Apocryphal New Testament

Christian writings not included in the authoritative canon of the NT which claim to be reminiscences of the life of the young Jesus and his miraculous powers, or supplements to the book of Acts about apostles who were there passed over. Several epistles and apocalypses also exist. Although these works, deriving from the 2nd to the 9th cent., in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and other languages, give little reliable information about Christian origins, they do contribute to our understanding of Christian thought and the life and piety of these centuries. The discoveries at Nag Hammadi have revealed many previously unknown apocryphal documents, some of which purport to give Christ's teaching to the disciples between the resurrection and ascension (the period is conveniently lengthened from 40 to 550 days).