As a writer and student of history I often daydream about what it would be like to discover a book lost to antiquity. I’m not talking about the “hidden books of the Bible” that periodically get splashed on trash papers in the checkout lines at grocery stores.
I have the deuterocanonical books. I have the popular books of the first two century of the church. (The Max Lucado’s of the day.) I even have in translation the gnostic writings found in Nag Hammadi. These are ancient, but not inspired.
A lot of the lost books are that way. We call them “lost books” because they’re mentioned in the Bible and we don’t have them. I have a different list than most people as I disagree with what they call “lost”. For example, I don’t consider the Book of Jashar translated by Joseph Smith to be the original. I don’t agree with the explanation of how it arrived in North America or his ability to translate ancient Hebrew.
On the other had, other people mention “The Books of Judah and Israel” and they could be right, but I think our Books of First and Second Kings fit the bill.
This list may not be complete, but it’s a fun list to dream about.
Lost Book |
Reference in the Bible |
|
| 1 | The Book of the Wars of Yahweh | Numbers 21:14 |
| 2 | The Book of Jasher | Joshua 10:12-13 ; 2 Samuel 1:19-27 |
| 3 | The Annals of the Kings of Judah | 1 Kings 14:29 |
| 4 | The Annals of the Kings of Israel | 1 Kings 14:19 |
| 5 | The Annals of Solomon | 1 Kings 11:41 |
| 6 | Acts of the Kings of Israel | 2 Chronicles 33:18 |
| 7 | Acts of Samuel the Seer | 1 Chronicles 29:29 |
| 8 | Acts of Gad the Seer | 1 Chronicles 29:29 |
| 9 | Acts of Nathan the Prophet | 1 Chronicles 29:29 |
| 10 | History of Nathan the Prophet | 2 Chronicles 9:29 |
| 11 | Prophesy of Ahijah the Shilonite | 2 Chronicles 9:29 |
| 12 | Visions of Iddo the Seer | 2 Chronicles 9:29 |
| 13 | Acts of Shemaiah the Prophet and Iddo the Seer |
2 Chronicles 12:15 |
| 14 | Acts of Jehu Son of Hanani | 2 Chronicles 20:34 |
| 15 | Acts of the Seers | 2 Chronicles 33:19 |
| 16 | Midrash of Prophet Iddo | 2 Chronicles 13:22 |
| 17 | Midrash on the Book of Kings | 2 Chronicles 24:27 |
| 18 | Annals of Uziah | 2 Chronicles 26:22 |
| 19 | Visions of Isaiah the Prophet | 2 Chronicles 32:32 |
| 20 | Book of the Annals | Nehemiah 12:23 |
| 21 | The Letter to Laodecia | Colossians 4:16 |
What would happen if we found the letter to the Laodecians? It would be easy enough to prove it to be Pauline…although I know there would be a debate…especially if it talked about something lost to us like baptism of the dead…or tithing in the church.
There’s more than a few novels in those thoughts. Have fun with them. Here’s some things you can let me know about:
1. Do you know of any other books mentioned in the Bible that seem to be lost to us?
2. Does this make you nervous knowing history has happened we know little or nothing about?
3. If Mulisms see lost books as weakness to us and Mormons write books to place them in history, how should we respond?
Thanks for leaving your comments below.
Sir, does it mean to say those 12 “apocryphal books” included in the Catholic “Bible of the Roman Catholic Church, “Book of Mormon” of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints founded by Joseph Smith and the “Boof of Enoch” since all those books were not mentioned as one of the “lost books” in the bible, they are considered as “spurious” and “fake”?
Book of Mormon is NOT ancient
I just searched this because I too would love to read them as well. And it seems no one talks about them at all. Probably at the Vatican, hidden from us.
actually it happen in the big schism Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthadox But also between Catholic and Lutheran ( Protestant) .
I say don’t worry about the Mormons or the Muslims, what we have already is enough! Just believe in the Trinity wholeheartedly, and that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Repent and believe and you shall get to heaven right on time!
I do agree with you, what we have is enough, but I feel like it’s also a matter of, we have books referenced in scripture we use often in the Church that is considered lost. I do agree with you though I believe what we have is what we need.
Agreed…I’m curious about the books because I enjoy history.
Jesus stated in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew 17:21 and the parallel in Mark 9:29, that “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”. This verse refers to a specific kind of demonic spirit that can only be cast out through the combined spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.
