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The '''Book of Baruch''' is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[Dogma|dogmatically]] accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Book of Baruch''' is found in the books of the [[Septuagint]], the Old Testament accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Orthodox Church]] in the ''Greek Orthodox Bible'', and found in the books of the Old Testament of the ''[[Vulgate]]'' and included in the canon of inspired scripture by the [[Third Council of Carthage (397)]]. It is included in the canon of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Ethiopian Orthodox Bible]]. Since the [[Council of Trent]] it is [[dogma]]tically accepted as inspired and canonical by the [[Catholic Church]] in the ''Catholic Bible''—books of the Bible accepted as divinely inspired by the majority of Christian believers in the United States and throughout the world.<ref>The '''Catholic Church''' is the world's largest [[Christianity|Christian]] body comprised of several distinct [https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm "Rites"]. The [[Catholic Church|Catholic Church (Latin Rite)]] is the largest religious body in the United States, with over 60 million adherents (4 times as large as the second largest church, the Orthodox).<br/>[http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/ “The Global Catholic Population,” © 2011, Pew Research Center.]<br/>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_romcath.html The Largest Catholic Communities]<br/>

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref> Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentance.

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', officially called the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', and also referred to as the '''[[Orthodox Church]]''' and '''Orthodoxy''', is the second largest [[Christianity|Christian church]] in the world, with an estimated 225–300 million adherents, most of whom live in [[Eastern Europe]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Russia]].<br/>{{cite web |last1=Calivas |first1=Rev. Alciviadis C. |title=The Greek (Eastern) Orthodox Church |publisher=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Of America |year=1983 |url=http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7061 |accessdate=7 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |last1=Fairchild |first1=Mary |title=Christianity:Basics:Eastern Orthodox Church Denomination |publisher=about.com |url=http://christianity.about.com/od/easternorthodoxy/p/orthodoxprofile.htm |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}<br/>{{cite web |title=Christianity |work=Major Branches of Religions Ranked by Number of Adherents |publisher=adherents.com |url=http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Christianity |accessdate=22 May 2014 |ref=none }}</ref><ref name=Prot>See [http://www.888c.com/worldChristianDenominations.htm Percentage of Christians in Protestant Denominations (29.5%)].</ref> Baruch is a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentance.

Letter of Jeremiah (6:1–72). The third part is the Letter of Jeremiah. In the Epistle of Jeremiah appended to the book, Jeremiah warns his people about the dangers of idolatry and paganism. Jeremiah's authorship of the Letter is disputed, but the prophet was known to be a letter writer (Jer 29). The Letter has many similarities to Jeremiah 10, for example, Jeremiah 10:5 and Baruch 6:69. It is a parody of Babylonian idol worship, which mocks the powerless statues of gold-plated wood. The Letter shows the practice of worshiping powerless man-made idols, items of wood and metal that can do nothing, to be foolish and contrary to reason (''they cannot even help themselves!'' ). The Letter of Jeremiah, unlike the letter in Jeremiah 29, is a polemic against idolatry, a well-known theme (as seen in Jeremiah 10:2–11; Psalms 115:4–8; 135:15–18; Isaiah 44:9–20; Wisdom 13:10–15:17). It contains ten warnings that end in a kind of refrain that the idols are not gods and are not to be feared (vv. 14, 22, 28, 39, 44, 51, 56, 64, 68).

Letter of Jeremiah (6:1–72). The third part is the Letter of Jeremiah. In the Epistle of Jeremiah appended to the book, Jeremiah warns his people about the dangers of idolatry and paganism. Jeremiah's authorship of the Letter is disputed, but the prophet was known to be a letter writer (Jer 29). The Letter has many similarities to Jeremiah 10, for example, Jeremiah 10:5 and Baruch 6:69. It is a parody of Babylonian idol worship, which mocks the powerless statues of gold-plated wood. The Letter shows the practice of worshiping powerless man-made idols, items of wood and metal that can do nothing, to be foolish and contrary to reason (''they cannot even help themselves!'' ). The Letter of Jeremiah, unlike the letter in Jeremiah 29, is a polemic against idolatry, a well-known theme (as seen in Jeremiah 10:2–11; Psalms 115:4–8; 135:15–18; Isaiah 44:9–20; Wisdom 13:10–15:17). It contains ten warnings that end in a kind of refrain that the idols are not gods and are not to be feared (vv. 14, 22, 28, 39, 44, 51, 56, 64, 68).

==Historical-critical textual analysis==  

==Historical-critical textual analysis==

According to the text of the book, Baruch, son of Neriah and Jeremiah, son of Nebat are the authors. Baruch was most likely written in Hebrew, but only the ancient Greek translation survives. The original language may have been Hebrew, but only the Greek and other versions have been preserved. Date written—generally thought to be about 582–550 B.C. after the destruction of the Temple, leading some to conclude that the narrative is fiction. The date and authorship of the book are disputed and there are few pieces of external evidence to help solve the problem. For example, in the 5th year of the exile of Jechoniah, the 5th year of Zedekiah in Jerusalem, the Temple was still standing, although it had been burnt, and sacrifices could still be offered on the altar. See 2 Kings 24:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14. But many read the statement (1:2) "''in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire''" as referencing the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. in the '''''eleventh''''' year, the ninth day of the fourth month. And they read the "exiles" addressed by Baruch as being those exiles removed to Babylon ''after'' the destruction of the Temple.

