Book Descriptions & Synopsis

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[toggle title=”The Books of Adam and Eve” state=”closed”]

Of all the Lost Books of The Bible, The First and Second Books of Adam and Eve contain, perhaps, the most evidence of paranormal and supernatural occurrences recorded. The Books of Adam and Eve are considered to be the work of unknown Egyptians. Parts of the books can be found in the Talmud, the Koran and elsewhere. This proves that The Books of Adam and Eve played a vital role in the original literature of early humans. The influence of the Books of Adam and Eve can be traced through the large number of versions that exist in the writings of the Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians, Abyssinians, Hebrews and other ancient cultures and races. The story of Adam and Eve has been handed down through the ages with little or no change what so ever. The original manuscript was written in Arabic and was then translated by Dr. E. Trumpp, a professor at the University of Munich. It is divided into two parts, the First and Second Books of Adam and Eve.
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[toggle title=”The General Epistle of Barnabas“]

Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome and many other ancient church authorities deem the General Epistle of Barnabas canonical and genuine. Dr. Bernard Sullivan, a professor at Oxford University believed The General Epistle of Barnabas to be genuine and that it was read widely in the churches at Alexandria. It is supposed to have been written by Barnabas, an apostle and companion of Paul. It is considered to have been written before the Epistle of Jude and the writings of both Johns. Archbishop Wake, Dr. S. Clarke, Vossius and Dupis also declared it to be genuine.
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[toggle title=”The First Epistle of Clement to The Corinthians“]

Clement was a disciple of Peter. According to Eusebius, The Epistle of Clement was publicly read in the early church. It is found in one of the ancient collections of Canon Scripture. The Epistle of Clement was rejected by early church fathers because they claimed it did not honor the Trinity doctrine. The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is a letter written to the congregation of Corinth. In the letter, Clement chastises the congregation for some member’s sedition and blasphemy. The First Epistle of Clement was translated by Archbishop Wake from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle. The original Greek version is found at the end of the Alexandrine manuscript of the Septuagint and New Testament that was presented to Charles The First. It is now in the British Museum. Clement writes of many miraculous events in his First Epistle to the Corinthians.
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[toggle title=”The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus, King of Edessa“]

In the 4th Century, Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in Palestine, confirmed that he had found the Epistles of Jesus Christ And Abgarus, King of Edessa in the public registers and records of the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia. It was written in the Syriac language. Although they are considered Apocryphal, the erudite Grabe, Archbishop Cave, Dr. Parker and other church men tried strenuously to have the Epistles admitted into Scripture. The Epistles contain two letters. The first is a letter written by King Abgarus to Jesus asking for his help. The second is Jesus’ reply to the King. The letters concern the supernatural healing powers of Christ.
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[toggle title=”The Book of Jasher“]

The Book of Jasher is an ancient Hebrew manuscript. It is mentioned twice in the Bible. In the book of Joshua we find mention of The Book of Jasher at Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

 

Jasher is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The Book of Jasher provides insight into the historical period from creation through the time of Joshua. This book has never actually been “lost”; it has been kept from public view for centuries and has been published very rarely until now. The Book of Jasher was said to have been found in Jerusalem during its capture by Titus. In 1840, many experts such as Professors Nordheimer, Turner and Bush of New York City proclaimed the English translation of The Book of Jasher, in general, a correct translation from the Hebrew. Although most people believe that a man named Jasher wrote the book, the Hebrew word Jasher means straight or upright. Therefore, the translated name of this book would be The Book of the Straight or Upright.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Gospel of the Birth of Mary“]

The Gospel of the Birth of Mary, attributed to St. Matthew, was considered genuine and authentic by many of the ancient Christian sects. The Gospel is mentioned by several of the church fathers, including Jerome, Epiphanius, and Austin. One of the so- called Lost Books of the Bible, The Gospel of the Birth of Mary was rejected during the formulation of the Bible by various edicts and councils of the early Church. Dissension, personal jealousy, intolerance, persecution and bigotry among the churchmen contributed to the evolution of the Bible, as we know it today. As an effect of the in-fighting among the churchmen, writings of a pure purpose and sincerity have been omitted from the Bible text. Often it is expressed, by sincere seekers of the truth, a desire to know more about the Virgin Mary and her life. The Gospel of the Birth of Mary fulfills this desire. The following comparisons of scripture taken from the Bible and the Gospel of the Birth of Mary prove the authenticity of the information contained in the Gospel of the Birth of Mary written by Matthew.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Letter of Herod To Pilate The Governor“]

