Books That Didn't Make It Into The Bible

[Templar81]

Thanks Snipes, sorry I didn't get you7r point earlier. I think they can compliment the Bible and I thinkthat even if we don't regard them as canonical in any way we can still find much wisdom in them.

Also foreigner! did our lord not say in John 10:16
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 

[jiggyfly]

Actually, they are:

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
- John 14:6

I totally agree Jesus is the way to the Father, not the scriptures. Seems so many have their faith founded on the scriptures rather than Jesus the Christ and many have extreme difficulty discerning between the scriptures and the Christ.

 

[jiggyfly]

Before I pose the question please understand that like you I adhere to the 66 canonical books of the Old and New testament as well as to a lesser degree the other 7 books known as the Apocrypha, which are not as authoritative as the 66, I often wonder about eh books that were rejected. In this I understand that it was the work of the Holy Spirit to cause Jerome and his team to compile those books which best conveyed the Lord's message, but what of the others? Is there ay wisdom which Orthodox (and by that i mean mainstream, not Eastern orthodox) Christianity can benefit from. I ahve found much enlightenning knowledge in the Gospels of Nicodemus and of Bartholomex, as well as the Apocolypse of Peter and the Life of Adam and Eve, but i don't really know what to think of it because I find it hard to just dismiss it especially where it fills in gaps.

So what I'd like to know is, is there anything that Chrsitians today, be they evangelical, charismatic or sacramental can learn from such works or are we to simply regard them as heretical?

My answer is yes we can learn from many of the deuterocanonical writings. Note that this does not mean they are inerrant but neither is any translation of the canonical writings. Note that there is a difference between the Jewish canon and the Christian canon.

Here is a list of some writings that are not considered canon.


These are mostly Jewish writings;
1 EsdrasWisdom of SolomonSusanna2 EsdrasWisdom of Jesus Son of SirachBel and the DragonTobitBaruchPrayer of ManassehJudithLetter of Jeremiah1 MaccabeesAdditions to EstherPrayer of Azariah2 Maccabees
Apocalypse of AbrahamEupolemus3 MaccabeesTestament of AbrahamPseudo-Eupolemus4 MaccabeesApocalypse of AdamApocryphon of Ezekiel5 MaccabeesTestament of AdamEzekiel the TragedianSyriac MenanderLife of Adam and EveGreek Apocalypse of EzraTestament of MosesAhiqarQuestions of EzraBook of NoahLetter of AristeasRevelation of EzraOrphicaAristeas the ExegeteVision of EzraPhilo the Epic PoetAristobulusFragments of Pseudo-Greek PoetsPseudo-PhiloArtapanusPseudo-HecataeusPseudo-Phocylides2 BaruchHellenistic Synagogal PrayersThe Lives of the Prophets3 BaruchTestament of IsaacHistory of the Rechabites4 BaruchMartyrdom and Ascension of IsaiahApocalypse of SedrachCleodemus MalchusLadder of JacobTreatise of ShemApocalypse of DanielPrayer of JacobSibylline OraclesMore Psalms of DavidTestament of JacobOdes of SolomonDemetrius the ChronographerJannes and JambresPsalms of SolomonEldad and ModadTestament of JobTestament of SolomonApocalypse of ElijahJoseph and AsenethThallus1 EnochHistory of JosephTheodotus2 EnochPrayer of JosephTestaments of the Twelve Patriarchs3 EnochJubileesApocalypse of Zephaniah



These are mostly Christian writings;

