Are there lost books of the Bible? What are the writings called the Lost Books of the Bible?

what does the bible say?

The idea of “lost books of the Bible” refers to a collection of extra-biblical writings, often called apocryphal or pseudepigraphal texts, that were never intended to be part of Scripture. God’s Word as we have it is complete, authoritative, and preserved for His people (Deuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 36; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Revelation 22:18-19), making any additional “lost” writings unnecessary for understanding God’s revelation. These writings, compiled in the Middle Ages and later published as The Lost Books of the Bible or The Forgotten Books of Eden, include texts such as The Secrets of Enoch, Psalms of Solomon, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and early church writings like the Epistle of Clement. While historically and culturally valuable—offering insight into Jewish thought, early Christian beliefs, and the moral teachings circulating at the time—these works do not carry divine authority. The Bible’s completeness shows that no “lost books” are required to underst and or live faithfully by God’s Word.

from the old testament

• The Old Testament does not explicitly mention “lost books,” but it does establish that God’s Word is complete and authoritative. Deuteronomy 4:2 warns, “You shall not add to the word that I comm and you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I comm and you.”
• Similarly, Jeremiah 36 describes God preserving His words through a scroll, emphasizing that the Scriptures given to Israel were to be fully trusted and transmitted. While other writings may have existed, they were not intended as authoritative Scripture.

from the new testament

• The so-called Lost Books are neither lost nor are they part of the Bible. The Bible is “breathed out by God”; the “lost books” are not (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to or subtracting from God’s words, reinforcing that no “lost books” are needed to complete His revelation. While there are extra-biblical texts (often called the “Lost Books of the Bible” or apocryphal/pseudepigraphal writings), these are historical or contextual documents, not divinely inspired Scripture.

implications for today

The so-called Lost Books of the Bible generally refer to a collection of writings put together in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in Latin and published as The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden in the 1920s. These writings include books usually called the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha along with apocryphal New Testament writings. The Old Testament section includes eight books: 1) The Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan, 2) The Secrets of Enoch (also often called Second Enoch), 3) Psalms of Solomon, 4) the Odes of Solomon, 5) the Letter of Aristeas, 6) the Fourth Book of Maccabees, 7) the Story of Ahikar, and 8) the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. The modern translations of some of these books came from Ethiopian texts. The New Testament section includes a wide variety of writings, ranging from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (late second century) to the Epistle of Clement (a first century church father) to the Apostles’ Creed, writings of the early church fathers, and late works that were falsely attributed to earlier writers (such as the Lost Gospel of Peter). However, these works were not originally written with the intent to become part of the Bible. Also, these works were not “lost” but were known to their original audience and not accepted as part of the historical writings of the Bible. On the positive side, some of the writings in this collection include wise sayings (such as the Odes of Solomon) or include important historical information (especially the church fathers following the New Testament period). Though not inspired Scripture, some writings have played an important role in history or the church. Each book in the collection must be individually studied to underst and its historical impact, importance, and degree of accuracy. The early Jewish leaders (Old Testament) and church leaders (New Testament) considered the Bible’s books authoritative and inspired by God. Numerous early and accurate copies still exist, offering ample evidence of the integrity of the Bible’s books. Further, the existence and rapid growth of the early church and many changed lives as the result of the Bible help give evidence that the Bible is both inspired and impacts lives in cultures throughout place and time in ways no other book compares.

Recap

understand

• The Bible is complete and authoritative; no “lost books” are needed.
• The so-called Lost Books are extra-biblical texts that offer historical or cultural insight but are not divinely inspired.
• The Lost Books were never meant to be canon.

reflect

• How does knowing that the Bible you have today is complete affect your trust in God’s Word?
• How does the existence of extra-biblical writings challenge or reinforce the significance of God’s Word?
• How can you use the completeness of the Bible to confidently guide your faith and decisions?

engage

• How might understanding the historical context of the Lost Books help us appreciate the canon of Scripture more deeply?
• What are some reasons early Jewish and church leaders may have rejected the Lost Books as divinely inspired?
• How can studying the Lost Books enhance our knowledge of early Jewish thought and early Christian practices without confusing them with Scripture?