The letters of Herod and Pilate definitely connect the death of Christ to Roman History. Three of these letters can be found in the British Museum in a Syriac MS written in the sixth or seventh century. The letter of Herod to Pilate The Governor gives us a detailed overview of what befell Herod after the crucifixion of Christ. The following excerpts from the letter show how the divine judgments of a supernatural God are carried out.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Letter of Pilate To Herod“]

The following letter written by Pilate the Governor of Judea is in response to the letter written by Herod in which Herod describes all the ills that have befallen him and his household since the crucifixion of Christ. Pilate speaks of the many supernatural occurrences he himself had confirmed concerning the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”The Death of Pilate, Who Condemned Jesus“]

In this account of the death of Pilate, it is related that Tiberius Caesar, being very ill and not knowing that Jesus had been put to death, sends an attendant to Pilate to tell him to send the physician, Jesus, to him as quickly as possible. When Caesar hears of the crucifixion of Christ, he commands Pilate be brought to him and Pilate is condemned to death.
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[toggle title=”The Epistle of Pontius Pilate“]

The Epistle of Pontius Pilate was written to Tiberius Caesar, Emperor of Rome concerning the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. In the Epistle, Pilate speaks of supernatural events connected with the death of Christ.
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[toggle title=”The Report of Pilate The Governor“]

Concerning Our Lord Jesus Christ; Which Was Sent To Augustus Caesar, In Rome
Pilate sent this letter to Caesar in Rome. It is his private report of the occurrences surrounding the crucifixion of Christ. In this letter Pilate reports to Rome on the supernatural happenings associated with Christ’s death.
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[toggle title=”The Trial and Condemnation of Pilate“]

The Trial and Condemnation of Pilate is often referred to as the Paradosis of Pilate. Many scholars believe it to be a continuation of The Epistle of Pontius Pilate. This letter pertains to a discourse between Pontius Pilate and Caesar and the events that take place during this time. Many paranormal events occurred during their discussion and the subsequent condemnation and execution of Pilate.
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[toggle title=”The Report of Pontius Pilate to Tiberius“]

The Report of Pontius Pilate to Tiberus was regarded as genuine by the early church fathers. It consists of a letter written by Pontius Pilate, Procurator of Judea, to Tiberius Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. The letter goes into great detail about the circumstances of the crucifixion of Christ and events immediately following Christ’s death. In this letter, Pontius Pilate, an eyewitness to these events, relates many of the miracles performed by Christ. But, most importantly, it describes in detail the supernatural happenings at the time Christ was crucified. Presented below is evidence of the anomalies that were seen and witnessed by Pontius Pilate as related to Tiberius.
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[toggle title=”The Book of The Secrets of Enoch“]

(Also referred to as “Slavonic Enoch” or “2nd Enoch”) The Book of The Secrets of Enoch was found in Russia and Servia and has been preserved only in Slavonic. It was written sometime at the beginning of the Christian Era. It was edited by a Greek and was written in Egypt. The Book of the Secrets of Enoch had a great influence on the writers of the New Testament. It explains and verifies some of the darker and more mysterious passages of the New Testament. The Book of the Secrets of Enoch was widely used by Christians in the early centuries. There are a multitude of supernatural and paranormal events recorded in The Book of the Secrets of Enoch.
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[toggle title=”The Acts of Paul and Thecla“]

The Acts of Paul and Thecla were reputed to have been a forgery and Pope Gelasius, in his decree against Apocryphal books, had them removed from Canon. Never the less, The Acts of Paul and Thecla were considered genuine by the early Christians. 4th century historians such as Eusebius, Austin and Gregory, to name a few, mention Thecla. In about 590 CE, Euagrius Scholasticus, an ecclesiastical historian, records that the Emperor Zeno had a vision of Thecla, who promised him the restoration of his empire. Emperor Zeno’s empire was restored and he built a beautiful temple in honor of Thecla in Seleucia, Isauria. Grabe, the editor of the Septuagint, considered The Acts of Paul and Thecla as having been written during the Apostolic Age. He believed them to be authentic and genuine history. The Acts of Paul and Thecla were translated from a Greek manuscript that can be found in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. There are some remarkable paranormal events recorded in The Acts of Paul and Thecla. These events are as follows.
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[toggle title=”The First Gospel of The Infancy of Jesus Christ“]

