Authentic Apocrypha: False and Genuine Christian Apocrypha (The Dead Sea Scrolls & Christian Origins Library, 2)

If you could ask third-century Christians what they knew about Jesus, they would tell a story full of details that you've probably never heard. They might begin by describing how Joachim and Anna took their daughter, Mary, to live at the Temple from the age of three until she was twelve. They would tell how Jesus was crucified between Titus and Dumachus and would mention that Titus entered paradise before Jesus because he had protected Mary, Joseph, and Jesus years earlier. They would certainly quote some sayings of Jesus that you won't find in the Bible, and they might even describe how Jesus was raised by God. These stories and many others are just a small part of ancient writings which many early Christians regarded as Scripture, but which are not part of our modern Bibles. Such writings are called New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha. They are fascinating to read and can provide important insights into the development of Christianity and even the nature of the gospels in the New Testament. Yet few people are familiar with them, and even scholars rarely consult or refer to them. In this book, Dr. Charlesworth introduces you to the New Testament Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, tells you where you can find good translations of all of them, and discusses some sensational fakes. There's even a translation of the Gospel of Peter inside these pages. You'll find this book both entertaining and informative. Enjoy.