Apocryphal Writings
A structured catalogue of religious writings that are not included within a particular canon, arranged by archive code, literary category, period and historical tradition.
What “apocryphal” means
Apocrypha are works, generally of unknown authorship or uncertain origin, that have not been accepted within a particular canon . Although the word is formally plural, it is often also used in the singular.
The term derives from the Medieval Latin apocryphus and the Greek apókryphos, referring to something hidden, obscure, secret or non-canonical. Its application is not identical in every community: a work may be received by one religious tradition while remaining outside the canon of another.
This page serves primarily as an archive and orientation system. Each entry retains its ASH catalogue code, approximate historical period and principal literary or religious tradition. When ASH provides a full text or dedicated study, the title links directly to that page.
Search the catalogue
Complete catalogueOld Testament Apocrypha
Writings associated with figures, themes and narratives of the Hebrew Scriptures, including apocalypses, testaments, narrative expansions, wisdom works and texts preserved by particular Jewish or Christian traditions.
Apocalypses 11
- Apocalypse of Abraham
- Apocalypse of Adam
- Apocalypse of Baruch (2 Baruch / Syriac Apocalypse)
- Greek Apocalypse of Baruch (3 Baruch)
- Apocalypse of Daniel (Persian)
- Apocalypse of Elijah (Coptic — 1 Elijah)
- Apocalypse of Elijah (Hebrew — 2 Elijah / Book of Elijah)
- Apocalypse of Ezra (4 Ezra)
- Apocalypse of Sedrach
- Apocalypse of Moses
- Apocalypse of Zephaniah
Testaments 8
- Testament of Abraham
- Testament of Adam (Book of Adam)
- Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
- Testament of Isaac
- Testament of Jacob
- Testament of Job
- Testament of Moses (Assumption of Moses)
- Testament of Solomon
Other texts 19
- Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah
- 4 Baruch (Rest of Jeremiah)
- Questions of Ezra
- 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch)
- 2 Enoch (Slavonic Enoch)
- 3 Enoch (Hebrew Apocalypse)
- Book of Jubilees (Little Genesis)
- Book of Jannes and Jambres
- Joseph and Aseneth
- Book of Noah
- 5 Maccabees
- Odes of Solomon
- Sibylline Oracles
- Prayer of Joseph
- Story of Ahikar
- Story of the Rechabites
- Life of Adam and Eve (Greek Apocalypse of Moses)
- Vision of Ezra
- Lives of the Prophets
Accepted in the Septuagint 8
Works preserved in forms of the Septuagint or associated Greek biblical traditions, though not included in the Hebrew canon.
- Greek Ezra (1 Esdras / 3 Esdras)
- Odes
- Prayer of Manasseh
- Third Book of Maccabees
- Fourth Book of Maccabees
- Psalm 151
- Psalms 152–155
- Psalms of Solomon
Deuterocanonical writings 12
- Judith
- Tobit
- First Book of Maccabees
- Second Book of Maccabees
- Book of Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon)
- Sirach (Ecclesiasticus / Wisdom of Sirach)
- Baruch
- Letter of Jeremiah
- Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Young Men
- Susanna
- Bel and the Dragon
- Greek Esther
New Testament Apocrypha
Early Christian writings that develop narratives, figures, teachings or traditions associated with the New Testament without being received within the shared New Testament canon of the principal Christian confessions.
Infancy Gospels of Jesus 8
- Protoevangelium of James
- Arundel Codex 404
- Infancy Gospel of Thomas
- Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
- Arabic Infancy Gospel
- Armenian Infancy Gospel
- Book of the Nativity of Mary
- History of Joseph the Carpenter
Jewish-Christian Gospels 3
- Gospel of the Ebionites
- Gospel of the Nazarenes
- Gospel of the Hebrews
Gnostic Gospels 21
- Gospel of John / Apocryphon of John
- Dialogue of the Savior
- Apocryphon of James
- Book of Thomas the Contender
- Pistis Sophia
- Gospel of Apelles
- Gospel of Bardesanes
- Gospel of Basilides
- Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians
- Greek Gospel of the Egyptians
- Gospel of Eve
- Gospel of Philip
- Gospel of Judas
- Gospel of Mary of Magdala (Magdalene)
- Gospel of Matthias
- Gospel of Perfection
- Gospel of the Four Heavenly Realms
- Gospel of the Savior (Berlin Gospel)
- Sophia of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Thomas
- Gospel of Truth
Passion Gospels 4
- Gospel of Gamaliel
- Gospel of Nicodemus
- Gospel of Peter
- Declaration of Joseph of Arimathea
Other Apocryphal Gospels 4
- Interrogatio Johannis (Secret Supper)
- Gospel of Barnabas
- Gospel of Bartholomew
- Gospel of Thaddeus
Apocryphal Acts 14
- Acts of Andrew
- Acts of Andrew and Matthias
- Acts of Barnabas
- Acts of Bartholomew
- Acts of Philip
- Acts of John
- Acts of Mark
- Acts of Matthew
- Acts of Paul
- Acts of Paul and Thecla
- Acts of Peter
- Acts of Peter and Paul
- Acts of Pilate
- Acts of Thomas
Apocryphal Epistles 5
- Epistle of the Apostles
- Epistle of Barnabas
- Letters of Ignatius
- Epistle to the Laodiceans
- Correspondence of Paul and Seneca
Apocryphal Apocalypses 5
- Apocalypse of Peter
- Apocalypse of Paul
- Apocalypse of Thomas
- First Apocalypse of James
- Second Apocalypse of James
Sub-Apostolic Literature 10
- Didache
- First Epistle of Clement
- Second Epistle of Clement
- Ignatius to the Ephesians
- Ignatius to the Philadelphians
- Ignatius to Polycarp
- Polycarp to the Philippians
- Martyrdom of Polycarp
- Shepherd of Hermas
- Epistle to Diognetus
Bibliography
- Cameron, Ron (1982). The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts. Westminster/John Knox. ISBN 978-0-664-24428-6.
- Ehrman, Bart D.; Pleše, Zlatko (2011). “The Jewish Christian Gospels”. The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations. Oxford University Press, pp. 197–216. ISBN 978-0-19-973210-4.
- Elliott, James Keith (2005 ). The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-826181-0.
- Schlarb, Egbert; Lührmann, Dieter (2000). “Hebräerevangelium”. Fragmente apokryph gewordener Evangelien in griechischer und lateinischer Sprache. N.G. Elwert Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7708-1144-1.
- Vielhauer, Philipp; Strecker, Georg (1991). In Schneemelcher, Wilhelm; Wilson, Robert McLachlan, eds. New Testament Apocrypha: Gospels and Related Writings, Volume 1, 2nd ed. John Knox Press. ISBN 0-664-22721-X.
- Yamauchi, Edwin M. (1979). “Apocryphal Gospels”. In Bromiley, Geoffrey W., ed. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: A–D, Volume 1. Wm. B. Eerdmans, pp. 181–188. ISBN 978-0-8028-3781-3.
Texts and online resources
A growing archive
Apocryphal literature includes works that differ widely in date, language, origin, genre and historical value. ASH will continue to update this page by adding new texts, translations and internal studies whenever they become available.
