The Bible is the most widely distributed book in the world. It is comprised of 66 books written by an unknown number of authors, compiled by an unknown number of editors, over the course of centuries. Yet although the Bible is revered by many, its origin and its contents remain shrouded in mystery. One such mystery is the origin of the gospels that are included in the Bible, and the ones that may have been left out.
The most commonly accepted number of gospels found in the Bible is four: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of these gospels tell the story of Jesus Christ, detailing his history and his teachings. Yet there are other gospels – some of which are more than two thousand years old – that have been left out of the Bible. These gospels may have been excluded for various reasons: they may have been considered too controversial or too difficult to understand.
One of the most widely-known of these excluded gospels is the “Gospel of Thomas”, which is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. It is believed to have been written around the same time as the four canonical gospels, and there is evidence that it was known and read by early Christian communities in the region.
Other examples of what could be considered ‘lost gospels’ are the “Gospel of Mary”, a collection of sayings from Jesus attributed to Mary Magdalene; and the “Gospel of Judas”, which portrays Judas Iscariot as an enlightened disciple of Jesus, rather than a traitor.
So why has this material been left out of the Bible? According to biblical scholars, it is more likely that these texts were simply never included in the bible, rather than actively excluded. Many of these gospels were written at the same time as the four canonical ones, but they lacked the same popularity and influence. It may also be the case that some of these texts were too controversial to include – as they contain teachings that contradict the accepted understandings of the time.
Whatever the reasons for their exclusion, these gospels can provide a valuable insight into different perspectives of the Christian narrative. In reading these texts, we can gain an understanding of the variety of opinions and interpretations that were prevalent in the early Christian church. Perhaps most importantly, they can serve as a reminder that the text of the Bible is not static, and is open to interpretation.
What Is the Gospel of Peter?
The Gospel of Peter is a non-canonical text that was discovered in 1892, by some laborers who were working in a cemetery in northern Egypt. It is quite different from the four canonical gospels, as it focuses primarily on depicting the life and death of Jesus. It also includes a unique account of the Resurrection, in which Jesus is described as emerging from the tomb accompanied by “two young men in shining garments.”
This text was widely read by early Christian communities in the first century and continued to be popular until the fourth century. In the eyes of early Christian scholars, the ‘Gospel of Peter’ was considered authoritative, however it did not reach the same level of popularity as the canonical gospels and thus was not included in the Bible.
The Gospel of Peter is a fascinating text, as it sheds light on the diversity of thought within early Christianity. Its teachings are quite different from those contained in the four canonical gospels, and it offers a unique perspective on Jesus’ life and death.
What Is the Gospel of Truth?
The Gospel of Truth is another Christian text that was written around the same time as the four canonical gospels, but was never included in the Bible. It is believed to have been composed by a Presbytery leader in Alexandria, around the year 140 AD.
The text focuses primarily on the teachings of Jesus to the intellect and dealing with questions of faith. It emphasizes the ideas of mercy, love and peace which are qualities often attributed to Jesus in the canonical gospels. It also contains teachings in line with early Gnostic beliefs, such as the notion of the world as an illusion, and the importance of inner knowing.
Though the Gospel of Truth was widely read in early Christian communities, it was not popular enough to be included in the Bible. In addition, its ideas may have been considered too radical or mystifying to be embraced by mainstream Christians.
What Is the Gospel of the Nazarenes?
The Gospel of the Nazarenes is a recently discovered text, discovered in 1938 in an ancient library in Jordan. The text is believed to date back to the late first century or early second century. It is composed of a mixture of elements from the four canonical gospels, as well as some additional elements from the ‘lost gospels’ previously mentioned. It gives an alternative view of the life and ministry of Jesus, and contains unique teachings on the power of faith and the importance of love.
Though it is not widely known, many scholars believe that the Gospel of the Nazarenes was very influential in the formation of early Christianity, with many of its teachings reshaping the doctrinal understanding held by early Christian churches. Yet for unknown reasons, it was never included in the Bible.
The Gospel According to the Nazarites
The Gospel According to the Nazarites is another recently discovered text, found in an ancient cave in the Jordanian desert. The text is believed to have been written in the third century, possibly by a follower of the early Christian sect known as the Nazarites. It contains a unique account of the life and teachings of Jesus, which differs significantly from the traditional Christian narrative.
The text includes both sayings attributed to Jesus and stories of his miracles. It also emphasizes the importance of love and forgiveness, values which were significant in the teachings of the Nazarites. Though it was likely popular among early Nazarite Christians, it was never included in the Bible, perhaps due to its different perspective on Jesus’ teachings.
What Is the Gospel of Philip?
The Gospel of Philip is a text that was found in a section of the Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of ancient gnostic texts discovered in Egypt in 1945. This text focuses on Jesus’ teachings regarding the relationship between humans and the divine. It is believed to have been written sometime between the second and fourth century, and it is one of the most controversial of the ‘lost gospels’.
This text does not focus on the life of Jesus, but rather delves into the esoteric aspects of Christian teaching, including ideas on the spiritual union between God and humans. It also contains unique and often perplexing sayings attributed to Jesus, such as ‘those who are in the world are Dead’, and ‘the real man is not a mortal being’. Due to these ideas, it may have been considered too radical and too difficult to understand, thus explaining its exclusion from the Bible.
What Is the Gospel of Judas?
The Gospel of Judas is a third-century text that was discovered in Egypt in the 1970s. It tells the story of Jesus from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, painting him as an enlightened disciple who willingly betrayed his teacher. This account is quite different from that found in the four canonical gospels, in which Judas is portrayed as a traitor.
The text also contains unique sayings attributed to Jesus, in which he instructs Judas to complete his spiritual mission. Though this may have been a popular text in early Christian communities, it was not included in the Bible, likely due to its unusual interpretation of the Judas legend.
What Is the Gospel of Mary?
The Gospel of Mary is a second-century text that was discovered in 1896, in a collection of ancient Coptic documents. The text centers on Mary Magdalene, who is portrayed as a leading figure in the early Christian movement. It contains teachings and accounts of events that were not included in the four canonical gospels, and it is believed that this text may have been popular among early followers of Christianity.
This text was never included in the Bible due to its seemingly subversive nature. It includes conversations between Jesus and Mary that challenge the patriarchal nature of traditional Christian teachings, as well as sayings and teachings attributed to Mary Magdalene. These ideas may have been considered too controversial by the early Christian Church, and thus was not included in the Bible.
