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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
2 Esdras 7:75-101 "The Soul at death"	Trevor	Friday, May 9, 2008
Question: Hi Brother, In the Old Testament book, 2 Esdras 7(also known as Nehemiah), most Catholic bibles stop chapter 7 of this book at verse 73. There is this beautiful extension that only some bibles have. The archangel Uriel told Ezra about what happens to the soul after death in verses 75-101. Uriel basically tells Ezra 7 ways which the wicked, who rebuked God will be punished after death, and 7 ways in which the righteous will be rewarded after death. The fellow who leads our prayer group read this to us out of a Good News Bible, which had the impimatur on it. My RSV Catholic bible does not have these extra verses and stops at verse 73. The New Advent website bible did not have this either and stops at verse 73 as well. I ended up finding it online at another site and I tried to include it here, but could not as the post would have been over the character limit. My question is: Why don't all bibles which contain these added verses in 2 Esdras 7? Are we not supposed to be reading this part if it is so hard to find? Thanks
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Trevor: 2 Esdras 7:75-101 was not accepted as inspired Scripture by the Jews, and it was not accepted by the Church either. Thus, it should not be in the Bible (except as a footnote with historical reference). I do not know why this passage was not accepted as Scripture but it may have had something to do with the dubious aspects of the angels in these passages. Whatever the reason, verses 75-101 are not part of the Bible and should not be read as part of inspired Scripture. The passages are apocryphal. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

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Posted By

Question Date

2 Esdras 7:75-101 "The Soul at death"

Trevor

Friday, May 9, 2008

Question:

Hi Brother,

In the Old Testament book, 2 Esdras 7(also known as Nehemiah), most Catholic bibles stop chapter 7 of this book at verse 73.

There is this beautiful extension that only some bibles have. The archangel Uriel told Ezra about what happens to the soul after death in verses 75-101. Uriel basically tells Ezra 7 ways which the wicked, who rebuked God will be punished after death, and 7 ways in which the righteous will be rewarded after death.

The fellow who leads our prayer group read this to us out of a Good News Bible, which had the impimatur on it. My RSV Catholic bible does not have these extra verses and stops at verse 73. The New Advent website bible did not have this either and stops at verse 73 as well. I ended up finding it online at another site and I tried to include it here, but could not as the post would have been over the character limit.

My question is: Why don't all bibles which contain these added verses in 2 Esdras 7? Are we not supposed to be reading this part if it is so hard to find?

Thanks

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Trevor:

2 Esdras 7:75-101 was not accepted as inspired Scripture by the Jews, and it was not accepted by the Church either. Thus, it should not be in the Bible (except as a footnote with historical reference).

I do not know why this passage was not accepted as Scripture but it may have had something to do with the dubious aspects of the angels in these passages.

Whatever the reason, verses 75-101 are not part of the Bible and should not be read as part of inspired Scripture. The passages are apocryphal.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum