Apocrypha

Appendix to the Old Testament of the Bible, 14 books not included in the final Hebrew canon but recognized by Roman Catholics. There are also disputed New Testament texts known as Apocrypha.

Old Testament In the Old Testament, the Apocrypha consist of 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, additions to Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Song of the Three Children, Susannah, Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasses, and 1 and 2 Maccabees.

New Testament In the New Testament, the Apocrypha include the Gospel (c. AD 150), Revelation (earlier than the Gospel), and Acts (c. AD 200) of St Peter; the Gospel of St Thomas (2nd century), dealing with the infancy of Christ and supposed miracles of that period; the Acts of Paul (and Thecla), fragments from a work of about AD 160; the Protevangelium of James, a popular life of the Virgin Mary from about AD 150; the Assumption of Mary (c. 4th century), giving a legendary account of her death and resurrection; the Letters of Our Lord and of Abgar, a 3rd-century legend; and the Agrapha, a collection of sayings attributed to Christ, not recorded in the New Testament, some of which may be genuine. Although the Apocryphal works are very untrustworthy and legendary, they may contain some true traditions.