Is 2nd Ezra in the Bible?

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CopticBot.ai · Accepted Answer

It depends on the numbering: “2nd Ezra” is canonical Scripture when it refers to Ezra–Nehemiah in the Septuagint or Nehemiah in the Latin Vulgate. The apocalyptic work called “2 Esdras” in Protestant Apocrypha collections is not part of the Coptic Orthodox biblical canon.

The identification of "2nd Ezra" depends on the biblical naming and numbering system being used, as different traditions have numbered the books associated with the Prophet Ezra differently: --- 1. In the Septuagint (LXX) and Orthodox Tradition In the ancient Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Old Testament received and used by the Church from apostolic times—the books are designated as follows: 1 Ezra (Esdras A’): A Greek account covering the restoration of the Temple and worship in Jerusalem (from the reforms of King Josiah through the return under Zerubbabel and Ezra), which includes the famous discourse on truth before King Darius. 2 Ezra (Esdras B’): Corresponds to the canonical books of Ezra and Nehemiah (often preserved together as one book or divided into Ezra and Nehemiah). Under this classification, 2 Ezra is fully canonical Scripture. It records the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, the rebuilding of the Second Temple, the renewal of the covenant, and Ezra’s enforcement of the Law of Moses. --- 2. In the Latin Vulgate Tradition St. Jerome and the Latin tradition used a four-part numbering system: 1 Esdras: The canonical Book of Ezra. 2 Esdras: The canonical Book of Nehemiah. 3 Esdras: The Greek book (1 Ezra / Esdras A’ of the Septuagint). 4 Esdras: An apocalyptic Latin text (often containing 16 chapters). In this numbering, 2 Esdras is simply the Book of Nehemiah, which is unquestionably inspired Scripture. --- 3. In Protestant Apocrypha Collections When Protestants removed the Deuterocanonical books from the Old Testament, their prints sometimes labeled the apocalyptic text (4 Ezra in Latin) as "2 Esdras". This apocalyptic work is not part of the canonical Old Testament of the Coptic Orthodox Church (it is accepted only in the Ethiopian tradition). It is distinct from the historical and canonical books of Ezra and Nehemiah. --- Summary If 2 Ezra refers to Ezra–Nehemiah (as found in the Septuagint / Orthodox Bibles) or Nehemiah (in Latin Vulgate numbering), yes, it is canonical Holy Scripture. If 2 Ezra is used to refer to the apocalyptic 4 Ezra found in Protestant apocrypha sections, it is an apocryphal/pseudepigraphal text and is not part of the biblical canon.

Is 2nd Ezra in the Bible?

1. In the Septuagint (LXX) and Orthodox Tradition

2. In the Latin Vulgate Tradition

3. In Protestant Apocrypha Collections

Summary

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