Were the apocryphal gospels as popular and widespread as the canonical gospels? This article argues to the contrary, with three pieces of evidence: the extant manuscripts, the (in)frequency of their citation, and the way they are cited. The majority of early Christians preferred the books that are now in our New Testament canon.

A development took place in the Jewish messianic expectation during the intertestamental period that can be found in apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings. The idea that developed was that the Messiah would be a Levitical priest. This essay surveys the relevant passages.