The Lost Books Of The Bible And The Forgotten Books Of Eden

What books were left out of the Bible and why? First issued in 1926, this is the most popular collection of apocryphal and pseudepigraphal literature ever published. Here, in one place, are the infancy gospels, the letter of Jesus to Abgarus, the Gospel of Nicodemus, the Legends of Paul and Thecla, the Epistles of Clement and Barnabus, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Books of Adam and Eve, the Secrets of Enoch, the Psalms and Odes of Solomon, the many Testaments of the Patriarchs, and many more ancient books which were highly revered, but ultimately left out of the Bible.

Collects the lost books of the Bible, sharing stories of Jesus as a child, discussing other miracles of Mary, and other tales not included in the New Testament.

Reprint of the 1927 edition published by Alpha House, New York.

You're probably missing some of the most interesting books of the Bible. In the Jewish tradition, the five books known as "The Five Scrolls" perform a central liturgical function as the texts associated with each of the major holidays. The Song of Songs is read during Passover, Ruth during Shavuot, Lamentations on Tisha B'av, Ecclesiastes during Sukkot, and Esther during the celebration of Purim. Together with the five books of the Torah, these texts orient Jewish life and provide the language of the faith. In the Christian tradition, by contrast, these books have largely been forgotten. Many churchgoers can't even find them in their pew Bibles. They are rarely preached, come up only occasionally in the lectionary, and are not the subject of Bible studies. Thus, their influence on the lives and theology of many Christians is entirely negligible. But they deserve much more attention. With scholarly wisdom and a quick wit, Williamson insists that these books speak urgently to the pressing issues of the contemporary world. Addressing themes of human sexuality, grief, immigration, suffering and protest, ethnic nationalism, and existential dread, he skillfully guides readers as they rediscover the relevance of the Five Scrolls for today.

Translated from an Arabic original and believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century AD, The First Book of Adam & Eve begins immediately after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and ends with the testament and translation of Enoch with great emphasis being placed on Adam's sorrow and helplessness in the world outside of the Eden.

In Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden you can read for yourself many of the manuscripts which were excluded from canonized Scripture and discover new appreciation for those which were chosen. Though apocryphal in nature--many of them suppressed by the early Church Fathers--these forgotten books, gospels, testaments, and epistles are fascinating and beautifully written. Included in this volume are: Apocryphal gospel accounts, such as The Gospel of the Birth of Mary, Thomas's Gospel of the Infancy of Christ, and Peter's Gospel. Apocryphal epistles, such as Paul's letter to the Laodiceans, Clement's letter to the Corinthians, and the general epistles of Barnabas. Letters from Ignatius to groups of early Christians, including the Ephesians, the Romans, and the Trallians. The early 2nd century Christian work, The Shepherd of Hermas. Roman letters and reports from Herod and Pilate. Fables from Old Testament times, such as The Books of Adam and Eve, The Secrets of Enoch, and the Psalms of Solomon. Historical accounts, including the fourth book of the Maccabees. and more... Included before each book are some notes on its origins. Also included are frequent black-and-white images of etchings from early manuscripts.