According to the text of the book, Baruch, son of Neriah and Jeremiah, son of Nebat are the authors. Baruch was most likely written in Hebrew, but only the ancient Greek translation survives. The original language may have been Hebrew, but only the Greek and other versions have been preserved. Date written—generally thought to be about 582–550 B.C. after the destruction of the Temple, leading some to conclude that the narrative is fiction. The date and authorship of the book are disputed and there are few pieces of external evidence to help solve the problem. For example, in the 5th year of the exile of Jechoniah, the 5th year of Zedekiah in Jerusalem, the Temple was still standing, although it had been burnt, and sacrifices could still be offered on the altar. See 2 Kings 24:8-17; 2 Chronicles 36:11-14. But many read the statement (1:2) "''in the fifth year, on the seventh day of the month, at the time when the Chaldeans took Jerusalem and burned it with fire''" as referencing the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. in the '''''eleventh''''' year, the ninth day of the fourth month. And they read the "exiles" addressed by Baruch as being those exiles removed to Babylon ''after'' the destruction of the Temple.

==External links==

==External links==

[http://www.wmcarey.edu/browning/Classes/HOB/BibleD-OTText.pdf The Old Testament Text. (wmcarey.edu/browning/Classes)]

* [http://www.wmcarey.edu/browning/Classes/HOB/BibleD-OTText.pdf The Old Testament Text. (wmcarey.edu/browning/Classes)]

 

* [http://www.usccb.org/bible/baruch/0 Baruch Introduction] (usccb.org)

[http://www.usccb.org/bible/baruch/0 Baruch Introduction] (usccb.org)

* [http://bustedhalo.com/googling-god/bible-boot-camp/old-testament/major-prophets-baruch Busted Halo: Major Prophets: Baruch] (bustedhalo.com)

 

* [http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/bible/introduction-to-the-old-testament/baruch/ Catholic News Agency: Baruch] (catholicnewsagency.com)

[http://bustedhalo.com/googling-god/bible-boot-camp/old-testament/major-prophets-baruch Busted Halo: Major Prophets: Baruch] (bustedhalo.com)

* [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/septuagint.html Septuagint Quotes in the New Testament]

 

* [http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/cloud.html Refuting an Attack on the Deuterocanonicals. A Response to 11 ‘reasons’ that the Deuterocanonicals Should be Thrown Out of the Bible, By Matt1618. Introduction] (matt1618.freeyellow.com)

[http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/bible/introduction-to-the-old-testament/baruch/ Catholic News Agency: Baruch] (catholicnewsagency.com)

* [http://www.bible.ca/catholic-apocrypha.htm Roman Catholic and Orthodox Faith Examined, and The Apocrypha: "Reasons why the Apocrypha does NOT belong in the Bible!"] (bible.ca)

 

* [http://carm.org/why-apocrypha-not-in-bible CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry: Reasons why the Apocrypha does not belong in the Bible, by Ryan Turner] (carm.org)

[http://www.scripturecatholic.com/septuagint.html Septuagint Quotes in the New Testament]

* [http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/chapter2.html Reasoning From the Scriptures with Ron Rhodes Critique of Chapter 2, Does the Apocrypha Belong in the Bible?, by Matt1618]

 

* [http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/default.asp Greek and English Septuagint] <br/> [http://vulgate.org/ Latin and English Vulgate]<br/>[http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/ Kings James Apocrypha Online]

[http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/cloud.html Refuting an Attack on the Deuterocanonicals. A Response to 11 ‘reasons’ that the Deuterocanonicals Should be Thrown Out of the Bible, By Matt1618. Introduction] (matt1618.freeyellow.com)

 

[http://www.bible.ca/catholic-apocrypha.htm Roman Catholic and Orthodox Faith Examined, and The Apocrypha: "Reasons why the Apocrypha does NOT belong in the Bible!"] (bible.ca)

 

[http://carm.org/why-apocrypha-not-in-bible CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry: Reasons why the Apocrypha does not belong in the Bible, by Ryan Turner] (carm.org)

 

[http://matt1618.freeyellow.com/chapter2.html Reasoning From the Scriptures with Ron Rhodes Critique of Chapter 2, Does the Apocrypha Belong in the Bible?, by Matt1618]

 

[http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/default.asp Greek and English Septuagint] <br/> [http://vulgate.org/ Latin and English Vulgate]<br/>[http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Apocrypha-Books/ Kings James Apocrypha Online]

[[Category:Old Testament]]

[[Category:Old Testament]]