The documents in this book were written soon after Christ"s Crucifixion, during the early spread of Christianity. But when the Bible was compiled in the end of the fourth century, these texts were not among those chosen. They were suppressed by the Church, and for over 1500 years were shrouded in secrecy. These writings are by and about many of the important figures in the New Testament. They express much the same zeal and earnestness about their subject as do the pieces in the New Testament. And yet, until they were translated in their entirety, they were the peculiar esoteric property of the clergy and other learned people, available only in the original tongues. We can now judge these texts for ourselves. We see much more here of Jesus as a child than we do in the New Testament. Peter and Nicodemus, who were so close to Jesus, give us their versions of His life. There is an account of Mary"s life before Christ"s birth, and there are several letters that supplement our knowledge about the early Christians and the spread of Christianity. There is no doubt that, whatever else we may find in these texts, we cannot help enjoying them for their beauty and directness. They also significantly increase our understanding of the first century A.D. in Judea, the world where Jesus lived. For those who want to know more about this crucial period in our history, this book is a major event. With 32 illustrations from ancient paintings and missals