The Writers of the Apocrypha
Meet the authors—both known and anonymous—who penned the deuterocanonical books during the intertestamental period (200 BCE - 100 CE).
Historical Context
The Apocrypha was written primarily by Jewish authors during the Hellenistic period, when Greek culture influenced the Mediterranean world. These writers came from various regions—Jerusalem, Alexandria, Cyrene, and the Jewish diaspora. As Middle Eastern and North African Jews, they had olive to brown skin tones typical of the ancient Near East. Their works preserve important history, wisdom, and theology from the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments.
In the 19th century, American visionaries Ellen G. White and William E. Foyengaged with the Apocrypha in their prophetic ministries. Foy, an African American preacher, received visions with imagery connected to 2 Esdras. White later called the Apocrypha "the hidden book" that the wise should understand, while distinguishing it from the Bible as "the standard Book."
In the 16th century, Protestant Reformers like Martin Luther,John Calvin, Andreas Karlstadt, and Huldrych Zwingliprotested the inclusion of the Apocrypha because it was not part of the Hebrew canon and contained doctrines that contradicted their core belief in Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone).
Martin Luther
Father of the Protestant Reformation. First to separate the Apocrypha into an appendix, calling it "useful but not equal to Holy Scripture."
Origin
Eisleben, Germany
1483-1546 CE
Faith
Protestant (Lutheran)
Heritage
White/Light - Central European
John Calvin
Systematic theologian of Reformed Christianity. Argued the Church cannot make a book Scripture if God did not inspire it.
Origin
Noyon, France
1509-1564 CE
Faith
Protestant (Reformed)
Heritage
White/Light - Western European
Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt
Published the first Protestant treatise on the canon, creating a tripartite ranking system placing Apocrypha as "non-canonical."
Origin
Karlstadt, Germany
1486-1541 CE
Faith
Protestant (Early Reformation)
Heritage
White/Light - Central European
Huldrych Zwingli
Leader of the Swiss Reformation. Emphasized that only God's words have life-giving power; human additions "dilute" the Gospel.
Origin
Wildhaus, Switzerland
1484-1531 CE
Faith
Protestant (Reformed)
Heritage
White/Light - Swiss
Ellen G. White
Co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1850, she called the Apocrypha "the hidden book" that "the wise of these last days should understand."
Origin
Gorham, Maine, USA
1827-1915 CE
Faith
Seventh-day Adventism
Heritage
White/Caucasian - American
William E. Foy
African American preacher whose visions predated Ellen White's. His 1845 published visions contain imagery connected to the apocryphal book of 2 Esdras.
Origin
Augusta, Maine, USA
1818-1893 CE
Faith
Freewill Baptist / Millerite
Heritage
Brown/Black - African American
Jesus ben Sirach
A Jewish scribe and wisdom teacher from Jerusalem. He wrote in Hebrew and his grandson later translated the work into Greek in Alexandria.
Origin
Jerusalem, Israel
c. 200-175 BCE
Faith
Judaism
Heritage
Olive/Brown - Middle Eastern Jewish
Baruch ben Neriah
Secretary and faithful companion to the prophet Jeremiah. The book bearing his name was likely written later by an anonymous author honoring his legacy.
Origin
Judah/Jerusalem, Israel
c. 600 BCE (attributed)
Faith
Judaism
Heritage
Olive/Brown - Ancient Israelite
Jason of Cyrene
A Hellenistic Jewish historian from Cyrene in North Africa. He wrote a five-volume history of the Maccabean revolt, which was later condensed into 2 Maccabees.
Origin
Cyrene, North Africa (Libya)
c. 160-150 BCE
Faith
Hellenistic Judaism
Heritage
Dark Brown - North African
Author of Tobit
An anonymous Jewish author who wrote this beloved tale of faith, family, and divine providence. The story is set among Israelite exiles in Assyria.
Origin
Nineveh/Assyria Region
c. 200 BCE
Faith
Judaism
Heritage
Dark Brown - Nineveh/Mesopotamian
Author of Judith
An anonymous Jewish writer from Palestine who crafted this dramatic tale of heroism and divine deliverance through a courageous woman.
Origin
Palestine/Judea
c. 150-100 BCE
Faith
Judaism
Heritage
Brown/Olive - Ancient Israelite
Author of Wisdom of Solomon
An anonymous Hellenistic Jewish philosopher from Alexandria, Egypt. Though attributed to King Solomon, this wisdom text blends Jewish theology with Greek philosophy.
Origin
Alexandria, Egypt
c. 50 BCE - 40 CE
Faith
Hellenistic Judaism
Heritage
Dark Brown - Egyptian
Author of 1 Maccabees
An anonymous Jewish historian from Judea who documented the Maccabean revolt with remarkable historical accuracy, preserving the story of Hanukkah.
Origin
Judea, Israel
c. 100 BCE
Faith
Judaism
Heritage
Olive/Brown - Judean Jewish
A Note on Authorship
Most apocryphal books were written anonymously or pseudonymously (attributed to famous biblical figures). Only Jesus ben Sirach clearly identifies himself as the author of his work. The portraits shown here are artistic representations based on historical and cultural context, not actual likenesses. These images reflect the ethnic heritage of ancient Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities.