Please read through a portion (one or two chapters is enough) of any of the Deuterocanonical books (the books included in Catholic and Greek Orthodox Bibles, but not ususally included in Protestant Bibles). I recommend especially Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), but the other books are worth looking at as well.Note what you find particularly interesting in the selection you read. Would you ever read through the Deuterocanonicals on your own? Why, or why not?
If you have fallen behind on the blogs, you meet do additional entries on other Deuterocanonical books. [Please note: the link I give here has a pretty idiosyncratic list of the Apocrypha. "Bel and the Dragon" and "Susannah" are usually just called "additions to Daniel" and that's where you will find them in most Catholic Bibles.]
12 comments:
First!
Anyway, I looked at Laodiceans. What I found interesting is how the writer is claiming to be Paul. He does not introduce himself as a separate individual but as the apostle Paul. The writer even begins his writings the same way that Paul does, with a simple greeting and blessing. Personally I am split between reading this books. I like them because most of them are very short in length, however, I do not like them because it is hard to decipher what is the word of the apostles and what is the word of some other guy.
Jon Adam
Second!
Tobias 12:3
This is a great verse in Tobias. Tobias is thinking of all the things that Raphael has done for him. Through this journey with St. Raphael, Tobias says was a safe trip thanks to Raphael, and he wants to thank Raphael in some way but doesn’t know how. Raphael at the end of the chapter does make himself known to Tobias.
This is a great story because Raphael was sent down to help Tobias out. He was sent to help him through his journeys
Joe Adam
I read certain parts of the Sirah sections, and most of the verses seem to be proverbs. The 22nd chapter also mentions sloth, so I have a feeling the book of Sirah or other books not included in most Protestant Bibles (such as mine) make mention of not only the Seven Deadly Sins, but also of other elements of faith associated with the Catholic Church.
I read a verse as well in the 21st Chapter that makes reference to acts of good faith that lead to salvation, something else that Catholics believe.
If I had the time, I personally would read the other Deuterocanonicals so I could get more information, and maybe figure out why they aren't mentioned in most Protestant Bibles.
Maybe I should look into these; I am Lutheran, but I did have somewhat of a Catholic upbringing.
I read the book Bel and the Dragon. I guess I am not sure if this is in the Bible that I used when I was growing up because I am a Lutheran but yet I knew of the story so I am guessing it was in the Bible I was using.
Anyways, I find it very interesting that Daniel actually went into a lion's den for seven days and never was hurt or anything by the lions. Also, after living through the hole situation, the King then started to praise Daniel's God.
This story is very interesting but shows how we should all believe in God without being shown his greatness. Daniel believed in God the whole time while the King needed to be shown his greatness.
Jesse Peck
I looked at Sirach. The thing that i thought was interesting about this work is how it laid out. At some point it seems that these maxims just keep coming with out any real organization. At other points then seem to lead one into the next and at other parts there is a repetition used where it starts the same way 3 times and has a different ending each time.
As far as i can tell this is a pretty good collection of advise from a christian perspective. Some of it seems like a boiling down of the teachings of Jesus and others just seem to be practical little tid bits. I might read this on my own at some point. There are some books such as the bible where it is difficult to just pick up, you kind of need some help along the way. This is a kind of help, in that it lets you know what some one else has gotten out of the bible. This way you have something to compare thoughts to it.
When looking at the books i looked at the book of wisdom... when reading the first chapter i really liked the verse that said... For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth himself unto such as do not distrust him.
Wisdom is one of the things that God gives to us throughout the bible and is one of the characteristics as a christian that is most important. We see it everywhere and whenever i hear it i think of proverbs and the teachings within in right away. I feel this is a great verse because it speaks to us trusting in the Lord and following the right path to our faith.
I do not know if i would read these on my own or not, but it def. holds some important teachings.
I read Sirah. I got the feeling that I was reading the book of Proverbs. It had all the one liners full of wisdom and warning. The author really hits on the theme of, before all else you must fear the Lord. I don't know what to think of these books. The author of Sirah did not seem to say anything that would be against Christian teaching, so I wonder why the book was left out of most bibles. I would like to know the criteria that was used to decide which books would be included and which ones were close but not quite in!
I looked at the first two chapters of 1 Macabees. I enjoyed the reading but it was fairly confusing. At the end of the second chapter there is some advice given that is pretty good for Christians. It says to be faithful to the laws basically regaurdless of consequences.
"My favorite quote is Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms."
Its a fun way to say listen to the laws of God, not those of sinful men.
Jon Hepola
"Anyway, I looked at Laodiceans..."
Laodiceans is not one of the Deuterocanonicals.
I looked at Baruch. In the Catholic bible it has only six chapters and I read it here.
The book starts out pretty normal it gives a genealogy of the individual writing the book with an in depth account on how it was written and who thom it will benefit. It then goes into a prayer to forgive. This is not common in the protestant bible. It then adds to the laws given to Israel. Again I believe this is missing in my Bible.
The time line that is given in this book does not complement with the rest of the NT or OT for that matter. Could this be in fact written in 70AD? The destruction of the temple at Jerselum the was at the hands of the Romans and this was written under a pen name so that scholors at that time would not kill the writer for writing about something or event that should not be mentioned in our history.
The ending of this book is what is different here. It is like a complete different work. It makes no logical connection to the first part of the book! It goes on by saying how this was written by a prophet and it is his prophecy that saved so many people.
So with this in mind if it looks to good it probably is…
Will I ever read them? No however; if your offering a course I would be interested.
Sam Merkel
I read Bel and the Dragon because it sounded like it would be an interesting story. The first major thing that stands out is when Daniel goes into a lions den for seven days and the lions never harmed him. What seemed odd to me about it though was that when Daniel returned the king finally began to worship Daniel's God. It seemed to show that the king thought he was all high and mighty until Daniel returned and it scared the king. It sends a message that God doesn't need to show how powerful he is to make us believe in him.
I would have to agree with Brett on this one. I read the book of Wisdom, and I think that it is a beautiful book that gives us much insight. I really like Chapter 2, when it talks about living our lives to the fullest and taking advantage of every minute we get to spend doing the things we love to do. "Let no springtime blossom pass us by; let us crown ourselves with rosebuds ere they wither. Let no meadow be free from our wantonness."
Wisdom is all around us, like Brett said, and I think that this chapter outlines the beauty of it. It is telling us to stop and smell the roses in life, dont get caught up into a daily routine so much.
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