"....The apocrypha, ...were removed because they did not conform to the standards set for the computation of the Bible by these church fathers..."

One article the early missioners brought and deposited was the English Bible. A plaque on the podium where the first Bible is strategically kept on the corridor leading to the bedroom of the Alake of Egbaland , gives a brief history of the Bible. According to the plaque, ‘in 1838, the Egba council led by the Sagbua Okukenu, the acting Alake had sent Henry Townsend, (one of the earliest missioners) with a letter to Queen Victoria requesting to know the secret behind the success of Great Britain in many aspects of life. The reply was ‘Righteousness exalted a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” Prov. 14 34.

In addition, she sent a copy of the English Bible. Somehow, that Bible got lost and on being informed of the loss, King Edward VII sent a replacement in 1904. This 1904 edition, for being frequently used and exposed to visitors in the palace became old and torn. On hearing this from His majesty Oba Dr Oyebade Lipede in 1980, Queen Elizabeth II demanded that the bible be sent back to her to be bound. However, Oba Lipede demanded one million pound sterling only as security deposit hence Queen Elizabeth II sent yet a new one now displayed side by side with the torn one, thus making three copies of the bible sent by three different British monarchs to three different Abeokuta monarch including two reigning monarchs of both England and Netherlands”

A close examination of the bible revealed that the conception of the Bible was in three parts: the Old Testament, the Apocrypha and the New Testament. The present day Bible has both the Old and the New Testaments, the Apocrypha has been removed.

The Apocrypha in the ‘first' English Bible contains 14 books, which are The first book of Esdras; The Second book of Esdras; Tobith; Judith; The Rest of Esther; Wisdom; Ecclesiasticus and Baruch with the Epistle of Jeremiah. Others are Song of the Three Children; The Story of Susanna; The Idol, Bel and the Dragon; The Father of Manasseh; First Book of Maccabees and the Second Book of Maccabees.

The curiosity arose as to why these books were removed from the versions that became so popular to the present generation. Evangelist Mrs. Bola Aderele (Nee Ayamolowo) a bible scholar and Sunday School Coordinator of God of Glory Christian Church clarified that the Apocrypha was removed because the books did not conform to the canonical standards.

Explaining further, Ayamolowo said the Bible which was written by 40 authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit within a space of 2000 years consist of books that were regarded as divine and inspirational. Their authorship is also considered in terms of who the writers were and what testimonies had a group of early Christians called church fathers.”

A close examination of the bible revealed that the conception of the Bible was in three parts: the Old Testament, the Apocrypha and the New Testament. The present day Bible has both the Old and the New Testaments, the Apocrypha has been removed.

Another book, The Prayer of the Three Hebrews was the prayer said by Shedrach, Meshach and Abedenego when they were thrown into the furnace of fire. But the book was removed because the church fathers regarded them as non inspirational and by the way, they were young boys whose thought couldn't be compared with the profound thoughts and calling in the lives of people like Moses, Peter and others.

Continuing, Ayamolowo explained that The Story of Susanna was also removed because of its inherent immorality. Susanna, a queen was a non-Christian who used her songs to trap a king who came to fight a war. The book was condemned because the church fathers said it teaches bad morals.”

“There was a king called Manasseh who was caught with a hook because he despised God. When he was arrested and being led away, his prayers were recorded as The prayers of Manasseh. It was removed because it was deemed non-inspirational.”

Tobit is the story of a Jew who was accidentally blinded by the sparrow dung but was miraculously healed by an angel named Raphael through the concoction of a fish heart, liver and gall.

Judith is the story of a beautiful and devoted Jewish princess who saved Jerusalem from being destroyed by King Nebucadnezzer”s invading army. She did this by enticing the army general with her beauty, went ahead to behead him and returned with the decapitated head in her handbag to Jerusalem .

Esdra the first covers much of the material found in Ezra and Nehemiah but it is also a fanciful story of three Hebrews who served as servant in the house of King Darius. They were asked questions concerning what was the greatest thing in the world: One said wine; one said woman and the third said the truth and he got the answer.

Esdra the second contains the vision given to Ezra concerning the government of the world and the restoration of some lost scriptures.

The Wisdom of Solomon is a real apocrypha book because it contains a lot of heresies and it was not actually written by Solomon.

Another book, The Prayer of the Three Hebrews was the prayer said by Shedrach, Meshach and Abedenego ... the book was removed because the church fathers regarded them as non inspirational

Baruch, the secretary of Prophet Jeremiah, wrote the book of Baruch . As a secretary of the prophet, he had some information, which he wrote down, but these were deemed not to have been inspired.

The Story of Susanna contains the story of how the godly wife of a wealthy Jew was accused of adultery but was later cleared by the wisdom of Daniel.

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