Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children

Texts and origin

The Prayer and accompanying Song are not found in the Hebrew and Aramaic text of the Book of Daniel, nor are they cited in any extant early Jewish writings.

The origins of these writings are obscure. Whether the accounts were originally composed in Hebrew (or Aramaic) or in Greek is uncertain, although many modern scholars conclude on the basis of textual evidence that there was probably an original Semitic edition. The date of composition of these documents is also uncertain, although many scholars favor a date either in the second or first century BC.

Canonicity

It is accepted as canonical scripture by Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, but rejected by most Protestants as being non-canonical. The passage is included in 80-book Protestant Bibles in the section of the Apocrypha, however. To this end, Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England has it listed as non-canonical (but still, with the other Apocryphal texts, "the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners"). The Belgic Confession of the Reformed Churches teaches that "The church may certainly read these [Apocryphal] books and learn from them as far as they agree with the canonical books."

References

References

1. (2008). "The Holy Bible containing The Old and New Testaments with The Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, New Revised Standard Version, Anglicized edition". Cambridge University Press.
2. Charles, C.H.. (1913). "The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha". Clarendon Press.
3. "Westminster Theological Seminary - The Belgic Confession".
4. (2009). "Apocrypha-KJV-Reader's". Hendrickson Publishers.
5. (1962). "Anglican Teaching: An Exposition of The Thirty-Nine Articles". Association For Promoting Christian Knowledge.