In 1697, Henry Sike, Professor of Oriental Languages at Cambridge, first translated the First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ. The writer of this gospel is supposed to have been Thomas. The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ was read in many churches along with the other four gospels. In 1599, the Synod at Angamala, in the mountains of Malabar, condemned the gospel. It has been thought that Mahomet used The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ to compile the Koran. Several of the supernatural incidents recorded in the gospel are collaborated by Persian legends. The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ abounds with paranormal and superhuman events performed by the young Jesus Christ.
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[toggle title=”The Gospel of Nicodemus“]

(Formerly Called The Acts of Pontius Pilate) The Gospel of Nicodemus is supposed by some to have been written by Nicodemus, a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is also noted that Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical history, claims that the Acts of Pontius Pilate were forged by pagans. But, the evidence in this Gospel proves that it was not the forgery of unbelievers. The Gospel of Nicodemus was in use among Christians and churches at the end of the third century. It was considered Canonical until it’s removal by various edicts and councils of the early church. Below are verses from The Gospel of Nicodemus with comparative verses taken from the Bible we use today. There is much evidence of supernatural phenomena presented in The Gospel, backed up by Biblical evidence.
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[toggle title=”The History of Bel and The Dragon“]

The History of Bel and The Dragon was cut from the book of Daniel by various edicts and councils of the Church. Below are some amazing excerpts telling of a great dragon beast, teleportation and divine protection.
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[toggle title=”The Lost Gospel According To Peter“]

A parchment codex was found in 1886 by the French Archaeological Mission while they were excavating the grave of a monk in the upper Nile Valley. This codex was discovered to be a portion of the Gospel According to Peter. For many years the codex was withheld from the public, but now it is available for all to view online. The Lost Gospel According to Peter gives another view of the supernatural events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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[toggle title=”The Prayer of Azarias“]

The Prayer of Azarias has been cut from the Bible. But, the Vulgate, the Greek translation of Daniel (Septuagint and Theodotion) and other ancient and modern translations include the Prayer of Azarias. In these versions, it is inserted in the 3rd Chapter of Daniel between the 23rd and 24th verses. The Prayer of Azarias is a prayer by Azarias while he was standing in the fiery furnace with his two friends, Ananias and Misael. The supernatural happenings while Azarias and his companions were in the furnace are recorded below.
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[toggle title=”The Prophecy of Baruch“]

Baruch was a disciple of Jeremiah and the writer of The Prophecy of Baruch. After Nebuchadnezzar plundered the temple of Jerusalem, Baruch wrote down the dictation of Jeremiah foretelling the return of the Babylonians. Baruch was with Jeremiah during the last siege of Jerusalem. Throughout all his trials and tribulations, Baruch remained true to his God, Yahweh.
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[toggle title=”The Shepherd of Hermas“]

Hermas was the brother of Pius, Bishop of Rome. The books he has written are called The Shepherd of Hermas because the principal being, an angel, appears to Hermas as a Shepherd. The Shepherd of Hermas was considered divinely inspired by Irenaeus. Eusebius, Jerome and Athanasius all confirm that the early church leaders read it for direction and confirmation of the faith. Although Pope Gelasius I (A.D. 492-496) ranked it among the apocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancient manuscripts of the New Testament. Archbishop Wake believed The Shepherd of Hermas to be the genuine work of an Apostolic Father. The ancient manuscript is located in the Lambeth Library. The visions in The Shepherd of Hermas were given to Hermas as a guide on how to live a godly, faithful Christian life. It is also given as a warning to the so-called church leaders (See Similitude 9:218-220) and to those who are less than honest and forthright in their dealings with others. The many supernatural aspects of The Shepherd of Hermas are listed below.
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[toggle title=”Thomas’ Gospel of The Infancy of Jesus Christ“]

