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added link to protoevangelion of james and didache under apocrypha section
Below are some examples of early apocryphal works (please note this short list is by no means exhaustive):
[[Didache]], anonymous instructional text which is considered Orthodox and studied by [[patristics|patristic]] scholars; written c. AD 50–120.
Gospel of Thomas - anonymous collection of (Gnostic) sayings attributed to Jesus Christ; written c. AD 50–140.
The Shepherd of Hermas, anonymous Christian text purportedly by the [[Apostle Hermas]]; contains a broad range of content, including prophecy, direct instruction and parables; written c. AD 100–160.
Gospel of Judas, anonymous gospel narrative attributed to [[Judas Iscariot]]; written c. AD 130–170. This "gospel," as well as several of the above like the Shepherd of Hermas, are part of the pseudepigrapha, or writings claiming to be by someone else other than their real author (generally someone more prestigious). [[Protoevangelion of James]], a second-century text purported to have been written by [[James the Just]], the brother of the Lord. [[image:CodexUsserianusPrimusFol149vCross.jpg|right|thumb|Image of a cross from a seventh-century manuscript in Greek, the language of the New Testament.]]
= Language =
The common language spoken in the Holy Land at the time of Jesus was Aramaic. However, the original text of the New Testament was most likely written in Koine Greek, the vernacular dialect in 1st-century Roman provinces, and has since been widely translated into other languages, most notably, Latin, Syriac, and Coptic. (However, some of the church fathers seem to imply that Matthew was originally written in Hebrew or more likely Aramaic, and there is another contention that the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote in Hebrew, which was translated into Greek by Luke. Neither view holds much support among contemporary scholars, who argue that the literary facets of Matthew and Hebrews suggest that they were composed directly in Greek, rather than being translated.)
