Sirach in the Lutheran and Anglican Traditions
The early German-speaking Lutheran and Anglican traditions used Sirach, a book in the Apocrypha, in their worship and catechetical life. Despite criticisms, they intentionally printed Sirach in their official Bibles and believed that it modelled and witnessed to Scripture. Theologians and clergy in both traditions frequently cited, quoted, and taught from Sirach. Both traditions read Sirach in their worship services. Lutheran popular piety employed Sirach in its schooling system, popular level handbooks, sermons, and engravings.