Pseudepigrapha (original) (raw)

Greek: "False ascriptions"

Early Jewish works not preserved in the canonical scriptures of orthodox Jews or Christians. Many, but not all, of these are pseudonymous compositions [in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek] ascribed to ancient patriarchs, prophets & sages. Since many were edited by the Christian scribes who preserved them, scholars often debate which portions are of Jewish or Christian origins. The discovery of fragments of several of these works among the Dead Sea scrolls has confirmed that they were originally pre-Christian Jewish compositions. Works cited here are:

• Jubilees
• 1 Enoch
• Testament of Levi
• Psalms of Solomon.

Other resources on line:

• Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament in English. vol 2 - 1913 classic edited by R. H. Charles [posted by Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Calvin College].
• The Online Critical Pseudepigrapha - new critical edition of works in languages of extant mss. (with extensive bibliographies & detailed apparatus) offers free access to current advanced scholarship [e-publication of the Society of Biblical Literature].
• Noncanonical Literature: Old Testament Pseudepigrapha - index of texts in Northwest Nararene U's e-archive, with succinct factual introductions to each [_Wesley Center Online_].
• Pseudepigrapha - overview of the literary classification in general [_Wikipedia_].

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