Neo-Apocrypha are documents that have surfaced more recently. They are sometimes dated from the 9th Century or later. Sometimes they have little to no ancient manuscript proof texts to personally examine. Some may be right out frauds and hoaxes, or maybe not. This site now features, on the next pages, modern apocrypha and pseudepigrapha. Did the authors write under modern day inspiration or are they just from the imagination of men? You be the judge.
There are different types of Neo-Apocrypha. From what I have examined, there are at least four categories along with sub-categories:
1.) Standard Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that have no tangible manuscripts. Only copies and photos of supposed “original” manuscripts. Examples are: THE SECRET GOSPEL OF MARK, MISSATICUM BIBLIA and THE SHAPIRA MANUSCRIPT. This is what is called Standard Neo-Apocrypha A. The Standard Neo-Apocrypha B consists of texts that supposedly have manuscript evidence but the evidence has been “lost”. Examples are: THE LIFE OF ISSA, THE CRUCIFIXION BY AN EYE-WITNESS and THE ESSENE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
2.) Semi-Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that do have tangible manuscript evidence for at least part of the text. These present themselves as expanded versions of ancient manuscripts. Examples are: THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM, TESTIMONY OF MARY MAGDALENE and MYSTERY OF THE CRUCIFIXION. These texts exist in the form of The Gospel of Mary, Acts of John and the Joseph Smith Papyri. However, the bulk of of the “new” text is unaccounted for and cannot be proven to exist in ancient manuscripts. Some of these texts can be sub-categorized as Semi-Modern Gnostic Apocrypha.
3.) Medieval Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that do have manuscript evidence but are composed in the late centuries. These texts usually include grimoires, astrological texts, etc. Examples are: THE TREATISE OF SHEM, GEORGIAN BOOK OF ADAM and THE BOOK OF RAZIEL. These date usually from the 9th century or later. An exception may be THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS. Scholars date the MS from the mid 4th century, i.e., 345 AD, to about the 6th century, i.e., 500 AD. Later additions could have been added much later, as "The Descent Into Hell" section. On the other hand, THE LETTER OF LENTULUS has never been quoted by any ancient authority. It came to light in the mid-19th century. Either it is a 19th century fraud or it existed no later than the 1400s AD. SeRMoN has an 1886 English version of the letter in two recensions.
4.) Heretical Neo-Apocrypha - These are modern texts written as though they have manuscript evidence. They attack Christian beliefs and try to prove that Christ is someone other than what the Biblical Scriptures say he is. Examples are: THE GOSPEL OF THADDEUS, TOLEDOTH YESHU and THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS. These modern Neo-Apocrypha span from Medieval times up to our day.
Some of the documents presented on this site are:
The Gospel of Barnabas, Toledoth Yeshu, The Letter From Heaven, Sword of Moses, Sixth Book of Moses, Missaticum Biblia (with The Book of Joseph), The Shapira Manuscript, Book of Abraham, Secret Mark, Lorber’s Epistle of Paul To Laodicea, Crucifixion of Christ By An Eye-Witness, Essene Gospel of Peace Book One, Life of Issa, Account of Enoch, Letters of Pilate, Book of Veles, Georgian Book of Adam, Popul Vuh, Book of the Generations of Adam, Writings of Abraham, Treatise of Shem, Testimony of Mary Magdalene, Gospel of Thaddeus, Mystery of the Crucifixion, IV Enoch, Book of Raziel and Epistle of Pilate’s Wife. There may be more that fall under the category of late apocrypha, as the Book of Jasher and Acts 29, but you be the judge.
SeRMoN 2012
There are different types of Neo-Apocrypha. From what I have examined, there are at least four categories along with sub-categories:
1.) Standard Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that have no tangible manuscripts. Only copies and photos of supposed “original” manuscripts. Examples are: THE SECRET GOSPEL OF MARK, MISSATICUM BIBLIA and THE SHAPIRA MANUSCRIPT. This is what is called Standard Neo-Apocrypha A. The Standard Neo-Apocrypha B consists of texts that supposedly have manuscript evidence but the evidence has been “lost”. Examples are: THE LIFE OF ISSA, THE CRUCIFIXION BY AN EYE-WITNESS and THE ESSENE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
2.) Semi-Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that do have tangible manuscript evidence for at least part of the text. These present themselves as expanded versions of ancient manuscripts. Examples are: THE BOOK OF ABRAHAM, TESTIMONY OF MARY MAGDALENE and MYSTERY OF THE CRUCIFIXION. These texts exist in the form of The Gospel of Mary, Acts of John and the Joseph Smith Papyri. However, the bulk of of the “new” text is unaccounted for and cannot be proven to exist in ancient manuscripts. Some of these texts can be sub-categorized as Semi-Modern Gnostic Apocrypha.
3.) Medieval Neo-Apocrypha - Texts that do have manuscript evidence but are composed in the late centuries. These texts usually include grimoires, astrological texts, etc. Examples are: THE TREATISE OF SHEM, GEORGIAN BOOK OF ADAM and THE BOOK OF RAZIEL. These date usually from the 9th century or later. An exception may be THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS. Scholars date the MS from the mid 4th century, i.e., 345 AD, to about the 6th century, i.e., 500 AD. Later additions could have been added much later, as "The Descent Into Hell" section. On the other hand, THE LETTER OF LENTULUS has never been quoted by any ancient authority. It came to light in the mid-19th century. Either it is a 19th century fraud or it existed no later than the 1400s AD. SeRMoN has an 1886 English version of the letter in two recensions.
4.) Heretical Neo-Apocrypha - These are modern texts written as though they have manuscript evidence. They attack Christian beliefs and try to prove that Christ is someone other than what the Biblical Scriptures say he is. Examples are: THE GOSPEL OF THADDEUS, TOLEDOTH YESHU and THE GOSPEL OF BARNABAS. These modern Neo-Apocrypha span from Medieval times up to our day.
Some of the documents presented on this site are:
The Gospel of Barnabas, Toledoth Yeshu, The Letter From Heaven, Sword of Moses, Sixth Book of Moses, Missaticum Biblia (with The Book of Joseph), The Shapira Manuscript, Book of Abraham, Secret Mark, Lorber’s Epistle of Paul To Laodicea, Crucifixion of Christ By An Eye-Witness, Essene Gospel of Peace Book One, Life of Issa, Account of Enoch, Letters of Pilate, Book of Veles, Georgian Book of Adam, Popul Vuh, Book of the Generations of Adam, Writings of Abraham, Treatise of Shem, Testimony of Mary Magdalene, Gospel of Thaddeus, Mystery of the Crucifixion, IV Enoch, Book of Raziel and Epistle of Pilate’s Wife. There may be more that fall under the category of late apocrypha, as the Book of Jasher and Acts 29, but you be the judge.
SeRMoN 2012
DUTICAPOCRYPHA
This word has been coined to describe a sub-category called "Western Apocrypha", or those disputed manuscripts of religious significance that have been discovered on the Western Continents. These include THE BOOK OF MORMON and THE POPUL VUH. Both texts survive only as second hand sources thus making them Apocryphal. These works would also fall under the category of Standard Neo-Apocrypha A because copies of the alleged original manuscripts do exist.
SeRMoN will now present a chart showing all Neo-Apocrypha categories and what books fall into which area:
SeRMoN will now present a chart showing all Neo-Apocrypha categories and what books fall into which area:
neoapocrypha_chart.pdf | |
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