With more and more investigation and exploration, theologians, historians and other scholars are turning their eyes to the books excluded from Bible. By the way, did you know about this “edition” of the holy book? If you didn't know, now you'll understand everything!
These texts are called Apocrypha, but you may also hear of them as “extracanonical” events or “occult writings.” Scholars believe that reading them can give a new interpretation of the Christian faith.
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And, as you may have imagined from the other side of the screen, this has caused a lot of confusion and debate between believers and skeptics. Keep reading and understand this topic better!
When the Bible was compiled, there were some guidelines to determine what would and would not enter the Holy Scriptures. This happened around the 4th and 5th centuries AD. C., at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage.
However, what is Apocryphal for some may not be Apocryphal for others. For example, some texts considered extracanonical for the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches are not for the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The truth is that there is no fully accepted explanation on the subject. What is speculated is that political details or details related to the power of the time had a certain influence on this.
Some of the texts can be considered “offensive” to the general doctrine preached by the Catholic Church, thus having been classified as heresy.
And it is important that scholars turn their eyes to these extracanonical texts to have, let's say, alternative views on the stories that are in the “official” work. In the gospel of Thomas, for example, we can have other perspectives on Jesus' passage on Earth.
Gospel of Thomas
Unlike the four gospels of the apostles present in the Bible, this one does not provide a linear story about the life of Jesus. Precisely for this reason he is considered quite enigmatic.
Probably written between the 1st or 2nd centuries after Christ, the text presents teachings attributed to Jesus, but completely without narrative context. Furthermore, he greatly encourages self-knowledge rather than religious dogma.
This, in fact, may have been the reason why the book was cut in the final version.
Peter's Apocalypse
This one could perhaps have been mistaken for a Stephen King book. Probably dating from the 2nd century AD. C, the Revelation of Peter gives a very graphic description of what happens to our souls after we die.
There are descriptions of hell and all the torment that sinners suffer in their after-death. This is all in symbolic and allegorical language.
But despite this, it is speculated that it was used as the basis of the vision of hell that the Catholic Church preached in the Middle Ages.
Secret Gospel of Mark
This is, without a doubt, one of the most mysterious on the list. The secret Gospel of Mark is described as a more extensive and enigmatic version of the Gospel of Mark existing in the Bible.
The enigma already begins when we talk about its existence. In academia, there is debate whether it is real. This is because its only evidence is fragments cited in a letter attributed to Clement of Alexandria.
Not much is known about the content, but the aforementioned document states that there are episodes and teachings of Jesus considered too delicate or esoteric to be included in the “official” version. There is talk about initiation rituals and spiritual mysteries.
Infancy Gospel of James
Probably written in the 2nd century AD. C., the Infancy Gospel of James deals with the life of Mary and the first years of Jesus. There are details about Joachim and Anna, the Virgin's parents, and also about the conception and birth of Christ.
In fact, it is in this text that we have the information that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born.
It is not well known why it was removed from the Bible, since in addition to the fact above, it also talks about some miracles that the son of God would have performed at a young age.
Epistle of Barnabas
Also written in the middle of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. C., the content makes an analysis of the Mosaic Law and, therefore, a different interpretation of the Old testment.
The Epistle of Barnabas also discusses the rupture between Judaism and Christianity and vehemently defends that Christians are the true heirs of God's covenant.
The text is very rich and, with it, it is possible to get a better idea of the theological debates about the first Christian communities.
Shepherd of Hermas
This one brings direct revelations from an angel in the form of a shepherd. Written in the 2nd century AD. C., the text was widely read by members of the first Christian communities and covers topics such as repentance, moral purity and the importance of faith in human life.
He also talks a lot about practical topics related to the routine of a Christian life. Contains parables that can guide believers to the “straight path”.
Book of Enoch
Without a doubt, it is a very mysterious text. You've certainly heard of the Book of Enoch, whose lines talk about fallen angels, the genealogy of evil and apocalyptic visions.
Among the most important topics in the writing are the figure of the “Watchers”, angels who disobey God to have relationships with humans, generating giant nephilim.
He is even mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, but his themes were considered too “controversial” to make it into the final edition.
Graduated in Social Communication from the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.
