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New Testament Apocrypha
From a Greek word meaning "hidden away" or "secret," these are writings that early Church leaders rejected as not apostolic or divinely inspired. Although they vary widely in terms of quality and content, they remain invaluable resources for understanding the mind and world of the early Church. The main link above provides translations and commentaries and background on each of the texts. 

For good introductions:
- Apocrypha (From the New Catholic Encyclopedia)
- The New Testament Apocrypha (By Father William Most)

For various translations:
- Apocryphal Gospels
- Apocryphal Acts
- Apocryphal Writings
- Apocryphal Apocalypses


 The Nag Hammadi Library
A collection of gnostic texts, deemed heretical by the Church. This site provides introductions and translations of each of the 50 texts. For another collection, including excerpts from gnostic works quoted in Patristic and other sources see here. For samples of the early Church's teachings against gnosticism, see Patristic Polemical Works Against Gnosticism, which includes anti-gnostic writings from Hippolytus, Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Augustin, Chrystostom, Jerome and Ephraim. See here for other texts claimed as scripture by early heretics, see Manichean Writings. For a thorough review of the Catholic condemnation of these texts, see Gnosticism from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Deuterocanonical Old Testament
These are the seven books found in the Septuagint but not in the Hebrew Old Testament: Tobit, Judith, 1-2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch. They are considered canonical (or "deuterocanonical") by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox, but not by Jews and most Protestants. This site contains the RSV translations and historical introductions to these books and other non-canonical books.

For a good listing of how these texts might be used:
- Deuterocanonical References in the New Testament

Two helpful scholarly articles written from a Jewish perspective:
- Note on the Use of the Bible in 1 Maccabees
- On Something Biblical About II Maccabees


Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
Jewish writings, many from the "Inter-Testamental" period between the close of the Old Testament and the writing of the New Testament. These are not considered divinely inspired by the Church, but are important resources for studying the historical and literary contexts of the New Testament writings. For another good set of translations, try here.

 Introduction to the Intertestamental Judaism is one of the best available. Includes translations and background papers on:
- Jerusalem Temple
- Book of Daniel and Second Temple Judaism
- Qumran Community
- Spirit of Holiness as Eschatological Principle of Obedience

Also includes these excellent introductions to:
- The Book of Jubilees
- The Book of 1 Enoch
- Psalms of Solomon

 The following academic articles on individual Pseudepigraphic texts, will be useful to advance-level students:
- The Naming of Levi in the Book of Jubilees
By Betsy Halpern-Amaru of Vassar College
- The Angel Story in the Book of Jubilees
By James C. VanderKam of the University of Notre Dame


 Dead Sea Scrolls
The name given to writings dating from between the second century B.C. to the second century A.D. discovered in caves near the shores of the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956. While debate continues on their significance for understanding the early Church, the scrolls, which reflect the beliefs of the Essenes, a monastic sect of Jews, unquestionably add great depth to our understanding of the religious climate at the time of Jesus.

For background on the scrolls and their importance:
- Qumran Library 

For selections from the scrolls, we recommend:
- Scroll Excerpts
- Essene Texts on Baptism
- Essene Excerpts on the Messiah and Eschatology

The following academic articles, written mostly by Protestant and Jewish scholars, will be useful to advanced-level students:
- The Axis of History at Qumran
By Michael Stone of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- The Community of Goods among the First Christians and among the Essenes
By Justin Taylor, S.M. of University of Notre Dame
- Judean Nationalism in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls
By David Goodblatt of Univerity of California
- What Josephus Says about the Essenes in the Judean War
By Steve Mason of York University
- Descriptions of the Jerusalem Temple in Josephus and the Temple Scroll
By Lawrence Schiffman of New York University
- Public Fasts in the Judean Desert Scrolls and Associated Literature
By Noah Hacham
- A Common Heritage: Biblical Interpretation at Qumran and Its Implications
By Menahem Kister of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Shared Intertextual Interpretations in the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament
By George Brooke of University of Manchester
- Narrative Exegesis in the Dead Sea Scrolls
By Ida Frolich of Pazmany P. Catholic University of Hungrary
- The Law of Damascus Document - Between Bible and Mishnah
By Joseph Baumgarten of Baltimore Hebrew College
- Scripture and Law in 4Q265
By Joseph Baumgarten of Baltimore Hebrew College
- Pseudepigraphy at Qumran: Categories and Functions
By Moshe Bernstein of Yeshiva University
- The Temple Scroll and the Halakhic Pseudepigrapha of the Second Temple Period
By Lawrence Schiffman of New York University
- The Use and Function of Psalms from Qumran: Revisiting the Question
By Ellen Schuller of McMaster University
- Looking for Legal Midrash at Qumran
By Steven Fraade of Yale University
- The Case of the Day of Atonement Ritual
By Lawrence Schiffman of New York University
- Human and Angelic Prayer in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls
By Esther Chazon of Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Angelic Liturgy - Why? (Abstract)
By Rachel Elior of Hebrew University
- The Sources of Knowledge in Qumran and in Rabbinic Literature
By Paul Mandel of Jewish Theological Seminary
- The Nature and Function of Revelation in 1 Enoch, Jubilees, and Some Qumranic Documents
By George W.E. Nickelsburg, University of Iowa
- Patriarchs Who Worry About their Wives: A Haggadic Tendency in the Genesis Apocryphon
By George W.E. Nickelsburg, University of Iowa
- Qumran Laments and the Study of Lament Literature
By Adele Berlin of University of Maryland
- Communal Prayer at Qumran and Among the Rabbis
By Richard Sarason of Hebrew Union College
- The Rewritten Book of Joshua as Found at Qumran and Masada
By Emmanuel Tov
- Qumran and The Book of Noah
By Cana Werman of Ben Gurion University