Apocrypha

An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature

By: Stephen De Young

Narrated by: Stephen De Young

Many Christians today divide ancient Jewish and Christian literature into two categories: what is in the Bible and what is not. The Christian East, however, has traditionally described a third category considered beneficial for Christians to listen to in the home: “apocrypha.” These texts, from the centuries before and after the Incarnation of Jesus Christ—beyond even the larger canons of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Old Testaments—reveal to us the religious world and theological framework of the apostles and early Church Fathers.

In Apocrypha, a companion volume to The Religion of the Apostles, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys these works, which connect elements of Liturgy, Scripture, iconography, and patristic writings. Familiarity with them will enhance listeners’ understanding of the breadth and depth of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

©2023 Stephen De Young (P)2023 Stephen De Young

Exactly what it says on the tin

This review was completed after listening to the audiobook version of Fr. Stephen De Young’s Apocrypha.

Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature is precisely what it says on the cover. Like many readers coming from a non-Orthodox Christian background, I wasn’t sure if this text would discuss that we commonly call “the Apocrypha,” but this is addressed directly in the introduction. De Young’s intent is to provide readers with an understanding of those texts often utilized by Orthodox Christians but not typically regarded as “Scripture” in the same sense as other books typically found in an English Bible. He seems comfortable in the grey areas of “canon,” as he spends some time describing how a standardized Biblical canon isn’t really found within the Orthodox church. This grey area is where we spend the rest of our time with De Young, as he guides the reader through a survey of texts critical to the development of Orthodox theology. Notably, this book is not a collection of texts nor a Sparknotes ripoff; De Young carefully describes each text before explaining its importance within the Orthodox context. Readers will also find more information, such as a list of which texts were considered critical to the early Church, after De Young’s analysis.

I was a little wary about listening to an audiobook. I have always been a visual learner and though I’ve been picking up a podcast habit, audiobooks are quite different. Fortunately, De Young’s concise writing lends itself well to an audiobook and I didn’t find myself getting lost or confused, even though the subject matter is fairly dense. De Young also does well to present the audiobook with a pleasant affect. I would recommend this audiobook to others who typically struggle with auditory learning.

Very well written and narrated

This is a great in depth look into the "Apocryphal" books. It's well written, and narrated by the author, which is a huge plus for me. Definitely the best book I'm aware of on the subject. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about this subject.

Part history, part theology, fully engaging

In this delightful and somewhat scholarly jaunt through the apocryphal books, the author introduces us to the different genres found under that heading, giving an overview of each work, discussing the importance of each to the Church—or lack thereof. He discusses references to and quotes from specific apocryphal passages which can be found in Scripture, showing the significance of these works to 1st century Christians, as well as uses of the texts by the early Church Fathers. Part ancient world history, part Church history, part theological studies, and fully engaging, “Apocrypha: An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature,” by Fr. Stephen De Young is a must read for the serious student of the Church and Holy Scriptures. Highly recommend.
As an added note, having twice listened to this free audio version, given in exchange for an honest review, I will be purchasing a hard copy of the book in order to mark it up, add flags, etc. This is a reference piece to which I expect to return again and again.

Very well research

The author gives a very detailed look into me almost every single extra biblical book and on writing at the time

Great Intro Into Apocryphal Literature

Fr. De Young does an excellent job of tying in apocryphal literature with the books of the Old and New Testament, as well as writings of the church fathers, to present a holistic worldview. As a Protestant without much exposure to second temple writings, this book is an excellent entry into this literature for the lay person who wants to better understand the world to which the scriptures were written to.
Given the medium and the density of the content, it is often necessary to go back over sections or chapters to fully grasp the connections Fr. De Young is making, but this is more a reflection of the audiobook format, and not an indictment of the writing or reading.
If you enjoy Lord of Spirits/The Symbolic World/etc, you’ll love this audiobook!