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Review Summary: Knowledge ! |
Date: 2009-01-05 |
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Details: This purchase I made of the lost books of the bible has to be one of the most important books I have ever bought. The books inside give us many clues to some of the heavenly secrets that have been hidden for many centuries.There is now way I would have found them without buying this great book. |
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Review Summary: Fascinating, Reverential, Accurate, Old Style Translations |
Date: 2008-10-18 |
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Details: First published way back in 1820 under the title "The Apocryphal New Testament", it's certainly heartening to find that this volume of assorted translations from early Christian letters and gospels, is still eagerly read and sought after by modern readers. In my opinion, its most valuable books are "The Epistles of Clement", both which were included in some early editions of the New Testament. They were eventually cast aside, not for any theological shortcomings, but simply because they were not written by an apostle or a close associate of an apostle. Similarly dropped from the canon were the highly appealing letters by Polycarp and Barnabas, as well as the enormously popular "Shepherd of Hermas" which, despite its official exclusion, was still being copied and bound into Bibles by monks in the Middle Ages. The only factor I hold against "Lost Books of the Bible" is its old-fashioned, King James style. Many readers will doubtless find this appealing, so by way of illustration, here is the opening of Similitude 5 of Hermas: "As I was fasting, and sitting down in a certain mountain, and giving thanks unto God for all the things that he had done unto me; behold I saw the shepherd, who was wont to converse with me, sitting by me, and saying unto me: What has brought thee hither thus early in the morning: I answered, Sir, today I keep a station. He answered, What is a station? I replied, it is a fast. He said, What is that fast? I answered, I fast, as I have been wont to do. Ye know not, said he, what it is to fast unto God; nor is this a fast which ye fast, profiting nothing with God." I have published extracts from Hermas and other material, so it's therefore possible to contrast these previous verses with my own translation as it is printed in More Bible Wisdom for Modern Times: Selections from the Early New Testament: I was fasting. And while I was sitting on a certain mountain, thanking the Lord for all He had done for me, I saw the Shepherd [a mysterious figure, "clad in white, and holding a staff in his hands", sent by "the most venerable angel in heaven" to instruct Hermas] sitting beside me. "You have come here rather early," he said. "You see, my lord," I told him, "I'm keeping a station." "A station?" he asked. "What's that?" "A devotion for God. I'm fasting, my lord," I replied. "And why are you keeping this fast?" "I desire to please Him. And it's what I've been accustomed to do, my lord." "But you don't know how to fast. As far as God is concerned, this fast you're supposedly keeping for Him, is absolutely useless!" |
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Review Summary: Lost Books of Bible Review |
Date: 2008-01-14 |
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Details: Lost Books are VERY good scripture that was taught to Christians in the first century A.D.. A particularly great text is in Bartholomew where abortion is directly addressed and is CLEARLY forbidden, something you cannot find in traditional, canonized scripture. |
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Review Summary: Clarifies A Lot! |
Date: 2007-05-14 |
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Details: As a student of the gospel, clarity is everything. The Lost Books of The Bible allow a student to achieve a better grasp of the "why(s)" in the Word. |
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Review Summary: A Fascinating Companion to the Bible Itself |
Date: 2007-01-12 |
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Details: This book contains many writings that were simply left out of the final version of the Bible. The inside flap notes that the church suppressed many of these documents. Nevertheless, these writings do not provide any information that is truly spectacular by 21st Century standards. These documents were likely omitted because they did not fit into the neat chronology of the Bible, showed women in a stronger role than was acceptable in medieval times, or suggested that Christ made mistakes as a youth.
"The Acts of Paul and Thecla" describe a woman who helped spread the word of God. The document clearly shows her as a strong woman and a true disciple. Church elders of the medieval period probably felt that a story of a strong female was inappropriate for women of that period. The events surrounding her persecution are filled with miracles. She survived attempts to kill her through burning and attacks by wild beasts. In the end, she disappeared into a crack in a rock that was created by God. God then closed the opening behind her.
The first part of the book describes the birth of the Virgin Mary and her marriage to Joseph. The book also contains writings that describe the adolescent years of Jesus and the magical powers of the cloth used to wrap him as a baby. Some events show Jesus in a less than perfect light. These writings nevertheless describe a part of the Gospel that is not widely known.
Some parts of the book flow easily while other writings are difficult to follow. The books of Hermas provide an example of easy reading and tedious reading. "The First Book of Hermas," tells an interesting story. He passes near a great beast, one hundred feet long with locusts coming out of its mouth. Hermas was not killed by the beast as he had faith that the Lord would protect him. The third book talks of mountains and stones that are used to build a tower. Only after struggling through this document does the reader learn that the tower is a metaphor for the house of God.
The end of the book contains multiple letters from Pontius Pilate and Herod. Herod talks about how he is paying the price for killing John the Baptist. Pilate sends letters to Tiberius Caesar, which recount his reasons for crucifying Jesus. His letters also discuss the miracles surrounding Jesus such as the raising of Lazarus, and the earthquake following the crucifixion. These documents note that Tiberius subsequently killed Pilate for his role in the crucifixion.
Like the Bible itself, this book is a compilation of ancient writings. Also like the Bible, the documents are presented in two vertical columns per page. This book is a fascinating companion to the Bible. It provides insight to events surrounding the New Testament that are mostly unknown. Bottom line: a semi tough read but well worth the effort.
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out of 34 Reviews
