VIEWPOINT
Not Secret
Unlike the Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, believed to have been compiled as early as the sixth century, the lost books of the Bible are mentioned in Scripture. Based on information on the site at Wikipedia, this list of books is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible:
Book of Jasher: Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18, and is supposedly referenced in 2 Timothy 3:8.
Book of the Wars of the Lord: Numbers 21:14, and is cited in the Book of Jasher (mentioned above).
Chronicles of the Kings of Israel and Chronicles of the Kings of Judah: 1 Kings 14:19, 29, and 1 Kings 16:20, and others.
Book of Shemaiah the Prophet and Visions of Iddo the Seer: 2 Chronicles 9:29, 12:15, and 13:22.
Manner of the Kingdom: 1 Samuel 10:25 (possible reference only).
Acts of Solomon: 1 Kings 11:41.
Annals of King David: 1 Chronicles 27:24.
Book of Samuel the Seer: 1 Chronicles 29:29.
Book of Nathan the Prophet: 1 Chronicles 29:29, and 2 Chronicles 9:29.
Book of Gad the Seer: 1 Chronicles 29:29.
Prophecy of Ahijah: 2 Chronicles 9:29.
Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel: 2 Chronicles 16:11, 2 Chronicles 27:7, and 2 Chronicles 32:32.
Book of Jehu: 2 Chronicles 20:34.
Story of the Book of Kings: 2 Chronicles 24:27.
Acts of Uzziah: 2 Chronicles 26:22.
Vision of Isaiah: 2 Chronicles 32:32.
Acts of the Kings of Israel: 2 Chronicles 33:18.
The Sayings of the Seers: 2 Chronicles 33:19.
Laments for Josiah: 2 chronicles 35:25 (also called Lamentations)
Chronicles of King Ahaseurus: Esther 2:23, Esther 6:1, Esther 10:2, and Nehemiah 12:23.
These are the real "Lost Books of the Bible". No one knows for sure what is written in them. They are lost because they have never been found.
Not lost, just discarded
Other so-called "lost books" we have chased are usually found to have been written well after the first century and are pseudegraphical (fake copies that claim to be the originals). These are obviously not lost, but the contents are suspect. The book of Enoch has been found to be written sometime between the second century B.C. and the end of the first century, so it would have been hard for the original Enoch to have written it. However, we cannot be dogmatic about it.
Any reference to these books considered to be pseudegraphical should be done with care and with a disclaimer. One should always check to be sure that any comments do not contradict the canonical books.
Disagree? Find an error? Contact us at glenjjr@gmail.com and give us your view.
