Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament
Oct 2003 · Oxford University Press
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About this ebook
While 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.
While 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-ca...
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Ratings and reviews
23 reviews
A Google user
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March 27, 2011
This book touched my heart in many ways and made me think about why this book where not put into the New Testament. This goes into great detail about Hell and the punishment if you are sent ther. This also talks about the treasures of Heaven. I would suggest this book to anyone who wants to learn why this book did not make in to the new testament.
Blake Leveridge
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July 20, 2010
it adds to the context of existing canonized scripture.Some things I read were so fantastic they would have to be authenticated and agreed upon by consensus as to there contribution even in todays day and age. A good read, this will definitively bring
some new insights and ideas into some areas obscured through age and darkened by time.
Robin Lindner
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April 16, 2017
I read this book several years ago and I still refer back to it it is an excellent excellent piece of work! I would highly recommend reading this book!!
4 people found this review helpful
About the author
Bart D. Ehrman is Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings and Jesus, Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium.
Bart D. Ehrman is Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings and Jesus, Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium.
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