Product Description Veteran guide Bruce Metzger provides a succinct, readable yet thorough introduction to those books included in the Roman Catholic canon but deemed heretical by Protestants. Review "Professor Metzger'sIntroduction to the Apocrypha is a classic. The style of the author makes the book not only highly informative but also eminently readable. Students of the Bible will find in this book a truly enjoyable introduction to an important body of religious literature which had an amazing impact upon culture."--Gunther Wagner,University of New Mexico"For several decades this has been a classic text for the study of Jewish literature between the Old and New Testament periods. It still stands as a classic and vital text for the study of this literature."--Donald D. Williford,Hardin Simmons University"An excellent piece of work...by a sound Biblical and historical scholar."--Luther A. Weigle"An excellent summary of the literature and a good guide to the passages demanding closer scrutiny. [It] also reveals the pervasive influence of the Apocrypha in art, religion, and literature."--James B. Shelton,Oral Roberts University About the Author Bruce M. Metzger is at Princeton Theological Seminary.