A selection of books called the “Apocrypha” was published in the original 1611 King James Bible.   Positioned between the Old and New Testament  (containing genealogies and maps)  For 274 years the apocrypha was part of the King James Version being removed in 1885 A.D. The Catholic Church called a portion of these books deuterocanonical-books.  The word Apocrypha  means “hidden” Dating back to before 70 A.D. Fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls contained parts of the apocrypha books in Hebrew including Sirach and Tobit.
Many claim the apocrypha should of never have been included with other claiming the apocrypha should of never been removed.
Reason for not being included in the first place , was the raising doubt about its validity and believing it was not God inspired  ( Tobit chapter 6 verses 5-8 a reference about magic seems inconsistent with the rest of the Bible.)
It being removed a little more than 100 years ago after being part of the Bible for nearly 2,000 years. Some say it was removed because of not being found in the original Hebrew manuscripts.   With others claiming it wasn’t removed by the Church but by printers to cut costs in distributing Bibles in the United States.     Both side use the same verses that warn against adding or subtracting from the Bible.

1It is also found in the records, that Ieremie the Prophet, commaunded them that were caried away, to take of the fire as it hath beene signified,

2And how that the Prophet hauing giuen them the law, charged them not to forget the commaundements of the Lord, and that they should not erre in their minds, when they see images of siluer, and gold, with their ornaments.

3And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.

4It was also contained in the same writing, that the Prophet being warned of God, commanded the Tabernacle, and the Arke to goe with him, as he went forth into the mountaine, where Moises climed vp, and sawe the heritage of God.

5And when Ieremie came thither, he found an hollow caue wherin he laid the Tabernacle, and the Arke, and the altar of incense, & so stopped the doore.

6And some of those that followed him, came to marke the way, but they could not find it.

7Which when Ieremie perceiued, hee blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be vnknowen vntill the time that God gather his people againe together, and receiue them vnto mercy.

8Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appeare, and the cloud also as it was shewed vnder Moises, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.

9It was also declared that he being wise, offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the Temple.

10And as when Moises prayed vnto the Lord, the fire came down from heauen, and consumed the sacrifices: euen so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came downe from heauen, and consumed the burnt offerings.

11And Moises said, because the sinne offering was not to be eaten, it was consumed.

12So Solomon kept those eight dayes.

13The same things also were reported in the writings, and commentaries of Neemias, and how he founding a librarie, gathered together the acts of the Kings, and the Prophets, and of Dauid, and the Epistles of the Kings concerning the holy gifts.

14In like maner also, Iudas gathered together all those things that were lost, by reason of the warre we had, and they remaine with vs.

15Wherefore if yee haue neede thereof, send some to fetch them vnto you.

16Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification, we haue written vnto you, and yee shall doe well if yee keepe the same dayes.

17We hope also that the God, that deliuered all his people, and gaue them all an heritage, and the kingdome, and the priesthood, and the Sanctuarie,

18As he promised in the lawe, will shortly haue mercy vpon vs, and gather vs together out of euery land vnder heauen into the holy place: for he hath deliuered vs out of great troubles, and hath purified the place.

19Now as concerning Iudas Maccabeus, and his brethren, and the purification of the great Temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20And the warres against Antiochus Epiphanes, & Eupator his sonne,

21And the manifest signes that came from heauen, vnto those that behaued themselues manfully to their honour for Iudaisme: so that being but a few, they ouercame the whole country, and chased barbarous multitudes,

22And recouered againe the Temple renowned all the world ouer, and freed the citie, and vpheld the lawes, which were going downe, the Lord being gracious vnto them with al fauour:

23All these things (I say) being declared by Iason of Cyrene in fiue books, we will assay to abridge in one volume.

24For considering the infinite number, and the difficulty, which they find that desire to looke into the narrations of the story, for the variety of þe matter,

25We haue beene carefull, that they that will read might haue delight, and that they that are desirous to commit to memorie, might haue ease, and that all, into whose hands it comes might haue profit.

26Therefore to vs that haue taken vpon vs this paineful labour of abridging, it was not easie, but a matter of sweat, and watching.

27Euen as it is no ease vnto him, that prepareth a banquet, and seeketh the benefit of others: yet for the pleasuring of many we will vndertake gladly this great paines:

28Leauing to the authour the exact handling of euery particular, and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement.

29For as the master builder of a new house, must care for the whole building: but hee that vndertaketh to set it out, and paint it, must seeke out fit things for the adorning thereof: euen so I thinke it is with vs.

30To stand vpon euery point, and goe ouer things at large, and to be curious in particulars, belongeth to the first authour of the storie.

31But to vse breuitie, and auoyde much labouring of the worke, is to bee granted to him that will make an abridgement.

32Here then will we begin the story: onely adding thus much to that which hath bene said, That it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story it selfe.

 

 

 

1 You will find in the records, not only that Jeremiah the prophet ordered the deportees to take some of the aforementioned fire with them,

2 but also that the prophet, in giving them the law, admonished them not to forget the commandments of the Lord or be led astray in their thoughts, when seeing the gold and silver idols and their ornaments.

3 With other similar words he urged them not to let the law depart from their hearts.

4 The same document also tells how the prophet, following a divine revelation, ordered that the tent and the ark should accompany him and how he went off to the mountain which Moses climbed to see God's inheritance.

5 When Jeremiah arrived there, he found a room in a cave in which he put the tent, the ark, and the altar of incense; then he blocked up the entrance.

6 Some of those who followed him came up intending to mark the path, but they could not find it.

7 When Jeremiah heard of this, he reproved them: "The place is to remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows them mercy.

8 Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord will be seen in the cloud, just as it appeared in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the Place might be gloriously sanctified."

9 It is also related how Solomon in his wisdom offered a sacrifice at the dedication and the completion of the temple.

10 Just as Moses prayed to the Lord and fire descended from the sky and consumed the sacrifices, so Solomon also prayed and fire came down and burned up the holocausts.

11 Moses had said, "Because it had not been eaten, the sin offering was burned up."

12 Solomon also celebrated the feast in the same way for eight days.

13 Besides these things, it is also told in the records and in Nehemiah's Memoirs how he collected the books about the kings, the writings of the prophets and of David, and the royal letters about sacred offerings.

14 In like manner Judas also collected for us the books that had been scattered because of the war, and we now have them in our possession.

15 If you need them, send messengers to get them for you.

16 As we are about to celebrate the feast of the purification of the temple, we are writing to you requesting you also to please celebrate the feast.

17 It is God who has saved all his people and has restored to all of them their heritage, the kingdom, the priesthood, and the sacred rites,

18 as he promised through the law. We trust in God, that he will soon have mercy on us and gather us together from everywhere under the heavens to his holy Place, for he has rescued us from great perils and has purified his Place.

19 This is the story of Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, of the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the altar,

20 the campaigns against Antiochus Epiphanes and his son Eupator,

21 and of the heavenly manifestations accorded to the heroes who fought bravely for Judaism, so that, few as they were, they seized the whole land, put to flight the barbarian hordes,

22 regained possession of the world-famous temple, liberated the city, and reestablished the laws that were in danger of being abolished, while the Lord favored them with all his generous assistance.

23 All this, which Jason of Cyrene set forth in detail in five volumes, we will try to condense into a single book.

24 In view of the flood of statistics, and the difficulties encountered by those who wish to plunge into historical narratives where the material is abundant,

25 we have aimed to please those who prefer simple reading, as well as to make it easy for the studious who wish to commit things to memory, and to be helpful to all.

26 For us who have taken upon ourselves the labor of making this digest, the task, far from being easy, is one of sweat and of sleepless nights,

27 just as the preparation of a festive banquet is no light matter for one who thus seeks to give enjoyment to others. Similarly, to win the gratitude of many we will gladly endure these inconveniences,

28 while we leave the responsibility for exact details to the original author, and confine our efforts to giving only a summary outline.

29 As the architect of a new house must give his attention to the whole structure, while the man who undertakes the decoration and the frescoes has only to concern himself with what is needed for ornamentation, so I think it is with us.

30 To enter into questions and examine them thoroughly from all sides is the task of the professional historian;

31 but the man who is making an adaptation should be allowed to aim at brevity of expression and to omit detailed treatment of the matter.

32 Here, then, we shall begin our account without further ado; it would be nonsense to write a long preface to a story and then abbreviate the story itself.

 

I. Wrote the Jews of Egypt a letter (1:1-2:18)

          A. Letter number one (1:1-9)
          B. Letter number Two (1:10-2:18)

II The Epitomist's Preface (2:19-32)

III The High Priesthood Decline (3:1-4:50)

          A. The Episode of Heliodorus (3:1-40)
          B. Simon's Plot Against Onias (4:1-6)
          C. The High Priest Jason introdices Hellenisin (4:7-20)
          D. In Jerusalem Jason receives Antiochus (4:21-22)
          E. High Pries Menelaus (4:23-50)

IV The Imposition of Hellenism and Antiochus Epiphanes (5:1-7:42)

 A. Jerusael Ravages by Antiochus (5:1-14)
 B. Temple is Despoiled by Antiochus (5:15-23)
 C. Apollonius Attachs Jerusalem (5:23-26)
 D. In the Desert Judas Maccabeus (5:27)
 E. Antiochus imposes Hellenian (6:1-11)
 F. The Epitomist's Evaluation (6:12-17)
 G. The Martydom of Eleazer (6:18-31)
 H. The Mother and her seven sons Martyrdom (7:1-42)

V. Under Judas Maccabeus the Triumph of Judaism (8:1-10:9)

A. Organizes Resistance to the Presection by Judas (8:1-7)
 B. Nicanor and Gorgias defeated by Judas (8:8-29 , 34-36)
 C. Other Victories by Judas (8:30-33)
 D. The Death of the Persecutor (9:1-29) E. Temple purified by Judas (10:1-9)

VI. Judas's subsequent struggles (10:10-15:39)

 A. Ptolemy Macron's suicide (10:10-13)
 B. Judas fights in Idumea (10:14-23)
 C. Judas defeats Timothy (10:24-38)
 D. At Beth-zur victory over Lysias (11:1-15 12:1)
 E. The Letters (11:16-38)
 F. The Battles with Neighboring People. (12:2-45)
 G. In Judah Lysias' Second Campaign (13:1-26)
 H. The Accession of Demetrius I Soter (14:1-2)
 I. Alcimus' Hostility (14:3-11)
 J. Nicanor and Judas (14:12-36)
 K. Razis's Death (14:37-46)
 L. Nicanor's Defeat (15:1-37)
 M. Epitomist's Epilogue (15:37-39)