Apocrypha

Apocrypha ("name means::hidden"; singular: Apocryphon) are books or other works of literature from the times of the Bible that are not accepted universally as canonical.

Classical and modern definitions
The classical Apocrypha are the deuterocanonical books written during the four hundred years between the last book of the Old Testament and the birth of Christ. Although they have an actual history and literary value in some cases, these fourteen books have been rejected as non-canonical by both the Jewish faith and most denominations of the Christian church. This is due to alleged historical, geographical, or literal inaccuracies in most cases, the teaching of doctrines which allegedly contradict what has already been considered inspired Scripture and a lack of elements and structure which give genuine Scripture its unique characteristic.

Today, the term Apocryphon includes any work that has been rejected as non-canonical for any reason, including the Deuterocanonical books and various other proposed additions to the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church considers the following books as apocryphal:


 * 1 Esdras (Vulgate 3 Esdras)
 * 2 Esdras (Vulgate 4 Esdras)
 * Prayer of Manasses

These are the three uncanonical books appended to the official edition of the Vulgate.

Protestantism
Protestant denominations traditionally include the Deuterocanonical books, which are accepted as canonical by Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, in their definition of Apocrypha.

The following books are regarded as apocryphal by most, if not all, Protestant denominations:


 * Tobit (Tobias)
 * Judith
 * Wisdom
 * Ecclesiasticus, also called Sirach or Ben Sira.
 * Baruch, including the Letter of Jeremiah
 * 1 Maccabees
 * 2 Maccabees

As well as:


 * The Rest of Esther (Vulgate Esther 10:4-16:24)
 * The Rest of Daniel
 * The Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children (Vulgate Daniel 3:24-90)
 * Story of Susanna (Vulgate Daniel 13)
 * The Idol Bel and the Dragon (Vulgate Daniel 14)
 * Prayer of Manasses

Universal Old Testament Apocrypha
The Old Testament Apocrypha is also called "The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha". Pseudepigrapha comes from the and means "with false superscription". The term was used in the second century by Serapion, when he referred to the New Testament pseudepigrapha (eusebius, HE 6.12)

Apocalypses

 * Book of Enoch (1 Enoch)
 * Book of the Secrets of Enoch (2 Enoch)
 * Third Book of Enoch (3 Enoch)
 * Book of Noah
 * 2 Esdras (Vulgate 4 Esdras)
 * Assumption of Moses
 * Apocalypse of Abraham
 * Apocalypse of Daniel

Legendary Apocrypha

 * Book of Jubilees
 * Book of Jannes and Mambres
 * Book of Joseph and Aseneth
 * 1 Esdras (Vulgate 3 Esdras)
 * Paralipomena of Jeremiah (4 Baruch)
 * 3 Maccabees
 * 5 Maccabees
 * Book of Eldad and Modad
 * History of the Rechabites
 * Letter of Aristeas

Apocryphal psalms and prayers

 * Psalms of Solomon
 * Prayer of Manasses

Philosophy

 * 4 Maccabees
 * Story of Ahikar

With Christian accretions

 * Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan
 * Sibylline Oracles
 * Testament of Adam
 * Testaments of the Three Patriarchs
 * Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
 * Testament of Job
 * Testament of Solomon
 * Ascension of Isaiah
 * Apocalypse of Moses
 * Apocalypse of Ezra
 * Greek Apocalypse of Ezra
 * Vision of Ezra
 * Apocalypse of Elijah
 * Apocryphon of Ezekiel
 * Apocalypse Of Zephaniah
 * Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch)
 * Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (3 Baruch)
 * Story of Aphikia

New Testament Apocrypha
The concept of New Testament apocrypha is not easy to specify. In general this category can include all the writings that develop themes similar to those of the New Testament claiming more or less, in veiled form, arrogate to themselves the sacred character and catch up on books that the Christian church consider inspired. Much of the material we have today comes from the discoveries at Nag Hammadi where many apocryphal of the New Testament were discovered.

Apocryphal gospels

 * Infancy Gospel of James
 * Infancy Gospel of Thomas
 * Arabic Infancy Gospel
 * Gospel of the Nativity of Mary
 * Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
 * Gospel of Gamaliel
 * Gospel of Nicodemus
 * Transitus Mariæ
 * History of Joseph the Carpenter
 * Life of John the Baptist

Judaistic

 * Gospel of the Hebrews
 * Gospel of the Nazoraeans
 * Gospel of the Ebionites
 * Gospel of the Egyptians
 * Gospel of Peter
 * Gospel of the Twelve
 * Gospel of Barnabas
 * Gospel of Thaddeus
 * Gospel of Eve
 * Gospel of Marcion
 * Gospel of Appelles
 * Gospel of Bardesanes
 * Gospel of Basilides
 * Gospel of Cerinthus

Gnostic

 * Gospel of Thomas
 * Gospel of Judas
 * Gospel of Philip
 * Gospel of Mary
 * Gospel of Truth

Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles

 * Acts of Andrew
 * Acts of Barnabas
 * Acts of John
 * Acts of the Martyrs
 * Acts of Paul
 * Acts of Paul and Thecla
 * Acts of Peter
 * Acts of Peter and Andrew
 * Acts of Peter and Paul
 * Acts of Peter and the Twelve
 * Acts of Philip
 * Acts of Pilate
 * Acts of Thomas
 * Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca

Apocryphal epistles

 * Epistle of Barnabas
 * Epistles of Clement
 * Epistle of the Corinthians to Paul
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans
 * Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians
 * Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp
 * Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
 * Epistle to Diognetus
 * Epistle to the Laodiceans
 * Epistle to Seneca the Younger
 * Third Epistle to the Corinthians

Apostolic apocrypha

 * Didache
 * Shepherd of Hermas
 * 1 and 2 Clement
 * Epistle of Barnabas
 * Apocalypse of Peter
 * Protevangelium of James
 * Third Epistle to the Corinthians

Miscellany

 * Book of the Cave of Treasures
 * Book of the Bee