CHRISTIAN WRITINGS
CANONICAL AND NON-CANONICAL
A vast amount of Jewish and Christian literature was written in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. Many of these writings have been lost (or deliberately destroyed), but some have survived.
Only the writings included in the Bible are regarded by the Christian Church as canonical (divinely inspired, scripturally acceptable, authoritative).
Apocrypha are not considered divinely inspired but are regarded as worthy of study by the Christian faithful.
From early writers (Clement of Alexandria, Jerome, Ambrose, Eusebius, Origen, Epiphanius, Hippolytus, Didymas the Blind), we know of the existence of writings that are now lost.
The so-called Decretum Gelasianum, dating to the 6th century, lists 61 apocryphal works. In earlier periods there may have been many more.
It has been estimated that 85% of Christian writings from the first two centuries has been lost.
Despite their rejection and suppression by the orthodox Christian Church, some apocryphal works have survived
When Emperor Constantine established Christianity as the officially approved state religion in the 4th century, these writings were condemned by "orthodox" Christians as heretical. Possession of them was made a criminal offense and many were destroyed.
Some escaped destruction. Examples had come to light in the 19th century, then, in 1945, a major discovery was made near the town of Nag Hammadi in Egypt. In a sealed earthenware jar were found 52 "Gnostic" books, 46 of which were previously unknown.
Among them are five 'gospels':
With all these writings around, we must ask WHY...
The Bible was compiled more or less into the form we recognize today in the 4th century CE.
Writings that were rejected for inclusion in the Bible are called Apocrypha (singular "apocryphon," from the Greek term apokryptein, meaning "to hide away" or "hidden").
Collected into the category of "Gnostic Gospels" are the writings of many early followers of Jesus.