1 The book which Jesus Christ revealed unto his disciples: and how that Jesus Christ revealed the book for the company (college) of the apostles, the disciples of Jesus Christ, even the book which is for all men. Simon and Cerinthus, the false apostles, concerning whom it is written that no man shall cleave unto them for there is in them deceit wherewith they bring men to destruction. (The book hath been written) that ye may be steadfast and not flinch nor be troubled, and depart not from the word of the Gospel which ye have heard. Like as we heard it, we keep it in remembrance and have written it for the whole world. We commend you our sons and our daughters in joy in the name of God the Father the Lord of the world, and of Jesus Christ. Let grace be multiplied upon you.
2 We, John, Thomas, Peter, Andrew, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Nathanael, Judas Zelotes, and Cephas, write unto the churches of the east and the west, of the north and the south declaring and imparting unto you that which concerneth our Lord Jesus Christ: we do write according as we have seen and heard and touched him, after that he was risen from the dead: and how that he revealed unto us things mighty and wonderful and true.
3 This know we: that our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ is God the Son of God, who was sent of God the Lord of the whole world, the maker and creator of it, who is named by all names and high above all powers, Lord of lords, King of kings, Ruler of rulers, the heavenly one, that sitteth above the cherubim and seraphim at the right hand of the throne of the Father: who by his word made the heavens, and formed the earth and that which is in it, and set bounds to the sea that it should not pass: the deeps also and fountains,that they should spring forth and flow over the earth: the day and the night, the sun and the moon, did he establish, and the stars in the heaven: that did separate the light from the darkness: that called forth hell, and in the twinkling of an eye ordained the rain of the winter, the snow (cloud), the hail, and the ice, and the days in their several seasons: that maketh the earth to quake and again establisheth it: that created man in his own image, after his likeness, and by the fathers of old and the prophets is it declared (or, and spake in parables with the fathers of old and the prophets in verity), of whom the apostles preached, and whom the disciples did touch. In God, the Lord, the Son of God, do we believe, that he is the word become flesh: that of Mary the holy virgin he took a body, begotten of the Holy Ghost, not of the will (lust) of the flesh, but by the will of God: that he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem and made manifest, and grew up and came to ripe age, when also we beheld it.
4 This did our Lord Jesus Christ, who was sent by Joseph and Mary his mother to be taught. [And] when he that taught him said unto him: Say Alpha: then answered he and said: Tell thou me first what is Beta (probably: Tell thou me first what is Beta. Cf. the Marcosian story quoted by Irenaeus (see above, Gospel of Thomas)- The story is in our texts of the Gospel of Thomas, and runs through all the Infancy Gospels). This thing which then came to pass Is true and of verity.
5 Thereafter was there a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and they bade him with his mother and his brethren, and he changed water into wine. He raised the dead, he caused the lame to walk: him whose hand was withered he caused to stretch it out, and the woman which had suffered an issue of blood twelve years touched the hem of his garment and was healed in the same hour. And when we marvelled at the miracle which was done, he said: Who touched me? Then said we: Lord, the press of men hath touched thee. But he answered and said unto us: I perceive that a virtue is gone out of me. Straightway that woman came before him, and answered and said unto him: Lord, I touched thee. And he answered and said unto her: Go, thy faith hath made thee whole. Thereafter he made the deaf to hear and the blind to see; out of them that were possessed he cast out the unclean spirits, and cleansed the lepers. The spirit which dwelt in a man, whereof the name was Legion, cried out against Jesus, saying: Before the time of our destruction is come, thou art come to drive us out. But the Lord Jesus rebuked him, saying: Go out of this man and do him no hurt. And he entered into the swine and drowned them in the water and they were choked.
Thereafter he did walk upon the sea, and the winds blew, and he cried out against them (rebuked them), and the waves of the sea were made calm. And when we his disciples had no money, we asked him: What shall we do because of the tax-gatherer? And he answered and told us: Let one of you cast an hook into the deep, and take out a fish, and he shall find therein a penny: that give unto the tax-gatherer for me and you. And thereafter when we had no bread, but only five loaves and two fishes, he commanded the people to sit them down, and the number of them was five thousand, besides children and women. We did set pieces of bread before them, and they ate and were filled, and there remained over, and we filled twelve baskets full of the fragments, asking one another and saying: What mean these five loaves? They are the symbol of our faith in the Lord of the Christians (in the great christendom), even in the Father, the Lord Almighty, and in Jesus Christ our redeemer, in the Holy Ghost the comforter, in the holy church, and in the remission of sins.
6 These things did our Lord and Saviour reveal unto us and teach us. And we do even as he, that ye may become partakers in the grace of our Lord and in our ministry and our giving of thanks (glory), and think upon life eternal. Be ye steadfast and waver not in the knowledge and confidence of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he will have mercy on you and save you everlastingly, world without end.
Here begins the Coptic text.
7 Cerinthus and Simon are come to go to and fro in the world, but they are enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they do pervert the word and the true thing, even (faith in) Jesus Christ. Keep yourselves therefore far from them, for death is in them, and great pollution and corruption, even in these on whom shall come judgement and the end and everlasting destruction.
8 Therefore have we not shrunk from writing unto you concerning the testimony of Christ our Saviour, of what he did, when we followed with him, how he enlightened our understanding . . . .
9 Concerning whom we testify that the Lord is he who was crucified by Pontius Pilate and Archelaus between the two thieves (and with them he was taken down from the tree of the cross, Eth.), and was buried in a place which is called the place of a skull (Kranion). And thither went three women, Mary, she that was kin to Martha, and Mary Magdalene (Sarrha, Martha, and Mary, Eth.), and took ointments to pour upon the body, weeping and mourning over that which was come to pass. And when they drew near to the sepulchre, they looked in and found not the body (Eth. they found the stone rolled away and opened the entrance).
10 And as they mourned and wept, the Lord showed himself unto them and said to them: For whom weep ye? weep no more I am he whom ye seek. But let one of you go to your brethren and say: Come ye, the Master is risen from the dead. Martha (Mary, Eth.) came and told us. We said unto her: What have we to do with thee, woman? He that is dead and buried, is it possible that he should live? And we believed her not that the Saviour was risen from the dead. Then she returned unto the Lord and said unto him: None of them hath believed me, that thou livest. He said: Let another of you go unto them and tell them again. Mary (Sarrha, Eth.) came and told us again, and we believed her not; and she returned unto the Lord and she also told him.
11 Then said the Lord unto Mary and her sisters: Let us go unto them. And he came and found us within (sitting veiled or fishing, Eth.), and called us out, but we thought that it was a phantom and believed not that it was the Lord. Then said he unto us: Come, fear ye not. I am your master, even he, O Peter, whom thou didst deny thrice; and dost thou now deny again? And we came unto him, doubting in our hearts whether it were he. Then said he unto us: Wherefore doubt ye still, and are unbelieving? I am he that spake unto you of my flesh and my death and my resurrection. But that ye may know that I am he, do thou, Peter, put thy finger into the print of the nails in mine hands, and thou also, Thomas, put thy finger into the wound of the spear in my side; but thou, Andrew, look on my feet and see whether they press the earth; for it is written in the prophet: A phantom of a devil maketh no footprint on the earth.
12 And we touched him, that we might learn of a truth whether he were risen in the flesh; and we fell on our faces (and worshipped him) confessing our sin, that we had been unbelieving. Then said our Lord and Saviour unto us: Rise up, and I will reveal unto you that which is above the heaven and in the heaven, and your rest which is in the kingdom of heaven. For my Father hath given me power (sent me, Eth.) to take you up thither, and them also that believe on me.
13 Now that which he revealed unto us is this, which he spake: It came to pass when I was about (minded) to come hither from the Father of all things, and passed through the heavens, then did I put on the wisdom of the Father, and I put on the power of his might. I was in heaven, and I passed by the archangels and the angels in their likeness, like as if I were one of them, among the princedoms and powers. I passed through them because I possessed the wisdom of him that had sent me. Now the chief captain of the angels, [is] Michael, and Gabriel and Uriel and Raphael followed me unto the fifth firmament (heaven), for they thought in their heart that I was one of them; such power was given me of my Father. And on that day did I adorn the archangels with a wonderful voice (so Copt.: Eth., Lat., I made them quake -amazed them), so that they should go unto the altar of the Father and serve and fulfil the ministry until I should return unto him. And so wrought I the likeness by my wisdom; for I became all things in all, that I might praise the dispensation of the Father and fulfil the glory of him that sent me (the verbs might well be transposed) and return unto him. (Here the Latin omits a considerable portion of text without notice, to near the beginning of c. 17.)
