The Apocrypha, meaning "hidden things, " is a collection of books included in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible (with some later additions) and in the Latin Vulgate translation. While these books are not part of the Hebrew text that forms the canon for Judaism and Protestant Christianity, they are, nevertheless, regarded as canonical by several Christian traditions. Increasingly, scholars have pronounced the Apocrypha to be of great value for understanding the place of Judaism in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Consisting of such literary genres as wisdom, historical fiction, histories, devotional writings, letters, and even apocalypse, the Apocrypha is a valuable tool for those wishing to comprehend the times between the Old and New Testaments.Included are 1 Esdras, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Esther (Greek), Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Prayer of Manasseh, and 2 Esdras.The Apocrypha is used by the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic traditions.This affordable, slim volume is a convenient supplement to Bibles that don't include the apocryphal texts, and is ideal for classroom use or personal study. It also includes an essay from John R. Kohlenberger III on the importance of the Apocrypha.