Many Christians believe that the Bible is the “whole, literal, inerrant” word of their god. However, most of them aren’t aware that many of the writings that ancient Jews and Christians held to be scripture are not included in the Bible. Yes, of course there is the Apocrypha – the 12 books Protestants threw out that are in Catholic Bibles (which are older than the Protestant versions). However, there are many other writings the average Christian doesn’t know anything about even though some of them are mentioned and/or quoted in their Bibles.
The scriptures used in the early churches reflected the many theological positions existing at the time. The Christian fact that became what we know today as the Roman Catholic Church was but one of the many in early Christianity. By the time it gained the power of the state in Rome, it had succeeded in largely supplanting the other Christian factions and rejected any of the writings used among the churches that did not agree with its own doctrinal positions. Modern Christians, especially Protestants, should understand that the Christianity they practice and the Bibles they use are quite different than what was found in the first and second centuries of the Christian Era. Their cherished book and doctrines have been heavily influenced by the battle of Christian doctrine won by Catholicism.
The following are some of the scriptures mentioned in the Bible that are not found between its covers. (Quotes are from the New King James Version of the Bible.) If you do your own research, you will find that there are a few others referred to in the Bible and more than a few Christian scriptures left out of the New Testament.
Book of the Wars of the Lord
Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “ Waheb in Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon,” (Numbers 21:14)
Book of Jasher
So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. (Joshua 10:13)
and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher: (2 Samuel 1:18)
Book of Nathan, Book of Gad
Now the acts of King David, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, (1 Chronicles 29:29)
Book of Nathan, Prophecy of Ahijah, Visions of Iddo
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? (2 Chronicles 9:29)
Acts of Solomon
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? (1 Kings 11:41)
This could not be the book included in the Bible entitled “Song of Solomon” as it isn’t an account of acts of Solomon. Song of Solomon is a book of erotic love poetry.
Book of Shemaiah, Book of Iddo
The acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. (2 Chronicles 12:15)
Annals of Iddo
Now the rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways, and his sayings are written in the annals of the prophet Iddo. (2 Chronicles 13:22)
Book of Jehu
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, indeed they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel. (2 Chronicles 20:34)
Book of Enoch
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, (Jude 1:14)
The Book of Enoch can be read online at http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/enoch.html and http://enoksbok.se/ . The line quoted in Jude from the Book of Enoch is found in Enoch 1:9 (or 2:1 depending on the version you read).
Epistle to Corinth
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. (1 Corinthians 5:9)
Epistle to the Ephesians
how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (Ephesians 3:3, 4)
Epistle from Laodicea
Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Colossians 4:16)
The Source of the Nazarene Prophecy
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)
The quote above (“He shall be called a Nazarene”) is not found elsewhere in the Bible. Either it was forged or quoted a book not included in the Bible.