14 For ye know that the angel Gabriel brought the message unto Mary. And we answered: Yea, Lord. He answered and said unto us: Remember ye not, then, that I said unto you a little while ago: I became an angel among the angels, and I became all things in all? We said unto him: Yea, Lord. Then answered he and said unto us: On that day whereon I took the form of the angel Gabriel, I appeared unto Mary and spake with her. Her heart accepted me, and she believed (She believed and laughed, Eth.), and I formed myself and entered into her body. I became flesh, for I alone was a minister unto myself in that which concerned Mary (I was mine own messenger, Eth.) in the appearance of the shape of an angel. For so must I needs (or, was I wont to) do. Thereafter did I return to my Father (Copt. After my return to the Father, and run on).
15 But do ye commemorate my death. Now when the Passover (Easter, pascha) cometh, one of you shall be cast into prison for my names sake; and he will be in grief and sorrow, because ye keep the Easter while he is in prison and separated from you, for he will be sorrowful because he keepeth not Easter with you. And I will send my power in the form of mine angel Gabriel, and the doors of the prison shall open. And he shall come forth and come unto you and keep the night-watch with you until the cock crow. And when ye have accomplished the memorial which is made of me, and the Agape (love-feast), he shall again be cast into prison for a testimony, until he shall come out thence and preach that which I have delivered unto you.
And we said unto him: Lord, is it then needful that we should again take the cup and drink? (Lord, didst not thou thyself fulfil the drinking of the Passover? is it then needful that we should accomplish it again? Eth.) He said unto us: Yea, it is needful, until the day when I come again, with them that have been put to death for my sake (come with my wounds, Eth.).
16 Then said we to him: Lord, that which thou hast revealed unto us (revealest, Eth.) is great. Wilt thou come in the power of any creature or in an appearance of any kind? (In what power or form wilt thou come? Eth.) He answered and said unto us: Verily I say unto you, I shall come like the sun when it is risen, and my brightness will be seven times the brightness thereof! The wings of the clouds shall bear me in brightness, and the sign of the cross shall go before me, and I shall come upon earth to judge the quick and the dead.
17 We said unto him: Lord, after how many years shall this come to pass? He said unto us: When the hundredth part and the twentieth part is fulfilled, between the Pentecost and the feast of unleavened bread, then shall the coming of my Father be (so Copt.: When an hundred and fifty years are past, in the days of the feast of Passover and Pentecost, &c., Eth.: . . . (imperfect word) year is fulfilled, between the unleavened bread and Pentecost shall be the coming of my Father, lat.).3
We said unto him: Now sayest thou unto us: I will come; and how sayest thou: He that sent me is he that shall come? Then said he to us: I am wholly in the Father and my Father is in me. Then said we to him: Wilt thou indeed forsake us until thy coming? Where can we find a master? But he answered and said unto us: Know ye not, then, that like as until now I have been here, so also was I there, with him that sent me? And we said to him: Lord, is it then possible that thou shouldest be both here and there? But he answered us: I am wholly in the Father and the Father in me, because of (in regard of) the likeness of the form and the power and the fullness and the light and the full measure and the voice. I am the word, I am become unto him a thing, that is to say (word gone) of the thought, fulfilled in the type (likeness); I have come into the Ogdoad (eighth number), which is the Lord's day. [The Lord's day considered as the eighth day of the week.] (In place of these sentences Eth. has: I am of his resemblance and form, of his power and completeness, and of his light. I am his complete (fulfilled, entire) word.
18 But it came to pass after he was crucified, and dead and arisen again, when the work was fulfilled which was accomplished in the flesh, and he was crucified and the ascension come to pass at the end of the days, then said he thus, &c. It is an interpolation, in place of words which the translator did not understand, or found heretical.) But the whole fulfilment of the fulfilment shall ye see after the redemption which hath come to pass by me, and ye shall see me, how I go up unto my Father which is in heaven. But behold, now, I give unto you a new commandment: Love one another and [a leaf lost in Copt.] obey one another, that peace may rule always among you. Love your enemies, and what ye would not that man do unto you, that do unto no man.
19 And this preach ye also and teach them that believe on me and preach the kingdom of heaven of my Father, and how my Father hath given me the power, that ye may bring near the children of my heavenly Father. Preach ye, and they shall obtain faith, that ye may be they for whom it is ordained that they shall bring his children unto heaven.
And we said unto him: Lord, unto thee it is possible to accomplish that whereof thou tellest us, but how shall we be able to do it? He said to us: Verily I say unto you, preach and proclaim as I command you, for I will be with you, for it is my good pleasure to be with you, that ye may be heirs with me in the kingdom of heaven, even the kingdom of him that sent me. Verily I say unto you, ye shall be my brethren and my friends for my Father hath found pleasure in you: and so also shall they be that believe on me by your means. Verily I say unto you such and so great joy hath my Father prepared for you that the angels and the powers desired and do desire to see it and look upon it; but it is not given unto them to behold the glory of my Father. We said unto him: Lord, what is this whereof thou speakest to us?
Copt. begins again: words are missing.
He answered us: Ye shall behold a light, more excellent than that which shineth . . . (shineth more brightly than the light, and is more perfect than perfection. And the Son shall become perfect through the Father who is Light, for the Father is perfect which bringeth to pass death and resurrection, and ye shall see a perfection more perfect than the perfect. And I am wholly at the right hand of the Father, even in him that maketh perfect. So Eth.: Copt. has gaps).
And we said unto him: Lord, in all things art thou become salvation and life unto us, for that thou makest known such a hope unto us. And he said to us: Be of good courage and rest in me. Verily I say unto you, your rest shall be above (?), in the place where is neither eating nor drinking, nor care (Copt. joy) nor sorrow, nor passing away of them that are therein: for ye shall have no part in (the things of earth, Eth.) but ye shall be received in the everlastingness of my Father. Like as I am in him, so shall ye also be in me.
Again we said unto him: In what form? in the fashion of angels, or in flesh? And he answered and said unto us: Lo, I have put on your flesh, wherein I was born and crucified, and am risen again through my Father which is in heaven, that the prophecy of David the prophet might be fulfilled, in regard of that which was declared concerning me and my death and resurrection, saying:
Lord, they are increased that fight with me, and many are they that are risen up against me. Many there be that say to my soul: There is no help for him in his God.But thou, O Lord, art my defender: thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.I did call upon the Lord with my voice and he heard me (out of the high place of his temple, Eth.). I laid me down and slept,and rose up again: for thou,O Lord, art my defender. I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me round about. Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou hast smitten down all them that without cause are mine enemies: thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and his good pleasure is upon his people (Ps. iii. 1-8).
If, therefore, all the words which were spoken by the prophets have been fulfilled in me (for I myself was in them), how much more shall that which I say unto you come to pass indeed, that he which sent me may be glorified by you and by them that believe on me?
20 And when he had said this unto us, we said to him: In all things hast thou had mercy on us and saved us, and hast revealed all things unto us; but yet would we ask of thee somewhat if thou give us leave. And he said unto us: I know that ye pay heed, and that your heart is well-pleased when ye hear me: now concerning that which ye desire, I will speak good words unto you. 21 For verily I say unto you: Like as my Father hath raised me from the dead, so shall ye also rise (in the flesh, Eth.) and be taken up into the highest heaven, unto the place whereof I have told you from the beginning, unto the place which he who sent me hath prepared for you. And so will I accomplish all dispensations (all grace, Eth.), even I who am unbegotten and yet begotten of mankind, who am without flesh and yet have borne flesh : for to that end am I come, that (gap in Copt.: Eth. continues) ye might rise from the dead in your flesh, in the second birth, even a vesture that shall not decay, together with all them that hope and believe in him that sent me: for so is the will of my Father that I would give unto you, and unto them whom it pleaseth me, the hope of the kingdom.
