Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New TestamentWhile most people think that the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are the only sacred writings of the early Christians, this is not at all the case. A companion volume to Bart Ehrman's Lost Christianities, this book offers an anthology of up-to-date and readable translations of many non-canonical writings from the first centuries after Christ--texts that have been for the most part lost or neglected for almost two millennia. Here is an array of remarkably varied writings from early Christian groups whose visions of Jesus differ dramatically from our contemporary understanding. Readers will find Gospels supposedly authored by the apostle Philip, James the brother of Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and others. There are Acts originally ascribed to John and to Thecla, Paul's female companion; there are Epistles allegedly written by Paul to the Roman philosopher Seneca. And there is an apocalypse by Simon Peter that offers a guided tour of the afterlife, both the glorious ecstasies of the saints and the horrendous torments of the damned, and an Epistle by Titus, a companion of Paul, which argues page after page against sexual love, even within marriage, on the grounds that physical intimacy leads to damnation. In all, the anthology includes fifteen Gospels, five non-canonical Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles, a number of Apocalypses and Secret Books, and several Canon lists. Ehrman has included a general introduction, plus brief introductions to each piece. This important anthology gives readers a vivid picture of the range of beliefs that battled each other in the first centuries of the Christian era. |
From inside the book
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Page 17
... flesh and sexual activity are condemned as being opposed to the will of God. In particular, the Gospel appears originally to have condemned the practices of marriage and procreation. In a number of instances Clement himself interprets ...
... flesh and sexual activity are condemned as being opposed to the will of God. In particular, the Gospel appears originally to have condemned the practices of marriage and procreation. In a number of instances Clement himself interprets ...
Page 22
... flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they ...
... flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they ...
Page 23
... flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty.” 30 Jesus said ...
... flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty.” 30 Jesus said ...
Page 28
... flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh.” 113 His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?” Jesus said, “It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or ...
... flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh.” 113 His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?” Jesus said, “It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or ...
Page 37
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Contents
The Correspondence Between Paul and Seneca | 160 |
Pauls Letter to the Laodiceans | 165 |
The Letter of 1 Clement | 167 |
The Letter of 2 Clement | 185 |
The Letter of Peter to James and its Reception | 191 |
The Homilies of Clement | 195 |
Ptolemys Letter to Flora | 201 |
The Treatise on the Resurrection | 207 |
31 | |
35 | |
The Gospel of Philip | 38 |
The Gospel of Truth | 45 |
The Gospel of the Savior | 52 |
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas | 57 |
The ProtoGospel of James | 63 |
The Epistle of the Apostles | 73 |
The Coptic Apocalypse of Peter | 78 |
The Second Treatise of the Great Seth | 82 |
The Secret Gospel of Mark | 87 |
NONCANONICAL ACTS OF THE APOSTLES | 91 |
The Acts of John | 93 |
The Acts of Paul | 109 |
The Acts of Thecla | 113 |
The Acts of Thomas | 122 |
The Acts of Peter | 135 |
NONCANONICAL EPISTLES AND RELATED WRITINGS | 155 |
The Third Letter to the Corinthians | 157 |
The Didache | 211 |
The Letter of Barnabas | 219 |
The Preaching of Peter | 236 |
PseudoTitus | 239 |
NONCANONICAL APOCALYPSES AND REVELATORY TREATISES | 249 |
The Shepherdof Hermas | 251 |
The Apocalypse of Peter | 280 |
The Apocalypse of Paul | 288 |
The Secret Book of John | 297 |
On the Origin of the World | 307 |
The First Thought in Three Forms | 316 |
The Hymn of the Pearl | 324 |
CANONICAL LISTS | 329 |
The Muratorian Canon | 331 |
The Canon of Origen of Alexandria | 334 |
The Canon of Eusebius | 337 |
The Canon of Athanasius of Alexandria | 339 |
The Canon of the Third Synod of Carthage | 341 |
Other editions - View all
Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament Bart D. Ehrman Limited preview - 2003 |
Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It Into the New Testament Bart D. Ehrman Limited preview - 2005 |
Lost Scriptures:Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament: Books ... Bart D. Ehrman No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
able according Acts aeon angel answered apostle appeared asked became become believe blessed body bring brother brought called canon cast century child Christ Christian church coming commandments complete concerning created darkness dead death deeds dwell earth enter eternal everything evil exist faith Father fear fire flesh gave give given glory Gospel hand hear heard heart heaven holy human Jesus Jesus Christ John king knowledge known leave letter light living looked Lord Lost master means mind Moses mother Paul perfect person Peter prophet raised received repent replied rest revealed saved says seen sent servant Simon sins slave soul speak Spirit spoke stand suffer teaching Testament things thought took truth turn voice whole wish writings written young
Popular passages
Page 86 - After a slight recovery at the end of the second century and the beginning of the third, there began a long and steady decline in climate until the final fall of the Western Empire.
Page 174 - Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Page 113 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Page 35 - Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of women. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember — which you know (but) we do not, nor have we heard them.
Page 241 - I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh ; and these are contrary the one to the other : so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Page 171 - I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. • I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Page 32 - And I with my companions was grieved; and being wounded in mind we hid ourselves: for we were being sought for by them as malefactors, and as wishing to set fire to the temple. And upon all these things we fasted and sat mourning and weeping night and day until the Sabbath.
Page 122 - Now the names of the twelve apostles are these ; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother ; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother ; Philip and Bartholomew ; Thomas, and Matthew the publican ; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him.
Page 22 - Whoever blasphemes against the father will be forgiven, and whoever blasphemes against the son will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven either on earth or in heaven.
Page 25 - It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the all. From me did the all come forth, and unto me did the all extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.