The stories in these books are taken from existing historical writings that reside in ancient literary archives classified by biblical scholars as  apocrypha or pseudepigrapha.  Plots, characters, and settings are not new creations of the author's imagination.  Although not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, these bits of narrative are closely related to the biblical story.  But how close to actual historical fact are these ancient writings?  Two extreme points of view exist: 1) they are 100% true - in effect, written 'by the hand of God', or 2) they are 100% total fabrications by deluded authors.  For over a thousand years, church scholars have examined, researched, and studied them.  They are not part of the Bible because they were not considered 'sufficiently credible to be considered as divinely inspired for the purposes of understanding and following in the ways of God'.  But these decisions were made by human beings, with all their inherent limitations and foibles.  So, the question remains:  How close to actual historical fact are these ancient writings?  What do you believe?