The Reformation and the Apocrypha
Did you know that the first editions of the Belgic Confession included two proof-texts from the apocrypha? Did you know that our contemporary editions continue to include one small quote from the apocrypha? Elsewhere in his writings, Guido de Brès referred more often to these non-canonical writings. Moreover, de Brès was not exceptional in doing this. Other Reformers did likewise, and so did other Reformed confessions. In this paper (published in the Westminster Theological Journal), I outline de Brès’ use of the apocrypha, put it in the historical context of the Reformation, and attempt to explain it.