Written by Thomas and thought to have been originally connected with the Gospel of Mary, Thomas’ Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ is an account of the miracles and supernatural actions that occurred during the infancy of Jesus Christ. The Greek original can be found in the notes of Cotelerius and is located in the French King’s Library, No. 2279. An account of the miracles and supernatural phenomena recorded in Thomas’ Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ are listed below.
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[toggle title=”The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs“]

The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs are biographies written between 107 and 137 BC. They are said to have been written by a Pharisee. The life story of each of the Patriarchs is told in vivid detail; the good and the bad are related with brutal frankness. These writings had great influence on the New Testament writers. The Sermon on The Mount uses phrases from these testaments. Paul, too, borrowed from The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs. The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs are considered a valuable resource as some of the actual source books of the Bible. There are many instances of paranormal and supernatural occurrences in The Testaments of The Twelve Patriarchs.
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[toggle title=”The Book of Tobit“]

The early church leaders consider the Book of Tobit a canonical book of the Old Testament. The original text was thought to have been written in Hebrew. But, there are also three Greek versions, an Aramaic version and a Syriac version. Fragments of the book were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Because of its place in the Septuagint, it is know that the Jews accepted The Book of Tobit as deuterocanonical. The Hebrew version can be found as a Midrashim of the Pentateuch. The Protestants rejected The Book of Tobit as non-canonical and had it removed from The Bible. The writers of the Book of Tobit are considered to be Tobit himself and his son, Tobias. It was likely written ruing the Babylonian exile in the early 7th century BC.There are many anomalous events that take place and are recorded by Tobit in his narrative.
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[toggle title=”The Psalms of Solomon“]

The Psalms of Solomon are a collection of 18 war songs written by an ancient Semitic writer. The original manuscript can no longer be found, but some Greek translations have been preserved. A Syriac version was also found and was translated and published in English in 1909 by Dr. Rendel Harris. The Psalms of Solomon were written approximately at the middle of the First Century BC. This is verified by comparing the themes of the Psalms to the actions of Pompey in Palestine and his death in Egypt. These war songs were widely circulated and held a prominent position in the early church. They are often referred to in different codices and histories of the early centuries of this Common Era. The Psalms of Solomon are an eyewitness account of ancient history. They tell the story of a great nation in the greatest crisis of their existence as a people.
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[toggle title=”The Odes of Solomon“]

The Odes of Solomon are one of the great literary mysteries. Their origin and date of writing are unknown. They are some of the most beautiful songs of joy and peace the world has ever known. They can be found in one ancient Syriac document. It appears to be a translation from the early Greek. They were considered non-canonical by early edits and synods. Serious debate goes on about The Odes of Solomon. Some believe them to be songs written by newly baptized Christians, penned in the First Century. J. Rendel Harris, MA, Honorable Fellow of Claire College, Cambridge translated the Odes of Solomon. The Odes are renowned for their highly spiritual messages and their classic, unique beauty.
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[toggle title=”The First and Second Books of Maccabees“]

The First and Second Books of Maccabees are a history of God’s people, the Jews. At the time of the events recorded in the First and Second Maccabees, Judas Machabeus was the leader of the Jewish Nation. The author of the First Book of Maccabees is unknown. But, it is believed that he was a Palestinian. The style of writing and the language he used make it clear that he was a native of Palestine. The date of the writing of the First Book of Maccabees is not definitely known, but it is considered possibly to have been written during the reign of John Hyrcanus (135-105 BC) and no later than 63 BC.

 

The Second Book of Maccabees is considered to be a part of a larger work. Jason of Cyrene supposedly wrote the Second Book of Maccabees. Nothing is known of the author of the larger work of which Second Maccabees is thought to be a part. The General Councils of Florence and Trent consider both First and Second Maccabees canonical. The church accepts them as canon them and both books can be found in the Douway-Rheims Catholic Bible.
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[toggle title=”The Third and Fourth Books of Maccabees“]

