Legend:

• The Apocrypha should be part of the canon
  
  
• The Apocrypha should not be considered inspired

Discussion:

• The Church fathers accepted it
  
  
  • Not all did. Many denied is such as Origen, Jerome, Athanasius, and Cyril.
    
    
  • A very early christian list of Old Testament books from Melito contains all the Old Testament books except Esther and does not mention the apocrypha. (10 Most important things you can say to a catholic p12)
    
    
  • Anthansius's paschal letter, listed all the new and ol testament books except Esther.
    
    
    • Anthasius's list included some Apocryphal books
      
      
      • Yes, but he claimed they are "not indeed included in the canon, but appointed by the fathers to be read by those who newly join us." (10 Most important things you can say to a catholic P12)
        
        

• The Septuagint contains the Apocrypha
  
  
  • The Apocrypha has not been found with Septuagint manuscripts before the 4th century. It is very unlikely it was in the earliest translations
    
    
  • The apostles quoted from the 1st century Septuagint, but there are no quotes from the Apocrypha. Therefore even if the Apocrypha was part of the earliest translations of the Septuagint, it was ignored
    
    

• Catacombs have pictures of events in the Apocrypha
  
  
  • Just because some people found the events meaningful to them does not mean they are inspired by God
    
    

• Early church councils accepted it
  
  

• Some of the books are part of the dead sea scrolls
  
  

• The apocrypha books do not claim to be inspired by God
  
  

• None of the books were written by a true prophet of God
  
  

• No miracles were used to support the books
  
  

• These books do not contain any predictive prophecy
  
  

• Palestinian jews of the early Christian era rejected the Apocrypha
  
  
  • No Jewish prophets lived in the 400 years between the testaments (10 Most important things you can say to a catholic p13)
    
    
  • Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, excluded the Apocrypha from scripture (10 Most important things you can say to a catholic p13)
    
    
  • The Jewish teacher Philo who lived in the first century, quoted from almost every Old testament book, but never quoted from the apocrypha (10 Most important things you can say to a catholic p13)
    
    

• Jesus and the apostles quoted many times the old testament. In matthew there are about 130 of them. They never quoted from the apocrypha
  
  

• The Apocrypha contains contradictions with the Bible
  
  
  • 2 Maccabees 12:42-46 vs. Hebrews 7:27 and Hebrews 9:27 doctrine of the mass and praying for the dead
    
    
  • Wisdom of Solomon vs. Genesis 1 and Psalm 33:9 pre formation of the world
    
    
  • Ecclesiasticus 3:30; 3:3; 5:5; 20:28; 35:3; 45:16; 45:23 vs. Romans 3:20 alms and works for atonements
    
    
  • 2 Maccabees 15:14 and Baruch 3:4 vs. Matthew 6:9 intercession of the saints
    
    
  • Tobit 12:12 vs. Colossians 2:18 Worship of Angels