Read scriptures removed from our modern canon of the Bible & investigate the alignment of these books with scripture to gain back missing context.
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness...
Proverbs 25.2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
The Book of Enoch is one of the most important non-canonical works, and had a huge influence on early Christians. Preachers in Jesus day and for a few hundred years after were very familiar with it's teachings. It was later found in many manuscripts from the dead sea scrolls. In it Enoch, son of Jared and father of Methuselah (not the Enoch from Cain's line) is given visions of the Heavens above the firmament including the Throne Room of God and the ends of the earth, but also Sheol/Hades and even the lake of fire. It's well known for its details relating to the fallen class of angels known as the Watchers who using their knowledge of creation, mixed with women and bore the Titan-like creatures called Nephilim in Genesis 6. This being the reason for the flood as summarized in Genesis 6:5. Enoch also goes into the return of New Jerusalem and adds lots of context for events mentioned in Revelation and through the New Testament. This book add pretty clear context to the summary we're given in Genesis. Of course this destroys many narratives we were taught to believe in the world today and so it's naturally been hidden, but it fits extremely well with our modern 66 book canon and people in the Bible clearly understood the events of this book. Jesus even refers to himself as "The Son of Man" which comes first comes from the book of Enoch. Paired with a clear understanding of Biblical Cosmology, this book begins to makes sense of things we didn't quite grasp in our modern canon. Enoch wrote this book after being transported back into the Garden of Eden (a walled of Garden on the earth) as it was relayed to Noah who met him at that wall. (Check the study materials for more on that.)
Except for some Greek Orthodox, Episcopal, or Lutheran Bibles, 1 and 2 Esdras do not appear in most Bibles. Authorship and dating of 1 and 2 Esdras is debated, but some scholars place the writing of certain portions of 2 Esdras as late as the 2nd century AD. “Esdras” is another form of the name Ezra, which means “help.” This is not found in the modern Catholic version of the Bible and was taken from their canon in 1564 at the Roman Catholic Council of Trent. With Sheol/Hades being a necessary understanding for this book, it's no wonder it was removed, seeing that their leadership puts a major emphasis on purgatory, which is not scriptural in any book of the Bible. So you can see why this work isn't common, but you can find it in the 1611 Edition of the King James Bible. Second Esdras was written too late to be included in the Septuagint and, therefore, does not appear within the more prominent canon (Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox). Second Esdras is also known by many other names, making it difficult to track fully. For example, 2 Esdras contains portions known in some circles as 3 Ezra, 4 Ezra, 5 Ezra, and 6 Ezra. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, whereas the Eastern Armenian Church labels it as 3 Ezra. Further, some scholars believe these books were written by several authors, including some possibly as late as the second century AD. Second Esdras is often referred to as the Jewish Apocalypse of Ezra and contains seven visions of Ezra dealing with his angst over the pain and suffering inflicted upon Jews by Gentiles. Some scholars believe the book was written shortly after the AD 70 destruction of the temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81—96). While there is a definite tone of sadness in this work, there is consolation regarding ultimate retribution. There are six Messianic references within 2 Esdras.
Except for some Greek Orthodox, Episcopal, or Lutheran Bibles, 1 and 2 Esdras do not appear in most Bibles. Authorship and dating of 1 and 2 Esdras is debated, but some scholars place the writing of certain portions of 2 Esdras as late as the 2nd century AD. “Esdras” is another form of the name Ezra, which means “help.” This is not found in the modern Catholic version of the Bible and was taken from their canon in 1564 at the Roman Catholic Council of Trent. With Sheol/Hades being a necessary understanding for this book, it's no wonder it was removed, seeing that their leadership puts a major emphasis on purgatory, which is not scriptural in any book of the Bible. So you can see why this work isn't common, but you can find it in the 1611 Edition of the King James Bible. Second Esdras was written too late to be included in the Septuagint and, therefore, does not appear within the more prominent canon (Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox). Second Esdras is also known by many other names, making it difficult to track fully. For example, 2 Esdras contains portions known in some circles as 3 Ezra, 4 Ezra, 5 Ezra, and 6 Ezra. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, whereas the Eastern Armenian Church labels it as 3 Ezra. Further, some scholars believe these books were written by several authors, including some possibly as late as the second century AD. Second Esdras is often referred to as the Jewish Apocalypse of Ezra and contains seven visions of Ezra dealing with his angst over the pain and suffering inflicted upon Jews by Gentiles. Some scholars believe the book was written shortly after the AD 70 destruction of the temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81—96). While there is a definite tone of sadness in this work, there is consolation regarding ultimate retribution. There are six Messianic references within 2 Esdras.
