An Overview of the Lost Books of the New Testament

by Ryan Turner

The following is a list of a number of alleged "Lost Gospels" or "Lost Books" that are not in the New Testament.  The reason that these books are not in the New Testament is because they were written so late and therefore could not have been written by an apostle or associate of an apostle (see: Myths about the Lost Books of the New Testament).  Also, it is difficult for scholars to give an exact date for the first writing of each of these works, but through analyzing the themes, language, and various quotations, scholars can generally arrive at a rough estimate regarding when each book was written.

1. Acts of John
   1. Date: 225 A.D.
2. Acts of Peter
   1. Date: 185 A.D.
3. Acts of Paul
   1. Date: 190 A.D.
4. Acts of Andrew
   1. Date: 150 A.D.
5. Acts of Thomas
   1. Date: 215 A.D.
6. Apocalypse of Peter
   1. Date: 150 to 250 A.D.
7. Apocryphon of James
   1. Date: 175-225 A.D.
8. Apocryphon of John
   1. Date: 150-225 A.D.
9. Dilogue of the Savior
   1. Date: 150-200 A.D.
10. Epistle to Laodiceans
    1. Date: 300 A.D.
11. Eugnostos the Blessed
    1. Date: Late first century to second century
12. Excerpta ex Theodoto
    1. Date: 175 A.D.
13. Gospel(s) of Bartholomew
    1. Date: Fifth of sixth century
14. Gospel of Barnabas
    1. Date: Sixteenth century
15. Gospel of Ebionites
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
16. Gospel of Hebrews
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
17. Gospel of Judas
    1. Date: Second century
18. Gospel of Mary Magdalene
    1. Date: 120-180 A.D.
19. Gospel of Nazareans
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
20. Gospel of Nicodemus (Acts of Pilate)
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
21. Gospel of Peter
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
22. Gospel of Philip
    1. Date: 175-225 A.D.
23. Gospel of the Egyptians
    1. Date: Second to third century
24. Gospel of the Savior
    1. Date: Second century
25. Gospel of Thomas
    1. Date: 90-180 A.D.
26. Infancy Gospel of Thomas
    1. Date: 225 A.D.
27. Gospel of Thomas the Contender
    1. Date: 200-250 A.D.
28. Gospel of Truth
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
29. Hypostasis of the Archons
    1. Date: Third century
30. Interpretation of Knowledge
    1. Date: 150-200 A.D.
31. Letter to Rheginos (or Treatise on the Resurrection)
    1. Date: 175-200 A.D.
32. Protoevangelium of James
    1. Date: 150 A.D.
33. Pistis Sophia
    1. Date: Second century
34. Second Treatise of the Great Seth
    1. Date: 175-200 A.D.
35. Sophia of Jesus Christ
    1. Date: Second century
36. Teachings of Silvanus
    1. Date: 275-325 A.D.
37. Treatise on the Resurrection (Letter to Rheginos)
    1. Date: 175-200 A.D.
38. Tripartite Tractate
    1. Date: Third to fourth century
39. Valentinian Exposition
    1. Date: 175-200 A.D.

Sources

• Bock, Darrell. The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth behind Alternative Christianities. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2006.
• Robinson, James M., Ed., The Nag Hammadi Library. New York: Harper Collins, 1990.
• M. A. E. Smith, J. Swann, T. C. Butler, C. L. Church, and D. S. Dockery, Holman Book of Biblical Charts, Maps, and Reconstructions, Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993, p. 26.