deuterokanonisiksi

Deuterokanonikoi is a term used primarily within Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions to describe a specific collection of books found in the Old Testament. These books are considered part of the biblical canon by these denominations but are not accepted by Protestant churches. The term itself is derived from Greek words meaning "second canon," implying a perceived difference in their reception or authority compared to the protocanonical books, which are universally accepted.

The deuterocanonical books include titles such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and additions to Esther and Daniel. Their inclusion in the Christian Old Testament canon stems from their presence in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures, which was widely used by early Christians.

In contrast, Protestant reformers in the 16th century, following the lead of some early Jewish scholars, excluded these books from their Bibles. They argued that these texts were not found in the Hebrew canon and lacked the same level of historical and theological certainty as the protocanonical books. Despite this distinction, the deuterocanonical books have significant theological and historical value, offering insights into the religious and cultural landscape of the Second Temple period and influencing Christian thought and liturgy.