This is the story of Abraham before God chose him to be the father of nations. The events of this book would be the reasons why God considered him righteous as he lived in a time when the people around him wanted to build a tower to Yahweh in an attempt to remove Him from his place as the Most High. Abraham sees the absurdity of His father's idol making business. His father continually makes excuses for these false gods lack of ability. Meanwhile Abraham keeps trying to get him to understand that these idols do nothing and he does so through pretty fun interactions with them. This is a pretty funny book really. Because of Abrahams righteousness (he kept God's laws when no one else did) the Most High sends an Angel to guide him out of his current situation and into what we see later in Genesis. He receives visions from Yahweh of the different heavens (layers of the firmament). It's no wonder Abraham was so faithful in Genesis. This story add a lot of context to the life of Abraham.
This is a great read that adds much clarity to the story of Adam and Eve. In in Adam dies and has an epic burial ceremony by the angels. Eve recounts the story of how they were deceived by Satan and how Satan used a serpent to do so, in order that her children may not fall for his traps again. There's more detail around the curse for the snake. It also brings more clarity around the Garden it's elf and how it was a walled-off garden on Earth. I don't see anything in this book that does't just add clarity to the account in Genesis.
Bel and the Dragon is one of several additions to the book of Daniel. The original book of Daniel ends after chapter twelve. The extra material is found only in translations, such as the Septuagint and the 1611 King James, but not in modern Masoretic. Chapter 13 is known as the “Song of the Three Children”; chapter 14 is the book of “Susanna” and chapter 15 is “Bel and the Dragon.” It's read as one narrative split in three parts.
The Book of Jubilees, probably written in the 2nd century B.C.E., is an account of the Biblical history of the world from creation to Moses. It is divided into periods ('Jubilees') of 49 years. For the most part the narrative follows the familiar account in Genesis, but with some additional details such as the names of Adam and Eve's daughters, and an active role for a demonic entity called 'Mastema' (who is Satan). The anonymous author had a preoccupation with calendar reform, and uses Jubilees as a platform for proposing a solar calendar of 364 days and 12 months; this would have been a radical departure from the Jewish Calendar, which is lunar-based. There are also a couple of messianic, apocalyptic passages, although quite a bit less than the Book of Enoch. The only complete version of Jubilees is in Ethiopian, although large fragments in Greek, Latin and Syriac are also known. It is believed that it was originally written in Hebrew. If at times one gets the impression that you are reading a first draft of Genesis, you are in good company. R.H. Charles, the translator, a distinguished academic Biblical scholar, concluded that Jubilees was a version of the Pentateuch, written in Hebrew, parts of which later became incorporated into the earliest Greek version of the Jewish Bible, the Septuagint. In summary this book is all about the Lawn of Yahweh and it's critical scripture for understanding the thoughts and content of all the characters in the books we know today. All of them certainly had learned these writings.
In this story, Daniel uses the God's Law as He indented to rebuke false priests who defame a young, virgin, girl to suit their own pleasure. They twist the law to turn it against her and Daniel uses his true understanding of it to defeat them at their own game.
Written about 100 years before Christ, this book recounts Levi's perspective as he is shown the multiple heavens (layers of the firmament) and what takes place in each. He also prophesies of Yeshua's coming.
This book is an expansion on Daniel 3 when Shadrach Meshach and Abednigo were thrown into the furnace. Their Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So Azariah is Abednego. These passages fit in between Daniel 3:23 & 24. This book describes the angel that was with them that came in the agency of Yahweh and how it protected them. It's also a recount of the song they sung to Yahweh in the midst of it all. This book was found in the Septuagint translation of the Bible back before Pharisees removed it from our more modern translations and it's found in the old King James as well. After that it became pretty well hidden except for in the catholic church's set of books.