The Lost Books of the Bible

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Lost Books of the Bible

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

This collection presents early Christian writings excluded from the New Testament, offering insight into lost gospels, apocalyptic visions, and epistles once read by the early Church. These ancient texts reveal the diverse beliefs and fervent zeal of the post-Apostolic period, providing a rare glimpse into the evolution of Christian doctrine and the stories that grew around Jesus of Nazareth.

Summary up to 500 words

The Lost Books of the Bible compiles significant ecclesiastical writings from early Christian authorities that were omitted from the authorized New Testament canon. Introduced by Dr. Frank Crane, the volume argues that the Bible is not a single book written by one person, but a library of texts composed by various authors across different countries. By examining these rejected texts, readers can understand the historical process by which the standard canon was formed. The collection presents these ancient writings without argument or commentary, allowing readers to form their own judgments regarding their genuineness and value. The volume includes diverse texts such as the Gospel of the Birth of Mary, which details the parentage of Mary and the virginity of Jesus; the Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, written by the martyr Ignatius while he was bound for Rome, emphasizing unity with the bishop and the church; and numerous other epistles from Paul, Clement, and Ignatius. The texts cover infancy narratives of Jesus, the death of Zacharias, the Acts of Paul and Thecla, and the Shepherd of Hermas. These writings depict the minds of men in the post-Apostolic period, characterized by earnestness, zeal, and sometimes dissension. They serve as a record of early Christian antiquity, preserving letters from the Apostolic Fathers that carry the history of the Church from the New Testament era to about 150 years after Christ. Dr. Crane notes that while some of these texts contain stories, tales, and myths that grew up around great figures like Jesus, they offer valuable points of view that might otherwise be lost. The collection removes the veil of secrecy surrounding the Church's selection of scriptures, presenting the evidence in plain English for the common reader to sift and decide upon the authority of the accepted Scriptures versus the lost ones.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/unknown_lost-books-of-the-bible.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-e56454c6af4a0e75.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-03 12:16 UTC

Categories

• Religion
• Christianity