Would God join together a Christian and a person who worships a false god?

Can the Apocrypha Be Used for Edification?

In light of this, what might it look like to approach the Apocrypha for edification without ascribing them authority? A few suggestions come to mind.

First, the Apocrypha provide invaluable insight into first-century Jewish soteriology. Often the Talmud’s 613 mitzvot (commandments) will be mentioned in the pulpit as a lens on Judaism in the New Testament, but this is anachronistic, given they were not codified as such until the third century AD or later. The Apocrypha are more historically relevant; much is gained, for example, by contrasting Abraham’s imputation in 1 Maccabees 2:52 with Romans 4.

Second, the Apocrypha provide historical coloring for the Gospels. Many details in the Gospels—the Zealots, the centrality of the temple, Jewish festivals, and more—can be more fully grasped by looking at the Apocrypha. First Maccabees, for example, is an invaluable historical source covering the events in Judea during the intertestamental period.

Third, the Apocrypha are an important source for studying the words and phrases of the New Testament. Because they reflect the same linguistic environment as the New Testament, these Greek writings are a helpful repository for studying New Testament words such as righteousness and covenant.

Fourth, at many points the Apocryphal writings are commenting on the Old Testament, thus providing a window on how early Jews interpreted canonical writings. We needn’t ascribe authority to their interpretations, but we can learn something by comparing them to the New Testament.

Fifth, the Apocrypha can be beneficial in their own right. Like C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien, the Apocrypha can be edifying without being authoritative. They are a kind of early Jewish “fan fiction” that builds on the authoritative Scriptures. Read Susanna as a B-side on Daniel’s ingenuity. Read Judith as a suspenseful novella about a Jewish princess who chops off an evil ruler’s head. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-protestants-edified-apocrypha/

1 Maccabees 2:52 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?

49 Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: ‘Arrogance and scorn have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. 50 Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors.

51 ‘Remember the deeds of the ancestors, which they did in their generations; and you will receive great honour and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt. 54 Phinehas our ancestor, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood. 55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel. 56 Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land. 57 David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom for ever. 58 Elijah, because of great zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven. 59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame. 60 Daniel, because of his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions.

61 ‘And so observe, from generation to generation, that none of those who put their trust in him will lack strength. 62 Do not fear the words of sinners, for their splendour will turn into dung and worms. 63 Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, because they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished. 64 My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honour.

65 ‘Here is your brother Simeon who, I know, is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. 66 Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.[d] 67 You shall rally around you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68 Pay back the Gentiles in full, and obey the commands of the law.’

69 Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his ancestors. 70 He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year[e] and was buried in the tomb of his ancestors at Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.

Tobit 4:12
‘Beware, my son, of every kind of fornication. First of all, marry a woman from among the descendants of your ancestors; do not marry a foreign woman, who is not of your father’s tribe; for we are the descendants of the prophets. Remember, my son, that Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our ancestors of old, all took wives from among their kindred. They were blessed in their children, and their posterity will inherit the land.

Calvin... HA.

I READ THE BIBLE FOR EDIFICATION.

Oh and btw....all those people you mentioned.... were human beings🙂

Why would you quote from this when you could quote from the very Word of God????

I was going to reply to the question of the title... then saw who posted the thread.


Good luck sis... God bless you and merry Christmas.

The idea is absurd. either one has to come around and repent of idolatry or the union will not receive his blessing. Solomon tried it and it caused the enslavement of Israel.

Why are you calling yourself the Learner? It reminds me of the scripture that says some were 'ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the Truth'...
Remember it is also written... 'Knowledge puffeth up'

Why are you following 8 people on this forum and 7 of them are young, attractive women, when you are married??? Not good fruit from a good tree this... what does your wife think about that?
You need to come to truly know the Lord and trust in the Blood of Christ and in His Word, alone.🙂

Yes, I think God can bring a Christian and non-Christian together for marriage. My friend is a very devout Christian (her father has been imprisoned in China several times for hosting an underground Church and could not make it to her wedding). She met her future husband who is/was Buddhist/agnostic online. They dated for about six months, and he attended church with her every week. They are married now with two kids. They still attend church together (not sure if her husband converted though). She is very blessed; she got married and had two kids quickly.

I think God has plans for her husband.

it gives us information related to understanding the NT, I think I made the point already. Maybe you have not gotten that far yet.

bold taken out of historical context. The false knowledge is that of a false god or idol. It is not about knowledge in general.
The overall context is about not causing a brother to stumble by using our knowledge about idols to eat meat prepared for an idol.



