The TheoDoor Project
Ancient text research resources
The TheoDoor Project brings together Hebrew and Greek biblical texts, rare writings from the Ethiopian Bible, infancy gospels, and other ancient religious works. Its collection spans Hebrew, Greek, Slavic (Church Slavonic), Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopian traditions, including materials in Ge’ez and Amharic. English translations and annotated study files help readers explore these texts and compare their sources.
Readers can investigate the Hebrew Bible, the Greek Septuagint and New Testament, Ethiopian works such as Meqabyan and the Book of Clement, and infancy narratives including the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, the Protoevangelium of James, and the Arabic Infancy Gospel. Available languages and translations vary by work.
Fifth Estate Publishing presents this guide to help readers explore the collection and connect their research with our published editions.
Created by Adrian Hills. Shared here with his permission.
Explore the TheoDoor collection · Read the project overview (PDF)
Credit and collaboration
We thank Adrian Hills, creator of the TheoDoor Project, for making this resource available and granting permission for this connection with Fifth Estate Publishing.
TheoDoor credits Breandan Lumpkin as a collaborator on its Ethiopic “Broad Canon” section. Its index lists his work on The Traditions of the Apostles, The Orders of the Apostles, The Canons of the Apostles, and The Book of Clement. Credit for each source text and translation remains with its identified creator.
Where should you begin?
Studying Enoch and the Watchers
Start with TheoDoor’s Book of Enoch study file (PDF). Read its introductory notes before comparing a short passage with the edition you use. The file identifies itself as preliminary, with unfinished textual notes.
For a collected reading edition, explore Joseph Lumpkin’s Books of Enoch, containing 1, 2, and 3 Enoch. Our guide to the three books helps you keep the works distinct.
Exploring the Ethiopian biblical tradition
Browse the Ethiopic “Broad Canon” sections of the TheoDoor index and note the translator named beside each entry. For related reading, see Breandan’s guide to names and places in the Book of Clement.
Comparing non-canonical writings
Choose one work that interests you, record its translator and source, then compare the same passage across editions. For a print anthology, see Lost Books of the Bible: The Great Rejected Texts and its contents guide. Check the contents before choosing a collection
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Questions about using the collection
Are these the same translations as Fifth Estate’s books?
Do not assume that matching titles mean matching translations. TheoDoor identifies sources and contributors in its index and files; our edition pages identify the books we publish. Check those details when citing or comparing a passage.
Can I read the materials online?
PDFs can generally be read in a browser. Many other files are Word documents intended for download. The project overview explains formats, fonts, and the status of its ongoing work.
How should I credit material I use?
Credit TheoDoor and the relevant text’s named contributors, and consult the source-specific terms. The project states a general CC BY 4.0 license with exceptions where source material has more restrictive terms. Linking here does not replace those terms.
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