- New Testament Pseudepigrapha Iirejected Scriptures Apocrypha
- Pseudepigrapha Definition Bible
- New Testament Pseudepigrapha Iirejected Scriptures King James Version
(pssewd eh pih' gra fuh) Intertestamental literature not accepted into the Christian or Jewish canon of Scripture and often attributed to an ancient hero of faith. Ongoing discovery and research provide differing lists of contents. A recent publication listed 52 writings. They give much information about the development of Jewish religion and culture. Alternate title: The Epistle To Diognetus c. The Epistle to Diognetus is a well-crafted argument extolling the virtues of Christianity over paganism. It is difficult to determine the date of the letter, for it was never referred to in any known ancient writings, but it obviously dates from a period when Christianity was still regarded as a 'mystery' religion.
The term 'Pseudepigrapha' comes from Greek words meaning false writings (New Testament Pseudepigrapha Iirejected Scriptures Apocrypha
pseudo=false and epigraphe=to inscribe) and refers to works that attempt to create Scripture under false names. In academic studies the Pseudepigrapha refer to both the Apocrypha of the Old Testament as well as writings that claim to be part of the New Testament that together cover the general time period of 300 BC to AD 300.
The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha include the books of the Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical Books. The Roman Catholic Apocrypha includes:Tobit
Judith
Additions to Esther
Wisdom of Solomon
Ecclesiasticus
Baruch
Letter of Jeremiah
Song of the Three Children
Story of Susanna
Bel and the Dragon
1 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
The Old Testament-related Pseudepigrapha not included in the Apocrypha include:
3 Maccabees
4 Maccabees
The Assumption of Moses
1 Enoch
2 Enoch
Book of Jubilees
Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (3 Baruch)
Letter of Aristeas
Life of Adam and Eve
Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah
Psalms of Solomon
Sibylline Oracles
Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch)
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
The New Testament Pseudepigrapha includes numerous works, ranging from the Didache in some lists (included among the writings of the church fathers) to the Secret Gospel of Mark (a much later work). (A large list of these writings can be found at http://www.pseudepigrapha.com).
The quality of the writings included in the Pseudepigrapha varies greatly from one to the next. For example, the Didache includes many valuable historical elements from early Christianity, while the Gospel of Thomas has no connection to the biblical Thomas and was written by a Gnostic writer in Egypt.
The Apostle Paul had to deal with false writings or Pseudepigrapha even in his time. In 2 Thessalonians 2:2 we find him concerned about a 'letter seeming to be from us.' In other places, Paul would note, 'I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write' (2 Thessalonians 3:17; also 1 Corinthians 16:21; Galatians 6:11; and Colossians 4:18).
The Pseudepigrapha may have historical value, but they are not considered Scripture as they lacked affirmation by the early Jewish leaders and the early church, often include errors, are presented as works by authors other than the true author, or came at a date far after the true events. This stands in stark contrast with the biblical books, considered the very words of God and useful for life and teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Pseudepigrapha Definition Bible
Daniel Gurtner has written an especially important book that I will be recommending to my students for years to come. Let me explain why.
It is well known that the New Testament writers often draw heavily from the Old Testament. What is less often appreciated is the way that they also use ideas and traditions found only in ancient non-biblical Jewish works (often called “the Pseudepigrapha”). Many of these books were apparently widely read in Jesus’ day. In fact, before later councils set the official canon of Scripture, a few of these works were considered “scripture” and read alongside the biblical books. Given their influence, they are indispensable for understanding certain aspects of the New Testament books.
Take, for example, 1 Enoch. The work is explicitly quoted in the New Testament epistle of Jude:
It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 14-15)
Jude is here quoting from 1 Enoch 1:9, which speaks of the coming of the Lord God. What is interesting about this is that, in context, Jude seems to apply a passage about the coming of the Lord God to Jesus. In effect, Jude identifies Jesus as the divine kyrios (“Lord”). (On this, see Richard J. Bauckham, Jude, 2 Peter, WBC [Waco: Word, 1983], 96). The point is underscored in verse 17 where Jesus is identified as “Lord” (kyrios): “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Enoch also has important implications for the study of Paul’s letters, the Gospels–especially Matthew!–and other works such as 2 Peter and Revelation. Given its influence, it is little wonder Ethiopic Christians came to read it as Scripture.
