Apocrypha

Despite the different opinions on the degree of authority that should be given to the books of the Apocrypha, most Christians agree that these books are valuable. Because these books were written in the intertestamental period, they provide helpful insight into Jewish history, beliefs, and religious practices immediately prior to the birth of Jesus. People who read them will be better able to understand the political, cultural, ethical, and religious context of the contemporaries of Jesus.