Apocrypha | Exploring the enigmatic apocryphal writings beyond the canon of Scripture.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library

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Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Phlegon of Tralles

The Roman historian Suetonius, writing within about 90 years of Christ’s death (circa AD 120), mentions both Christ, as the originator of the Christian sect, and Christians generally, in the context of the persecutions unleashed by both Claudius and Nero.

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Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Suetonius on Christians

Tacitus, a Roman senator and historian, who held strong, anti-Christian views, nevertheless confirmed both Christ’s existence, His death under Pontius Pilate, and the unfair persecution and genocide of Christians in Rome at the behest of Nero, who used false charges to justify the killings. He wrote circa AD 116.

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Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Tacitus on Christians

Pliny the Younger was governor of Bithynia from AD 110–113 and wrote to the emperor Trajan regarding the burgeoning Christian religion which was rapidly spreading. Pliny’s letter and Trajan’s response not only provide one of the earliest secular references to Christianity, but demonstrate that the faith was both mature and widespread by the late 1st century and early 2nd century, mere years after John’s Revelation.

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Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Pliny the Younger on Christians

Mara bar Serapion was a stoic philosopher, writing shortly after AD 73, who apparently referenced the death of Jesus.

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Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Mar Bar Serapion on Jesus

The Kurkh Monoliths, from the 9th century BC, mention both King Ahab and Israel—the only explicit mention of Israel in ancient Assyrian and Babylonian records.

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Sacred Texts

Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Kurkh Monoliths

The Mesha Stele, from the 9th century BC, repeatedly references the king of Israel, might also reference David, and utilizes a script virtually identical to Paleo-Hebrew.

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Wikisource

Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Mesha Stele

The Merneptah Stele, from the 13th century BC, references Israel during the period of the Judges.

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Bible Dudes

Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Merneptah Stele

The Tel Dan Stele, from the 9th century BC, provides a reference to “the house of David,” proving the historicity of the Israelite king by that name.

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Museum of the Bible

Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Tel Dan Stele

The Admonitions of Ipuwer, from the Ipuwer Papyrus, were possibly composed in the same century as the Exodus and describe plagues across the land of Egypt and a great change of fortunes for the slaves of the land.

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Reshafim

Apocryphal Books > Key Extrabiblical References > Admonitions of Ipuwer

The Famine Stele is an inscription from the Ptolemaic period describing a seven-year famine during the reign of Djoser, a possible candidate for the pharaoh to whom Joseph reported. Some speculate Imhotep, Djoser’s chancellor, was in fact Joseph.

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