Historical Development
The two books universally considered canonical, Ezra and Nehemiah (lines 1 and 2 of the table above) may have been originally one book titled Ezra (= Esdras). Perhaps as early as Melito's canon of the 2nd century, Jews began to refer to the "two books of Ezra," where the second was Nehemiah. Sometime thereafter, the Christian church followed suit.
Since the English Reformation, most English translations have followed the Hebrew titles while the Douay–Rheims version followed the Vulgate. The Greek canon incorporated Ezra-Nehemiah as a single book and called it Esdras B to distinguish it from Esdras A.
The latter book (line 3 of the table above) does not form part of either the Hebrew or the Latin canon though it was often included in Latin manuscripts and editions of the Bible under the title 3 Esdras. The Douay–Rheims version followed this title, while other English versions chose a separate numbering for apocryphical books and called it 1 Esdras (using the Greek form to differentiate the apocryphical book from the canonical Ezra). The Greek bible, which included the book placed it before Esdras B and therefore called it Esdras A.
Another non-canonical book (line 4 of the table above) is contained in some Latin bibles as 4 Esdras and some Slavonic manuscripts as 3 Esdras. Except for the Douay–Rheims version (which follows the Vulgate), most English versions containing this book call it 2 Esdras (again using the Greek form for the apocryphical book). The book is not included in the Greek Septuagint and complete copy of the Greek text has not survived, though it is quoted by the Church fathers. Due to its apocalyptic content, the book also has been called Esdras the Prophet, Apocalyptic Esdras or Jewish Apocalypse of Ezra. Because the most complete extant text is in Latin, the book is also called Latin Esdras.
The Latin version differs from other versions in that it contains additional opening and closing chapters, which are also called 5 Ezra and 6 Ezra by scholars.
Other books associated with Ezra are the Greek Apocalypse of Ezra, the Vision of Ezra, the Questions of Ezra and the Revelation of Ezra.
Read more about this topic: Esdras
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