Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, and the Legend of Lilith

Hi Name Withheld,

I have heard that Adam had a first wife. Eve was his second and God put Adam to sleep and make Eve from his rib. What is said about that?

You are referring to the Legend of Lilith. Of course, there is nothing about Lilith in the bible, but the bible does positively declare Eve to be the mother of all. And the Apostle Paul wrote that Adam was created first and then Eve, leaving no room for anyone in between.

I have also heard about the books that never got put into the bible. In these books, which have a name I cannot recall from my head, this concept is in one or more of those books.

The earliest mention of Lilith is from the Babylonian Talmud, (a collection of Rabbinic discussions of Jewish law and ethics) The Babylonian Talmud was compiled around 500 AD, nearly a century after the New Testament Books Had been canonized. The Old testament was settled, of course, even earlier (around 200 BC).

I think the terms you are looking for are Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha.

Have you ever read any of these books that did not make it to the bible when it was being decided at a council which ones would become the Holy Bible?

Yes, I have read some of these books. There are many different of books that were excluded from the bible. Something that should be known about these books is that they have never been some big secret. Some people just try to sensationalize the existence of these books to make it seem like there is or was some giant cover up or something. These books were excluded for very good reasons. The primary reason usually being that it was well known at the time that the now so-called "lost books" were frauds. They were never lost, they were rejected.

Most of these books were never included in any of the earlier collections of early Christian writing. Even though many of these books claimed Apostolic authorship, they first appeared centuries after the Apostles. Also, the teachings in these "lost books" are mostly Gnostic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism , which has very little in common with the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. But many scholars today have a fetish for Gnostic teachings. Really anything that is contrary to the teachings of Christ and his Apostles has a special appeal to them.

I remember the first time I tried to read one of these "other Gospels." I commented to a friend that the writing, "just had that "fake gospel" feel to it." And that basically has held true for me to this day. They don't ring true. To my knowledge, there is no book outside the bible which adds anything to the bible that either is not already in the bible, or that doesn't contradict what is already in the bible. The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha are either redundant or contradictory, but in either case unwarranted.

I do encourage you to look for yourself, there is really nothing in these books worth putting in the bible. The dirty little secret of the people who sensationalize these books is that these writings are just not very worthy of note.

The books that were canonized were canonized because their Apostolic origin was considered authentic and ancient. But the council of bishops that "canonized" the books of the bible did not take a pile of books and start picking and choosing which were in and which were out. That is not what happened. The council that canonized the New testament basically place an "official stamp" on the list that had been developed from the earliest times of Christianity. Precisely because all these "other books" had been cropping up, claiming Apostolic Authorship, and some people who were ignorant or isolated had no way of knowing what to believe about these strange writings. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_Christian_Biblical_canon

Is there any importance to read these discarded books?

Importance? Not really. But I do think it is important to know about them and have some first-hand experience in them, so that people who are trying to sensationalize these worthless writings can be put in their place. And I would add that they should not be considered "discarded" because they were never accepted by followers of Jesus Christ. They were being rejected at the time they were written and they are rejected by believers to this very day.

I know that if we read what we are suppose to that we’ll be busy enough, that is what my husband thinks.

True enough.

I think there is a lot of truth, but if there is more to understand I want to read it just to understand a little piece of it.

The Gnostic Gospels contradict the truth. But you are right, there are many things in this world that are called true. But it can't all be the truth.

I am interested in hearing what you have to say. I was born a Baptist, went to Lutheran school for 2 years, visited the Church of Christ, Assembly of God, a few others but my membership is LDS.

I guess I might have questions about that, the LDS are an interesting case, they have some pretty off the wall teachings but I don't think that is what attracts people to LDS.

I am open to listen to anyone, it actually helps me believe deeper in what I believe.

I am always happy to report that I can even learn from my enemies.

I have only listened to you a few times so far, but I really enjoy your messages.

Thanks, I hope you have opportunity to listen more. I do answer questions.

Sincerely,

Paul Stringini