The Apocrypha

Question:

Upon what authority were the books of the Apocrypha eliminated from the Scriptures and rated as secular, while the balance are rated as inspired?

Answer:

1. They were not in the Jewish Scriptures that were held to be sacred, the Scriptures that Jesus learned.
2. They sprang out of that time in the Jewish church concededly after prophets had ceased; that is, after Malachi.
3. They were not written in the Hebrew language.
4. Their style, character, and teaching are not up to the standard of the law and the testimony. That is evident to any devout Bible student.
5. They are considered valuable as throwing light upon the time that produced them, and the books of Maccabees are valuable as history.