The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation

About this book

This collection of apocryphal texts supersedes the best-selling edition by M.R. James which was originally published in 1924. Several new texts have come to light since 1924 and the textual base for some of the apocrypha previously translated by James is now more secure as in several cases there are now recently published critical editions available. Although a modest addition to Jamess edition was made in 1953 no thorough revision has previously been undertaken. In this volume J.K. Elliott presents new translations of the texts and has provided each of them with a short introduction and bibliography for readers who wish to pursue further the issues raised in the texts or to consult the critical editions other translations or general studies. The translations are in modern English in contrast to Jamess deliberate imitation of the language of the Authorized Version. The collection is designed to give readers the most important or famous of the Christian apocrypha and a small sample of gnostic texts. Full translations of the earliest texts are printed as well as some derivative apocrypha.