Then said we unto him: Great is that which thou sufferest us to hope, and tellest us. And he answered and said: Believe ye that every thing that I tell you shall come to pass? We answered and said: Yea, Lord. (Copt. resumes for a few lines: then another gap. Follow Eth.) He said unto us: Verily I say unto you, that I have obtained the whole power of my Father, that I may bring back into light them that dwell in darkness, them that are in corruption into incorruption, them that are in death into life and that I may loose them that are in fetters. For that which is impossible with men, is possible with the Father. I am the hope of them that despair, the helper of them that have no saviour, the wealth of the poor, the health of the sick, and the resurrection of the dead.
22 When he had thus said, we said unto him: Lord, is it true that the flesh shall be judged together with the soul and the spirit and that the one part shall rest in heaven and the other part be punished everlastingly yet living? And he said unto us: (Copt. resumes) How long will ye inquire and doubt?
23 Again we said unto him: Lord, there is necessity upon us to inquire of thee -because thou hast commanded us to preach- that we ourselves may learn assuredly of thee and be profitable preachers, and that they which are instructed by us may believe in thee. Therefore must we needs inquire of thee.
24 He answered us and said: Verily I say unto you, the resurrection of the flesh shall come to pass with the soul therein and the spirit. And we said unto him: Lord, is it then possible that that which is dissolved and brought to nought should become whole? and we ask thee not as unbelieving, neither as if it were impossible unto thee; but verily we believe that that which thou sayest shall come to pass. And he was wroth with us and said: O ye of little faith, how long will ye ask questions? But what ye will, tell it me, and I myself will tell you without grudging: only keep ye my commandments and do that which I bid you, and turn not away your face from any man, that I turn not my face away from you, but without shrinking and fear and without respect of persons, minister ye in the way that is direct and narrow and strait. So shall my Father himself rejoice over you.
25 Again we said unto him: Lord, already are we ashamed that we question thee oft-times and burden thee. And he answered and said unto us: I know that in faith and with your whole heart ye do question me, therefore do I rejoice over you for verily I say unto you: I rejoice, and my Father that is in me, because ye question me; and your importunity (shamelessness) is unto me rejoicing and unto you it giveth life. And when he had so said unto us, we were glad that we had questioned him and we said to him: Lord, in all things thou makest us alive and hast mercy on us. Wilt thou now declare unto us that which we shall ask thee? Then said he unto us: Is it the flesh that passeth away, or is it the spirit? We said unto him: The flesh is it that passeth away. Then said he unto us: That which hath fallen shall rise again, and that which was lost shall be found, and that which was weak shall recover, that in these things that are so created the glory of my Father may be revealed. As he hath done unto me, so will I do unto all that believe in me.
26 Verily I say unto you: the flesh shall arise, and the soul, alive, that their defence may come to pass on that day in regard of that that they have done, whether it be good or evil: that there may be a choosing-out of the faithful who have kept the commandments of my Father that sent me; and so shall the judgement be accomplished with strictness. For my Father said unto me: My Son, in the day of judgement thou shalt have no respect for the rich, neither pity for the poor, but according to the sins of every man shalt thou deliver him unto everlasting torment. But unto my beloved that have done the commandments of my Father that sent me will I give the rest of life in the kingdom of my Father which is in heaven, and they shall behold that which he hath given me. And he hath given me authority to do that which I will, and to give that which I have promised and determined to give and grant unto them.
27 For to that end went I down unto the place of Lazarus, and preached unto the righteous and the prophets, that they might come out of the rest which is below and come up into that which is above; and I poured out upon them with my right hand the water (?) (baptism, Eth.) of life and forgiveness and salvation from all evil, as I have done unto you and unto them that believe on me. But if any man believe on me and do not my commandments, although he have confessed my name, he hath no profit therefrom but runneth a vain race: for such will find themselves in perdition and destruction, because they have despised my commandments.
28 But so much the more have I redeemed you, the children of light, from all evil and from the authority of the rulers (archons), and every one that believeth on me by your means. For that which I have promised unto you will I give unto them also, that they may come out of the prison-house and the fetters of the rulers. We answered and said: Lord thou hast given unto us the rest of life and hast given us <Joy? by wonders, unto the confirmation of faith: wilt thou now preach the same unto us, seeing that thou hast preached it unto the and the prophets? Then said he unto us: Verily I say unto you, all that have believed on me and that believe in him that sent me will I take up into the heaven, unto the place which my Father hath prepared for the elect, and I will give you the kingdom, the chosen kingdom, in rest, and everlasting life.
29 But all they that have offended against my commandments and have taught other doctrine, (perverting) the Scripture and adding thereto, striving after their own glory, and that teach with other words them that believe on me in uprightness, ie they make them fall thereby, shall receive everlasting punishment. We said unto him: Lord, shall there then be teaching by others, diverse from that which thou hast spoken unto us? He said unto us: It must needs be, that the evil and the good may be made manifest; and the judgement shall be manifest upon them that do these things, and according to their works shall they be judged and shall be delivered unto death.
Again we said unto him: Lord, blessed are we in that we see thee and hear thee declaring such things, for our eyes have beheld these great wonders that thou hast done. He answered and said unto us: Yea, rather blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed for they shall be called children of the kingdom, and they shall be perfect among the perfect, and I will be unto them life in the kingdom of my Father.
Again we said unto him: Lord, how shall men be able to believe that thou wilt depart and leave us; for thou sayest unto us: There shall come a day and an hour when I shall ascend unto my Father?
30 But he said unto us: Go ye and preach unto the twelve tribes, and preach also unto the heathen, and to all the land of Israel from the east to the west and from the south unto the north, and many shall believe on the Son of God. But we said unto him: Lord, who will believe us, or hearken unto us, or (how shall we be able, Eth.) to teach the powers and signs and wonders which thou hast done? Then answered he and said to us: Go ye and preach the mercifulness of my Father, and that which he hath done through me will I myself do through you, for I am in you, and I will give you my peace, and I will give you a power of my spirit, that ye may prophesy to them unto life eternal. And unto the others also will I give my power, that they may teach the residue of the peoples.
(Six leaves lost in Copt.: Eth. continues.)
31 And behold a man shall meet you, whose name is Saul which being interpreted is Paul: he is a Jew, circumcised according to the law, and he shall receive my voice from heaven with fear and terror and trembling. And his eyes shall be blinded and by your hands by the sign of the cross shall they be protected (healed: other Eth. MSS. with spittle by your hands shall his eyes &c.). Do ye unto him all that I have done unto you. Deliver it (? the word of God) unto the other. And at the same time that man shall open his eyes and praise the Lord, even my Father which is in heaven. He shall obtain power among the people and shall preach and instruct; and many that hear him shall obtain glory and be redeemed. But thereafter shall men be wroth with him and deliver him into the hands of his enemies, and he shall bear witness before kings that are mortal, and his end shall he that he shall turn unto me, whereas he persecuted me at the first. He shall preach and teach and abide with the elect, as a chosen vessel and a wall that shall not be overthrown, yea, the last of the last shall become a preacher unto the Gentiles, made perfect by the will of my Father. Like as ye have learned from the Scripture that your fathers the prophets spake of me, and in me it is indeed fulfilled.
And he said unto us: Be ye also therefore guides unto them; and all things that I said unto you, and that ye write concerning me (tell ye them), that I am the word of the Father and that the Father is in me. Such also shall ye be unto that man, as becometh you. Instruct him and bring to his mind that which is spoken of me in the Scripture and is fulfilled, and thereafter shall he become the salvation of the Gentiles.
32 And we asked him: Lord, is there for us and for them the self-same expectation of the inheritance? He answered and said unto us: Are then the fingers of the hand like unto each other, or the ears of corn in the field, or do all fruit-trees bear the same fruit? Doth not every one bear fruit according to its nature? And we said unto him: Lord, wilt thou again speak unto us in parables? Then said he unto us: Lament not. Verily I say unto you, ye are my brethren, and my companions in the kingdom of heaven unto my Father, for so is his good pleasure. Verily I say unto you, unto them also whom ye teach and who believe on me will I give that expectation.
