In this video, I explore Bel and the Dragon—a fascinating story preserved in the Greek version of the Book of Daniel (often included in the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical books). Although it’s not found in the traditional Hebrew text of Daniel, this narrative offers a compelling window into how Jewish communities in the Second Temple period understood Daniel’s character and faith.

The story features the prophet Daniel exposing the fraud of the Babylonian god Bel, destroying a living dragon worshiped as divine, and once again surviving a lions’ den.

On the surface, it reads like a dramatic tale of courage and wit. But beneath that, it’s a powerful polemic against idolatry and a bold affirmation of the God of Israel.

In this overview, I ask an important question: What can we learn about biblical Daniel from an extrabiblical book? Rather than treating Bel and the Dragon as Scripture (for those traditions that don’t), I use it as a case study in how to read extrabiblical literature responsibly:

-How later Jewish writers interpreted Daniel

-How stories develop around revered figures

-What themes are emphasized (wisdom, fidelity, mockery of idols, divine vindication) What historical context might have shaped the narrative

-This is not about elevating extrabiblical texts to the level of canonical Scripture, nor is it about dismissing them outright.

Instead, it’s a practice in careful historical and theological reading—learning about the biblical world without confusing later tradition with the biblical text itself. If you’ve ever wondered how to use the Apocrypha responsibly, or how stories like Bel and the Dragon illuminate the faith and imagination of ancient Jewish communities, this video is for you.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthBeToldYouTube

Logo: Matt Hernandez

Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly

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