibles prior to 1629 contained the Apocrypha. Matthew's Bible (1537), the Great Bible (1539), the Geneva Bible (1560), the Bishop's Bible (1568), and the King James Bible (1611) contained the Apocrypha. Soon after the publication of the KJV, however, the English Bibles began to drop the Apocrypha and eventually they disappeared entirely. The first English Bible to be printed in America (1782–83) lacked the Apocrypha. In 1826 the British and Foreign Bible Society decided to no longer print them. Today the trend is in the opposite direction, and English Bibles with the Apocrypha are becoming more popular again.}}</ref>  The canonicity of such books took longer to determine. Various of these books are accepted by the [[Catholic Church]], [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Churches]]  and the [[Church of the East]], as [[deuterocanon]]ical. Some Protestant traditions reject them outright; others regard the Apocrypha as non-canonical books that are useful for instruction.<ref name="Wells1911">{{cite book |author-last1=Wells |author-first1=Preston B. |title=The Story of the English Bible |date=1911 |publisher=Pentecostal Publishing Company |page=41 |language=English |quote=Fourteen books and parts of books are considered ''Apocryphal'' by Protestants. Three of these are recognized by Roman Catholics also as ''Apocryphal''.}}</ref><ref name="FUP1970"/>