33 And we asked him again: When shall we meet with that man, and when wilt thou depart unto thy Father and our God and Lord? He answered and said unto us: That man will come out of the land of Cilicia unto Damascus of Syria, to root up the church which ye must found there. It is I that speak through you; and he shall come quickly: and he shall become strong in the faith, that the word of the prophet may be fulfilled, which saith: Behold, out of Syria will I begin to call together a new Jerusalem, and Sion will I subdue unto me, and it shall be taken, and the place which is childless shall be called the son and daughter of my Father, and my bride. For so hath it pleased him that sent me. But that man will I turn back, that he accomplish not his evil desire, and the praise of my Father shall be perfected in him, and after that I am gone home and abide with my Father, I will speak unto him from heaven, and all things shall be accomplished which I have told you before concerning him.
34 And we said unto him again: Lord, so many great things hast thou told us and revealed unto us as never yet were spoken, and in all hast thou given us rest and been gracious unto us. After thy resurrection thou didst reveal unto us all things that we might be saved indeed; but thou saidst unto us only: There shall be wonders and strange appearances in heaven and on earth before the end of the world come. Tell us now, how shall we perceive it? And he answered us: I will teach it you; and not that which shall befall you only, but them also whom ye shall teach and who shall believe, as well as them who shall hear that man and believe on me. In those years and days shall it come to pass.
And we said again unto him: Lord, what shall come to pass? And he said unto us: Then shall they that believe and they that believe not hear (see Eth.) a trumpet in the heaven, a vision of great stars which shall be seen in the day, wonderful sights in heaven reaching down to the earth; stars which fall upon the earth like fire, and a great and mighty hail of fire (a star shining from the east unto this place, like unto fire, Eth. 2). The sun and the moon fighting one with the other, a continual rolling and noise of thunders and lightnings, thunder and earthquake; cities falling and men perishing in their overthrow, a continual dearth for lack of rain, a terrible pestilence and great mortality, mighty and untimely, so that they that die lack burial: and the bearing forth of brethren and sisters and kinsfolk shall be upon one bier. The kinsman shall show no favour to his kinsman,nor any man to his neighbour. And they that were overthrown shall rise up and behold them that overthrew them, that they lack burial, for the pestilence shall be full of hatred and pain and envy: and men shall take from one and give to another. And thereafter shall it wax yet worse than before. (Bewail ye them that have not hearkened unto my commandments, Eth. 2.)
35 Then shall my Father be wroth at the wickedness of men, for many are their transgressions, and the abomination of their uncleanness weigheth heavy upon them in the corruption of their life.
And we asked him: What of them that trust in thee? He answered and said unto us: Ye are yet slow of heart; and how long? Verily I say unto you, as the prophet David spake of me and of my people, so shall it be (?) for them also that believe on me. But they that are deceivers in the world and enemies of righteousness, upon them shall come the fulfilment of the prophecy of David, who said: Their feet are swift to shed blood, their tongue uttereth slander, adders' poison is under their lips. I behold thee companying with thieves, and partaking with adulterers, thou continuest speaking against thy brother and puttest stumbling blocks before thine own mother's son. What thinkest thou that I shall be like unto thee? Behold now how the prophet of God hath spoken of all, that all things may be fulfilled which he said aforetime.
36 And again we said unto him: Lord, will not then the nations say: Where is their God? And he answered and said unto us: Thereby shall the elect be known, that they being plagued with such afflictions, come forth. We said: Will then their departure out of the world be by a pestilence which giveth them pain? He answered us: Nay, but if they suffer such affliction, it will be a proving of them, whether they have faith and remember these my sayings, and fulfil my commandments. These shall arise, and short will be their expectation, that he may be glorified that sent me, and I with him. For he hath sent me unto you to tell you these things; and that ye may impart them unto Israel and the Gentiles and they may hear, and they also be redeemed and believe on me and escape the woe of the destruction. But whoso escapeth from the destruction of death, him will they take and hold him fast in the prison-house in torments like the torments of a thief.
And we said unto him: Lord, will they that believe be treated like the unbelievers, and wilt thou punish them that have escaped from the pestilence? And he said unto us: If they that believe in my name deal like the sinners, then have they done as though they had not believed. And we said again to him: Lord, have they on whom this lot hath fallen no life? He answered and said unto us: Whoso hath accomplished the praise of my Father, he shall abide in the resting-place of my Father.
37 Then said we unto him: Lord, teach us what shall come to pass thereafter? And he answered us: In those years and days shall war be kindled upon war; the four ends of the earth shall be in commotion and fight against each other. Thereafter shall be quakings of clouds (or, clouds of locusts), darkness, and dearth, and persecutions of them that believe on me and against the elect. Thereupon shall come doubt and strife and transgressions against one another. And there shall be many that believe on my name and yet follow after evil and spread vain doctrine. And men shall follow after them and their riches, and be subject unto their pride, and lust for drink, and bribery, and there shall be respect of persons among them.
38 But they that desire to behold the face of God and respect not the persons of the rich sinners, and are not ashamed before the people that lead them astray, but rebuke (?) them, they shall be crowned by the Father. And they also shall be saved that rebuke their neighbours, for they are sons of wisdom. and of faith. But if they become not children of wisdom, whoso hateth his brother and persecuteth him and showeth him no favour, him will God despise and reject.
(Copt. resumes.)
But they that walk in truth and in the knowledge of the faith, and have love towards me -for they have endured insult- they shall be praised for that they walk in poverty and endure them that hate them and put them to shame. Men have stripped them naked, for they despised them because they continued in hunger and thirst, but after they have endured patiently, they shall have the blessedness of heaven, and they shall be with me for ever. But woe unto them that walk in pride and boasting, for their end is perdition.
39 And we said unto him: Lord, is this thy purpose, that thou leavest us, to come upon them? (Will all this come to pass, Eth.) He answered and said unto us: After what manner shall he judgement be? whether righteous or unrighteous? (In Copt. and Eth. the general sense is the same: but the answer of Jesus in the form of a question is odd, and there is probably a corruption.)
We said unto him: Lord, in that day they will say unto thee: Thou hast not distinguished between ( probably: will they not say unto thee: Thou hast distinguished between) righteousness and unrighteousness, between the light and the darkness, and evil and good? Then said he: I will answer them and say: Unto Adam was power given to choose one of the two: he chose the light and laid his hand thereon, but the darkness he left behind him and cast away from him. Therefore have all men power to believe in the light which is life, and which is the Father that hath sent me. And every one that believeth and doeth the works of the light shall live in them, but if there be any that confesseth that he belongeth unto the light, and doeth the works of darkness, such an one hath no defence to utter, neither can he lift up his face to look upon the Son of God, which Son am I. For I will say unto him: As thou soughtest, so hast thou found, and as thou askedst, so hast thou received. Wherefore condemnest thou me, O man? Wherefore hast thou departed from me and denied me? And wherefore hast thou confessed me and yet denied me? hath not every man power to live and to die?
Whoso then hath kept my commandments shall be a son of the light, that is, of the Father that is in me. But because of them that corrupt my words am I come down from heaven. I am the word: I became flesh, and I wearied myself (or, suffered) and taught, saying: The heavy laden shall be saved, and they that are gone astray shall go astray for ever. They shall be chastised and tormented in their flesh and in their soul.
40 And we said unto him: O Lord, verily we are sorrowful for their sake. And he said unto us: Ye do rightly, for the righteous are sorry for the sinners, and pray for them, making prayer unto my Father. Again we said unto him: Lord, is there none that maketh intercession unto thee (so Eth.)? And he said unto us: Yea, and I will hearken unto the prayer of the righteous which they make for them.
When he had so said unto us, we said to him: Lord, in all things hast thou taught us and had mercy on us and saved us that we might preach unto them that are worthy to be saved, and that we might obtain a recompense with thee. (Shall we be partakers of a recompense from thee? Eth.) 41 He answered and said unto us: Go and preach, and ye shall be labourers, and fathers, and ministers. We said unto him: Thou art he (or, Art thou he) that shalt preach by us. (Lord, thou art our father. Eth.) Then answered he us, saying: Be not (or, Are not ye) all fathers or all masters. (Are then all fathers, or all servants, or all masters? Eth.) We said unto him: Lord, thou art he that saidst unto us: Call no man your father upon earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven, and your master. Therefore sayest thou now unto us: Ye shall be fathers of many children, and servants and masters? He answered and said unto us: According as ye have said (Ye have rightly said, Eth.). For verily I say unto you: whosoever shall hear you and believe on me, shall receive of you the light of the seal through me, and baptism through me: ye shall be fathers and servants and masters.
