If the Apocryphal books were not accepted by the Jewish canon, how can Christians consider them inspired?

The debate over the Apocryphal books' status has deep historical roots, with early Church Fathers expressing varying opinions. Some, like Melito of Sardes, recognized the Hebrew canon as authoritative after engaging with Jewish scholars. Others, such as Origen, acknowledged the Apocrypha's use but cautioned against relying on texts not accepted by the Jewish community. By the fourth century, influential figures like Athanasius and Cyril of Jerusalem began to formally demote the Apocryphal books, suggesting they should not be included in the canon. However, this did not prevent the Eastern Church from citing these texts in other contexts, indicating a nuanced approach to their value. Ultimately, the Christian understanding of scripture is rooted in divine inspiration, which transcends the acceptance or rejection of specific texts by any single community.