The Third Book of Maccabees is considered non-canonical, but it is read and held in high esteem by the Greek Church. Its author is thought to have been an Alexandrian Jew who wrote the Third Book of Maccabees as a comfort to the persecuted Jews in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy Philopator. The church also considers the Fourth Book of Maccabees non-canonical. Based on ancient stories and writings, it tells of the destruction of Jerusalem. It is thought to have been compiled by a Jew whose name is unknown.
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[toggle title=”The Book of Susanna“]

The Book of Susanna tells the story of a woman that was beyond reproach, but was accused by two lustful men of committing immoral acts with them. It details the account and shows how Daniel spoke up in her defense and saved her from an untimely death. The Book of Daniel in the Old Testament contains 12 chapters, but in the first century before the birth of Christ a 13th chapter was added. That chapter is the Book of Susanna. The Book of Susanna was left out of the Bible because it was not written in Hebrew originally. It is considered one of the Deuterocanonical books of the Apocrypha.
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[toggle title=”The Book of Judith“]

The Book of Judith is generally believed to have been written by Elochim (Joachim) during the reign of Manasses. The book has been found in Greek, Latin and two Hebrew versions. The Latin version was supposedly translated, in one night, from the Chaldaic by Jerome. One of the Hebrew versions is identical to the Greek. The early church authorities considered The Book of Judith to be canonical and still maintain its canonicity. But, the Protestants excluded it from the Bible because it does not exist in the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Judith tells the story of a virtuous woman who, by her actions, saved Israel from destruction by Holofernes and his vast army.
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[toggle title=”Additions to Esther“]

The Remaining Chapters of Esther were declared canonical by the Councils of Laodicea and Carthage. Jerome found parts of the book in Hebrew and he transposed them to the end of the Book of Esther. He found all 16 chapters contained in 10 chapters in the Greek manuscript. The Council of Trent also declared all of the Book of Esther to be sacred, canonical scripture. The Remaining Chapters of Esther is supposed to have been written by Madocheus.
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[toggle title=”The Epistle of Jeremiah“]

The Epistle of Jeremiah is a letter written to the Jewish captives as they are about to be lead off into captivity by Nebuchadnezzer. It is a warning to the people to beware of idolatry. The early church authorities declared it canonical. It is included in the list of canonical writings of Origen, Epiphanius, Cyril of Jerusalem and Athanasius. The Council of Laodicea also recognized it as canonical. In the Septuagint, The Epistle of Jeremiah follows Lamentations as a separate piece, closing the writings of Jeremiah. In Latin manuscripts, The Epistle of Jeremiah is appended to Baruch as chapter 6. It is supposed, by the majority of scholars, to have been written in Greek. The writer is thought to have been a resident of Alexandria. Most scholars agree that Jeremiah did not write The Epistle of Jeremiah because it never formed part of the Hebrew Canon.
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[toggle title=”The Wisdom of Solomon“]

The Wisdom of Solomon (aka The Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach) is one of the deutrocanonical writings of the Old Testament. It is found in the Vulgate between Canticle of Canticles and Ecclesiasticus. Some scholars believe that it was written by King Solomon, but there is doubt among others as to who the author is. The original Wisdom of Solomon was composed in Greek. Therefore, some scholars doubt King Solomon as author. Others believe an unknown Alexandrian Jew wrote it. It is unclear as to the date of the writing. It is thought to have been written in the time of Ptolemy 1V Philopator (221-204 BC) or Ptolemy V11 Physicon (145-117 BC). The original text of The Wisdom of Solomon is preserved in five manuscripts, The Vaticanus, The Siniticus, The Alexandrinus, The Ephremiticis and The Venetus. It’s most accurate form is found in the Venetus and The Vaticanus manuscripts. The Wisdom of Solomon is so named because it contains information on wisdom, how to obtain it and it’s fruits.
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[toggle title=”The Wisdom of Jesus’ Son, Sirach“]

The Wisdom of Jesus’ Son Sirach (aka Ecclesiasticus) was considered canonical by the early church authorities although it is not in Jewish Canon. The book was first written in Hebrew by Jesus, son of Sirach. Another Hebrew text exist that was translated into the Greek by a Palestinian Jew, the grandson of Jesus, the son of Sirach. The name of the translator is unknown. The book is thought to have been written between 190 BC and 170 BC. The Wisdom of Jesus’ Son, Sirach deals primarily with morality and wisdom.
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[toggle title=”The Book of Enoch (Ethiopian Enoch)“]

