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Most biblical historians and the Catholic Church do not consider the majority of Apocryphal Writings canonical because they often present a picture of Jesus, his apostles, and events that differ from the four biblical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), both in content and theology.
Why These Texts Are Not Canon
- Different Portrait of Jesus: Many of these apocryphal writings include stories, teachings, and character traits for Jesus that are not found in the New Testament gospels. For example, some present miraculous and legendary events, describe Jesus in unusual ways (such as being extraordinarily tall or manifesting with a walking, talking cross), and may draw influences from outside sources like Greek or Gnostic traditions, making the depiction markedly different from the canonical portrayal of Jesus as a crucified Savior who died for humanity.
- Varied Theology: These texts frequently reflect theological ideas considered heretical or inconsistent with mainstream Christian doctrine, such as Gnostic beliefs (which claim Jesus brought secret knowledge and denied aspects of his humanity or divinity) or contain anecdotes that are not congruent with dogmatic truths upheld by the Church.
- Later Date and Authors: Scholars note most apocryphal texts were written generations after the apostles, and usually by unknown or pseudonymous authors. This raises doubts about their historical reliability and link to eyewitness accounts, which are essential marks of canonical writings.
- Lack of Liturgical Use and Apostolic Origin: The early Church outlined that New Testament texts must be traceable to the apostles or those close to them, used in worship, and conform to orthodox beliefs. Apocryphal texts do not meet these standards.
Historical Consensus
Most biblical historians agree that the non-canonical (apocryphal) gospels and acts were excluded precisely because they give a different picture of Jesus—one shaped by later communities, legendary embellishments, or foreign religious ideas—not the Jesus directly described by eyewitnesses or apostolic tradition. Therefore, these were not accepted into the Christian canon. Biblical historians and the Catholic Church consider these writings apocryphal (not canonical) because they often paint a different picture of Jesus than what is described in the canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Many apocryphal texts include legendary embellishments, Gnostic theology, or stories with details and teachings not found in the New Testament, and sometimes even contradict it. For example, apocryphal acts like the Gospel of Peter describe supernatural phenomena (such as Jesus represented as extraordinarily tall or accompanied by talking crosses) that do not appear in canonical accounts, showing influences from Greek, Roman, or heretical beliefs.
Because these writings were created much later—often second century or later—by unknown authors and lacked apostolic connection, their reliability and theological alignment with Christian doctrine were heavily doubted. As a result, the early church and most modern scholars exclude them from the canon, preferring the New Testament gospels for their historical proximity, doctrinal orthodoxy, and consistent portrayal of Jesus.