Some help with The Old Testament

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rawb
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Rawb

Guest
I’m taking a college course, the Introduction of the Old Testament. We are using a textbook entitled “The Old Testament Speaks” by Samuel J. Shultz. I have a protestant teacher, and Mr. Shultz is obviously a protestant as well.

In the first chapter, on the first page actually, the deuterocanonicals are dismissed out of hand as not being included in the canon of the Old Testament. This, of course, goes against my views as a Catholic. We were given a homework assignment where we are asked some questions and expected to give short, maybe a paragraph, answers. I ended up writing about a page on the question that asked us to “Discuss important versions of the Old Testament, including the Septuagint, Vulgate, English Bible, and the Authorized Version (King James)” because I include a defense of the ‘apocrypha’.

I’m here now, asking if someone who knows a bit more about this than I, would possibly double-check my facts for me. For example, the author claims St. Jerome rejected the apocrypha, but here on Catholic Answers I’ve found a quote that seems to show he just didn’t include them in his translations, not that he rejected them. Did St. Jerome reject the deuterocanonicals?

I would much appreciate any help. If someone would PM me, I could send them a copy just of my answer to this question. This isn’t a request for a debate about the ‘apocrypha’, but a request for help defending the Church’s position. If you want to attack that position, please do not bother; I’ll learn more than enough about the protestant old testament from this class.
 
Rawb said:
Did St. Jerome reject the deuterocanonicals?
Click to expand...
From the Catholic Encyclopedia article on “St. Jerome:”
He never either categorically acknowledged or rejected the deuterocanonical books as part of the Canon of Scripture, and he repeatedly made use of them.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia article on “Canon of the Old Testament:”
An analysis of Jerome’s expressions on the deuterocanonicals, in various letters and prefaces, yields the following results: first, he strongly doubted their inspiration; secondly, the fact that he occasionally quotes them, and translated some of them as a concession to ecclesiastical tradition, is an involuntary testimony on his part to the high standing these writings enjoyed in the Church at large, and to the strength of the practical tradition which prescribed their readings in public worship.
 
Rawb said:
I’m taking a college course, the Introduction of the Old Testament. We are using a textbook entitled “The Old Testament Speaks” by Samuel J. Shultz. I have a protestant teacher, and Mr. Shultz is obviously a protestant as well.

In the first chapter, on the first page actually, the deuterocanonicals are dismissed out of hand as not being included in the canon of the Old Testament. This, of course, goes against my views as a Catholic. We were given a homework assignment where we are asked some questions and expected to give short, maybe a paragraph, answers. I ended up writing about a page on the question that asked us to “Discuss important versions of the Old Testament, including the Septuagint, Vulgate, English Bible, and the Authorized Version (King James)” because I include a defense of the ‘apocrypha’.

I’m here now, asking if someone who knows a bit more about this than I, would possibly double-check my facts for me. For example, the author claims St. Jerome rejected the apocrypha, but here on Catholic Answers I’ve found a quote that seems to show he just didn’t include them in his translations, not that he rejected them. Did St. Jerome reject the deuterocanonicals?

I would much appreciate any help. If someone would PM me, I could send them a copy just of my answer to this question. This isn’t a request for a debate about the ‘apocrypha’, but a request for help defending the Church’s position. If you want to attack that position, please do not bother; I’ll learn more than enough about the protestant old testament from this class.
Click to expand...
Articles on the Deuterocanonicals
**“5 Myths about 7 Books”
**Answers to five common arguments Protestants give for rejecting the Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament
By Mark Shea
envoymagazine.com/backissues/1.2/marapril_story2.html

DEFENDING THE DEUTEROCANONICALS****
By James Akin
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/DEUTEROS.HTM

The Council That Wasn’t
The Myth of Jabneh and the Old Testament Canon
By Steve Ray
catholic.com/thisrock/2004/0409fea4.asp
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top