The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation (Paperback)

by J. K. Elliott (Editor)
Key Phrases: apocryphes coptes, dispositione sanctimonii, des actes apocryphes, Lord Jesus Christ, Santos Otero, Acts of Andrew (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
`Review from previous edition Interest in the so-called New Testament apocrypha is probably greater now than it has ever been. Elliott has provided a reliable resource which should inform and increase that interest.' Biblical Interpretation

`It is good to have this excellent replacement [of M. R. James's edition] which takes account of recent discoveries.' The Expository Times

`this is a book that will serve the needs of students for many years to come.' Journal of Theological Studies

`It has been beautifully produced with very useful bibliography accompanying the selections, and it will be an important reference work for every college and seminary library.' Southwestern Journal of Theology

`fascinating source of information ... The collection made by James contained the most important and the most influential of these texts and gave valuable access to significant but often little known part of the Christian heritage ... James' book has been the standard work in English since it was brought out in 1924 ... Dr Elliott has drawn on the scholarly discussion and critical editions of his texts in a variety of languages ... He has, as it were, done the groundwork and readers are able to benefit from the results of his research without the task of wading through the secondary literature for themselves ... an easy to consult, conveniently-sized volume.' Churchman

Product Description
This collection of apocryphal texts supersedes the best-selling edition by M.R. James, which was originally published in 1924. Several new texts have come to light since 1924 and the textual base for some of the apocrypha previously translated by James is now more secure, as in several cases there are now recently published critical editions available. Although a modest addition to James's edition was made in 1953, no thorough revision has previously been undertaken. In this volume, J.K. Elliott presents new translations of the texts and has provided each of them with a short introduction and bibliography for readers who wish to pursue further the issues raised in the texts or to consult the critical editions, other translations, or general studies. The translations are in modern English, in contrast to James's deliberate imitation of the language of the Authorized Version. The collection is designed to give readers the most important or famous of the Christian apocrypha and a small sample of gnostic texts. Full translations of the earliest texts are printed, as well as some derivative apocrypha.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 774 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198261810
• ISBN-13: 978-0198261810
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #506,897 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating., September 25, 2007

By	TOM CORBETT "flakey" (London, England) - See all my reviews

this book is very thorough with details and histories of the manuscripts presented in the New Testament Apocrypha. this is a thick book, and its very enlightening to realise that many of the manuscripts presented here used to be considered canonical at one time or another... infact the pilate cycle for example is still within the Coptic bible (the coptic church considered the oldest surviving church in the world).

i have only given it 4 stars because as a mystic i am looking for things that i can use to bring me closer to personal experience of God. the content of the apocrypha is not crucial in that respect, more of a history. but i would say that the gospel of thomas that this book contains is a great spiritual direction pointer.

its fascinating reading about the lives and deaths of the saints, words we do not find much about in the Canonical (authorised) scriptures. reading about for example the life and death of st Thomas in India. or pontius pilate's life after the crucifixion. its detailed and prophetic description of the antichrist and how he would love jesus in spite of his evil. the prophecy that in the last days man would drink more water and many other fascinating details that are not found in the canonical scriptures of our modern day bible. we must remember as we read this book that at one time or another most of the books of the new testament apocrypha were considered scriptures of great importance to various parts the church. the pilate cycle is canonical in the egyptian coptic church and the book of enoch (old testament apocrypha) is cannonical ie in the ethiopian bible. the coptic church is the oldest existent church. it must also be remembered that this wealth of information is NOT gnostic, but was written and believed in by those in the mainstream christian church at one time or another in our christian history.

i though found the old testament apocrypha even more interesting, within its 600 or so pages... the two books of enoch are a stomping good read! (whether truth or myth) and quite a lot of missing jewish history is filled in in the apocryphal old testament, such as what happened to those who remained behind after the captivity of the jewish people in babylon. the wisdom of solomon with its female metaphores for God... so much stuff of great interest.

do not confuse these 'apocrypha' with the apocrypha found in the roman catholic bible, these are quite seperate and there is a veritable mine and horde of documents and manuscripts within the covers of the new and old testament apocrypha. unfortunately, because of a rigid view of what constitutes true and false doctrine many of these priceless manuscripts have been sidelined and almost extinguished in the modern christian experience.

professor elliot's compiling of the new testament apocrypha is very thorough and applies modern scolarship to translation and history of the manuscripts in no doubt a most rigorous manner. though not an academic, i am unable to give a critical comment on these aspects of her edition. it also contains more recently discovered material that is not found in M R James's New Testament Apocrypha.

when i originally sought to acquire this book in a first edition format, it was very hard to get hold of elliot's new testament apocrypha and i had to pay more than £100 for my copy, but it was well worth it.

if just for a better understanding of christian history, you buy this book, i think you will find that it was well worth the price and difficulties you may have to overcome in getting your copy!

lots of love, snow-flake. xxx