Introduction

The word apocrypha comes from the greek apokryphos (ἀπόκρυφος), which is an adjective that means private. It is a form of the verb apokryptein (ἀποκρύπτειν), which means to hide away, and is derived from the combination of apo (away) and kryptein (hide or conceal).

The idea is that the apocrypha books are meant to be read in private, and not used for public sermons or otherwise authoritative teaching. It's not that they are secret or forbidden; just that they shouldn't be referred to when deciding public matters of conduct or doctrine.

They are like the notes in a study Bible. The notes in a study Bible are meant for your own private (apocrypha) use. You can quote the actual Bible verses as authoritative, but you can't quote the notes about those verses as anything other than informative or entertaining.

And, yes, the Bible does contain references to apocryphal writings.

For instance, the New Testament references works that are part of the Apocrypha, such as Enoch (Jude 14) and Ascension of Isaiah (Hebrews 11), but does not cite them as Holy Scripture.

Additionally, beyond even the apocryphal books, there are other non-canonical books referenced in the Bible, including the Book of Jasher, which is mentioned in Joshua 10 and 2 Samuel 1, and the Acts of the Kings of Israel, referenced in 2 Chronicles 32.

There are also references to books that no longer exist, such as the Book of the Wars of the Lord, which is mentioned in Numbers 21:14 - although, this may be another reference to the book of Jasher.

The point is, feel free to read the apocryphal books the same way you would read any other book. Just don't quote them as scripture, and always use the Bible as the single source of ultimate truth and authority.

The following books are from the World English Bible (WEB):

• 1 Esdras
• 2 Esdras
• 1 Maccabees
• 2 Maccabees
• 3 Maccabees
• 4 Maccabees
• Baruch
• Daniel (Greek)
• Esther (Greek)
• Judith
• Prayer of Manasses
• Psalm 151
• Sirach
• Tobit
• Wisdom of Solomon

The WEB has this to say about their translations of the Apocrypha books. (https://ebible.org/eng-web/FRT01.htm)

The World English Bible is an ecumenical project that includes books included in Bibles in many denominations. The main 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are recognized as Scripture by all true Christians. There are also books considered to be part of, depending on which book and who you ask, Deuterocanon, Apocrypha, and Pseudepigrapha. The Deuterocanon/Apocrypha books are only included in the printed editions marked “Ecumenical”.

The following books and parts of books are recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Russian Orthodox Churches: Tobit, Judith, Esther from the Greek Septuagint, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (also called The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach), Baruch, The Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. In this edition, The Letter of Jeremiah is included as chapter 6 of Baruch. Three of those books come from parts of Daniel found in the Greek Septuagint, but not the Hebrew Old Testament: The Song of the Three Holy Children, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon. These three are included in Daniel (Greek), in context, as they make more sense that way.

The following books are recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, but not the Roman Catholic Church: 1 Esdras, The Prayer of Manasseh, Psalm 151, and 3 Maccabees. Note that 1 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh are also in an appendix to the Latin Vulgate Bible.

The Slavonic Bible includes 2 Esdras, but calls it 3 Esdras. This same book is in the Appendix to the Latin Vulgate as 4 Esdras.

An appendix to the Greek Septuagint contains 4 Maccabees. It is included for its historical value.

Among Christian denominations and among individual Christians, opinions vary widely on the Deuterocanon/Apocrypha, as do the collective names they give them. Many regard them as useful in gaining additional understanding of the Old and New Testaments and the hand of God in history, even if they don’t give them the same status as the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. They are included here in support of the churches and individuals who read them and use them, as separate from, but frequently used with, the core canon of the 66 books of the Holy Bible.

https://biblehub.com/apocrypha/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/

https://scriptural-truth.com/apocrypha_books.html

https://ebible.org/eng-web/ (Apocrypha included between the Old and New Testaments)