The Iambic Pen:
Did the Early Church Fathers accept the Deuterocanonicals as being inspired? (I did notice today that Pope Clement mentioned Judith in his epistle to the Corinthians)
As stated before, some did, some did not. The entire church did not have a universal canon before then. Pope St. Clement’s two letters to the Corinthians were read as scripture in Corinth, in some places the Shepheard of Hermas and the Apocalypse of Peter were read as scripture. It is becuse of this disunity that the Council of Rome declared the canon in 382.
The Iambic Pen:
Does anyone know Luther’s reasons for removing them?
His reason for removing them was not because the Palestinian Jews rejected them, but because he did not agree with them. They supported Catholic Theology such as: purgatory, indulgences, and faith with good works for justification. Although the Magisterium declared the canon 100s of years before, Luther found “reasons” why they are not part of the canon and that the magisterium was wrong:
“This book is called, and is supposed to be, the second book of Maccabees, as the title indicates. Yet this cannot be true, because it reports several incidents that happened before those reported in the first book, and it does not proceed any further than Judas Maccabaeus, that is, chapter 7 of the first book. It would be better to call this the first instead of the second book, unless one were to call it simply a second book and not the second book of Maccabees—another or different, certainly, but not second. But we include it anyway, for the sake of the good story of the seven Maccabean martyrs and their mother, and other things as well.It appears, however, that the book has no single author, but was pieced together out of many books. It also presents a knotty problem in chapter 14:41–46] where Razis commits suicide, something which also troubles St. Augustine and the ancient fathers. Such an example is good for nothing and should not be praised, even though it may be tolerated and perhaps explained. So also in chapter 1 this book describes the death of Antiochus quite differently than does First Maccabees [6:1–16].To sum up: just as it is proper for the first book to be included among the sacred Scriptures, so it is proper that this second book should be thrown out, even though it contains some good things. However the whole thing is left and referred to the pious reader to judge and to decide.” (LW 35:352-353)
In the Old Testament, Saul is recored dying in different ways:
“David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the men of Ja’besh-gil’ead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, on the day
the Philistines killed Saul on Gilbo’a.” ( 2 Samuel 21:12)
“So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance, and did not seek guidance from the LORD.
Therefore the LORD slew him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” ( 1 Chronicles 10:13-14)
‘Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” And the young man who told him said, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilbo’a; and there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered,
Here I am.' And he said to me, Who are you?’ I answered him,
I am an Amal'ekite.' And he said to me, Stand beside me and slay me; for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ So I stood beside him,
and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen; and I took the crown which was on his head and the armlet which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord."’ ( 2 Samuel 1:5-10)
In one instance, Saul is recorded comitting suicide:
“Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared greatly.
Therefore Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it.” (1 Samuel 31:4)
It explained things very well.
