I know about the Book of Enoch, have yet to read it, but I know there are several other books that were not put in the final version.
I’ve also heard some grumbling about King James himself and his role so since there are many Bible wise Annons on this site, hoping you will share your knowledge.
The original gospels and epistles that were compiled and canonized in the Council of Nicaea were selected because copies were already circulating in the churches and because there was already always broad agreement that they were inspired.
It's not true that the Council played "kingmaker" with the texts. They only acknowledged what was already recognized fact. Other useful writings exist (Didache, etc. I enjoy Maccabees).
As for translations, it's best to actually use multiple translations, since you get a more well-rounded picture of what the text actually says.
I suggest New Living Translation for readability. It's VERY accessible.
I suggest the Recovery Version for the (by far) most accurate translation.
I think the New King James is the most poetic.
I keep KJV and NIV on the shelf as well.
Book of Enoch is quoted in the NT, so it's useful to have.
But many of the apocryphal books are obviously NOT inspired. In fact if you just read them over yourself it should be fairly obvious to you as well.
Thank you for your reply.
One more thing. The Septaugint, being a Greek translation of the OT made by Jews, is useful for seeing what Jews really believed about the meaning of various OT scriptures, before Jesus was born. Jewish interpretation of OT messianic prophecies has changed since Christ, so it's good to see what they believed those verses meant with an unbiased eye.