Claim checked
Were books deliberately left out of the Bible?
No, there was no conspiracy to hide the truth. The church recognized, rather than invented, which writings were apostolic and already trusted everywhere. The so-called lost gospels were written later, were not from the apostles, and were never widely used by Christians.
What it actually is
The books of the New Testament were recognized, not arbitrarily chosen. The early church tested writings by whether they came from the apostles or their close circle, agreed with the received faith, and were already read across the churches. The four Gospels were widely accepted long before any council listed them.
The famous “lost gospels,” like the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Judas, were written later (often in the second century or after), reflect gnostic ideas foreign to the apostles, and were never widely embraced. They were not suppressed truths; they were later alternatives the church did not receive.
What the Bible actually says
A better question than the quote
Behind every “is this in the Bible?” is a gentler one: what does the Bible actually say, and who is the Jesus at the center of it? You do not have to take our word for it, ours least of all. Read his own words and see for yourself. It costs nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.
Meet JesusHis words and actsRead the Gospel of JohnJesus Christ is Lord.
Frequently asked questions
- Were books deliberately left out of the Bible?
- No. The church recognized which writings were apostolic and already widely trusted. The later 'lost gospels' were not from the apostles and were never widely used, so they were not received, not suppressed.
- What about the Gospel of Thomas?
- The Gospel of Thomas was written later than the four Gospels, reflects gnostic ideas foreign to the apostles, and was never widely accepted by the early church.