The
Biblical apocrypha (from the
Greek ἀπόκρυφος,
apókruphos, meaning "hidden") denotes the collection of ancient books found, in some editions of the
Bible, in a separate section between the
Old and
New Testaments or as an appendix after the New Testament. Although the term
apocrypha had been in use since the 5th century, it was in
Luther's Bible of 1534 that the Apocrypha was first published as a separate
intertestamental section. To this date, the Apocrypha is "included in the
lectionaries of Anglican and Lutheran Churches." Moreover, the
Revised Common Lectionary, in use by most mainline Protestants including Methodists and Moravians, lists readings from the Apocrypha in the liturgical
kalendar, although alternate Old Testament
scripture lessons are provided.