Introduction: Extra-Biblical Literature and the Orthodox Church 1
PART I: Old Testament and Second Temple Literature
Chapter One: The Edge of the Old Testament Canon
4 Ezra and 4 Maccabees 17
4 Ezra (2 Esdras) 19
4 Maccabees 26
Chapter Two: The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch) 34
Introduction: Enochic Literature 34
I. The Book of the Watchers 43
II. The Book of Parables 56
III. The Book of Noah 67
The Final Three Sections of the Book of Enoch 76
IV. The Book of Luminaries 77
V. The Book of Dreams 80
VI. The Epistle of Enoch 86
Additional Material 92
Conclusion: Significance of the Book of Enoch to the Church 94
Chapter Three: Slavonic Enoch (2 Enoch) and the Apocalypse of Abraham 96
2 (Slavonic) Enoch 97
The Apocalypse of Abraham 103
Chapter Four: The Book of Jubilees and Other Enochic Literature 110
The Book of Jubilees 111
The Book of Giants 121
3 Enoch 124
Chapter Five: The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 128
I. Testament of Reuben 132
II. Testament of Simeon 135
III. Testament of Levi 138
IV. Testament of Judah 140
V. Testament of Issachar 142
VI. Testament of Zebulon 144
VII. Testament of Dan 145
VIII. Testament of Naphtali 147
IX. Testament of Gad 149
X. Testament of Asher 149
XI. Testament of Joseph 150
XII. Testament of Benjamin 154
Chapter Six: The Ascension of Isaiah and the Assumption of Moses 158
The Ascension of Isaiah 160
The Assumption of Moses 163
Significance of Both Texts to the Church 166
Chapter Seven: The Books of Baruch 168
2 Baruch 173
3 Baruch 176
4 Baruch 178
Chapter Eight: Joseph and Aseneth 182
PART II: New Testament and Apostolic Fathers
Chapter Nine: The Edge of the New Testament Canon
The Apocalypse of Peter, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Gospel of the Hebrews 197
The Apocalypse of Peter 201
The Epistle of Barnabas 208
The Gospel of the Hebrews 213
Chapter Ten: Noncanonical Gospels
The Gospels of Thomas, Peter, and Nicodemus 222
The Gospel of Thomas 224
The Gospel of Peter 230
The Gospel of Nicodemus 233
Chapter Eleven: The Shepherd of Hermas 237
Chapter Twelve: The Protoevangelium of James 246
Chapter Thirteen: The Acts of Various Apostles 253
I. The Acts of Paul 254
II. The Acts of Peter 259
III. The Acts of John 262
IV. The Acts of Thomas 269
V. The Didache 278
Chapter Fourteen: Clementine Literature 284
1 Clement 287
2 Clement 290
Clementine Homilies 293
Afterword: The Scriptures within Holy Tradition 298
Appendix A: The Canonical List of St. Nikephoros the Confessor of Constantinople (Ninth Century ad) 303
Appendix B: Glossary 304
Appendix C: Further Reading 324
Index 325