1 Corinthians 8 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
About Food Offered to Idols
8 Now I will write about meat that is sacrificed[a] to idols. It is certainly true that “we all have knowledge,” as you say. But this knowledge only fills people with pride. It is love that helps the church grow stronger. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know anything as they should. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.

4 So this is what I say about eating meat: We know that an idol is really nothing in the world, and we know that there is only one God. 5 It’s really not important if there are things called gods in heaven or on earth—and there are many of these “gods” and “lords” out there. 6 For us there is only one God, and he is our Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things were made through him, and we also have life through him.

7 But not all people know this. Some have had the habit of worshiping idols. So now when they eat meat, they still feel as if it belongs to an idol. They are not sure that it is right to eat this meat. So when they eat it, they feel guilty. 8 But food will not bring us closer to God. Refusing to eat does not make us less pleasing to God, and eating does not make us closer to him.

9 But be careful with your freedom. Your freedom to eat anything may make those who have doubts about what they can eat fall into sin. 10 You understand that it’s all right to eat anything, so you can eat even in an idol’s temple. But someone who has doubts might see you eating there, and this might encourage them to eat meat sacrificed to idols too. But they really think it is wrong. 11 So this weak brother or sister—someone Christ died for—is lost because of your better understanding. 12 When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ in this way and you hurt them by causing them to do things they feel are wrong, you are also sinning against Christ. 13 So if the food I eat makes another believer fall into sin, I will never eat meat again. I will stop eating meat, so that I will not make my brother or sister sin.

Proverbs 1:7knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.

Proverbs 1:22“Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?

Proverbs 1:23I wanted to tell you everything I knew and give you all my knowledge, but you didn’t listen to my advice and teaching.

Proverbs 1:29That is because they hated knowledge. They refused to fear and respect the Lord.

Proverbs 2:6The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.

Proverbs 2:10You will gain wisdom, and knowledge will bring you joy.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
5 Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.

Proverbs 3:20With his knowledge, he made the oceans and the clouds that produce rain.

Proverbs 7:4Treat wisdom like the woman you love and knowledge like the one dearest to you.

Proverbs 8:9These things are clear to any intelligent person. They are right to anyone with knowledge.

Proverbs 8:10Choose discipline over silver and knowledge over the finest gold.

Proverbs 8:12[ The Value of wisdom ] “I am wisdom. I live with Good Judgment. I am at home with knowledge and Planning.

Proverbs 9:9Teach the wise, and they will become wiser. Instruct those who live right, and they will gain more knowledge.

Proverbs 9:10wisdom begins with fear and respect for the Lord. knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding.

Proverbs 14:6Anyone who makes fun of wisdom will never find it, but knowledge comes easily to those who understand its value.

Proverbs 14:18Fools are rewarded with more foolishness. Smart people are rewarded with knowledge.

Proverbs 15:2Listening to wise people increases your knowledge, but only nonsense comes from the mouths of fools.

Proverbs 15:7Wise people say things that give you new knowledge, but fools say nothing worth hearing.

Proverbs 15:14Intelligent people want more knowledge, but fools only want more nonsense.

Proverbs 18:15Wise people want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge.

Proverbs 20:15The right knowledge can bring you gold, pearls, and other expensive things.

Proverbs 22:12The Lord watches over true knowledge, and he opposes those who try to deceive others.

Proverbs 24:4knowledge fills the rooms with rare and beautiful treasures.

Proverbs 24:5[ — 21 — ] wisdom makes a man more powerful. knowledge gives a man strength.

Proverbs 1:5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 8:14counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Proverbs 11:14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 12:20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Proverbs 15:22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Proverbs 19:20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Proverbs 20:5counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Proverbs 24:6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Proverbs 1:5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 9:9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Daniel 1:17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Romans 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

This tells us to learn from even those writings.

I trust and respect the lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. But, he has nothing with Christians gaining knowledge.

2 Timothy 3 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
A warning of what to expect
3 1-5 But you must realise that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centred, greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and contemptuous, without any regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, purity and normal human affections. They will be men of unscrupulous speech and have no control of themselves. They will be passionate and unprincipled, treacherous, self-willed and conceited, loving all the time what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. They will maintain a facade of “religion”, but their conduct will deny its validity. You must keep clear of people like this.