30-60Passion Narrative40-80Lost Sayings Gospel Q50-601 Thessalonians50-60Philippians50-60Galatians50-601 Corinthians50-602 Corinthians50-60Romans50-60Philemon50-80Colossians50-90Signs Gospel50-95Book of Hebrews50-120Didache50-140Gospel of Thomas50-140Oxyrhynchus 1224 Gospel50-200Sophia of Jesus Christ65-80Gospel of Mark70-100Epistle of James70-120Egerton Gospel70-160Gospel of Peter70-160Secret Mark70-200Fayyum Fragment70-200Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs73-200Mara Bar Serapion80-1002 Thessalonians80-100Ephesians80-100Gospel of Matthew80-1101 Peter80-120Epistle of Barnabas80-130Gospel of Luke80-130Acts of the Apostles80-1401 Clement80-150Gospel of the Egyptians80-150Gospel of the Hebrews80-250Christian Sibyllines90-95Apocalypse of John90-120Gospel of John90-1201 John90-1202 John90-1203 John90-120Epistle of Jude93Flavius Josephus100-1501 Timothy100-1502 Timothy100-150Titus100-150Apocalypse of Peter100-150Secret Book of James100-150Preaching of Peter100-160Gospel of the Ebionites100-160Gospel of the Nazoreans100-160Shepherd of Hermas100-1602 Peter100-200Odes of Solomon101-220Book of Elchasai105-115Ignatius of Antioch110-140Polycarp to the Philippians110-140Papias110-160Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel110-160Traditions of Matthias111-112Pliny the Younger115Suetonius115Tacitus120-130Quadratus of Athens120-130Apology of Aristides120-140Basilides120-140Naassene Fragment120-160Valentinus120-180Apocryphon of John120-180Gospel of Mary120-180Dialogue of the Savior120-180Gospel of the Savior120-1802nd Apocalypse of James120-180Trimorphic Protennoia130-140Marcion130-150Aristo of Pella130-160Epiphanes On Righteousness130-160Ophite Diagrams130-1602 Clement130-170Gospel of Judas130-200Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus140-150Epistula Apostolorum140-160Ptolemy140-160Isidore140-170Fronto140-170Infancy Gospel of James140-170Infancy Gospel of Thomas140-180Gospel of Truth150-160Martyrdom of Polycarp150-160Justin Martyr150-180Excerpts of Theodotus150-180Heracleon150-200Ascension of Isaiah150-200Acts of Peter150-200Acts of John150-200Acts of Paul150-200Acts of Andrew150-225Acts of Peter and the Twelve150-225Book of Thomas the Contender150-250Fifth and Sixth Books of Esra150-300Authoritative Teaching150-300Coptic Apocalypse of Paul150-300Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth150-300Melchizedek150-400Acts of Pilate150-400Anti-Marcionite Prologues160-170Tatian's Address to the Greeks160-180Claudius Apollinaris160-180Apelles160-180Julius Cassianus160-250Octavius of Minucius Felix161-180Acts of Carpus165-175Melito of Sardis165-175Hegesippus165-175Dionysius of Corinth165-175Lucian of Samosata167Marcus Aurelius170-175Diatessaron170-200Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony170-200Muratorian Canon170-200Treatise on the Resurrection170-220Letter of Peter to Philip175-180Athenagoras of Athens175-185Irenaeus of Lyons175-185Rhodon175-185Theophilus of Caesarea175-190Galen178Celsus178Letter from Vienna and Lyons180Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs180-185Theophilus of Antioch180-185Acts of Apollonius180-220Bardesanes180-220Kerygmata Petrou180-230Hippolytus of Rome180-2501st Apocalypse of James180-250Gospel of Philip182-202Clement of Alexandria185-195Maximus of Jerusalem185-195Polycrates of Ephesus188-217Talmud189-199Victor I190-210Pantaenus193Anonymous Anti-Montanist193-216Inscription of Abercius197-220Tertullian200-210Serapion of Antioch200-210Apollonius200-220Caius200-220Philostratus200-225Acts of Thomas200-250Didascalia200-250Books of Jeu200-300Pistis Sophia200-300Coptic Apocalypse of Peter203Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas203-250Origen

 

[Templar81]

I think that's very true sniper. I think with some people they worship the Bible when they really should be worshipping God. Being scripturally based is great, even if you don't call yourself an evangelical its good to have a wider perspective. Remember God doesn't live just in the Bible, he is with us all the time. If we loose sight of this then we run the risk of becomin glike the Pharases.

 

[jiggyfly]

I think that's very true sniper. I think with some people they worship the Bible when they really should be worshipping God. Being scripturally based is great, even if you don't call yourself an evangelical its good to have a wider perspective. Remember God doesn't live just in the Bible, he is with us all the time. If we loose sight of this then we run the risk of becomin glike the Pharases.

Very true Templar, good post.

 

[Foreigner]

Also foreigner! did our lord not say in John 10:16
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

-- He did indeed say this.
And those people He is speaking of must accept that no one will see The Father but through Him, accept Him as their Lord and Savior, follow Him and Him alone, or they will perish.

 

[jerryjohnson]

Guess that’s the great think about living here. We can read the comic books if we want.

 

[Foreigner]

I will defer to the voice of experience on that.

 

[sniper762]

and WHO would be "the voice of experience" and what does he have to say about this subject?

 

[Foreigner]

That would be Jesus...


"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
- John 14:6

 

[sniper762]

out of all the scriptures in the bible dealing with THIS subject, is that the best you can come up with? i suppose you just ignore the rest of god;s word and just focus on ONLT the scriptures that speak of jesus.
HOW FUNDAMENTAL!

