The term “lost books of the Bible” refers to writings that some people think should be part of the biblical canon but were excluded for various reasons. These writings date from both Old Testament and New Testament periods but were not included when the Bible was compiled. Some examples of lost books include:
Old Testament Lost Books
Book of Jasher
The Book of Jasher is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 as a source for additional information about the sun standing still for Joshua and David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan. The book was lost for centuries but resurfaced in the 17th century as a text called Sefer HaYashar (“Book of the Upright”). This book is likely pseudepigraphical, meaning it was written much later than the original Book of Jasher.
Book of the Wars of the Lord
The Book of the Wars of the Lord is mentioned in Numbers 21:14 as telling additional details of the travels of the Israelites through the lands of Arad and Waheb. No copies of this book have ever been found.
Book of the Annals of Solomon
1 Kings 11:41 mentions the Book of the Annals of Solomon as a source for additional information about Solomon’s reign. No copies have survived to modern times.
Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel
1 Kings 14:19 mentions this book as a source for information about Jeroboam’s reign over the northern kingdom of Israel. Other references are found in 1 Kings 15:31 and 2 Kings 15:31. The book has been lost to history.
Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah
This book is mentioned in 1 Kings 14:29 as a source for details about Rehoboam’s reign in the southern kingdom of Judah. Other references are found in 1 Kings 15:7, 23 and 2 Kings 8:23, 12:19, 14:18, 15:6, 15:36, 16:19, 20:20, 21:17, 21:25, 23:28, and 24:5. The book has not survived outside of the Bible’s references.
Story of the Prophet Iddo
The visions of the prophet Iddo are mentioned in 2 Chronicles 9:29 as containing additional details about Solomon’s reign. 2 Chronicles 12:15 also mentions Iddo’s records of the reigns of Abijah and Jeroboam. None of Iddo’s writings have ever been discovered.
New Testament Apocryphal Books
In addition to the Old Testament lost books, various apocryphal writings emerged in the centuries around the time of Jesus that some groups believed should be part of the biblical canon:
Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. It was discovered in 1945 as part of the Nag Hammadi library. Some scholars believe it dates back to the 1st or 2nd century AD, making it as old as the 4 canonical gospels.
Gospel of Peter
The Gospel of Peter tells the story of Jesus’ trial, death, burial, and resurrection but differs on some key details from the 4 canonical gospels. It likely dates to the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of Mary
The Gospel of Mary presents conversations between Jesus and Mary Magdalene and highlights Mary’s prominence among Jesus’ followers. It dates to the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of Judas
The Gospel of Judas presents Judas in a positive light as the only disciple who truly understood Jesus. It was discovered in the 1970s but only published in 2006. It likely dates to the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of Philip
The Gospel of Philip is a collection of conversations and sayings attributed to Jesus. It emphasizes the sacraments and contains Gnostic themes. It dates to the 3rd century AD.
Gospel of Truth
The Gospel of Truth is a Gnostic treatise reflecting on the nature of the gospel message. It was discovered in the Nag Hammadi library and likely dates to the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of the Savior
The Gospel of the Savior contains sayings and teachings of Jesus. Only fragments survive, dating to the 2nd half of the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of the Egyptians
The Gospel of the Egyptians emphasizes asceticism and presents Seth as a spiritual ancestor of Jesus. It dates to the 2nd century AD.
Gospel of the Hebrews
The Gospel of the Hebrews was used by Jewish Christian groups in the 2nd century AD. Only fragments cited by the church fathers survive today.
Gospel of the Ebionites
The Gospel of the Ebionites is similar to the Gospel of Matthew but lacks the infancy narratives. It was used by Jewish Christians in the 2nd century AD but is now lost except for brief citations.
Gospel of the Nazarenes
The Gospel of the Nazarenes was an early version of the Gospel of Matthew containing some additional details. It was used by Jewish Christians but only fragments cited by patristic writers survive today.
Reasons for Exclusion
There are several reasons why these lost books were not included in the final canon of the Bible:
- Some were written too late to have apostolic authorship or endorsement.
- Some contained unorthodox teaching that contradicted the emerging standards and beliefs of orthodox Christianity.
- Some contained legendary embellishments of biblical stories and events.
- Some claim authorship by famous biblical figures like Enoch but were really written much later by unknown authors.
- Some were not widely used or only used by isolated groups.
- Some duplicated material already covered by canonical books.
- The church fathers considered the 4 gospels to be the authoritative witness about Jesus’ life and words.
While these writings can provide interesting historical insights, the early church determined that only the books in today’s canon were authoritative and divinely inspired Scripture. The lost books did not meet the criteria for canonicity, such as apostolic origin and universal acceptance across early Christianity.
In summary, the lost books of the Bible refer to a range of apocryphal writings that some groups believed should be part of Scripture but that were ultimately excluded from the biblical canon. While intriguing, they generally date too late, contain unorthodox teachings, or lack apostolic authority compared to the books that were included. The canon recognized by Protestants today as God’s inspired Word was well-established by the 4th century AD based on criteria such as authorship, orthodoxy, and wide usage across early Christianity.
