apocryphal gospels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, religious, historical
Quick answer
What does “apocryphal gospels” mean?
Ancient Christian writings about Jesus and his disciples not included in the New Testament canon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Ancient Christian writings about Jesus and his disciples not included in the New Testament canon.
Any texts of dubious authenticity or authority that claim to represent important teachings but are not officially recognized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning; usage identical in academic and religious contexts.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same scholarly and historical connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech; primarily used in academic/theological settings in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “apocryphal gospels” in a Sentence
The apocryphal gospels provide...Scholars debate the value of the apocryphal gospels.Several apocryphal gospels were discovered at Nag Hammadi.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apocryphal gospels” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No verb form derived directly from 'apocryphal gospels'.
American English
- No verb form derived directly from 'apocryphal gospels'.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form derived directly from 'apocryphal gospels'.
American English
- No adverb form derived directly from 'apocryphal gospels'.
adjective
British English
- The apocryphal gospel texts offer a different perspective.
American English
- These apocryphal gospel writings were excluded from the canon.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Common in theology, religious studies, ancient history, and literature departments.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might appear in documentaries or popular history books.
Technical
Specific term in biblical scholarship, manuscript studies, and early Christian history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apocryphal gospels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “apocryphal gospels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apocryphal gospels”
- Using 'apocryphal' as a synonym for 'old' or 'historical' without the connotation of disputed authenticity; confusing them with the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
By traditional orthodox Christian standards, yes, they are often viewed as heretical or non-authoritative. However, modern scholars study them as important historical sources for understanding early Christian diversity.
There are dozens, including well-known ones like the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Peter, and Gospel of Judas, along with many fragmentary texts.
No major Christian denomination includes them in their scriptural canon for doctrine, though some may reference them for historical or spiritual insight.
'Apocryphal' generally refers to texts not accepted in any major canon, while 'deuterocanonical' refers to books included in the Catholic and Orthodox Old Testament but not in the Protestant or Jewish canons.
Ancient Christian writings about Jesus and his disciples not included in the New Testament canon.
Apocryphal gospels is usually formal, academic, religious, historical in register.
Apocryphal gospels: in British English it is pronounced /əˌpɒk.rɪ.fəl ˈɡɒs.pəls/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpɑː.krə.fəl ˈɡɑː.spəls/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like an apocryphal gospel—interesting but not to be taken as truth.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
APOCRYPHAL = A-Proof-Of-Questionable-Religious-Yarns; GOSPELS = God's Other Stories, Perhaps Even Less Substantiated.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/TRUTH AS A CANON (apocryphal = outside the official collection).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of the apocryphal gospels?