King James removed 7 books from the Bible, known as the Deuterocanonical books. These books were written between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC and were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, but not in the Hebrew Bible itself. King James removed them because he believed that they were not part of the original Hebrew Bible and because he was concerned about the fact that some of them contain passages that are controversial or that some people may find offensive. The Deuterocanonical books are important to Catholics and Orthodox Christians, but they are not part of the Protestant Bible.
The following are the 7 books of the bible removed by King James in 1604, when he commissioned the King James Version (KJV):
- Tobit
- Judith
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Ecclesiasticus (also known as Sirach)
- Baruch
- Epistle of Jeremiah
- Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Children
- Bel and the Dragon
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
These books were not included in the Hebrew Bible, which is the foundation of the Protestant Old Testament. However, they were included in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that was used by early Christians.
King James’s decision to remove these books from the KJV was controversial at the time. Some people believed that these books were part of the Bible and should be included in the KJV. Others believed that these books were not part of the Bible and should not be included in the KJV.
There are a few reasons why King James may have removed these books from the KJV. One reason is that he was a Protestant, and Protestants generally did not believe that these books were part of the Bible. Another reason is that some of these books contain passages that are controversial or that some people may find offensive. For example, the book of Tobit contains a story about a man who is cured of blindness by the angel Raphael by rubbing bird droppings in his eyes.
Despite being removed from the KJV, the Deuterocanonical books are still considered to be part of the Bible by Catholics and Orthodox Christians. They are also included in some modern English translations of the Bible, such as the Douay-Rheims Bible and the New American Bible.
Why These 7 Books of The Bible Removed by King James
1. He was a Protestant
The Protestant Reformation was a religious movement that began in the 16th century in Europe. Protestants challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and its teachings. One of the key tenets of Protestantism is the belief in the Bible as the sole source of religious authority. This means that Protestants reject any Catholic teachings that are not based on the Bible.
The Deuterocanonical books are a collection of seven books that are part of the Catholic Bible, but not the Protestant Bible. These books were written between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, during a time when the Hebrew Bible was being translated into Greek. The Deuterocanonical books were included in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
The early Christian church adopted the Septuagint as its official Bible, and the Deuterocanonical books were therefore considered to be part of the Bible. However, during the Protestant Reformation, Protestants rejected the Deuterocanonical books because they were not included in the Hebrew Bible.
There are a few reasons why Protestants may have rejected the Deuterocanonical books. First, Protestants believed that the Bible should be translated directly from the Hebrew and Aramaic languages, rather than from the Greek translation. Second, some Protestants believed that the Deuterocanonical books contained teachings that were contrary to the teachings of the rest of the Bible. For example, the book of Tobit contains a story about a man who is cured of blindness by rubbing bird droppings in his eyes. Some Protestants believed that this story was superstitious and therefore should not be included in the Bible.
2. The Books Were Not Included in The Hebrew Bible
Imagine that the Bible is a cake. The Hebrew Bible is the foundation of the cake, and the Deuterocanonical books are the icing. Protestants believe that the cake is just fine without the icing, but Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the icing is an important part of the cake.
King James was a baker who made a delicious cake. He used the Hebrew Bible as the foundation of his cake, but he left off the Deuterocanonical books because he believed that they were not part of the original recipe.
Some people love King James’s cake, and they think that it is the best cake ever made. Other people prefer cakes that have the Deuterocanonical books icing on them.
Protestant Christians believe that the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, is the original and authoritative Old Testament. They consider it to be the inspired word of God and the foundation of their faith.
There are a few reasons why Protestants place such a high value on the Hebrew Bible. First, it is the oldest part of the Christian Bible, and it contains the foundational stories of the Jewish faith, such as the creation of the world, the fall of humanity, and the calling of Abraham. Second, the Hebrew Bible contains the laws and commandments that God gave to the Israelites, which Protestants believe are still relevant for today.
In contrast to Catholics and Orthodox Christians, Protestants do not believe that the Deuterocanonical books are part of the Old Testament. This is because the Deuterocanonical books were not included in the Hebrew Bible. Protestants argue that the Hebrew Bible is the complete and authoritative Old Testament, and that there is no need to add any other books.
3. The Books Were Written in Greek
The Deuterocanonical books were written in Greek, which was not one of the original languages of the Bible. This fact was significant to Protestants, who generally believed that the Bible should be translated directly from the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. They believed that the Greek translation of the Bible was not as accurate as the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts, and that the Deuterocanonical books, which were not written in the original languages, were therefore not as accurate as the other books of the Bible.
