Apocrypha

Apocrypha (from the Greek apókruphos, meaning ‘hidden’ or ‘obscure’) refers to written works or oral traditions that are of unknown authorship or doubtful origin. In the context of theology, it most commonly describes books that are not considered part of the accepted canon of Scripture. However, the concept is equally valuable in the study of mythology and folklore to describe narratives that exist outside the established or most widely accepted versions of a mythos.

Apocrypha in Religion and Myth

The distinction between ‘canonical’ (accepted as authoritative and divinely inspired) and ‘apocryphal’ is a complex and often political process. What is considered apocryphal by one group may be canonical to another, depending on when and where the text was produced and the theological or cultural priorities of those compiling the canon.

Religious Apocrypha

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the term is most famous:

• The Biblical Apocrypha: These are a collection of books (e.g., Tobit, Judith, Maccabees) that were included in the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) and the Latin Vulgate, but are generally excluded from the Hebrew Bible and Protestant canons. They often provide historical context or bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments.
• New Testament Apocrypha: Numerous gospels, acts, epistles, and apocalypses were written in the early centuries of Christianity but were not selected for the final New Testament canon. These texts (e.g., the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary) often offer alternative perspectives, Gnostic teachings, or fanciful stories about the childhood of Jesus or the later lives of the apostles.

Mythological Apocrypha

While mythology lacks a formal ‘church’ to dictate a strict canon, similar processes occur:

• Variant Traditions: Myths were originally transmitted orally and evolved over time and across regions. A story central to one city-state in ancient Greece might be entirely unknown or considered a strange variant in another. These regional variations can be seen as the apocrypha of a broader mythological tradition.
• Later Inventions: Over centuries, new authors and poets frequently added to existing mythologies. The Roman poet Ovid, for example, heavily adapted and sometimes entirely invented stories based on Greek myths in his Metamorphoses. While highly influential, some scholars consider his additions to be ‘apocryphal’ compared to the older, more foundational texts of Homer or Hesiod.
• Folklore vs. Myth: Often, the grand narratives of the gods (myth) are considered the ‘canon,’ while the local, earthy stories of spirits, fairies, or minor heroes (folklore) might be viewed as a kind of cultural apocrypha—less ‘official,’ but deeply embedded in the lives of the common people.

The study of apocryphal texts and traditions is vital because it reveals the diversity of thought, belief, and storytelling within a culture, showing the ideas that were rejected or marginalized by those who established the dominant narrative.