42 But we said unto him: Lord, how may it be that every one of us should be these three? He said unto us: Verily I say unto you: Ye shall be called fathers, because with praiseworthy heart and in love ye have revealed unto them the things of the kingdom of heaven. And ye shall be called servants, because they shall receive the baptism of life and the remission of their sins at my hand through you. And ye shall be called masters because ye have given them the word without grudging, and have admonished them, and when ye admonished them, they turned themselves (were converted). Ye were not afraid of their riches, nor ashamed before their face, but ye kept the commandments of my Father and fulfilled them. And ye shall have a great reward with my Father which is in heaven, and they shall have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, and be partakers in the kingdom of heaven.
And we said unto him: Lord, even if every one of us had ten thousand tongues to speak withal, we could not thank thee, for that thou promisest such things unto us. Then answered he us, saying: Only do ye that which I say unto you, even as I myself also have done it. 43 And ye shall be like the wise virgins which watched and slept not, but went forth unto the lord into the bride chamber: but the foolish virgins were not able to watch, but slumbered. And we said unto him: Lord, who are the wise and who are the foolish? He said unto us: Five wise and five foolish; for these are they of whom the prophet hath spoken: Sons of ; God are they. Hear now their names.
But we wept and were troubled for them that slumbered. He said unto us: The five wise are Faith and Love and Grace and Peace and Hope. Now they of the faithful which possess this (these) shall be guides unto them that have believed on me and on him that sent me. For I am the Lord and I am the bridegroom whom they have received, and they have entered in to the house of the bridegroom and are laid down with me in the bridal chamber rejoicing. But the five foolish, when they had slept and had awaked, came unto the door of the bridal chamber and knocked, for the doors were shut. Then did they weep and lament that no man opened unto them.
We said unto him: Lord, and their wise sisters that were within in the bridegroom's house, did they continue without opening unto them, and did they not sorrow for their sakes nor entreat the bridegroom to open unto them? He answered us saying: They were not yet able to obtain favour for them. We said unto him: Lord, on what day shall they enter in for their sisters' sake? Then said he unto us: He that is shut out, is shut out. And we said unto him: Lord, is this word (determined?). Who then are the foolish? He said unto us: Hear their names. They are Knowledge, Understanding (Perception) Obedience, Patience, and Compassion. These are they that slumbered in them that have believed and confessed me but have not fulfilled my commandments. 44 On account of them that have slumbered, they shall remain outside the kingdom and the fold of the shepherd and his sheep. But whoso shall abide outside the sheepfold, him will the wolves devour, and he shall be (condemned?) and die in much affliction: in him shall be no rest nor endurance, and (Eth.) although he be hardly punished, and rent in pieces and devoured in long and evil torment, yet shall he not be able to obtain death quickly.
45 And we said unto him: Lord, well hast thou revealed all this unto us. Then answered he us, saying: Understand ye not (or. Ye understand not) these words? We said unto him: Yea Lord. By five shall men enter into thy kingdom : notwithstanding, they that watched were with thee the Lord and bridegroom, even though they rejoiced not because of them that slumbered (yet will they have no pleasures because of, Eth.). He said unto us: They will indeed rejoice that they have entered in with the bridegroom the Lord; and they are sorrowful because of them that slumbered, for they are their sisters. For all ten are daughters of God, even the Father. Then said we unto him: Lord is it then for thee to show them favour on account of their sisters? (It becometh thy majesty to show them favour, Eth.) He said unto us: but his that sent me, and I am consenting with him (It is not yours,& c., Eth.).
46 But be ye upright and preach rightly and teach, and be not abashed by any man and fear not any man, and especially the rich, for they do not my commandments, but boast themselves (swell) in their riches. And we said unto him: Lord, tell us if it be the rich only. He answered, saying unto us: If any man who is not rich and possesseth a small livelihood giveth unto the poor and needy, men will call him a benefactor.
47 But if any man fall under the load of sin that he hath committed, then shall his neighbour correct him because of the good that he hath done unto his neighbour. And if his neighbour correct him and he return, he shall be saved, and he that corrected him shall receive a reward and live for ever. For a needy man, if he see him that hath done him good sin and correct him not, shall be judged with severe judgement. Now if a blind man lead a blind, they both fall into a ditch: and whoso respecteth persons for their sake, shall be as the two , as the prophet hath said: Woe unto them that respect persons and justify the ungodly for reward, even they whose God is their belly. Behold that judgement shall be their portion. For verily I say unto you: On that day will I neither have respect unto the rich nor pity for the poor.
48 If thou behold a sinner, admonish him betwixt him and thee: (if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother, Eth.) and if he hear thee not, then take to thee another, as many as three, and instruct thy brother: again, if he hear thee not, let him be unto thee
(Copt. defective from this point.)
as an heathen man or a publican.
49 If thou hear aught against thy brother, give it no credence; slander not, and delight not in hearing slander. For thus it is written: Suffer not thine ear to receive aught against thy brother: but if thou seest aught correct him, rebuke him and convert him.
And we said unto him: Lord, thou hast in ail things taught us and warned us. But, Lord, concerning the believers, even them to whom it belongeth to believe in the preaching of thy name: is it determined that among them also there shall be doubt and division, jealousy confusion, hatred, and envy? For thou sayest: They shall find fault with one another and respect the person of them that sin, and hate them that rebuke them. And he answered and said unto us: How then shall the judgement come about, that the corn should be gathered into the garner and the chaff thereof cast into the fire?
50 They that hate such things, and love me and rebuke them that fulfil not my commandments, shall be hated and persecuted and despised and mocked. Men will of purpose speak of them that which is not true, and will band themselves together against them that love me. But these will rebuke them, that they may be saved. But them that will rebuke and chasten and warn them, them will they (the others) hate, and thrust them aside, and despise them, and hold themselves far from them that wish them good. But they that endure such things shall be like unto the martyrs with the Father, because they have striven for righteousness, and have not striven for corruption.
And we asked him: Lord, shall such things be among us? And he answered us: Fear not; it shall not be in many, but in a few. We said unto him: Yet tell us, in what manner it shall come to pass. And he said unto us: There shall come forth another doctrine, and a confusion, and because they shall strive after their own advancement, they shall bring forth an unprofitable doctrine. And therein shall be a deadly corruption (of uncleanness), and they shall teach it, and shall turn away them that believe on me from my commandments and cut them off from eternal life. But woe unto them that falsify this my word and commandment, and draw away them that hearken to them from the life of the doctrine and separate themselves from the commandment of life: for together with them they shall come into everlasting judgement.
51 And when he had said this, and had finished his discourse with us, he said unto us again: Behold, on the third day and at the third hour shall he come which hath sent me, that I may depart with him. And as he so spake, there was thunder and lightning and an earthquake, and the heavens parted asunder and there appeared a light (bright) cloud which bore him up. And there came voices of many angels, rejoicing and singing praises and saying: Gather us, O Priest, unto the light of the majesty. And when they drew nigh unto the firmament, we heard his voice saying unto us: Depart hence in peace.
Epistle of the Apostles
In 1895, 15 leaves of this Coptic text were found in Cairo. Later, fragments in Latin were discovered in Vienna. Previous to this time, the Epistle was completely unknown. Scholars have dated the work to the first half of the second century.
Joseph and Mary sent Jesus to school so that he might learn to read Greek. The teacher told him to "say, Alpha." "First, tell me what Beta is," was his answer.
To Jesus' place of burial came three women, Sarah, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. They brought ointment to anoint the body and were crying, for they found the tomb open, and the body gone. The Lord appeared and said, "For whom are you weeping? Do not weep; I am the one you are looking for. One of you must go to our brethren with the news, that the Master has risen from the dead."
Mary came to us and told us, and we said, "What have we to do with you, woman? He that is dead and buried, can he live?" She went back to our Lord and told him that "None of them believed me." He said to her, "Let someone else go and tell them again."
Sarah came with the same news; we called her a liar. She then reported back to our Lord. Then the Lord said to Mary and her sisters, "Let's go to them."
