development of religious institutions have coordinated the social structure, a clear hierarchy developed cult doctrine and thought, usually also have a set of authoritative texts that serve as the source and measure of all religious life and philosophy.Such texts are called sacred, and often claim to divine revelation.Eloquent examples are the sacred books of the Christians, Muslims and Jews - the Bible, the Koran and the Torah, respectively.However, before becoming a sacred revelation, these texts are difficult way of writing through a series of subsequent revisions to the completed canon, which proclaims the final and inspiration of Scripture.At this stage, the proscenium out another series of texts called apocryphal.The Greek word "apocrypha" - a "secret" or "fake".Accordingly, there is a transfer and two types of apocryphal writings.
Apocrypha - a fake revelation
as simple as possible, we can say that apocryphal - a religious text, the authorship of which is attributed to the founder of the religion, his disciples or other prominent authorities tradition.But unlike the canonical texts, the Apocrypha are not recognized as authentic and inspired revered in the official and the rule flow.Because they called fraudulent, that is apocryphal.
secret knowledge
Some experts also distinguish another kind of apocryphal literature, is being built to the second meaning of the Greek term - a secret.Postulated existence in most religious systems of internal level, open only for advanced adepts and initiates in some secret cult.In contrast to all the Scriptures, the Apocrypha play the role of concomitant esoteric tradition, an interpretation Scripture at the highest, mystical level and opening the great truths.From the layman, these revelations are hidden and, therefore, the book in which they are presented and disclosed, for it is a mystery.An example of this kind of literature can serve as a secret gospel of Mark, once stored in the Alexandrian Church, as reported by the orthodox teacher Clement.
Apocrypha Christianity
If we talk about the Apocrypha of Christian tradition, it can be roughly divided into four groups of texts:
- Old Testament Apocrypha.
- New Testament apocrypha.
- intertestamental apocryphal.
- Vnezavetnye Apocrypha.
1. The oldest apocrypha - the Old Testament.Refers to the time of writing the main body text of the Old Testament.Often attributed to prominent biblical figures - Adam, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and the other patriarchs and prophets of the Tanakh.There are a myriad of books.For example, recall the Apocryphal books of Jeremiah and Psalms of Solomon.
2. The New Testament Apocrypha group includes a number of texts that are similar in genre and the writing of the works constituting the New Testament canon.Their authors are included in the nominal range of the closest disciples of Christ - the apostles and some students of the Savior.An example of this kind can serve as apocryphal Gospel of James.
3. intertestamental apocryphal - another group of texts.Conditional during their preparation - 400 BC30-40 years.BCThis period is due to the fact that the last book of the Hebrew canon was written in about 400 BC, and the first book of the New Testament relating to the class, in 30-40 years.Authorship is attributed to their Old Testament characters.By its nature, the intertestamental literature is often apocalyptic.Among other such books, you can select the Book of Enoch.
4. Vnezavetnye Apocrypha - so you can designate a group of works that are in scope and significance are clearly more than just religious literature.They have also been postulated by some preachers as inspired books.But because of its nature and content can not be attributed to the three other categories.A clear illustration of such writings are gnostic writings.Among them we can recall a collection of texts from Nag Hammadi.It's not even a book of the Apocrypha, and the entire library of esoteric Christian literature.
What characterizes almost all apocryphal?This is what they are all at various times claimed for full entry into the official canon of the inspired Scriptures.Some of it even at a time possible.Others have had a considerable influence on the formation of a common version of the "Word of God".For example, the apocryphal Book of Enoch quoted in the canonical Epistle of Jude.And in the Ethiopian Church, it still is one of the sacred, along with the Torah and the four recognized gospels.
Other apocrypha, almost all strongly denied at first, were subsequently universally recognized as canonical.In the New Testament these books are Revelation and several Epistles.
Conclusion At the dawn of Christianity, when, among the numerous schools and sects has not delineated a certain leader, there were a great number of texts, claiming the role of divine revelation, if not, then at least the highest human authority.One of the Gospels, there were over fifty, and virtually every community had its own collection of authoritative writings for themselves.Then, in the process of expansion and development of Catholic orthodoxy, some texts began to dominate over others, as leader of the largest communities began to prohibit their followers to read the unrecognized works.When the IV century kafolikov party received full support of the state, "heretical" texts was declared a real war.A special decree of the emperor and orders the bishops all the works that were not included in the canon to be destroyed.Among them were the writings, even those who previously considered sacred among themselves adherents of orthodoxy.For example, the Gospel of Peter.So today, every new-found apocryphal - is a sensation in the scientific world.This is confirmed by the recent discovery of the Gospel of Judas, previously considered lost.Yet significant, and probably most of the Christian Apocrypha destroyed and irrevocably lost.
