The Lost Books Of The Bible

Rutherford H. Platt

• Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9783849619077
• Topic: Theologie & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblischer Bezug

This volume contains all the Gospels, Epistles and other pieces that were attributed in the first four centuries to Jesus Christ and his companions.Contents: The History of The BibleThe Lost Books of The BibleINTRODUCTION TO THE LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLEPREFACEThe GOSPEL OF THE BIRTH OF MARYThe PROTEVANGELIONThe First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus ChristThomas's Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus ChristThe Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus, King of EdessaThe Gospel of NicodemusThe Apostles' Creed.The Epistle of Paul, The Apostle of the LaodiceansThe Epistle of Pau the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca's to PaulThe Acts of Paul and TheclaThe First Epistle of Clement to the CorinthiansThe Second Epistle of Clement to the CorinthiansThe General Epistle of BarnabasThe Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, of the Ephesians to IgnatiusThe Epistle of Ignatius to the MagnesiansThe Epistle of Ignatius to the TralliansThe Epistle of Ignatius to the RomansThe Epistle of Ignatius to the PhiladelphiansThe Epistle of Ignatius to the SmyrnaeansThe Epistle of Ignatius to PolycarpThe Epistle of Polycarp to the PhilippiansThe Shepherd of HermasThe Second Book of Hermas, called his Commands.The Third Book of Hermas, which is called his Similitudes.Letters Of Herod And Pilate.Connecting Roman History With The Death Of Christ At Jerusalem.Letter Of Herod To Pilate The Governor.Letter Of Pilate To Herod.The Epistle Of Pontius Pilate, Which He Wrote To The Roman Emperor Concerning Our Lord Jesus Christ.The Report Of Pilate The Governor, Concerning Our Lord Jesus Christ; Which Was Sent To Augustus Caesar, In Rome.The Report Of Pontius Pilate, Governor Of Judea;The Trial And Condemnation Of Pilate.The Death Of Pilate, Who Condemned Jesus.The Lost Gospel According To Peter

The Third Book of HERMAS, which is called his SIMILITUDES.

SIMILITUDE I.

That seeing we have no abiding city in this world, we ought to look after that which is to come.

AND he said unto me; Ye know that ye who are the servants of the Lord, live here as in a pilgrimage; for your city is far off from this city.

2 If, therefore, ye know your city in which ye are to dwell, why do ye here buy estates, and provide yourselves with delicacies, and stately buildings, and superfluous houses? For he that provides himself these things in this city, does not think of returning into his own city.

3 O foolish, and doubtful, and wretched man; who understandest not that all these things belong to other men, and are under the power of another. For the Lord of this city saith unto thee; Either obey my laws, or depart out of my city.

4 What therefore shalt thou do who art subject to a law in thine own city? Canst thou for thy estate, or for any of those things which thou hast provided, deny thy law? But if thou shalt deny it, and wilt afterwards return into thy own city, thou shalt not be received, but shall be excluded thence.

5 See therefore, that like a man in another country, thou procure no more to thyself than what is necessary, and sufficient for thee? and be ready, that when the God or Lord of this city shall drive thee out of it, thou mayst oppose his law, and go into thine own city; where thou mayst with all cheerfulness live according to thine own law with no wrong.

6 Take heed therefore ye that serve God, and have him in your hearts: work ye the works of God, being mindful both of his commands and of his promises, which he has promised; and be assured that he will make them good unto you; if ye shall keep his commandments.

7 Instead therefore of the possessions that ye would otherwise purchase, redeem those that are in want from their necessities, as every one is able; justify the widows; judge the cause of the fatherless; and spend your riches and your wealth in such works as these.

8 For, for this end has God enriched you, that ye might fulfil these kind of services. It is much better to do this, than to buy lands or houses; because all such things shall perish with this present time.

9 But what ye shall do for the name of the Lord, ye shall find in your city, and shall have joy without sadness or fear. Wherefore covet not the riches of the heathen; for they are destructive to the servants of God.

10 But trade with your own riches which you possess, by which ye may attain unto everlasting joy.

11 And do not commit adultery, nor touch any other man's wife, nor desire her; but covet that which is thy own business, and thou shalt be saved.

SIMILITUDE II.

As the vine is supported by the elm, so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor.

AS I was walking into the field, and considered the elm and the vine, and thought with myself of their fruits, an angel appeared unto me, and said unto me; What is it that thou thinkest upon thus long within thyself?

2 And I said unto him, Sir, I think of this vine and this elm because their fruits are fair. And he said unto me; These two trees are set for a pattern to the servants of God.

3 And I said unto him, Sir, I would know in what the pattern of these trees which thou mentionest, does consist. Hearken, saith he; seest thou this vine and this elm; Sir, said I, I see them,

4 This vine, saith he, is fruitful, but the elm is a tree without fruit. Nevertheless this vine unless it were set by this elm, and supported by it, would not bear much fruit; but lying along upon the ground, would bear but ill fruit, because it did not hang upon the elm; whereas, being supported upon the elm, it bears fruit both for itself and for that.

5 See, therefore, how the elm gives no less, but rather more fruit, than the vine. How, Sir, said I, does it bear more fruit than the vine? Because, said he, the vine being supported upon the elm gives both much and good fruit; whereas, if it lay along upon the ground, it would bear but little, and that very ill too.

6 This similitude, therefore, is set forth to the servants of God; and it represents the rich and poor man. I answered, Sir, make this manifest unto me. Hear, said he; the rich man has wealth; howbeit towards the Lord he is poor; for he is taken up about his riches, and prays but little to the Lord; and the prayers which he makes are lazy and without force.

7 When, therefore, the rich man reaches out to the poor those things which he wants, the poor man prays unto the Lord for the rich; and God grants unto the rich man all good things, because the poor man is rich in prayer; and his requests have great power with the Lord.

8 Then the rich man ministers all things to the poor, because he perceives that he is heard by the Lord: and he the more willingly and without doubting, affords him what he wants, and takes care that nothing be lacking to him.

9 And the poor man gives thanks unto the Lord for the rich; because they do both their work from the Lord.

10 With men therefore, the elm is not thought to give any fruit; and they know not neither understand that its company being added to the vine, the vine bears a double increase, both for itself and for the elm.

11 Even so the poor praying unto the Lord for the rich, are heard by him; and their riches are increased, because they minister to the poor of their wealth. They are therefore both made partakers of each other's good works.

12 Whosoever, therefore, shall do these things, he shall not be forsaken by the Lord, but shall be written in the book of life.

13 Happy are they who are rich, and perceive themselves to be increased: for he that is sensible of this, will be able to minister somewhat to others.

SIMILITUDE III.

As the green trees in the winter cannot be distinguished from the dry; so neither can the righteous from the wicked in t...