Veiled he came and found us inside. He appeared to us as a ghost. We doubted him and did not believe. He said to us, "Come closer; do not be afraid. I am the same teacher you, Peter, denied three times. Do you now deny a fourth? Why are you doubting, unbelieving? Am not I he who spoke to you concerning my body, death, and resurrection? So that you will know for sure that it is I, Peter, put your finger in the nail print of my hand; you, Thomas, in my side; and you, Andrew, see whether my footstep leaves a print on the ground." (It is written by the prophet that a ghost or demon leaves no footprint on the ground.)
We felt him and knew that he had truly risen from the dead. We fell to the ground in repentance and he said to us, "Stand and I will reveal to you what is on earth and above heaven, and the resurrection to the Kingdom of Heaven for you and those who believe in me.
"In passing through the heavens, sojourning from the Father of all, I put on the wisdom of the Father, and clothed myself with his power. I passed angels and archangels as though I was one of them. I passed orders, dominions and princes, and saw them through my Father's wisdom. I was followed closely by the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel through to the fifth level of Heaven. This is the kind of power I received from the Father! With the voice of the Father's wisdom, I bid the archangels to go up and complete their service at the altar of the Father. I had become their all in all, since I had the mercy and perfected glory of him who sent me, and since I was returning to him.
"You know about how the angel Gabriel brought the message to Mary?" We said, "Yes, O Lord." He continued, "It was I who appeared to Mary in the form of the archangel, and I spoke with her. Her heart received what I told her. She believed. She laughed! Then the Logos went into her and became flesh. I was my own servant in an angel's image. I will return to this image when I go to my Father."
"When you celebrate the Passover and remember my death, one of you will be thrown into prison for my name's sake. This one will be very sorrowful, for he will not be able to celebrate with you. But I will send my power in the form of an angel. The prison door will open wide and he will come to you to hold vigil with you and to rest. When the cock crows and you finish my Agape feast, he will again be thrown into the prison for a testimony, until he comes out to preach as I commanded."
We said to him, "Have you not completed the drinking of the Passover? Must we do it over and over again?" He said to us, "Remember me until I come from the Father. You will know me by my wounds."
We said, "In what kind of power or form will you return?" He answered, "I will burst forth like the sun, shining seven times brighter, while the clouds carry me on their splendorous wings and the cross goes on before. Then I will judge the living and the dead."
We said, "How many years?" He said, "My Father will come in 150 years, between Passover and Pentecost."
We asked, "Once you said, 'I will come.' Now you say, 'he who sent me will come.' Who will come?" He answered, "I am totally in the Father, and he is in me."
We asked, "Will you really leave us? Where will we find a teacher?" He answered, "I am both here and there, as is the one who sent me."
We continued, "Is it possible for you to be here and there?" He said, "I am totally in the Father and the Father is in me after his image, his form, his power, his perfection and his light. I am his perfect Logos. As you witness redemption through me you will see the wonders of his image and the manifestations of his perfection. Look now, a new commandment I give you, that you love one another, obey each other, and allow peace to rule. Love your enemies and do not do to others what you do not want done to yourselves."
"Preach and teach this new commandment to those who believe in me, and preach about the Kingdom of my Father. I have the power so that you may to bring the children of the heavenly Father near. Just preach, and they will believe. It is your duty to lead his children to Heaven."
We said, "We know that you have the power to do this, but what of us?" He said to us, "Truly I say, preach and teach, and I will be with you, that you may become joint heirs with me of the Kingdom of Heaven. Truly, you will be my brothers and sisters, my companions, for my Father delights in you and in those who will believe in me through you. Truly I say, such a great joy has been prepared for you that angels and powers desire to see it, but they will not be allowed to see the greatness of my Father.
"You will see a light brighter and more perfect than perfection. For the Son is perfected through the perfect Father, the Light, through whose power I conquered death by resurrection; the second accomplishment surpassing the first. I am totally at the right hand of the Father - I have brought it to pass!"
The twelve said, "You, O Lord, have become salvation and life to us in all things. Do you speak to us of such hope?" He said to us, "Have confidence; have courage. Truly I say, such a great rest will be yours. You will no longer need to eat, drink, mourn, care, or sing; and you won't have to worry about what you will wear, neither earthly garment nor perishing. You will no longer take part in the doings of creation below, but will belong to the incorruptibility of my Father and you will never perish. As I am in the Father, so also will you be in me."
We said again, "In what form? In some flesh or in spirit like an angel?" He answered us, "I have put on your flesh, the same in which I was born, died, and was buried; the same in which I rose again through my heavenly Father, that the prophesy of David might be fulfilled concerning my death and resurrection:
Lord, how numerous have they become that oppress me; many have risen up against me. Many say to my soul, He has no salvation by his God. But you, O Lord, are my refuge, my glory, and he who lifts up my head. With my voice I cried to God, and he heard me from the mount of his sanctuary. I laid down and fell asleep; and I rose up, for God raised me up. I was not afraid of thousands of people who surrounded me and rose up against me. Arise, O Lord my God, and save me. For you have smitten all who show me enmity without cause; and you have shattered the teeth of sinners. Deliverance is of God, and your blessing upon your people.
All that was said by the prophets was performed and has taken place and is completed in me, for I spoke in them; how much more will what I have told you really happen, so that he who sent me may be glorified by you and by those who believe in me."
Afterward, we said to him, "Lord, you have shown yourself merciful to us in all things, and saved us. You have patiently explained everything that we asked. Permit us to continue, we pray." He said, "I know that you are listening and long to listen. Ask me what you wish. Look! As long as you meditate on what you hear, I will speak to you.
"Truly I say to you, as the Father awakened me from the dead you shall also rise up above the heavens to the place that I have told you about from the beginning. He who sent me has prepared it for you. For this reason I have perfected all mercy. For without carnal relations I was born into the family of mankind. Without flesh before, I put it on and endured manhood so that you who were born might be reborn and experience resurrection of your body. You and all who hope and believe in the one who sent me will have garments that will not perish. My Father has found pleasure in you; to whomever I desire I will bestow the blessed hope of the Kingdom."
We said, "Your message is very great; you give us hope!" He said, "Believe that everything I tell you will happen, and it will!" We confessed, "Yes, O Lord!" He said, "Truly I tell you that I have received all power from my Father so that I might bring those in darkness to the light and those in corruptibility into incorruptibility and those in error into righteousness and those in death into life so that those in captivity may be loosed. What is impossible on the part of humanity is possible on the part of the Father. I am the hope of the hopeless, the helper of those who have no helper, the treasure of those in need, the physician of the sick, and the resurrection of the dead."
We said to him, "Lord, will the flesh be judged with the soul and spirit? Will one rest in heaven and the other be punished forever?" He said to us, "How long will you continue to ask questions?" Then we continued, "Lord, since you have commanded us to preach, prophesy and teach, it is necessary that we hear and understand accurately."
He told us, "Truly I say, the body will rise with the soul and spirit." And we said to him, "Lord, how can what is dead and scattered come alive? We do not ask as though we deny what you are telling us; we believe what you say will happen!" He became angry and said, "You of little faith, how long will you question me? Keep my commandments. Do what I tell you without delay; hesitate not out of respect for persons. Serve in the straight, direct and narrow way. Thereby in every respect the Father will rejoice about you."
We said again to him, "Lord, look: we anger you with so many questions!" He said to us, "I know that you question me from your faith, and sincerely with your whole heart. So your questions make me glad. Truly I tell you that I am well pleased, and my Father within me rejoices at your questions. The boldness in which you speak makes me rejoice, and affords you life."
When he had said this, we too were glad, for he had spoken out of gentleness.
Then he asked us a question: "Does the flesh or the spirit fall away?" We answered him, "The flesh." He said, "Now, what has fallen away will arise, what is ill will be sound, so that my Father might be praised. He has proven this to me. So I prove it to you and all who believe in me.
"Truly, the body and soul will rise alive together so that, as one, they may confess the works they have done and be judged by them. They will be selected and exhibited before those who have believed and done the commandments of my Father who sent me. Afterwards, the judgment of the righteous will take place - such is the will of my Father. He said to me, 'Son, on judgment day you will not fear the rich nor spare the poor. Deliver each one to eternal punishment according to his transgressions.' But to those who have loved me and fulfilled my commandments, I will give rest and life in the kingdom of my heavenly Father. Behold the power he has granted me and delivered to me! That I might give what I want to whom I want, those in whom hope has been awakened.
