Lost Scriptures

We may think of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament as the only sacred writings of the early Christians, but this is not at all the case. Lost Scriptures offers an anthology of up-to-date and readable translations of many non-canonical writings from the centuries after Christ--texts that have for the most part been neglected or lost for nearly two millennia. Here is an array of remarkably varied writings from early Christian groups whose visions of Jesus differ dramatically from our contemporary understanding. Readers will find Gospels supposedly authored by the apostle Philip, James the brother of Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and others. There are Acts originally ascribed to John and to Thecla, Paul's female companion; there are Epistles allegedly written by Paul to the Roman philosopher Seneca. And there is an apocalypse by Simon Peter that offers a guided tour of the afterlife, both the glorious ecstasies of the saints and the horrendous torments of the damned, and an Epistle by Titus, a companion of Paul, which argues page after page against sexual love, even within marriage, on the grounds that physical intimacy leads to damnation. In all, the anthology includes fifteen Gospels, five non-canonical Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles, a number of Apocalypes and Secret Books, and several Canon lists. Ehrman has included a general introduction, plus brief introductions to each piece. Lost Scriptures gives readers a vivid picture of the range of beliefs that battled each other in the first centuries of the Christian era. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in the Bible or the early Church.

ISBN 0195182502   Pages 348 ISBN13 9780195182507 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc   Weight (grammes) 509 Imprint Oxford University Press Inc   Published in New York Format Paperback   Height (mm) 234 Publication date 03 Sep 2005   Width (mm) 156 Library of Congress BS2832   Spine width (mm) 23 DEWEY 229.9205209   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

		Non-canonical gospels		7
		The gospel of the Nazareans		9
		The gospel of the Ebionites		12
		The gospel according to the Hebrews		15
		The gospel according to the Egyptians		17
		The Coptic gospel of Thomas		19
		Papyrus Egerton 2 : the unknown gospel		29
		The gospel of Peter		31
		The gospel of Mary		34
		The gospel of Philip		38
		The gospel of truth		45
		The gospel of the savior		52
		The infancy gospel of Thomas		57
		The proto-gospel of James		63
		The epistle of the apostles		73
		The Coptic apocalypse of Peter		78
		The second treatise of the great Seth		82
		The secret gospel of Mark		87
		Non-canonical acts of the apostles		91
		The acts of John		93
		The acts of Paul		109
		The acts of Thecla		113
		The acts of Thomas		122
		The acts of Peter		135
		Non-canonical epistles and related writings		155
		The third letter to the Corinthians		157
		Correspondence of Paul and Seneca		160
		Paul's letter to the Laodiceans		165
		The letter of 1 Clement		167
		The letter of 2 Clement		185
		More...

"The author of more than ten books on New Testament history and early Christian writings, Ehrman has established himself as an expert on early Christianity. These two works should soundly solidify his stature, as they illuminate the flavor and varieties of early Christian belief."--Library Journal (on Lost Christianities and Lost Scriptures)

"History, it's often said, is written by the victors. Bart Ehrman argues in a pair of intriguing new books that the same could be said of the Bible's New Testament.... Will shock more than a few lay readers."--The Boston Globe

"Lost Scriptures provides a good sample of the literature and illustrates nicely the complex and often exotic world of second- and third-century Christianity."--America

"Fresh authoritative translations of the texts that fell outside in the canon."--Christian Science Monitor

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