The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities

by Darrell L. Bock

Publisher:

Thomas Nelson

, 2007

Overview

IS JESUS WHO YOU THINK HE IS?

Perhaps you've heard the recent buzz about "alternative Christianities" and "new gospels." Speculations have shown up in magazines, documentaries, popular fiction, and even on the big screen. Much of the controversy stems from a library of ancient texts found at Nag Hammadi, Egypt. Now revolutionary questions about the Christian faith are being raised as a result of these findings:

• Is Jesus truly a divine Savior or just a teacher of wisdom?
• Is orthodoxy a by-product of third-century or fourth-century theologians?
• Did Judas betray Jesus because of evil intent or a request by Jesus?
• Does salvation include the physical body or just the soul?

Darrell L. Bock takes you on a tour of the new claims as well as the controversial writings, examining their origins and comparing them with traditional sources. With discussion questions for group or individual study at the end of each chapter, The Missing Gospels will help you understand the messages of all of these writings so you can form your own opinion. This provocative work could even change what you believe!

Contents

Top Highlights

“This book is about the discovery of new documents, buzz, the writing of history for a popular audience, and an old faith. The year 2005 marked the sixtieth anniversary of one of the major discoveries of our time, a library of ancient texts found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt. This discovery has unleashed a host of popular works about how this library of fifty-two Coptic language texts should change the way we look at Jesus and Christianity because they included several ‘new’ gospels and dialogue texts involving Jesus. Using catchy titles with such words as alternative or lost Christianities or missing, secret, lost, or Gnostic gospels, these modern works argue for a makeover of Christianity.” (source)

“These texts have value because of when they were written, and because of the persons who did the writing and their relationships to Jesus or those around Him.” (source)

“the worship and the people who nurtured such views” (source)

Product Details

• Title : The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities
• Author: Bock, Darrell L.
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Publication Date: 2007
• ISBN: 9781418578107

About Darrell L. Bock

Dr. Darrell L. Bock, research professor of New Testament studies and professor of spiritual development and culture at Dallas Theological Seminary, serves as editor-at-large for Christianity Today, and is on the board of Chosen People Ministries and Wheaton College. From 2000 to 2001, Dr. Bock served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society.

He has earned international recognition as a Humboldt Scholar for his work in Luke-Acts, historical Jesus study, biblical theology, as well as with messianic Jewish ministries. He has published articles in the Los Angeles Times and The Dallas Morning News and is a well-known author of over 30 books. His publications include Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods,Jesus According to Scripture, an NIV Application Commentary on Luke, Breaking the Da Vinci Code, and commentaries on Acts and Luke in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (BECNT) series.