Summary
This article highlights the primary distinctions between the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha based on their canonical status, authorship, and literary genre within Second Temple Judaism.
Apocrypha vs. Pseudepigrapha: Key Differences
Highlights
Canonical Status
The Apocrypha, featuring texts like 1 Maccabees and Sirach, holds deuterocanonical status in Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches but is considered non-canonical by Protestants. The Pseudepigrapha, a broader collection from 200 BCE to 200 CE, was never accepted into the Western biblical canon.
Authorship and Genre
Pseudepigraphal writings are characterized by their false attribution to biblical figures such as Enoch and Moses. The Apocrypha generally encompasses historical and wisdom literature, whereas the Pseudepigrapha frequently deals with apocalyptic themes, including explorations of heaven, the origin of evil, and eschatology.