With the sole purpose of offering information of great interest and value to our readers, we constantly create free book lists. In this opportunity our list contains the Apocryphal Books of the New and Old Testament. Each one of the texts that integrate our selection, are books in PDF format for easy downloading and handling.
The word apocrypha comes from the Greek adjective «ἀπόκρυφος» meaning «obscure» and from the verb «ἀποκρύπτειν» which translates as «to hide away». Also comes from the Latin «apocryphus» which meant «secret» or «non-canonical». This adjective has been used throughout history to refer to certain collections of writings and texts of a religious nature, sacred and arising in Christian and Jewish contexts.
This term is used to classify a large number of books that were not recognized by the Christian churches of the first centuries as part of Sacred Scripture. However, these books are shown with characteristics or names that make them look as if they were canonical books.
The Apocryphal Books belonging to the New Testament comprise various gospels and the lives of the apostles. One of the apocryphal books of the New Testament that is well known is the Gospel of Thomas. Another gospel belonging to the Gnostic currents of Christianity of the first centuries, is the Gospel of Judas which is attributed to Judas Iscariot.
Other Apocryphal Books are the Gospel of Philip, Gospel of Marcion, Gospel of Mary, Apocryphon of John, Gospel of Truth, Gospel of the Egyptians, and the Gospel according to the Hebrews (65-100 AD).
In the selection of Apocryphal books in PDF format, you can find those belonging to both the New and Old Testament. By consulting our list, you will be able to know the words and teachings of these writings.
Old Testament Apocrypha
The Old Testament is of great importance for the Jewish faith and for the Christian faith, the books found therein are of Divine inspiration and are mostly known as sacred books.
However, throughout history other “parallel” books have appeared with the intention of explaining in some cases events and details that are not related in the Bible, adding events that have little or no relation with the original text; these books are called apocryphal.
The Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament are thirteen in total, they are the following: 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, Book of Ecclesiasticus or Wisdom of Sirach, Baruch, Additions to Daniel (Susanna -chapter 13-, the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children), the Prayer of Manasseh, and finally 1 and 2 Maccabees. Of the whole list only those referring to Maccabees have a verifiable historical content.
New Testament Apocrypha
The person of Christ has divided the history of humanity, and after his death, resurrection and ascension there were many books that emerged, among them books recognized as inspired by the Holy Spirit, and others that lacked such inspiration, which are known as apocrypha, all of them would be part of the New Testament.
The Apocryphal Books of the New Testament are very varied, and are distributed in four categories: gospels, acts, epistles and apocalypses. All of them were discarded because of their lack of apostolic authorship, and their contrariety in their writings.
To name some of them, we find the gospel of Philip, the gospel of Thomas, the gospel of Marcion, the gospel of Judas and the gospel of Truth. In the category of acts stands out “the acts of Paul”. In the epistles there are the epistle of Barnabas, the epistle to the Corinthians to Paul and the epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. While in the apocalypses we have “the apocalypse of Peter and the apocalypse of Paul”.
Well, this was our collection of all the Apocryphal books in PDF format. We hope you liked it and find your next book!
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