These books are the collection of Jewish religious writings that appeared sometime between the third century BC and third century AD. The collection is called ‘Pseudepigrapha’ (ψευδήςἐπιγραφή, meaning false name) because it has been proven that the actual authors of these books falsely wrote them in the name of certain influential Jewish or Christian individuals. None of these pseudepigraphal books are accepted by any Christian churches. Below mentioned are some of the most common Pseudepigraphal books:
- Apocalypse of Abraham
- Apocalypse of Moses
- Tales of the Patriarchs
- Letter of Aristeas
- Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah
- the story of Joseph and Asenath
- Life of Adam and Eve
- Lives of the Prophets
- Ladder of Jacob
- Jannes and Jambres
- History of the Captivity of Babylon
- History of the Rechabites
- Eldad and Modad
- History of Joseph
- Odes of Solomon
- Prayer of Joseph
- Prayer of Jacob
- Vision of Ezra
- Book of Enoch
- Book of Jubilees
- the Apocalypse of Baruch
- Psalms of Solomon
- Revelation of Esdras
- Psalm 151
- Prayer of Azariah
- 3 Maccabees
- 4 Maccabees
New Testament writings not included in the Canon of the New Testament
There were numerous New Testament writings which appeared during the early Church period that are not included in the New Testament Canon. Below are some of the notable writings among them:
- The Gospel of Peter
- The Apocalypse of Peter
- The Infancy Gospel of James
- The Gospel of Mary
- The Book of Joseph the Carpenter
- The Gospel of Bartholomew
- The Gospel of Thomas
- The Gospel of Philip
- The Gospel of Barnabas
- The Gospel of Judas
- The Gospel of Nicodemus
- The Letter of Joseph of Arimathea
- The Epistle to the Laodiceans
- The Third Epistle to the Corinthians
- The Acts of Paul
- The Shepherd of Hermas
- The Epistle of Barnabas
- The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)
so you speak of the pseudepigraphal books of the “old testament” but why do you not speak of the pseudepigraphal books of the new testament?
Hi Bill, you are absolutely correct! Initially, we only included those related to the Old Testament but this post has now been updated to include some of the New Testament pseudepigraphal books as well. God Bless!