| HOME | Page | |
| Preface | ||
I. |
3 | |
II. |
13 | |
III. |
24 | |
IV. |
26 | |
V. |
41 | |
VI. |
56 | |
VII. |
74 | |
VIII. |
111 | |
IX. |
121 |
I Esdras (The "Greek Ezra") (page133) |
Tobit (p 161) |
|
Judith (p 172) |
Esther Additions (p183) |
Wisdom of Solomon (p 196) |
Ecclesiasticus (p 222) |
Baruch (p 256) |
The Epistle of Jeremy (p 268) |
The Song of the Holy Children (p 272) |
Susanna (p 280) |
Bel & the Dragon (p 287) |
The Prayer of Manasses (p 294) |
I Maccabees (p 300) |
II Maccabees (p 315) |
This book is in no sense a new edition of The Books of the Apocrypha: their
Origin, Teaching and Contents (1914).
It is from beginning to end a new and
wholly independent work.
Since the earlier volume appeared, twenty-one years
ago, much new literature on the Apocrypha generally, and on its individual
books, has been published.
And the present writer has had, during these years,
opportunities for studying a good deal, at any rate, of this new material,
besides paying attention to the older literature.
It may, therefore, be hoped
that this book will be found to be a considerable improvement on the former.
The work consists of two parts, the earlier of which is perhaps the more important, as it deals with subjects of wider interest than the necessarily more technical introductions to the several books.
Part I -
Prolegomena to the Apocrypha -
has for its object to show the interest
and importance of this neglected body of literature from the literary, historical,
doctrinal, and New Testament points of view.
Part II
deals with the usual subjects of introduction necessary for the
study of the individual books.
That my friend Theodore Robinson has not seen his way to collaborate with
me in this work is a matter of much regret to me.
I had hoped that he would
have done so.
But he pleaded that inasmuch as during the many years of reading
and teaching in preparation for the books we have written together, he had
concentrated more particularly on the earlier periods of the religion, history,
and literature of the Hebrews, he did not feel competent to deal with the
literature belonging to this late period.
I wish to express my warm thanks to Dr. H. H. Rowley for having read through my manuscript and the proofsheets, and for many valuable suggestions.
It should be added here that the large number of quotations from the books of the Apocrypha given in full, instead of mere references, was thought advisable because most people are less familiar with the text of these than with that of the canonical Scriptures.
The text of the Septuagint used is that of Swete;
but reference should be
made also to Rahlfs' edition, which is marvellously cheap and beautifully
produced.