Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from An Introduction to the Book of the Old and New Testament, Vol. 14
The second part of the Old Testament, the Apocrypha (see Section contains two classes of writings: 1. Those which were originally written in Greek; 2. Those which are Greek translations of Hebrew works. They formed an appendix to the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible the additions to Esther and Daniel were introduced in the proper places in the Greek translation of those books. For when, after the foundation of Alexandria in Egypt, many Jews settled in that city for commercial purposes, they, by degrees, forgot their mother tongue. They learned to speak Greek. Hence arose the necessity for a translation into Greek, of the Old Testament, which they could no longer read in Hebrew. This translation was used in the synagogues. Thus arose the Greek translation of the Old Testament, bearing the name of Septuagint (septuaginta), which, beyond a doubt, is the most ancient version of the older Scriptures. To this translation were sub joined the apocryphal books, which thus gradually came into use. The time of the origin of these apocryphal works falls in the centuries that immediately preceded the advent of Christ. Some of them, however, for example, Judith, are later than the public ministry of our Lord. (more exact statements are given under the several books of the Apo crypha.) Among the books of the New Testament, the letters of Paul take precedence in point of time. His apostolical labours and the tounda tion and instruction of Christian communities by him, gave him first, among all apostles, occasion for the composition of his letters. Of these we possess thirteen. The time of their origin begins about the middle of the first century of our era, that is, about from eighteen to twenty years after the Saviour's death. Reference to lost letters of Paul is made in these passages, namely, 1 Cor. V. 9, and Coloss. Iv. 16. Paul was followed by Peter, James, Jude, and John, letters from whose pens have been preserved to the present time.
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