Whenever I teach the New Testament and turn to books like 1 Enoch, students immediately see their significance. “Where can I learn more about books like 1 Enoch?,” they ask. In the past, I did not always have an ideal recommendation. Now I do. Daniel Gurtner has written the perfect introduction to these books.
While there are numerous other books written by contemporary scholars that look at non-biblical Jewish works, many are simply too cumbersome. The standard work has been the two volume set edited by James Charlesworth. In addition to being a bit dated, this work also includes many later texts that have less value for New Testament students. A one volume introduction that is both thorough and up-to-date yet also focused in scope has long been needed. Thanks to Gurtner, one is finally available.
A little about the author. Daniel Gurtner is one of the finest New Testament scholars working in the field today. I consider his published dissertation, The Torn Veil: Matthew’s Exposition of the Death of Jesus, SNTSMS 139 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007) to be one of the most careful and yet also insightful monographs on Matthew ever written. This is a difficult balance. When a scholar has a legitimate insight, he or she often tends to overstate its importance. Insightful scholars are not always as cautious as they should be. Conversely, when a scholar seeks to be careful, he or she often becomes unwilling to say anything new. Cautious scholars are great, but they can often be accused of writing much while saying little. Gurtner is the rare scholar who is both insightful and judicious.
It should also be said that Gurtner is also a recognized expert of the Second Temple period. With Loren Stuckenbruck, Gurtner is co-editor of the premiere resource,T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism. There is no better guide to the state of scholarship regarding Second Temple matters than this fine installment. You can read my glowing endorsement of it here. The only unfortunate thing about this outstanding two-volume work is its price tag – $430! (It is so indispensable for my own work that I had to bite the bullet, but, yikes!)
Gurtner’s new book, Introducing the Pseudepigrapha of Second Temple Judaism: Message, Context, and Significance(Baker Academic, 2020), brings together his vast knowledge in an accessible, affordable publication. (You can purchase it for only $35 by clicking the link here or the ones at either the top or bottom of this post.) There is simply no better place to begin than with Gurtner’s meticulously researched, balanced study.
Notably, Loren Stuckenbruck, Gurtner’s co-editor of the T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Judaism, writes a helpful forward. Anything written by Stuckenbruck is worth reading so it was great to see a word from him here.
New Testament Pseudepigrapha Iirejected Scriptures King James Version
From the Table of Contents, you can see the breadth and depth of this book, which covers not only apocalyptic works like 1 Enoch and 2 Baruch but also looks at other key texts, including various fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls.
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In addition, I should mention that the endorsements from various scholars the book has received are very impressive. You can read them here.
What is especially helpful here is the way the Gurtner not only summarizes the various works, he also treats their “significance.” If you are curious about why each book is important, Gurtner tells you. He examines what treasures we learn from each work. Some examples:
- 4 Ezra 14 has Ezra writing under the inspiration of the Spirit. The book offers some important insight into what (at least some) ancient Jews thought this must have involved.
- 2 Baruch speaks of how the righteous have a store of good deeds laid up for themselves in heavenly treasuries (24:1). This is the same kind of language used by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 6:19, 20).
- Sibylline Oracles 4 uses baptismal imagery. Gurtner points out that this is interesting since “scholars generally agree that there are no signs of Christian authorship in Sibylline Oracles 4” (p. 134).
- The Testament of Moses seems to have especially influenced Jude. Famously, Jude describes how Michael and Satan had a confrontation over the body of Moses. This, Gurtner suggests, “likely draws from the now lost ending” (p. 176).
Windows 2000 server product key generator. Again, I heartily recommend this fine work to all students of the New Testament. This is the introduction for which we have long been waiting. This should be required reading for any serious student of the New Testament who has not yet explored the Jewish literature of the Second Temple era.