Matthew 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.
Moses’ Experience: Moses’ fast is recorded in Exodus 34:28, where he “neither ate bread nor drank water” for forty days and nights on Mount Sinai while receiving the Ten Commandments
The lost books must contain these kind of spiritual rituals but many lack this knowledge
Sounds like a soap box…how does this apply?
What we need?
What we have are half truths and partial stories.
Having all of these lost books opens more questions than it does filling in all the gaps the regular Bible leaves.
The Scholars had no right to take this information from us.
How is what we have enough?
The Scholars of old have done us a.great injustice taking knowledge from us deemed by them not necessary.
Now that I have indulged myself in Enoch and Jasher , Judith,and Tobit
I am saddened by what the learned decided was necessary. They left gaps by their actions.
“We have what we need ” due to that was all there was.
The Bible itself contains passages that warn against adding to or taking away from its words. Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32, as well as Revelation 22:18-19, explicitly state this.
The is believed to have written by inspired men, so why was it altered along the way? What message was removed and why? Who removed and why? When was it removed and why? Where was it removed and why?
How much information do you want?
There are passages in the bible that state the word we read is doctrine. Another words what God has put in the bible shows us how to live righteous lives and that’s all we need to know. Faith is the key to knowing that everything in the word is promises. And God has kept all his promises so far why would we want to read other than what he wants us to read. Distractions by the devil
I Agree with you Stephen, but the little loophole devil use it as a point of contact, to drop our faith from 100 to 99% and with that 1% he dominate by worries. So I think the lost books might close the gap. Stay blessed Stephen
Some of the books on your list are similar to first and second Kings.
For example:
Acts of Samuel the Seer = 1st & 2nd Samuel
Visions of Isaiah the prophet = The book of Isaiah
Book of the Annals (of the Kings of Israel & Judah) = is most likely a reference to 1st & 2nd Kings (and/or 1st & 2nd Chronicles, or “Chronicles of the Kings”)
I don’t have time at the moment to go through more, but I think this gives you an idea.
Translated from the Latin by M.R. James (1924):
1 Paul, an apostle not of men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, unto the brethren that are at Laodicea.
2 Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I give thanks unto Christ in all my prayers, that ye continue in him and persevere in his works, looking for the promise at the day of judgement.
4 Neither do the vain talkings of some overset you, which creep in, that they may turn you away from the truth of the Gospel which is preached by me.
5 And now shall God cause that they that are of me shall continue ministering unto the increase of the truth of the Gospel and accomplishing goodness, and the work of salvation, even eternal life.
5 And now are my bonds seen of all men, which I suffer in Christ, wherein I rejoice and am glad.
7 And unto me this is for everlasting salvation, which also is brought about by your prayers, and the ministry of the Holy Ghost, whether by life or by death.
8 For verily to me life is in Christ, and to die is joy.
9 And unto him (or And also) shall he work his mercy in you that ye may have the same love, and be of one mind.
10 Therefore, dearly beloved, as ye have heard in my presence so hold fast and work in the fear of God, and it shall be unto you for life eternal.
11 For it is God that worketh in you.
12 And do ye without afterthought whatsoever ye do.
13 And for the rest, dearly beloved, rejoice in Christ, and beware of them that are filthy in lucre.
14 Let all your petitions be made openly before God, and be ye steadfast in the mind of Christ.
15 And what things are sound and true and sober and just and to be loved, do ye.
16 And what ye have heard and received, keep fast in your heart.
17 And peace shall be unto you.
18 The saints salute you.
19 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirit.
20 And cause this epistle to be read unto them of Colossae, and the epistle of the Colossians to be read unto you.
Thanks Stephen!
A very short “Letter to the Laodiceans” does indeed exist, though scholars don’t believe it to be genuine (though it seems entirely consistent with Paul’s teachings in his other letters.) It was included in Wycliffe’s Bible and in all German translations, until Luther’s Bible.
Interesting that the Book of Jude alludes to and quotes from the Book of Enoch which isn’t lost but also isn’t canonical. Some say Paul was alluding to “The Life of Adam and Eve” (another “lost” book) in 2 Cor. 11:14 and 12:2.
Stephen. Thanks for letting me know. I never heard of the Laodicean letter being found. I’ll check into it.