What is the best collection of pseudepigrapha and apocrypha?

[GFV]

Bit of a beginner here! Does anyone have any suggestions on the best text collection of extra books of the bible? Physical copies, I'm sure it's all available online but I really want book copies. Old testament in particular.

I am looking at a 2 volume set of Old Testament Pseudepigrapha by James H. Charlesworth but it's quite expensive. I know some bibles come with 'the apocrypha' but I'm sure these leave some of the more interesting gnostic books out. Is the above the standard collection? Is it as extensive as it is expensive?

Am I asking in the right part of the forum?
Thanks for any help/suggestions!

[ne1]

I believe the Charlesworth edition is the standard in scholarship. I know it is expensive, but it is, if I may say, well worth the price. He has an extensive collection (thus it is cheaper than finding them separately). He also does a good job of translation, editing, and overall organization.

I also have on my shelf a two volume set (which is cheaper) of The Missing Books of the Bible ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/140958334672?lpid=82 ) as well as the The Gnostic Bible (http://www.amazon.com/Gnostic-Bible-Rev ... +barnstone) . Both of these have texts that are not in Charlesworth.

Hope this helps

[GFV]

Very cool. Thanks. The other books are quite a bit cheaper, do they contain all the books in the Charlesworth volumes? I'm a bit of a completist.


I actually found a pair of the Charlesworth volumes for less than 50 dollars, not too bad considering the size of the two books. My birthday is coming up next month too. Still though, the pair of the missing books of the Bible along with the gnostic bible works out at less than 20. What do you reckon?

[ne1]

Actually they all contain different texts. There are a couple of repeats but not many. If you can find the Charlesworth edition cheap (I've seen it go down to 30 but that is as low as I've ever seen) I would snag it. It has the advantages of also including manuscript variants and has extensive notes.

Again I don't know if these are the best (except the Charlesworth edition, which is the scholarly standard, I believe), these are just what I happen to have on my shelf. So in short, if you can afford them, I'd recommend all three.

[GFV]

Thanks Bud!