The Apocrypha

Apocrypha means 'hidden things' in Greek. The Apocryphical books of the Bible fall into two categories: texts which were included in some canonical version of the Bible at some point, and other texts of a Biblical nature which have never been canonical.

Deuterocanonical Apocrypha

The Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible These are books which are included in some version of the canonical Bible, but which have been excluded at one time or another, for textual or doctrinal issues. These are called 'Deuterocanonical', which literally means 'the secondary canon.'

Other Apocrypha

These are other apocryphal texts which never made it into any official canon, which nevertheless shed light on the Bible and its history.

The Forgotten Books of Eden [1926]

A collection of OT pseudepigrapha, specifically:



The First Book of Adam and Eve

The Second Book of Adam and Eve

The Book of the Secrets of Enoch

The Psalms of Solomon

The Odes of Solomon

The Letter of Aristeas

Fourth Book of Maccabees

The Story of Ahikar

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Testament of Reuben

Testament of Simeon

Testament of Levi

The Testament of Judah

The Testament of Issachar

The Testament of Zebulun

The Testament of Dan

The Testament of Naphtali

The Testament Of Gad

The Testament of Asher

The Testament of Joseph

The Testament of Benjamin



The Lost Books of the Bible

edited by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr. [1926]

A collection of NT apocrypha and pseudepigrapha.



The Biblical Antiquities of Philo

translated by M. R. James [1917]

An alternative pseudepigraphal narrative of the Hebrew Bible from Genesis through 1 Samuel, written in the first century C.E.

The Gospel of Thomas

Reputedly the writings of the apostle 'Doubting Thomas'.

This text purports to be a collection of the sayings of Jesus. Traditionally Thomas was Jesus' twin brother. This text shows strong Gnostic influence.

The Didache

by Charles H. Hoole [ 1894 ]

A very early Christian apocryphal text. by

The Sibylline Oracles

tr. by Milton S. Terry [1899].

The Sibylline books were oracular Roman scrolls; these are the pseudo-Sibylline Oracles. There many similarities to early Christian writings, and they were quoted by the Church Fathers.

The Book of Enoch

Translated by R.H. Charles [1917]

An etext of a critical edition of the Book of Enoch. Enoch introduced such concepts as fallen Angels, the Messiah, the Resurrection, and others.

The Book of Enoch the Prophet

Translated by Richard Laurence [1883]

An earlier and very influential 19th century translation of 1 Enoch.

The Book of Jubilees

tr. by R.H. Charles [1917]

A text from the 2nd century B.C.E. which covers much of the same ground as Genesis, with some interesting additional details.

It may have been an intermediate form of Genesis which was incorporated into later versions.

Slavonic Life of Adam and Eve

The Books of Adam and Eve

This is the translation of the Books of Adam and Eve from the Oxford University Press Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha.

The Book of Jasher



Excerpts from the Gospel of Mary

This fragment, of disputed authenticity, puts the relationship between Mary Magdalen, Jesus and the Apostles in a radically different perspective than traditional beliefs.