Are there lost books of the Bible? What are the writings called the Lost Books of the Bible?
The so-called Lost Books of the Bible generally refer to a collection of writings put together in the 12th and 13th centuries in Latin and published as The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden in the 1920s. These writings include books usually called the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha along with apocryphal New Testament writings.
The Old Testament section includes eight books: 1) The Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, 2) The Secrets of Enoch (also often called Second Enoch), 3) Psalms of Solomon, 4) the Odes of Solomon, 5) the Letter of Aristeas, 6) the Fourth Book of Maccabees, 7) the Story of Ahikar, and 8) the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. The modern translation of some books came from Ethiopian.
The New Testament section includes a wide variety of writings, ranging from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (late second century) to the Epistle of Clement (a first century church father) to the Apostles' Creed, writings of the early church fathers, and late works that were falsely attributed to earlier writers (such as the Lost Gospel of Peter).
However, it is important to note that these many works were not originally written with the intent to become part of the Bible. Second, these works were not "lost" but were known to their original audience and not accepted as part of the historical writings of the Bible.
On the positive side, some of the writings in this collection include wise sayings (such as the Odes of Solomon) or include important historical information (especially the church fathers following the New Testament period). Though not inspired Scripture, some writings have played an important role in history or the church. Each book in the collection must be individually studied to understand it historical impact, importance, and degree of accuracy.
In contrast, the early Jewish leaders (Old Testament) and church leaders (New Testament) considered the Bible's books authoritative and inspired by God. Numerous early and accurate copies still exist, offering ample evidence of the integrity of the Bible's books. Further, the existence and rapid growth of the early church and many changed lives as the result of the Bible help give evidence that the Bible is both inspired and impacts lives in cultures throughout space and time in ways no other book compares.
The Bible is God's Word that teaches, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The so-called Lost Books are neither lost nor are they part of the Bible.
Copyright 2011-2024 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
