Deuterokanoniset

Deuterokanoniset is a term used primarily within Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity to refer to a specific collection of books that are included in their Bibles but are not found in the Hebrew Bible. These books are also known as the Apocrypha by Protestants. The term "deuterokanoniset" itself is derived from Greek words meaning "second canon," implying a later or secondary recognition of these texts.

The exact number and specific books considered deuterokanoniset can vary slightly between different traditions, but commonly include works such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, along with additions to Esther and Daniel. These texts are generally understood to have been written during the Second Temple period, a time when Jewish religious literature was abundant and diverse.

The inclusion of these books in Christian Bibles stems from their presence in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which was widely used by early Christians. While the Protestant Reformation led to the exclusion of these books from most Protestant Bibles, often relegated to an appendix, they remain an integral part of the canon for Catholics and Orthodox Christians, holding theological significance and being used in liturgy and doctrine.