Non-canonical Epistles Trivia Quiz

Answer: A letter

The New Testament canon contains epistles written by Paul, Jude, John, and James, as well as the anonymous epistle to the Hebrews.

Answer: Abgarus

The epistles to and from Jesus appeared in Eusebius's "Ecclesiastical History". In the epistles, Abgarus writes to invite Jesus to pay a visit, and Jesus writes back to decline. Few scholars would argue that the epistles are authentic, though they were popular among the common people.

Answer: Laodiceans

1 Timothy and 2 Corinthians are both canonical. There is nothing unorthodox in this epistle to the Laodiceans; it was most likely excluded form the canon because it was considered a forgery.

Answer: Seneca

There are a total of thirteen epistles attributed to Paul and Seneca. Seneca praises Paul for his wisdom and tells him he is determined to read Paul's epistles to Caesar. Because of these letters, St. Jerome listed Seneca among the holy writers of the Church.

The epistles are thought by scholars to have been forged by a Christian or Christians who wondered why Paul seemed to be unknown to the leading figures of his day.

Answer: Clement

Clement's epistles were, according to Eusebius, read publicly in the early church. 1 Clement is, in fact, included in some early canon lists.

Answer: Barnabas

Most scholars now agree that the epistle was not actually written by Barnabas. In the epistle, the Mosaic law is interpreted figuratively, and the author claims that the Jews were led astray by an evil angel into interpreting it literally. This reflects a later drifting of Christianity from its Jewish roots as well as the beginnings of the development of Christian anti-Semitism. Nor is it a view commonly held among Christians today, most of whom believe the Mosaic law was intended to be taken literally, but which (under the new covenant) they no longer believe they are bound to keep. Nevertheless, the epistle was held in high regard by the early church, even if it did not become canonical.

Answer: Ignatius

Ignatius was a pagan convert to Christianity who was sentenced to be thrown to wild beasts in the arena sometime in the early second century (probably around 107 A.D.). While traveling under guard to Rome, he wrote epistles to the Ephesians, the Magnesisans, the Trallians, the Romans, the Philadelpians, the Smyrnaeans, and to Polycarp.

Answer: Polycarp

Polycarp, when asked for recognition by Maricon, is rumored to have replied, "I recognize you as the first-born of Satan." (Maricon taught that the God of the New Testament was the true god and the god of the Old Testament was an evil god.)

Answer: None of these

These epistles were not regarded as containing unorthodox doctrines; there was one Gentile author included in the New Testament (Luke); and all of these epistles were written before the canon was closed. The epistles of these three early church fathers may possibly have been excluded because they were not considered ancient enough--most of the New Testament epistles were written in the first century; these were written in the second.

Answer: 3 Corinthians

The Acts of John is an apocryphal (i.e. non-canonical) book describing the ministry and miracles of the Apostle John. There also exists a work called the Acts of Paul and Thecla.