Includes bibliographical references (pages 381-395) and indexes.

1. Introduction: The Value of the Apocrypha 15 -- 2. Historical Context: "The Yoke of the Gentiles" 42 -- 3. Tobit: "Better Is Almsgiving with Justice" 63 -- 4. Judith: "Hear Me Also, a Widow" 85 -- 5. Additions to Esther: "The Aid of the All-Seeing God and Savior" 110 -- 6. Wisdom of Solomon: "The Righteous Live Forever" 127 -- 7. Wisdom of Ben Sira: "In All Wisdom There Is the Doing of Torah" 153 -- 8. Baruch: "Return with Tenfold Zeal to Seek God" 198 -- 9. Letter of Jeremiah: "They Are Not Gods, So Do Not Fear Them" 214 -- 10. Additions to Daniel: "Let Them Know That You Alone Are God" 222 -- 11. 1 Maccabees: "The Family through Which Deliverance Was Given" 244 -- 12. 2 Maccabees: "There Is Some Power of God about the Place" 266 -- 13. 1 Esdras: "Leave to Us a Root and a Name" 280 -- 14. Prayer of Manasseh: "The God of Those Who Repent" 296 -- 15. Psalm 151: "He Made Me Shepherd of His Flock" 301 -- 16. 3 Maccabees: "Blessed Be the Deliverer of Israel" 304 -- 17. 2 Esdras: "The Mighty One Has Not Forgotten" 323 -- 18. 4 Maccabees: "Noble Is the Contest" 352.

The status of the apocryphal (or deuterocanonical) books has been one of the longstanding areas of disagreement among various Christian traditions. David deSilva suggests, however, that whether one views these books as Scripture (Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians) or not (Protestant Christians), these books should be read and studied for their inherent value. The books of the Apocrypha are a witness to faith, specifically the faith of Jewish people living from 200 B.C.E. to 100 C.E. Contemporary Christian readers find these books to be surprisingly relevant. In addition, they provide essential historical background for understanding the Judaism of Jesus' day and the Jewish matrix of early Christianity.