Between the Testaments by S. Kent Brown & Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Author:S. Kent Brown & Richard Neitzel Holzapfel [Brown, Kent]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gospel Teachings, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2002-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha

Joseph Smith leafed through his family-size King James Version of the Bible. There it was, the section titled “The Apocrypha.” What was he to do with this section? The Lord had commanded him to make a translation of the Bible, and his Bible purchased in 1829 from E. B. Grandin’s Bookstore in Palmyra contained this important collection of books. Joseph had all but finished his work on the Bible translation and had learned much from the time that he had dedicated to this “branch of [his] calling.” The Lord graciously bestowed revelation after revelation, opening one spiritually rich vista after another during the process, beginning with an inspiring vision received in June 1830 (see Moses 1) and continuing throughout the ensuing effort. Would this section of the Bible lead to similar spiritual insights? Did the Lord wish him to translate these books too? He would have to ask.

Joseph Smith began working on his translation of the Bible (known today as the Joseph Smith Translation) in June 1830 (see the chapter heading to Moses 1). The work continued off and on over the next few years. In early March 1833, he was again working his way through parts of the Old Testament, and four months later the Prophet completed his work. Yet, when his scribe wrote “Finished on 2d day of July 1833,” the Prophet still had not translated the books found in the section between the Old and New Testaments, called the Apocrypha.

Printed on its own signatures of sixteen pages each and in slightly smaller type, the Apocrypha was inserted at Phinney’s bindery in Cooperstown, New York. In comparison to the other two sections of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, this section was the smallest, consisting of only ninety-nine pages.

Sections Chapters Verses Words

Old Testament 929 23,214 592,439

New Testament 260 7,959 191,253

Apocrypha 183 6,081 152,185

Joseph Smith, like most Protestants of his era, was uncertain about the value of the Apocrypha. While Anglicans in Great Britain and their counterparts in America, the Episcopalians, prescribed lessons on the Apocrypha, many other Protestants, particularly those with a Puritan background, opposed the Apocrypha’s inclusion within the covers of the Bible. Amid such conflicting points of view, it seems only natural that Joseph ask the Lord whether he should translate it. The answer to his inquiry is found in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly; there are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men. Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated. Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth; and whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom; and whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.” (D&C 91).

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