Q&A Home > B > Holy Bible A TV show called "Banned from the Bible II" centered upon books that were supposedly banned from the present Holy Bible version. These ancient but recently discovered books, paint a very different picture of the world in which Jesus and the early Christians lived. I would really like to know the Coptic Orthodox Church's view on these stories: "Joseph and Aseneth", "Lillith", "Apocrypha (the Hidden Writings) and Daniel", "The Acts of Peter". We follow the Holy Bible and the Second Canonical Books as the Holy Spirit inspired writings. Unfortunately, so many youths and adults are taken captive by the media, without any attempt to discern the validity of the representation:
Joseph the Chaste was married to Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah, a priest in Egypt (Genesis 41). Not much was written regarding Asenath, except that she bore two sons to Joseph. Their sons were Manasseh and Ephraim. The embellishment in the story presented on the TV Program is a fabrication. Joseph, a true believer and worshiper of God, who accepted all his sufferings without complaint because of his strong faith in God, would have reasonably imparted this faith upon his children and wife.
Joshua Ben Sirach (Son of Sirach) wrote Sirach, 51 chapters of wisdom words. Lillith is a mere evil fable. "Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them" (Genesis 2:19). "Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:22). These are the only two people God created from complete non-existence; Adam from dust and the breath of God (Genesis 2:7) and Eve from the rib of Adam.
The Septuagint (Daniel 14) does include the account of Bel and the Dragon. Daniel is always portrayed as an exemplary youth, valiant, faithful, wise, and successful.
The account of St. Peter and Simon the former sorcerer can be found in the Holy Book of Acts, Chapter 8. Actually, Simon converted to Christianity at the preaching of Philip the Deacon. He and other people of Samaria were subsequently baptized. Simon stayed with Philip, but was later sternly admonished by St. Peter. Simon thought that the laying of the hands of the Apostles to receive the Holy Spirit is a gift one can buy. "But Peter said to him, 'Your money perishes with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!' You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For, I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity' Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me'" (Acts 8:20-24).
The portrayal of St. Peter as referenced in "The Acts of Peter" depicts a weak apostle who would engage in petty arguments and contests, which God does not require of his saints. St. Peter is the wonderful saint whose passing shadow, when cast on the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, was enough to heal them (Acts 5:15,16).
There were many false books with fables and myths like these but the Church has rejected them from the very beginning. Please read this article to learn about the canonization of the Scripture: http://www.suscopts.org/resources/literature/281/canonization-of-the-christian-scriptures/.
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