"For this reason I descended to speak with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to your fathers the prophets, bringing them the news that they may arise from their rest below and ascend into heaven. I have given them the right hand of fellowship, the baptism of life, and full forgiveness and pardon for their wickedness, just as I have given you and will give those who believe in me from now on. However, the one who has only a head knowledge of me will find that it will do that one no good at the judgment, if he has not fulfilled my commandments. He has run his course in vain! His end is already determined: ruin and painful punishment, for though he may believe in my name, he transgressed my commandment! To you I have given the opportunity to be children of the light in God, thus pure of wickedness and exempt from the consequences of judgment. So goes it for those who will believe through you, that all who believe shall be rescued from the chains, spears and terrible fire!"
We said, "You have made us rejoice in our security in every respect. In faithfulness and truthfulness you have preached to our fathers and the prophets, to us and to all." He said to us, "Truly I say to you, I will cause all believers, present and future, to rise to heaven, the place where my Father has prepared for the elect and the most elect. He will give rest as he has promised, and eternal life! But those who have transgressed my commandment by teaching a substitution, subtracting from and adding to my commandments for their own glory, alienating my rightful believers -- they will have no part in the life that is eternal."
We said, "Will there exist another teaching and grievance?" He replied, "The wicked ones will manifest, just as those who fulfill what is good and beautiful. Then a righteous judgment will take place. These wicked ones will be judged according to the works they have done and how they have acted; they will be delivered to ruin!"
We said then, "We are very blessed, for we see and hear you speak personally, and we behold first-hand mighty deeds you do." He answered, "But more blessed than you are the ones who do not hear or see me, yet believe in me, for they will be called Children of the Kingdom and Perfect in the Perfect One. To these I will become eternal life in the Kingdom of my Father."
We said again, "You have told us, 'There is coming a time and an hour when I will go to my Father.' Lord, we wonder how we can possibly believe that you will leave us!" He answered only, "Go and preach to the twelve tribes of Israel and to the Gentiles, in the East and West, to the North and South in Israel! Many will believe in the Son of God."
We said, "Lord, who will listen to us? Who will believe us? How can we teach, tell, and do the wonders, signs, and mighty deeds you have done?" He said, "Go and preach my Father's mercy. What my Father has accomplished through me he will also accomplish through you. I will give you my peace, my spirit, my power, so that they might believe. I will transmit this same power to them, so that they might transmit it to the Gentiles.
"Behold; you will meet a man named Saul (interpreted 'Paul'). He is a Jew, circumcised according to the Law. With fear, trembling, and terror he will hear my voice from Heaven. His eyes will be blinded; you will cross them with your spittle. His eyes will be opened, and he will praise God, my heavenly Father. He will become well known among the nations by his preaching and teaching. Yet he will be hated by many and delivered to his enemies. He will testify before mortal kings. He will complete my testimony. Even though at first he persecuted and hated me, he will be converted, then preach and teach. He will be among my very elect: a chosen vessel, a wall that will not fall. The last of the last will become a preacher to the Gentiles, perfect in the will of my Father.
"As you have learned from the prophets of scripture, so you must become leaders. Every word that I have spoken to you and you have written down about me (that I am the Logos-Word of the Father and the Father is in me), you must become to that man Saul, as it befits you. Teach him and show him what the scriptures have said about me and how they have been fulfilled in me, then he will become the salvation of the Gentiles."
We said, "Have we the same hope of inheritance as the prophets?" He answered, "Are all the fingers of your hand alike? Is each ear of corn the same as the next? Do trees grow the same fruit? Doesn't the fruit grow from the tree according to its nature?"
"Lord," we said, "are you again speaking in parables?" He said, "Do not be grieved. Truly I say to you, you are my brothers and companions in the Kingdom of Heaven with my Father, for so it has pleased him. Truly I say this to you and the ones who you will teach to be believers in me: this hope is yours."
We said again, "When will we meet that Saul and when will you go to your Father, our God and Lord?" He answered us, "Saul will set out from Cilicia bound for Damascus in Syria to tear down the congregation which you will gather together. I will speak through you, and he will come quickly. He will act according to his faith that the prophesy might be fulfilled which says,
Behold, out of Syria I will call a new Jerusalem, and will subdue Zion and it will be fruitful and will be called the daughter of my Father, but I will call it my bride; for so has it pleased him who has sent me.
But I will turn him aside so that he might not complete an evil plan! Yet the glory of my Father will shine through him, for after I have gone away, I will speak to him from Heaven; then my predictions about him will come true."
We said to him, "Lord, you have preached such meaningful things to us, and have revealed great secrets never before spoken of. In every way you have comforted us and been gracious. For after your resurrection, you confided in us that we really might be saved. You have told us about the signs and wonders in heaven and earth that would happen before the end of the world. Teach us how to recognize these signs." He told us, "I will show you not only what will become of you, but also of those who will believe because of your teaching. In those days and years this will happen...."
He said nothing.
We encouraged him, "Lord, tell us what will happen." "All flesh, believers and unbelievers alike, will behold a trumpet in the heavens, great stars in the sky during the day, a dragon suspended between heaven and earth, and fiery stars and hailstone dropping fire. The sun and moon will fight each other in the midst of frightening thunder, lightening and earthquakes. Cities will fall down and people will be killed by the rubble, the rain will fail and there will be continuous drought, famines will cause both quick and prolonged death. So many will die that there will not be enough graves to hold them. When a child and a relative lies on the bed together, on will be taken and one left. Natural affection will die - caregivers will abandon children, children will turn from their parents, and neighbors will ignore each others' needs. Everything is hatred and affliction and jealousy, and they will take from one and give to another. But what comes after this will be worse! For then my Father will be angry because humankind's wickedness. Their offenses are many. The horror of their impurity is corrupting their lives."
We said, "Lord, what about those who hope in you?" He answered, "How long will you be slow of heart? Truly I say to you, as the prophet David spoke concerning me and mine, so will it be for those who will believe in me. There will be many deceivers in the world - enemies of righteousness - who are described by David who said,
Their feet are quick to shed blood, their tongues weave deceit, the venom of serpents in under their lips.
I see you as you ponder theft, casting in your lot with fornicators, slandering your brothers and setting traps for the sons of your own mother. What do you think of that? Should I be like you? See how the prophet of God has spoken about these ones, that his words might be fulfilled."
We said then, "Lord, won't the gentiles ask us, 'Where is your God?'" He said, "The elect will be revealed, since they will depart the world after being afflicted by such distress."
We said to him, "Will they exit this world through plague?" He said, "No. But if they suffer, it will be but a test for them to determine whether they have faith, remember my words, and keep my commandment. They will rise up after a few days, so that the one who sent me might be glorified, and I might be glorified. For he has sent me to tell you these things. So you may tell all Israel and the gentiles that they may be saved from the distress of plague that I describe by believing in me. But whoever escapes the distress of death will be kept in prison and tortured as a thief is tortured."
We asked, "Are those who have escaped the plague like unbelievers, and will you punish them as you say?" He said to us, "These ones I am speaking of have believed in my name, but they have lived like sinners. Though they believe, they act as if they did not."
Again we asked, "Lord, have they who have escaped have no life, then?" He said, "Whoever has lived to glorify my Father, he is in the dwelling of my Father."
Then we asked, "Teach us what will happen after this." He replied, "In those years and days there will be war upon war. The four corners of the world will be shaken - they will wage war with one another! Then will come a disturbance in the clouds heralding darkness and drought, with persecution of both believers and the elect. These people will succumb to dissension and conflicts, then will sin against one another. Among them are those who believe in my name, but teach vain doctrine and practice evil. Many will follow them because they have riches. They will submit to their riches, their depravity, alcoholism, and bribery. Respect of Persons will rule them.
