Who/What is Ben Sira? (mentioned in Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger)

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In Gary Michuta’s book Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger, Gary describes the history of the Jewish notion of a “closed canon”. On page 69, he quotes a second century Rabbi Akiba as stating this:
The Gospels and heretical books do not defile the hands. The books of Ben Sira and all other books written from then on, do not defile the hands.
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Gary concludes that this shows Christians accepted the Deuterocanon as Scripture along with the Gospels, because otherwise “there would have been no need to rule against them.”

The part I miss is the reference to the Deuterocanons in the quotation. I assume the answer is in the reference to Ben Sira and/or the Deuteros having been written past the point of “then on” that the Rabbi states.

Any insights?
 
MarcoPolo said:
In Gary Michuta’s book Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger, Gary describes the history of the Jewish notion of a “closed canon”. On page 69, he quotes a second century Rabbi Akiba as stating this:

Gary concludes that this shows Christians accepted the Deuterocanon as Scripture along with the Gospels, because otherwise “there would have been no need to rule against them.”

The part I miss is the reference to the Deuterocanons in the quotation. I assume the answer is in the reference to Ben Sira and/or the Deuteros having been written past the point of “then on” that the Rabbi states.

Any insights?
Click to expand...

Ben Sira = Jesus son of Sirach = editor of the book otherwise known as Ecclesiasticus.​

Ecclesiasticus is no older than the second century BC - too recent to defile the hands, because it was composed after the time of Ezra & the men of the Great Synagogue, just after the Return from the Exile. Rabbi Akiba is reckoned as one of the Ten Martyrs of the war of Simon bar Kochba against the Romans, which was waged from 132 to 135; R. Akiba was put to death by the Romans.
 
Ah, thank you! I remember earlier in the book Gary mentioned Sirach’s grandson as having translated the book into Greek (page 6, footnote 1). And now that I am reminded that Sirach is the oldest of the Deuteros, the Akiba quote makes sense!
 
Note that the Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach instructs us against living wills. Note also that it instructs us to go the the physician and take what medication is prescribed. All in all a very balanced and valuable book of admontions.

Matthew
 
This past Sunday, on the In Your Faith radio show (see my signature below) with Michael Voris, Mike had Gary Michuta on as a guest for about half of the two hour call in show. They talked about the Bible, and had some really interesting callers.

You can get the podcast of the show HERE

Enjoy!!

~Liza
 
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