The word Apocrypha means “that which is veiled, secret or closed”. In Theology the term Apocrypha refers to the 14 books added to the Old Testament by the Roman Catholic Church in 1546 AD. These books are I Esdras, II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Song of the Holy Children, History of Susanna, Bel and the Dragon and the prayer Manasses, I Macabees, II Macabees. Most of the rest of Christendom rejects their Books from having a place in cannon of Scripture.

The following are some of the reasons for this rejection.

• It is universally acknowledged that they never had a place in the Hebrew cannon.
• They were written in the 400 years between Malachi and John, The Baptist. When there were no inspired prophetic utterances that was why the Jews rejected them.
• They were never quoted in the New Testament by Jesus or the Apostles.
• They are not found in any catalogue of canonical Books during the first four centuries of the Church.
• Divine inspiration and authority is claimed by none of the writers and is disclaimed by some of them.
• None of their writer speak with a message from Jehovah.
• The Book contain many historical, geographical and chronological errors, at times contradicting themselves, the Bible and history.
• They teach doctrines and uphold practices which are contrary to canonical scriptures (example: lying is sanctioned, suicide and assassination are justified, magical incantation and prayers for the dead are taught and approved).
• They do not fit into numerical structure of the canon.

In view of these points the Apocrypha is not recommended for Christian canonical usage.