Enoch, the son of Jared, is mentioned several times in the Bible at Genesis 5:18-24, Hebrews 11:5 and Jude 1:14-15. The Verse in Jude directly quotes The Book of Enoch. The Book of Enoch was considered canon and exact by the early Christians. Early church authorities such as Justin Martyr, Augustine, Irenaeus, Origin and Clement of Alexandria all made use of The Book of Enoch and considered it genuine. Tertullian considered it scripture, calling The Book of Enoch “Holy Scripture”. It was also added to the official canon of the Ethiopic Church. The Book of Enoch was widely read and used during the first three centuries after the death of Christ. The Council of Laodicia discredited The Book of Enoch and banned it. It gradually disappeared, but in 1773 James Bruce, a famous explorer returned from Abyssinia with three Ethiopic copies of the text. In time, several sections of the Greek version were found. Seven fragments of The Book of Enoch in the Aramaic text were discovered in Cave 4 of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The original Book of Enoch was composed in Hebrew. The Book of Enoch can be divided into five parts: The Book of Watchers, The Book of the Similitudes, The Book of Astronomical Writings, The Book of Dream Visions and The Book of the Epistle of Enoch.
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[toggle title=”The Remaining Chapters of Esther“]

The Remaining Chapters of Esther were declared canonical by the Councils of Laodicea and Carthage. Jerome found parts of the book in Hebrew and he transposed them to the end of the Book of Esther. He found all 16 chapters contained in 10 chapters in the Greek manuscript. The Council of Trent also declared all of the Book of Esther to be sacred, canonical scripture. The Remaining Chapters of Esther is supposed to have been written by Madocheus.
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[toggle title=”Prayer of Manasseh“]

The Prayer of Manasseh is found in the Greek and Slavonic Bibles, but is considered non-canonical by the Catholic church. Manasseh is remembered as probably one of the worst kings of Judah because of his worship of false gods. According to 2nd Chronicles 33-10-17 Manasseh was taken captive by the King of Assyria who took him to Babylon. While in prison there he repented of his gross sins against God. He prayed to God who heard his humble prayer and delivered him out of captivity and returned him to his kingdom in Jerusalem where he reformed his government and did away with all false gods and their alters. He then restored the pure worship of God to Judah.
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[toggle title=”The Epistles of Ignatius“]

Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch in Syria in 67-107 AD. He wrote seven letters to the various congregations of his time. The collection of Epistles was preserved by Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. This collection was mentioned by Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome, Athanasius, Theodoret and other ancient authorities. The Epistles were translated into Latin by Archbishop Usher, ancient pure Greek by Vossius and English by Archbishop Wake. The Wake English text was translated from the text of Vossius. The Epistles deal with morality, faith, martyrdom and the proclamation of Jesus as the Christ. They were written to the various congregations as Ignatius was a prisoner and on his journey to Rome to martyrdom.
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[toggle title=”The Non-Canonical Psalms“]

Found in the caves at Qumran in the 1950s, the Dead Sea Scrolls are a font of historical information. Discovered in Cave 11, the Psalms Scroll is one of the most intact and well preserved of the scrolls. It contains forty-one canonical psalms and seven non-canonical psalms. of the seven non-canonical psalms, four are known from earlier translations in Greek and Syriac. These four are Psalms 151, 154, 155 and part of Sirach 51. The three new Psalms are named “Plea for Deliverance”,”Hymn to the Creator” and “The Apostrophe to Zion”.
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[toggle title=”The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca’s to Paul“]

The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca’s to Paul are a collection of letters exchanged between the Apostle Paul and Annaeus Seneca, his friend. The letters are presumed to be genuine. Salmeron and Jerome both considered them to be authentic. Salmeron cites the Epistles to show that Seneca was a person of Caesar’s household. Jerome considered Seneca to be a “Holy Writer” on account of the Epistles. The letters are of high antiquity according to learned scholars. The present translation of the Epistles comes from Sixtus Senensis’“Bibliotheque” pages 89-90.
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[toggle title=”The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians“]

