Over 1,000 Pages and 21 BOOKS are MISSING in The Holy Bible! But Why?

Good morning friends, this is Alexander.

Diving deep into a topic that many are curious about—the 94 books in the Bible. Yes, you read that right, there are actually 94 books that have been considered sacred texts over time.

The Missing Books of the Bible

You might be familiar with the Protestant Bible, which includes only 66 books. The term “Sola Scriptura” often accompanies this, meaning that Protestants strictly follow the scriptures as they are and exclude other texts. The Catholic Bible, however, has 73 books. But that’s still not the full count. There were once 94 texts considered religiously significant. Let’s explore why some of these books were removed.

Watch the full video here where I cover ALL the missing books that didn’t make it into this blog post:

Why Were Some Books Removed?

The council that decided what should be included in the Bible had several reasons for excluding certain books:

1. Illogical ConsistencyBooks that didn’t align with the emerging Orthodox Christian doctrine were excluded. Texts containing teachings contrary to accepted views on Christ’s divinity or God’s nature were rejected. This was essentially a decision made by man, claiming to determine what is God’s word, which raises the question—who are we to decide which texts are “God’s”?
2. Apostolic OriginThere was a strong preference for texts believed to have been written by Jesus’ apostles. Texts that lacked this connection were often rejected. But doesn’t it seem odd to limit divine wisdom to just a few apostles when Jesus interacted with many others who might have had valuable perspectives?
3. Historical AcceptanceBooks accepted by the majority of early Christian communities were given preference. But what if these communities got it wrong? Can a book’s inclusion really be determined by popular consensus?
4. Political and Cultural InfluenceThe decisions about what made it into the Bible were also influenced by political and cultural factors of the time. Councils like the Council of Carthage helped define the canon, but these were shaped by the dominant Christian factions, not necessarily divine guidance. Power struggles often impact such decisions, and this was no exception.

The Missing Books: What’s In Them?

Let’s now look at some of the books that didn’t make the cut and explore what they’re about. While many of these books are part of Catholic or Orthodox Bibles, Protestants largely reject them.

1. The Book of EnochThis book remains in the Ethiopian Bible and covers fascinating topics such as the origins of lust on Earth, giants, and why the flood of Noah occurred. It’s essentially a prequel to the Noah story, discussing the fallen angels that brought lust to Earth.
2. The Book of JubileesOften called “Lesser Genesis,” it retells much of Genesis with added legal details and a focus on historical accuracy. It explains more about the creation of the world, including the angels, and provides additional narratives about figures like Abraham and Jacob. It’s a legalistic, calendar-focused expansion of Genesis, and while this might have been considered too complicated for some, it offers an interesting view of creation.
3. TobitThis narrative tells the story of Tobit, his son Tobias, and the angel Raphael. It’s a tale of faith, healing, and marriage, and while it’s in the Catholic canon, it’s often left out of Protestant Bibles.
4. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)This book is a collection of ethical teachings that promote wisdom, humility, and righteousness. It’s included in the Catholic canon and offers profound insights into leading a godly life.
5. The Wisdom of SolomonA beautiful work discussing wisdom, mortality, and apologetics for the Jewish faith. It provides historical accounts, such as the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which is the origin of Hanukkah. This book is in the Catholic canon but not in the Protestant Bible.

Apocryphal and Gnostic Texts

The apocryphal books are those not included in either the Catholic or Protestant canons. These texts provide alternative perspectives on Christianity and the life of Jesus.

1. The Gospel of ThomasA collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, focusing more on his teachings in a gnostic context, but not included in any traditional Christian canon.
2. The Acts of Paul and TheclaThis text focuses on Thecla, a female disciple of Paul. It’s intriguing because Paul’s letters often emphasize that women should not preach or speak in church, yet this story highlights Thecla’s role as a missionary and celibate follower of Christ.
3. The Gospel of MaryThis gospel provides a female-centric perspective on Jesus, focusing on the teachings of Mary Magdalene. It was excluded, likely because of the time’s patriarchal views. Today, however, a female perspective on Jesus’ works is valuable and meaningful.

Why Do These Books Matter?

So why are we interested in these missing books? Simply put, they provide valuable insights into early Christian thoughts, teachings, and perspectives that were either ignored or suppressed. There’s much more to the Bible than what made it into the Protestant canon.

While some of these texts were removed due to political and cultural influences, others contain deep spiritual wisdom. They help us understand different perspectives on Christ’s teachings, offering richer context to our understanding of God’s word.

Exploring the Full Bible

I have a huge tome containing all these lost and rejected scriptures. It’s a fascinating read, and I encourage you to explore it. If you’re interested, I’ll be going over all of these books on my channel, so make sure you stick around!

The key takeaway here is that while the Bible we know today is a sacred text, there’s so much more out there. Some of these books offer deeper insights into God’s word, and exploring them could enrich your spiritual journey. Whether you’re exploring the apocryphal texts or learning about early Christian perspectives, there’s a lot to discover.

Stay tuned as we dive into these fascinating texts together. Also, expect some content on masculinity as I continue to cover that topic. Thanks for being part of this journey, and I’ll see you in the next video!