Pseudepigrapha

Biblical Terms, Devotionals / By
The term “pseudepigrapha” comes from two Greek words, “pseudo,” meaning “false,” and “epigraphe,” meaning “inscription.” So these are known as false writings. There are Jewish and Christian writings that are pseudepigrapha. The major point that brings these books together is the fact that each one is said to be written by a person that did not write the book. In other words, they were written under false names.  Therefore they are not trustworthy books and they should be avoided because they contain little to no historical and spiritual truth.

Pseudepigrapha Books

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha are a loosely-defined set of Jewish writings from  250 B.C. to about 250 A.D., and generally refer to books outside the Apocrypha. These encompass books such as the “Book of Adam and Eve,” “Apocalypse of Abraham,” “Assumption of Moses,” The Book of Jubilees,” “Odes of Solomon,” “The Book of Enoch” and many more. 

The New Testament Pseudepigrapha or more commonly known as the “New Testament Apocrypha” are a larger body of texts that date from 150 A.D. to 650 A.D. These are fake books that purport to be true. They can be broken down into categories. There are what is called “Infancy Gospels,” writings purporting to cover some aspect of Jesus’ birth and early years as well as Joseph and Mary. Another category of texts are grouped into “Gospels.” These are texts that purport to be written by famous people like Bartholomew, Phillip, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalene and others. Another category of texts are called “Acts.” These are texts falsely attributed to Peter, John, Paul, Thomas and a whole host of other well know biblical men. A fourth category are called, “Apocalypses.” These again are falsely said to be written by famous Apostles such as Peter, Paul, James and even Old Testament Prophets like Isaiah. Two other categories called “Epistles” and “Narratives” suffer the same problem, namely they are made up material that was written hundreds of years after the person died whose name is associated with the text.

The History Channel & Other Deceivers

These books have been around a long time and are popular discussion pieces on the History Channel and other cable channels, usually in the context of favorable comparing them with the Bible. This causes unbelief, confusion and doubt on exactly what is Scripture. Because the people who get interviewed on these channels do not believe the Bible, they speak of these “false” books as if they are on the same par as the Bible leading many astray. These are false teachers deceiving thousands of people. The Bible warns of them in Colossians 2:8,
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Anyone lying about who wrote the book that bears its name is a deceiver and those who purport these books as if they are on par with the Bible are of the same ilk (2 Peter 2:1-3). God did not inspire the people who wrote those books (Isaiah 8:20). In fact, they are so foreign and at odds with the Bible that it is obvious to anyone who has the Spirit of God in them (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). For example, The Book of Enoch contains mumbo jumbo stories of heavenly visions that are way beyond anything you find in the Bible. It teaches a faulty view of salvation and twists the truth about angels and demons. It is very bizarre and will leave you scratching your head. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas gives us a blasphemous picture of Jesus as a juvenile sensation who does odd miracles like cursing a boy so that he dies and his parents become blind.

Our Response

Christians need to know about these writings because they are in the popular culture, but they need to reject them outright. We live in a day and age where universities and popular television shows reject the Bible as the only infallible book of faith. But God has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit to help us know the truth, and the truth will set us free (John 8:32).

Scripture Reference

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2 Many will follow their asensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

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