In addition, some Protestants believed that the Deuterocanonical books were not inspired by God. They pointed to the fact that the Deuterocanonical books were not included in the Hebrew Bible, which was compiled by Jewish scholars who were believed to have been inspired by God. They argued that if the Deuterocanonical books were truly inspired by God, then they would have been included in the Hebrew Bible.
King James was a Protestant, and he agreed with these concerns. He believed that the Deuterocanonical books should not be included in the King James Version of the Bible because they were not written in the original languages of the Bible and because they were not inspired by God.
It is important to note that Catholics and Orthodox Christians do not share these concerns. They believe that the Deuterocanonical books are inspired by God and that they are part of the Bible.
4. Some of The Books Contained Controversial Passages
The book of Tobit contains a story about a man named Tobit who is blinded by bird droppings. One day, Tobit’s son Tobias is traveling with the angel Raphael when they encounter a fish. Raphael tells Tobias to catch the fish and remove its gall, heart, and liver. Tobias does so, and Raphael tells him to rub the fish’s gall on his father’s eyes. Tobit does so, and his sight is restored.
Some Protestants found this story to be superstitious and inappropriate for inclusion in the Bible. They argued that it is not possible to cure blindness by rubbing bird droppings on someone’s eyes. They also argued that the story is not consistent with the rest of the Bible, which teaches that God heals people through faith and prayer, not through magic or superstition.
The book of Wisdom contains a passage that describes the wicked as being “tormented in hell.”
This passage is controversial because it contradicts the Protestant belief that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. Protestants believe that once a person is saved, they can never lose their salvation. This passage suggests that the wicked can be punished in hell even after they have died.
The book of 2 Maccabees contains a story about a man named Eleazar who is tortured and killed for refusing to eat pork.
This passage is controversial because it is too violent and gruesome for some people’s taste. It also glorifies martyrdom, which is not a core teaching of Protestantism.
King James and other Protestants were concerned about the potential impact of these passages on readers. They believed that they could be confusing or misleading, and they did not want them to be included in the King James Version of the Bible.
It is important to note that Catholics and Orthodox Christians do not consider the passages in the Deuterocanonical books to be controversial or offensive. They believe that these passages are part of the Bible and that they should be included in all translations of the Bible.
Catholic and Orthodox Views on the Deuterocanonical Books
Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the Deuterocanonical books are part of the Bible and that they are inspired by God. They were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that was used by the early Christian church.
The Deuterocanonical books contain important theological teachings that are essential for understanding the Christian faith. For example, the book of Wisdom contains a passage on the immortality of the soul, and the book of 2 Maccabees contains a passage on the resurrection of the dead. The Deuterocanonical books also provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the Jewish people during the late Second Temple period.
Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the Deuterocanonical books are just as important as the other books of the Bible, and they include them in their translations of the Bible. The Deuterocanonical books are read and studied in Catholic and Orthodox churches, and they are used in preaching and teaching.
Here are some specific examples of Catholic and Orthodox views on the Deuterocanonical books:
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Deuterocanonical books are “part of the sacred deposit of Scripture” and that they “contain teachings that are held in common by the whole Church” (CCC 121).
- The Orthodox Church teaches that the Deuterocanonical books are “canonical and inspired” and that they “have been read in the Church from the earliest times” (Orthodox Study Bible, Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 13).
- Pope Francis has said that the Deuterocanonical books “are part of the Word of God, and they are as inspired as the other books of the Bible” (General Audience, September 16, 2014).
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I has said that the Deuterocanonical books are “part of the sacred Scriptures, which have been received by the Church as inspired by the Holy Spirit” (Letter to Pope Francis, August 30, 2014).
Were These Books Real or Fiction?
Whether or not the Deuterocanonical books are real or fictional is a matter of faith. Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that these books are inspired by God and that they contain important religious teachings. Protestants, on the other hand, do not believe that the Deuterocanonical books are part of the Bible and they do not include them in their translations of the Bible.
There is no scientific evidence to prove or disprove the existence of the people and events described in the Deuterocanonical books. However, the Deuterocanonical books do contain a number of historical details that are consistent with the known history of the Jewish people during the late Second Temple period.
Conclusion
Deuterocanonical books are a collection of seven books that are part of the Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, but not the Protestant Bible. These books were written between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, during a time when the Hebrew Bible was being translated into Greek. The Deuterocanonical books were included in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
King James removed the Deuterocanonical books from the Bible because he believed that they were not part of the original Hebrew Bible and because he was concerned about the fact that some of the Deuterocanonical books contain passages that are controversial or that some people may find offensive.
King James’s decision to remove the Deuterocanonical books from the Bible has had a lasting impact on Protestantism. Today, most Protestant Bibles do not include the Deuterocanonical books. However, Catholics and Orthodox Christians continue to believe that the Deuterocanonical books are part of the Bible and that they contain important religious teachings.