Extra-biblical writings alluded in the Bible

1. Extra-biblical writings and intertextuality

Extra-biblical writings (that is, writings found outside of the Bible) predating some books of the Bible can be alluded to within the Bible. 

"Intertextuality" is a field attempting to highlight the relationship between texts (as some earlier texts can be alluded to in other later texts). 

2. Examples of intertextuality - Possible quotes

Acts 17:28 (WEB): "‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’"

Aratus (Greek poet): "It is with Zeus that every way has to do, for we are also his offspring."

1 Corinthians 15:33 (WEB): "Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”"

Menander (Greek dramatist), Thais 218: "Communion with the bad corrupts good character."

Jude 1:14-15 (WEB): "About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”"

1 Enoch 1:9: "And behold! He comes with ten thousands of ⌈His⌉ holy ones to execute judgement upon all, And to destroy ⌈all⌉ the ungodly: And to convict all flesh of all the works ⌈of their ungodliness⌉ which they have ungodly committed, And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners ⌈have spoken⌉ against Him"

3. Examples of intertextuality - Possible allusions

Matthew 7:13-14 (WEB): "Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it."

Testament of Abraham 11:1-3: "So Michael turned the chariot and brought Abraham to the east, to the first gate of heaven; and Abraham saw two ways, the one narrow and contracted, the other broad and spacious, and there he saw two gates, the one broad on the broad way, and the other narrow on the narrow way."

2 Corinthians 11:14 (WEB): "And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light."

Life of Adam and Eve 2:11: "Then Satan grew angry and transfigured himself into the brilliance of an angel"

Hebrews 11:37 (WEB): "They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted."

Ascension of Isaiah 5:11: "And they seized Isaiah the son of Amoz and sawed him in half with a wood saw."

4. Free sources for more examples of intertextuality

Here are sources listing more allusions and quotes in the New Testament from older texts (click on the text):

Source pdf: Index of New Testament Allusions to Books of the Pseudepigrapha.

Source website: intertextual.bible

5. Free source to read ancient extra-biblical texts

Source website: pseudepigrapha.com (under the category "Pseudepigrapha")

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