The Suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the Original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete

A compilation of early Christian texts, likely produced in the early 19th century. The work aims to present and revive writings that were suppressed or omitted from the traditional New Testament, specifically highlighting those revered by primitive Christian communities in the first four centuries. It discusses various gospels and epistles often regarded as apocryphal, such as the Gospel of the Birth of Mary and the Protevangelion, and advocates for free inquiry and personal interpretation of scripture. The beginning of this collection introduces its intention to uplift the ''right of private judgment'' among Christians and encourage deeper exploration of faith beyond the canonical texts. The preface, authored by Edward Hancock, promotes an understanding of historical ecclesiastical authority and its role in the exclusion of these texts from accepted scripture. The opening texts recount the story of Mary, detailing her parents Joachim and Anna's despair over childlessness until an angel announces the impending birth of their daughter, emphasizing her pious upbringing and divine selection as the mother of Jesus. This structural introduction throughout the opening serves to establish a narrative foundation for numerous accounts that diverge from more widely accepted Christian teachings.