In The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, praises the Philippians for their faith and their love towards their Christian brothers who suffered for Christ. Although the genuineness of the Epistle is questioned by some scholars, Archbishop Wake believed in its accuracy and its genuineness. Wake’s translation of The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians is considered one of the best translations. Dr. Cave has also done a translation of the text.
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[toggle title=”The Letter of the Smyrnaeans or the Martyrdom of Polycarp“]

The Letter of The Smyrnaeans or the Martyrdom of Polycarp is a letter written from by the church at Smyrna to the church of Philomelium. It describes the martyrdom of Polycarp and gives a detailed account of his execution, an execution carried out because the elderly Polycarp would not renounce Christ Jesus and pledge his allegiance to Caesar. It is thought his martyrdom took place in either 155 or 166 CE. It is believed that the post script to the manuscript probably came from the pseudo-Pionus, a manuscript compiled probably in the middle of the fourth century and thought to be a total fiction and of no value. This is the post script that is disputed: “This account Gaius copied from the papers of Irenaeus…and I, Socrates, wrote it down in Corinth…and I, Pionius again wrote it down”, The many extracts from the Letter of the Smyrnaeans quoted by Eusebius guarantee the text to be genuine in the ancient manuscripts.
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[toggle title=”The Story of Ahikar (Haiqar)“]

The Story of Ahikar is considered to be one of the most ancient sources of wisdom and thought. The influence of The Story of Ahikar can be found in the legends of various peoples and also The Koran. Some of the thoughts in the story can also be found in the Old and New Testament. The original story of Ahikar was found in Dlephantine in an ancient Aramaic papyrus dated approximately 500 BC. There is a mosaic found in Treves, Germany that depicts Ahikar among the wise men of the world. The Story of Ahikar is generally thought to be fiction and not history. It can also be found in the supplementary pages of The Arabian Nights. The narrative can be divided into four parts;”The Narrative”,”The Teaching”,”The Journey to Egypt” and “The Similitudes or Parables”. It is a delightful story full of intrigue and action.
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[toggle title=”The Apostles Creed“]

The Apostles’ Creed is a brief statement of the fundamental tenets of the Christian belief. According to tradition, the authors of The Apostles’ Creed were the Twelve Apostles. One legend has The Apostles’ Creed dating back to the 6th century. In this legend it was believed that The Apostles’ Creed was written by the Twelve Apostles on the day after Pentecost while they were under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. Harnack asserts that the Creed was written at a much later time than the Apostolic Age. Archbishop Wake believed the Creed was not written by the Apostles. Justice Bailey also stated that the Apostles’ Creed was not formulated by the Twelve Apostles and that it did not exist as a creed during their time. He also stated that there is no way of telling how long the creed existed before the year 600.
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[toggle title=”The Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans“]

The Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans exist only in Latin. The oldest copy known is the Fulda manuscript written for Victor of Capua in 546. Several writers from the Fourth century onward mention it, Gregory The Great being one of them. It is a very short Epistle encouraging the members of the congregation in Laodicea to hold fast to the faith and to live in a Godly way.
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[toggle title=”The Saying of The Seers“]

The Saying of the Seers (aka The Record of the Seers) is recorded in the books of Joshua, Numbers, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings, 1st Chronicles and 2nd Chronicles. These passages give reference to the different seers named in the Bible and books not found in the modern Bible. Most of the books mentioned have been lost in antiquity.
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[toggle title=”The Letter of Aristeas“]

The exact date of the writing of The Letter of Aristeas is unknown, but it is thought to have been penned by a Hellenistic Jew during the lifetime of Queen Arsinoe who died in 270 BC. Although some scholars consider the letter a fiction, it is the basis for the name of the Greek Bible, the Septuagint. The letter tells the story of Ptolemy Philadelphus, the world’s first bibliophile. Ptolmey wanted to have a collection of the world’s greatest books for his library at Alexandria. His greatest desire was to have one great book,”The Jewish Laws” and his passion for obtaining that book caused him to trade 100,000 captives in exchange for a copy of that book. The book was dedicated to Philocrates, his friend and fellow lover of learning. The Letter of Aristeas details court life of the time in great detail. Social problems are thoroughly discussed, also. The Letter of Aristeas is a fascinating example of a very ancient manuscript.
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