The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts

by Ron Cameron (Editor), Helmut Koester (Foreword)

This anthology of gospel literature contains texts that are not a part of the New Testament but are of great importance for the study of Christian origins. Containing some of the writings from the Nag Hammadi library, these sixteen texts constitute what remains of the non-canonical Gospels from the first and second centuries. They transmit sayings of Jesus and relate stories about Jesus.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Theology, Nonfiction, History, New Testament, Reference

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Elizabeth Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book blew me away. Cameron has collected fragments of texts that circulated during the first centuries after Jesus' death that were later rejected by the church fathers for inclusion in the Bible. I've always assumed that, because they didn't make the cut, they weren't worth reading. But this book helped me appreciate the lively, diverse, evolving scriptural texts of the first Christians. Those writings that are now familiar often stand on the backs of these texts. Or they are more whole, whereas these are fragmentary. I'm glad to have the Gospel of Thomas here, one of the more well known, but also was blown away by the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and the Secret Gospel of Mark and many others. I remember an English professor in college once told me that every book that's a masterpiece rises from a culture of contributions. I appreciate having a better sense of the literary culture undergirding the cannonized gospel texts.

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other Gospels is a collection of non-canonical Christian texts. Some are "gnostic Christian", others are Marcionite and others are Catholic in origin. The most interesting are the Gospel of Thomas which has some joint history with synoptic Gospels with added parts, plus the Infancy Gospel of Thomas which went on to influence Middle East culture for centuries after they were written. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas has strange miracles like Jesus giving life to clay sparrows.

The descriptions at the beginning are a useful feature to explain the context. Definitely an intriguing read which gives context to early Christian groups.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

After watching a video on the forming of the New Testament canon, I was curious about the writings that were not included. So, I read this book. There is no need to rate it as it contains remnants of ancient manuscripts.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find the gospel of Thomas particularly compelling. One gets a great sense of history in reading the other gnostic texts.