6-9 From their number come those creatures who worm their way into people’s houses, and find easy prey in silly women with an exaggerated sense of sin and morbid cravings—who are always learning and yet never able to grasp the truth. These men are as much enemies to the truth as Jannes and Jambres were to Moses. Their minds are distorted, and they are traitors to the faith. But in the long run they won’t get far. Their folly will become as obvious to everybody as did that of Moses’ opponents.

Your knowledge of the truth should be your safeguard
10-11a But you, Timothy, have known intimately both what I have taught and how I lived. My purpose and my faith are no secrets to you. You saw my endurance and love and patience as I met all those persecutions and difficulties at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra.

11b-13 And you know how the Lord brought me safely through them all. Persecution is inevitable for those who are determined to live really Christian lives, while wicked and deceitful men will go from bad to worse, deluding others and deluding themselves.

14-17 Yet you must go on steadily in all those things that you have learned and which you know are true. Remember from what sort of people your knowledge has come, and how from early childhood your mind has been familiar with the holy scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.

2 Timothy 3 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Many People Will Stop Loving God
3 Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!

6 Some of them go into homes and get control over weak women, whose lives are full of sin—women who are led into sin by all the things they want. 7 These women always want to learn something new, but they are never able to fully understand the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres[a] fought against Moses, these people fight against the truth. Their thinking has been confused. The faith they have and teach is worthless. 9 But they will not succeed in what they are trying to do. Everyone will see how foolish they are. That is what happened to Jannes and Jambres.

Last Instructions
10 But you know all about me. You know what I teach and the way I live. You know my goal in life. You know my faith, my patience, and my love. You know that I never stop trying. 11 You know about my persecutions and my sufferings. You know all the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—the persecution I suffered in those places. But the Lord saved me from all of it. 12 Everyone who wants to live showing true devotion to God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 People who are evil and cheat others will become worse and worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves.

14 But you should continue following the teaching you learned. You know it is true, because you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. These Scriptures are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3 Modern English Version (MEV)
The Last Days
3 Know this: In the last days perilous times will come. 2 Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, slanderers, unrestrained, fierce, despisers of those who are good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Turn away from such people.

6 Those of this nature creep into houses and captivate silly women who are burdened with sins and led away with various desires, 7 always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds and worthless concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further, for their folly will be revealed to everyone, as theirs also was.



Another proof text friend that you have taken out of context. The passage has nothing against us Christians gaining knowledge.

I was not aware that I was following anyone but Jesus.

Can the Apocrypha Be Used for Edification?

In light of this, what might it look like to approach the Apocrypha for edification without ascribing them authority? A few suggestions come to mind.

First, the Apocrypha provide invaluable insight into first-century Jewish soteriology. Often the Talmud’s 613 mitzvot (commandments) will be mentioned in the pulpit as a lens on Judaism in the New Testament, but this is anachronistic, given they were not codified as such until the third century AD or later. The Apocrypha are more historically relevant; much is gained, for example, by contrasting Abraham’s imputation in 1 Maccabees 2:52 with Romans 4.

Second, the Apocrypha provide historical coloring for the Gospels. Many details in the Gospels—the Zealots, the centrality of the temple, Jewish festivals, and more—can be more fully grasped by looking at the Apocrypha. First Maccabees, for example, is an invaluable historical source covering the events in Judea during the intertestamental period.

Third, the Apocrypha are an important source for studying the words and phrases of the New Testament. Because they reflect the same linguistic environment as the New Testament, these Greek writings are a helpful repository for studying New Testament words such as righteousness and covenant.

Fourth, at many points the Apocryphal writings are commenting on the Old Testament, thus providing a window on how early Jews interpreted canonical writings. We needn’t ascribe authority to their interpretations, but we can learn something by comparing them to the New Testament.

Fifth, the Apocrypha can be beneficial in their own right. Like C. S. Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien, the Apocrypha can be edifying without being authoritative. They are a kind of early Jewish “fan fiction” that builds on the authoritative Scriptures. Read Susanna as a B-side on Daniel’s ingenuity. Read Judith as a suspenseful novella about a Jewish princess who chops off an evil ruler’s head. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-protestants-edified-apocrypha/

1 Maccabees 2:52 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?

@TheLearner
I trust and respect the lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. But, he has nothing with Christians gaining knowledge.

The word of knowledge, word of wisdom and discernment of spirits are gifts of the Holy Spirit!
this goes hand in hand with my signature pannel below;
Proverbs 2:6The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.

Although I have not read the Apocrypha, I have heard that it is a great reference that can assist with Biblical Scriptures.