Growing up evangelical I often heard that the Old Testament Apocrypha were those “forbidden” books that were not to be read or taken seriously. To be fair, I was never directly told this by my parents per se, but this belief existed and continues to in evangelical traditions. I was told it contained odd and bizarre teachings (See portions of the NT Apocrypha for this).  

It was not until I decided to read it for myself (go figure!) that I began to learn what these writings contained and their value for the follower of Jesus. While I would agree, they are certainly not on the same level of the recognized canon of inspired Scripture (hence they are called “deutero- canonical”), they are still full of profit for any person to live a life of exemplary faith in God and the life of Jesus. Not to mention, they are the best materials to read if we want to understand the social, historical, and religious background to the world Jesus entered into. It is clear that some of these writings are the obvious backdrop for a few portions of Scripture from Jesus, the epistle of James, and portions of Paul’s epistles, not to mention many other allusions to common stories from the era.  

And so, we can say with confidence, there was no “400 years of silence” from Malachai to Matthew, as the saying goes. God was busy at work in the lives of many of His children who both suffered and shined for His glory from 400 BC to the time of Jesus. These books which are included in Catholic and Orthadox Bibles (with various differences when it comes to the lists) would be:

• Tobit
• Judith
• Esther (The Greek version containing additional chapters)
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Wisdom of Sirach 
• Baruch 
• The Letter of Jeremiah 
• Additions to the Book of Daniel: The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews, Susanna, and Bel and the Dragon. 
• 1 Maccabees
• 2 Maccabees 
• 1 Esdras
• Prayer of Manasseh 
• Psalm 151
• 3 Maccabees 
• 2 Esdras 
• 4 Maccabees (As an Appendix in the Greek Bible)

All of these, not to mention portions of the Pseudepigrapha (Click here for an article on the Pseudepigrapha’s impact on early Christianity as well as here for a general intro to this collection of works), are beneficial to varying degrees. Perhaps not for doctrine in the church but for inspiration and devotion they provide ample stories and truths that most definitely formed and shaped the minds of Jews and early Christians in the era of the early Church. 

One that stands out to me personally, from the above list would be the Prayer of Manasseh. In this short prayer, like Psalm 51, we hear the desperate prayer of Judah’s King Manasseh. It is a prayer which imagines the scene of 2 Chronicles 33 in which he prays to God after the King of Assyria has captured and imprisoned him in Babylon. 

While not the same prayer as that from 2 Chronicles, it none the less offers an inspiring window into the devotional and repentant seeking life of these early followers of God. If written by a Jew, it is most likely dated around the first century BC. If by a Christian, it may be dated as late as the 2nd century. Either way… the text speaks for itself. I believe the Lord can use writings like these to open wide our hearts and minds to see our desperate need for him.

Take time to read this short prayer… surely, we can find ourselves within it and find inspiration for our own authentic times of prayer and repentance before the Lord. I pray this prayer is a blessing to you today!

Ascription of Praise
(Cp 2 Chr 33:10–13, 18–20)
O Lord Almighty, 
God of our ancestors, 
of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob 
and of their righteous offspring; 
you who made heaven and earth 
with all their order; 
who shackled the sea by your word of command, 
who confined the deep 
and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name; 
at whom all things shudder, 
and tremble before your power, 
for your glorious splendor cannot be borne,
and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable; 
yet immeasurable and unsearchable 
is your promised mercy, 
for you are the Lord Most High, 
of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, 
and you relent at human suffering. 
O Lord, according to your great goodness 
you have promised repentance and forgiveness 
to those who have sinned against you, 
and in the multitude of your mercies 
you have appointed repentance for sinners, 
so that they may be saved.

Therefore you, O Lord, God of the righteous, 
have not appointed repentance for the righteous, 
for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you, 
but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner. 

Confession of Sins
(Cp 2 Kings 21:1–18)
For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea; 
my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied! 
I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven 
because of the multitude of my iniquities. 

I am weighted down with many an iron fetter, 
so that I am rejected because of my sins, 
and I have no relief; 
for I have provoked your wrath 
and have done what is evil in your sight, 
setting up abominations and multiplying offenses. 

Supplication for Pardon
And now I bend the knee of my heart, 
imploring you for your kindness. 
I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, 
and I acknowledge my transgressions. 
I earnestly implore you, 
forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! 
Do not destroy me with my transgressions! 
Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me; 
do not condemn me to the depths of the earth. 
For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, 
and in me you will manifest your goodness; 
for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, 
and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. 

For all the host of heaven sings your praise, 
and yours is the glory forever. Amen. ^[1]

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^[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Pr Man 1–15.