The title was highlighted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins as a key part of the Deuterocanonical collection, offering a historical account of the Maccabean revolt and its relevance to Catholic tradition. They noted its inclusion at the end of the Old Testament in some Bibles, explained its differences from Protestant canon, and pointed out its unique narrative style that presents events with minimal editorial commentary. The discussion emphasized its value for understanding early church history and the origins of practices like the celebration of Hanukkah.
Episode: Day 193: The Book of Tobit (2024)
2 Maccabees is another Deuterocanonical book. This book is referenced as being about praying for the dead, which Martin Luther did not believe in. He specifically rejected 2 Maccabees 12, and therefore rejected the book.
And Cajetan says, well, what about 2 Maccabees 12 talks about praying for the dead and Martin Luther says, I don't accept 2 Maccabees chapter 12 because I don't accept 2 Maccabees and I don't accept those other seven books.
Episode: Day 298: The Gift of Life (2023)
It was introduced as the last book of the Old Testament in the Bible in a Year reading plan, and the first chapter was read and discussed.
again we're throwing back we're gonna hear the story of judas all over again and the story of jason the story of antiochus epiphanies all over again so this intro is really interesting because the story's been written right basically the story's happened already and the author to second maccabees knowing how the story went down is kind of like introing the whole story by not only throwing back but throwing forward if that makes any sense
we know that when judas maccabeus and the bros his brothers they reclaimed the temple that they dedicated the temple and they lit the the oil lamps and what happened it burned for eight days and this is the beginning of hanukkah and so on the 25th day of chislev they celebrate the purification of the temple
this intro these letters that are beginning kind of initiating the whole book of second maccabees the author is saying by the way before we get into this any further you are invited welcomed slash maybe even commanded to keep the feast of booths in the month of chislev on the 25th day of chislev we celebrate the purification of the temple
Episode: Introduction to the Maccabean Revolt (with Jeff Ca...
It was mentioned as one of four books from the Maccabean Revolt period, which some listeners may not be familiar with, and is part of the Catholic canon.
We have four books during this time period. We have not only 1 and 2 Maccabees, we also have Sirach and the Book of Wisdom that are going to be not necessarily familiar with everyone who's part of this community.
And so, we have to ask ourselves the question which comes up so often, did we as Catholics add seven books or did Protestants take away seven books? And the answer is neither.
And so, I would encourage my Protestant friends not to get upset but to be open and say, well, you know what? If this helps me understand salvation history and the early church used this as the inspired Word of God, I'm at least open to what God wants to do to help me become more like Jesus.
And when you begin to listen to 1 and 2 Maccabees, you're going to be reading along with a type of history that is more familiar than say, Judith, or that type of history in that you're going to run into some famous events and some famous people that are in history as we know it.
And so I think one way to really help everybody to situate themselves in the Book of Maccabees is to go back and to remember all of the enemies of Israel, and we have that little pithy saying, eat a big purple grape, right?
Episode: Day 281: Good and Evil (2023)
It was mentioned as one of the books they would be reading the following day, as part of the Maccabean Revolt.
and also not only the first book of Maccabees, but there are some wisdom books we're kicking off tomorrow.
I'm so excited to read the books of Maccabees first and second Maccabees to read Sirach to read Wisdom so good and then we go to Luke and then we're all living in the New Testament so that's coming up really soon
Episode: Introduction to the Return (with Jeff Cavins) - 20...
It was briefly mentioned as a book that may be found at the end of the Old Testament in some Bibles, indicating that the next podcast episode will cover the Maccabean revolt.
Now, some Bibles will have Maccabees as the last book in the Old Testament. We're going to be getting to that.
We have only 14 days or so with this return and then we're going to go on to the Maccabean revolt, which is going to be a whole other story and hopefully we'll have another introduction to that time period.
Episode: Day 298: The Gift of Life (2022)
It was introduced as the last book of the Old Testament in the Bible in a Year podcast, and a letter to the Jews in Egypt, recounting a story of the temple's purification and the miraculous reappearance of the sacred fire.
The second book of the Maccabees chapter 1, a letter to the Jews in Egypt, the Jewish brethren in Jerusalem and those in the land of Judea to their Jewish brethren in Egypt, greeting and good peace.
again we're throwing back we're gonna hear the story of judas all over again and the story of jason the story of antiochus epiphanies all over again so this intro is really interesting because the story's been written right basically the story's happened already and the author to second maccabees knowing how the story went down is kind of like introing the whole story by not only throwing back but throwing forward if that makes any sense
on the 25th day of chislev they celebrate the purification of the temple so that's coming in the second book maccabees we already read it in first maccabees but this intro these letters that are beginning kind of initiating the whole book of second maccabees the author is saying by the way before we get into this any further you are invited welcomed slash maybe even commanded to keep the feast of booths in the month of chislev on the 25th day of chislev we celebrate the purification of the temple
Episode: Day 292: The Power of Words (2022)
It was described as a historical book that simply narrates events without much interpretation, unlike other biblical books that offer more direct spiritual insights.
you know how so many books of the bible are historical books...virtually all of those tellings of the story the historical story has been different than first maccabees...those other stories things would happen there would be battles there'd be prayers there would be failure there'd be victory and all the while the author of the book would be saying here's what this means and here's where god was present and here's where god was absent and here's where they were unfaithful and that led to this...basically all of those other historical books they look through the lens of faith how is god present how is god active how are the people faithful or how are they unfaithful
the author of first maccabees is just telling us the story with very very little editorial comments...which is fascinating to us because we're so used to the editorial comments we're so used to well tell me what this means to the eyes of faith and yet as we're going through maccabees we have to realize this is a book of faith but the sermon is left out
we're getting the story of the rise and the fall of these dynasties and the rise and the fall of these kings...and basically as jeff said on the first day of this maccabean revolt time period and as he pointed this out he said this is still the story of the people of israel and this is not god being silent for 400 years this is god being very very present and very very active and engaged but we have to have the eyes to see it for ourselves because the author is not going to point it out
Episode: Introduction to the Maccabean Revolt (with Jeff Ca...
It was discussed as one of four books related to the Maccabean Revolt period, and it was mentioned that the Jewish community doesn't consider it inspired but that it records significant historical events.
We have not only 1 and 2 Maccabees, we also have Sirach and the Book of Wisdom that are going to be not necessarily familiar with everyone who's part of this community.
And so for example, you have Alexander the Great, you have Antiochus Epiphanes, you have the Maccabean revolt. And even though the Jewish community doesn't consider first and second Maccabees to be inspired what is happening in first and second Maccabees, namely Hanukkah is quite at the center of Jewish celebration today.
And so I think one way to really help everybody to situate themselves in the book of Maccabees is to go back and to remember all of the enemies of Israel.
When you begin to listen to first and second Maccabees, you're going to, you're going to be reading along with a type of history that is more familiar than say Judith, you know, or that type of history in that you're going to run into some famous events and some famous people that are in history as we know it.
Are there any other things that you want people as they're listening to the Bible to be able to hone in on and not miss? Well, I think that in 2 Maccabees chapter 12 specifically verses 38 through 46, you do have an example of the faithful on earth praying, sacrificing, having a relationship with those who have gone before us.
Episode: Day 281: Good and Evil (2022)
1 Maccabees was mentioned as a book to be read in the coming days, marking the start of a new phase in the reading plan, following the completion of the return.
And also not only the first book of Maccabees, but there are some wisdom books we're kicking off tomorrow.
And I'm so excited to read the books of Maccabees first and second Maccabees to read Syrac, to read wisdom.