"Those who want to see the face of God, who do not give undue respect to the sinful rich, and do not fear false teachers, rather, who reprove them, will be crowned in the realm of the Father: Those who reprove their neighbors will be saved as well, for one who does this is a son of wisdom and faith. But one who does not become a son of wisdom hates, persecutes and ignores his brother, despising him and casting him off. But those who walk in truth and faith-knowledge in me and have the knowledge of wisdom and perseverance for righteousness' sake have a great reward. Those who are reviled, tormented, persecuted, who hunger and thirst because they have persevered. Blessed will they be in Heaven, where they will always dwell with me. Woe to those who despise them! Their end is destruction!"
We said to him, "Will all this really happen?" He countered with a question, "How will the judgment of righteousness take place for sinners and righteous?" We said, "At that time, will they say to you, 'You have separated darkness from light, evil from good, but have allowed us choice between sin and righteousness?'" He said, "Adam was given the power to choose which of the two he wanted; so he stretched his hand out and chose light, and left the darkness behind. Everyone is given the ability to believe in the light. This is the life of the Father. Whoever has chosen light and believed in me will live. If anyone merely acknowledges light but does what is of darkness, not only will he have no defense, but he will not even be able to look the Son in the face. I will say to him, 'You took the effort to seek, and you have found. You have asked and you have received. So you cannot blame us, can you? Why did you abandon me and my Kingdom? Why have you known me and denied me?' So each one must be prepared to live as well as to die! Whoever keeps my commandment will be a son of light. For the faithful I came from Heaven. The Word became flesh and died. The Word came teaching and guiding: some will be saved, but the other will be ruined for eternity, punished both in flesh and spirit by fire."
Then we confessed, "We are truly disturbed on account of these, Lord." He said, "You do well; so should the righteous be anxious for the fate of sinners. The former naturally pray, imploring God on behalf of the latter." We said, "Does anyone entreat you on the behalf of sinners?" He said, "Yes. I do hear the requests of the righteous about them."
We said to him, "You have stimulated our thinking with all these teachings, and have been gracious to us; and we will preach your doctrine to whom it is fitting. So, ... will we be rewarded?" He said to us, "Just go and preach. Be good ministers and servants."
"Lord, you are our father," we said! He said, "Are all fathers? Are all servants? Are all teachers?" We said, "Didn't you say, 'Call no man on earth father and master, for your father and teacher is in Heaven?' Now you tell us that we should become fathers, teachers, and servants to many children like you." He said, "You have spoken rightly. Truly I say to you that all that have listened to you and believe will receive the light of the seal in my hand. Yes, through me you will become fathers and teachers."
We said, "How is it possible for these three to become one?" He answered, "Truly, truly I say to you, you will be called fathers because, through your compassion and lust for life, you will be able to reveal to people that they can receive the baptism of life and forgiveness of sin by my hand from Heaven. Teachers, for you have taught them my word without anguish, and have warned them to turn away from things you have warned them about. You did not revere the resources of the rich, nor esteem them because of their position; rather, you kept the commandment of the Father. Thus you have a reward with my heavenly Father, and those whom you father will have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and a share in the Kingdom."
We said, "Lord, if they had ten thousand mouths they would still be unable to give you fitting thanks." He said, "I will tell you something to help equip you to do for others what I have done for you: Be as the wise virgins who did not sleep, but lit their lights and went to meet the Lord, who was the bridegroom, to go with him into the bridegroom's chamber. But the foolish virgins were full of talk, and were not able to stay awake." We said to him, "Who are the wise, and who are the foolish?" He said, "The wise virgins are the prophet daughters of God." But we were sad and cried for the virgins who slumbered and were shut out. He said, "The five wise virgins are Faith, Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope. Believers that possess the five wise virgins will become leaders of the faithful. For I am the Lord, the Bridegroom. The ones that have received me have gone into the house of the bridegroom with me, laid themselves down with the bridegroom, and rejoiced! But the five foolish virgins slept. When they awoke, they went to the bridegroom's house and knocked at the doors (which had been closed to them). So they cried, because they were shut out."
We said to him, "Lord, their wiser sisters are in the house. Why don't they open to them? Aren't they sorrowful on their account?" He said, "Yes, they sorrow and have great concern. They plead with the bridegroom on their sisters' behalves, yet are not granted their request."
We said, "When will they go infor their sisters' sakes?" He said, "Whoever is shut out remains shut out."
We said, "Lord, is this the last word on the matter?" No reply.
We continued, "Who then are the foolish virgins?" He said, "Listen up. Insight, Knowledge, Obedience, Endurance, Mercy: these have slept within those who have believed in me. So since those who fell asleep didn't obey my commandment, they will be outside the Kingdom and without the shepherd's fold. Whoever remains outside the fold will become a wolf's meal. And although someone merely hears my words, she still may be judged and die after much suffering, discomfort, and long endurance. Though she is in great pain, cut into pieces, smitten with long, painful punishments, yet she will not die quickly."
We said, "Lord, you have answered our questions well." He said to us, "Understand! Grasp these words!"
We said, "Five expect to enter your Kingdom; five are outside. Yet the five within the bridegroom's chamber who were watchful will not rejoice because of their sisters who slept." He said, "But they will rejoice that they have entered with the Lord, yet will be grieved for their sisters. See, these daughters of Elohim number ten."
We said, "Lord, it suits your greatness that you demonstrate your grace toward their sisters." He said to us, "This scenario is not of you, but it is his who sent me; moreover, I agree with him.
"But as you go along, preach and teach truly and rightly. Do not respect anybody for who they have become in the world, especially the rich and revelers in riches - those who do not keep my commandment."
We said to him, "Lord, do you speak only of the rich?" He said to us, "I speak of those who are not rich, also. The one who gives of what he has to another who has not will be called a doer of the Word, and not a hearer only.
"If someone should fall under the weight of his burden, that is, if he should sin against his neighbor, that neighbor should admonish him. After doing so, if he should repent, he will be saved. The neighbor who has been wronged will obtain eternal life. But if one encourages another in sins, such will be judged very strictly. If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into the ditch! Even so, both unrighteous encourager and the sinner will be sentenced with the same punishment, as the prophet said, 'Woe to those who counsel a sinner for the sake of a bribe, whose god is their belly.' You see how judgment is? Truly I say to you, on the day of judgment I will not fear the rich nor have pity on the poor.
"So if you see someone in sin with your own eyes, correct that one in private. If he listens to you, you have won him to correction. If he does not, then approach him with one or two others, then you may correct your brother. If even then he doesn't listen, as far as you are concerned, he is a gentile and a tax collector. If you hear talk about another, do not believe it, spread it, or love listening to it - it is to be considered slander. It is written, 'Let your ear listen to nothing against your brother, but if you have seen, then censure, correct, and convert him.'"
Then we said, "Lord, you have taught and exhorted us in everything! But shall we always expect dissension, dispute, envy, confusion, hatred, and distress among the believers of what is preached in your name? For you have said, 'They have not regarded each other well, but found fault.' Is it sin to hate the one who has corrected you?" He answered, "Why do you suppose that the judgment will take place at all? So that the wheat may be gathered to the barn and the chaff thrown into the fire. So will burn those who hate. But the one who loves me and finds fault with those who don't keep my commandments will be hated and persecuted; all will despise and mock that one! He will be lied about so as to create a conspiracy against the one who loves me. But the rebuke of the righteous may become the salvation of the sinner, though, because of the bad feeling involved, good may be prevented from being done. Those who have endured such hatred and spite will be considered as martyrs by the Father, because they were righteously zealous about righteousness. Furthermore, such exhortation and conviction will soon be expedient."
We said, "Tell us how?" He said to us, "Another teaching will appear that will bring conflict with it. Such teachers of it are motivated by vainglory; their teaching are such an offense as to warrant death to the believer in them, since they will nullify my commandment deceptively, even to the extent that those who believe in me will lose eternal life! But woe to those who use my word and commandment as a pretext for gain, and woe to those who listen but turn away from the teaching of life! Both teacher and disciple will be eternally punished!"
As he brought our discourse to a close, he said, "Look here. After three days and three hours the one who sent me will come so that I may go with him." As he spoke, there came thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. The skies divided, and a bright cloud descended and took him away. We heard the voices of many angels as one rejoicing and praising with these words: "Assemble us, O priest, in the light of glory!" When the Lord was ascending and approaching the blueness, we heard him say, "Go in peace."
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