Why did Protestants reject the deuterocanonical books?

The question of why Protestants reject the deuterocanonical books—those texts included in the Old Testament by the Catholic and Orthodox churches but excluded from most Protestant Bibles—has been a subject of scholarly discussion, theological debate, and historical analysis. Understanding this rejection requires a journey through the history of the biblical canon, the theological principles that guided the Reformation, and the linguistic and textual evidence considered by early Protestant leaders.

What Are the Deuterocanonical Books?

The term “deuterocanonical” is derived from the Greek words “deutero” (second) and “kanon” (rule or standard), and refers to a set of books considered canonical by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, but not by most Protestants or by Jews.

These books include Tobit, Judith, Wisdom (also called the Wisdom of Solomon), Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel. In Protestant circles, these texts are often called the “Apocrypha,” a term that sometimes carries a pejorative connotation, implying hidden or doubtful authenticity.

The deuterocanonical books were mostly written in the intertestamental period, after the last books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and before the New Testament era. They were included in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures widely used in the early centuries BCE and CE, especially among Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians.

Early Christian Use of the Deuterocanonical Books

For the first few centuries of Christianity, there was no universally agreed-upon Old Testament canon. Many early Christians, including Church Fathers like Augustine and Irenaeus, accepted the deuterocanonical books as scripture, largely because they were present in the Septuagint. The Septuagint was the version of the Old Testament most commonly used by early Christians, as Greek was the lingua franca of the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, not all Church Fathers agreed. Jerome, the translator of the Latin Vulgate, was one of the earliest and most influential voices to distinguish between the books of the Hebrew canon and the deuterocanonicals. While Jerome included them in his translation, he noted that they were not found in the Hebrew Bible and should be read “for edification” but not for establishing doctrine. This ambivalence would sow seeds for later debates.

The Jewish Canon and Rabbinic Decisions

One of the central reasons Protestants cite for rejecting the deuterocanonical books is that they are not part of the Jewish canon. By the end of the first century CE, Jewish rabbis had largely settled on a canon that excluded these books. This process, often associated with the Council of Jamnia (though modern scholarship questions the existence of such a council), reflected a desire to distinguish Jewish scripture from the Greek-influenced texts adopted by Christians.

Protestant reformers argued that since Jesus and the Apostles were Jews who preached from the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament canon for Christians should match that of the Jews. Most of the deuterocanonical books were written in Greek, not Hebrew, further casting doubt on their authenticity.

The Protestant Reformation and Sola Scriptura

The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century marked a decisive shift in attitudes toward the deuterocanonical books. Reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli were committed to the principle of “sola scriptura”—the belief that scripture alone is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice. This principle led them to re-examine which writings should be considered canonical.

Luther, in particular, was skeptical of the deuterocanonical books. In his German translation of the Bible, he placed them in a separate section labeled “Apocrypha,” indicating that they were not of equal status with the other scriptures. He and other reformers pointed to the lack of Hebrew originals, their absence from the Jewish canon, and doctrinal differences as reasons for their exclusion.

Doctrinal Disagreements and Theological Concerns

Some teachings found in the deuterocanonical books were at odds with the theological positions of the Reformers. For example, the book of 2 Maccabees contains references to praying for the dead (2 Maccabees 12:46), which was used to support the Catholic doctrine of purgatory—a teaching rejected by Protestants. Similarly, the book of Tobit describes the effectiveness of almsgiving for the forgiveness of sins (Tobit 12:9), conflicting with Protestant understandings of salvation by faith alone.

For the Reformers, the presence of such teachings raised concerns that the deuterocanonical books were being used to support doctrines they regarded as unbiblical. Excluding these books helped to reinforce their theological positions and prevent what they saw as erroneous Catholic teachings from gaining scriptural legitimacy.

Language, Authorship, and Historical Authenticity

The language and historical context of the deuterocanonical books also contributed to Protestant skepticism. Most of these books were composed in Greek, not Hebrew, and some contain clear references to events and concepts that postdate the Hebrew scriptures. For instance, the books of Maccabees describe events from the second century BCE, after the traditional period of Old Testament prophecy was believed to have ended.

Questions about authorship further complicated matters. Some deuterocanonical books claim to have been written by well-known biblical figures, but scholarly consensus places their composition much later. This, combined with the lack of Hebrew manuscripts for several books, led Reformers to doubt their authenticity.

The Council of Trent and the Catholic Response

The Protestant removal of the deuterocanonical books did not go unanswered. In 1546, the Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent, which formally declared the deuterocanonical books to be canonical and of equal authority with the rest of scripture. This move was, in part, a response to Protestant criticisms and an effort to preserve teachings that relied on these texts.

From the Catholic perspective, the long-standing use of the deuterocanonical books in liturgy and doctrine, as well as their inclusion in the Septuagint, justified their canonical status. The Orthodox Church, while not participating in the Council of Trent, also continues to accept these books as scripture, though with some variations in the specific texts included.

The Legacy of the Reformation

Following the Reformation, most Protestant Bibles omitted the deuterocanonical books entirely, though some retained them in a separate section as “Apocrypha.” The King James Version of 1611, for example, included the Apocrypha between the Old and New Testaments, but later editions often dropped them altogether.

Today, the exclusion of the deuterocanonical books remains a distinguishing feature of Protestant Bibles. While some Protestant scholars and denominations may use the Apocrypha for historical or devotional purposes, they are not regarded as authoritative scripture.

Modern Perspectives and Ongoing Dialogue

In recent decades, there has been renewed interest in the deuterocanonical books among some Protestant scholars and laypeople, who value them for their historical and theological insights. Some modern Protestant Bibles, such as the New Revised Standard Version, include the Apocrypha as a separate section for those who wish to read them. Ecumenical dialogues between Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants have also encouraged a more nuanced appreciation of these texts, even as confessional lines remain.