 

[Foreigner]

out of all the scriptures in the bible dealing with THIS subject, is that the best you can come up with? i suppose you just ignore the rest of god;s word and just focus on ONLT the scriptures that speak of jesus.
HOW FUNDAMENTAL!

-- "The best you can come up with?" <--- LOL.


If you don't see a definitive statement made by Jesus Himself - "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
- John 14:6 - as the final word on the topic then I suppose you would indeed feel that God did not divinely ensure that what He wanted in the Bible was in the Bible.

If Jesus says He is the only way for anyone to see The Father, then that really IS the final word.
Any scriptures that imply disagreement with what Jesus said here should be rejected outright.

But let me just ask you one...simple...question to ponder on.

If there were any other way for someone to be saved from damnation and be with God in heaven.....

...then why would God send His Son to be brutally tortured and suffer such a horrible death via crucifixion?

Think about it. If there was any other way to be with the one true God, why would He have asked this of His son?

That would mean God was either mistaken or sadistic and Jesus was wrong in what He said.

 

[sniper762]

well, i guess your saying that all those prophets of the old testiment never got to see god, for jesus christ was not there then. did they tell us that we must go through jesus to get to god?

 

[Foreigner]

Wow, if you really need this explained to you then you really do need to be here.

 

[sniper762]

gotcha, didnt i

 

[Foreigner]

Please tell me you were joking and you aren't really that confused.

 

[01CobraVortech]

The Book of Enoch is a fun read. I'm not sure how much truth there is to the claims made there, but it might be giving us some incredibly valuable information regarding the Nephilim topic and where a lot of inspiration comes for today's technology. Only God knows right.

 

[SummaScriptura]

There is not now, nor has there ever been a canon of Scripture which all Christians universally accepted.

There are now at least five Biblical canons in use among believers worldwide. One used by Protestants, a bigger one used by Catholics, a bigger one used Greek Orthodox, a bigger one used by Syrian Orthodox and the mac-daddy of them all, a way bigger one used by Ethiopian Orthodox.

Simply put, there is no doctrine of the canon of Scripture spelled out in the Bible. It is an open question.

I believe in a thicker Bible than most.

Either you believe God had a hand in ensuring that the Bible is his inspired word, or not.

Either everything you need to follow Jesus the way He desires is in there, or not.

If not, then what's the point?

 

[neophyte]

Some books the Bible mentions were not inspired but are simply used as historical sources. This is the case when Paul quotes books by the pagan writers Aratus, Menander, and Epimenides (Acts 17:28, 1 Cor 15:33, and Ti 1:12, respectively) or when the Old Testament refers us to the book of the Annals of the Kings of Media and Persia (Est 10:2).
The same is likely true of the book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel (1 Kgs 14:19) and the book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah (1 Kgs 14:29), which may simply have been court records or secular histories of the periods they discussed. The same goes for the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chr 16:11), and the Memoirs of Nehemiah (2 Mc 2:13).
Other books contained genuine revelation, though the book as a whole was not inspired. This is the case with the book of Enoch, which is quoted in Jude 14, and possibly a book known as the Assumption of Moses, which appears to be quoted in Jude 9. A work of unclear status is the book of Jashar, which is twice quoted in the Old Testament (Jo 10:12-13, 2 Sm 1:18-27) and seems to be a book of songs concerning the history of Israel.
Among uninspired books mentioned in the Old Testament are the Records of Samuel the Seer, the Records of Nathan the Prophet, and the Records of Gad the Seer (1 Chr 29:29), the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, the visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat (2 Chr 9:29), the Records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer (2 Chr 12:15), the Annotations of the Prophet Iddo (2 Chr 13:22; the references to works of Iddo may be different ways of referring to the same book).
In the New Testament, there are references to a third letter from Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 5:9) and of a letter of his to the Laodiceans (Col 4:16; though many have thought this letter to the Laodiceans is the same as the letter to the Ephesians). Such books may have been inspired, but for some reason God chose not to have them passed down and included in the canon.

It was Martin Luther who tossed out the seven books considered canonical since the beginning of Church history. He also rejected the epistle to the Hebrews and the book of Revelation. He also called the epistle of James "an epistle of straw" because James 2:14–26 conflicted with his personal theology on good works. He also added the word (in his German translation] 'only' in Romans 3:20 and Romans 4:15, and he inserted the word 'alone 'in Romans 3:28.

 

[SummaScriptura]

When it comes to the Old Testament, the question of which books are included becomes more complex. In the world today there are at least 5 different line-ups of books which are accepted into the Bible in use in our world by Christians whose faith is orthodox in character.