Voice From the Womb
Q: This site references books (Tobit and Maccabees for example) that are not in my bible. Where did these books come from and why are they in the Catholic bible?
The Catholic Bible (the only Christian bible in existence for > 1200 years until the Protestant versions came along) contains 7 more books than most Protestant bibles. These books are commonly referred to as the Apocrypha by Protestants, and deuterocanonical by Catholics. Here is why they are included in the Roman Catholic bibles. The first edition of the King James bible actually did contain the 7 books, but they were removed in later editions after the authors determined that the books were either unreliable or did not fit in with their interpretation of scripture. The real question should be:What, if any, impact has been the removal of these 7 books from other bibles?
1 Balancing Scriptures
There has been a significant impact because in the bible there are many scriptures which balance each other, and the removal of these books causes an imbalance in the total message of scripture. This imbalance may also be caused by focusing on certain favorite scriptures at the expense of the not so popular balancing scriptures, for example, in memorization exercises where verses on grace may be emphasized. The bible must be read comprehensively where every scripture is important (1Tim 3:16).
An example of balancing scriptures:
“They will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18) IS BALANCED BY: Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7)
We have seen in many cases where Christians who are devoted to the bible intentionally handle poisonous snakes and let themselves get bit, confidant that they will be protected by the former verse. Instead, they frequently suffer serious injury or death. They apparently did not heed the latter scripture. On the other hand, we have an example where Paul unintentionally was bitten by a poisonous snake and was not harmed, in Acts 28:3-6. In this case he did NOT put God to the test, and so the promise in scripture saved him.
More examples:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)
IS BALANCED BY: Even the demons believe - and shutter. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead (James 2:20,26); Above all, hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins (1Pet 4:8)
Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith (Romans 3:23-25) IS BALANCED BY:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church (Coloss 1:24); If anyone wishes to follow Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me (Mark 8:34)
2 Faith Healing
Now in the case of these seven books that were removed from many bibles, one set of verses, if left in place, would have prevented much suffering, death, and lawsuits. We hear today of some religious folks who refuse to see a doctor or to bring their seriously ill child to a doctor, deciding instead to place their faith in God to save them. No doubt they are influenced by focusing on a few scattered verses in scripture that imply that going to a doctor is not good:
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe; yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers… (2Chron 16:12-13)
And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse (Mark 5:25-26)
With these scriptures in the hands of well-meaning but deceived religious leaders, no wonder some might get the idea to avoid medical doctors and pharmacists altogether and to depend instead on faith healing. If the sick child dies as a result, they end up suffering that grief plus the grief of being charged with murder or neglect. Perhaps all of this deception and suffering would have been avoided if the following verses from Sirach 38:1-15 were left in place in all Christian bibles:
1 Treat the doctor with the honour that is his due, in consideration of his services; for he too has been created by the Lord.
2 Healing itself comes from the Most High, like a gift received from a king.
3 The doctor's learning keeps his head high, and the great regard him with awe.
4 The Lord has brought forth medicinal herbs from the ground, and no one sensible will despise them.
5 Did not a piece of wood once sweeten the water, thus giving proof of its power?
6 He has also given some people knowledge, so that they may draw credit from his mighty works.
7 He uses these for healing and relieving pain; the druggist makes up a mixture from them.
8 Thus, there is no end to his activities; thanks to him, well-being exists throughout the world.
9 My child, when you are ill, do not rebel, but pray to the Lord and he will heal you.
10 Renounce your faults, keep your hands unsoiled, and cleanse your heart from all sin.
11 Offer incense and a memorial of fine flour, make as rich an offering as you can afford.
12 Then let the doctor take over -- the Lord created him too -- do not let him leave you, for you need him.
13 There are times when good health depends on doctors.
14 For they, in their turn, will pray the Lord to grant them the grace to relieve and to heal, and so prolong your life.
15 Whoever sins in the eyes of his Maker, let such a one come under the care of the doctor!
Note: The book of Sirach is also called Ecclesiasticus (not to be confused with Ecclesiastes).
3 Acts of Charity (Almsgiving)
“Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness…It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life, but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.” (the archangel Raphael in Tobit 12:8-10).
“So now, my children, consider what almsgiving accomplishes and how righteousness delivers” (Tobit in Tobit 14:11)
The story of Tobit and in particular these scriptures, illustrates the value of almsgiving in God’s eye, and only add to the plethora of scripture in the New Testament that demonstrate that we will indeed be judged by our good works, or lack thereof (Matthew 25:31-46). There are many verses that say we are saved by grace, but there are even more verses that say we will be judged by our works after we have received that grace. There is the temptation to focus only on the grace verses, which may adversely affect the Christian’s final disposition if he allows himself to fall into complacency. Please view all verses with the same importance, for balance!
Therefore, beloved, since you want for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace (2Peter 3:14)
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2Timothy 4:6-7)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
These are just three examples of the impact of removing books from Holy Scripture.