Sayings of the Savior

Fragments from an Ancient Nazarene Commentary on Isaiah

The ancient Nazarene commentary on Isaiah consists of five citations of a Nazarene commentary on Isaiah which are preserved in Jerome’s fourth century commentary on Isaiah. This Nazarene commentary is one of the few pieces of ancient Nazarene literature (apart from the “New Testament”) to survive to modern times. The commentary appears to be either a Nazarene midrash or a Nazarene Targum on Isaiah. The commentary is clearly written on a drash rather than a pashat level (see article on PaRDeS in Hermeneutic section). The commentary seems to express an animosity between Nazarene Judaism and Rabbinic Judaism existed by the fourth century. The commentary makes it apparent that the Nazarene Jews of the fourth century did not accept Pharisaic/Rabbinc halachah. For these and other reasons this ancient Nazarene commentary on Isaiah is very valuable to us today.

- James Trimm

On Is. 8:14

And He shall be for a sanctuary,

but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense
to both the houses of Yisra’el:
for a gin and for a snare
to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.
(Isaiah 8:14 HRV)

The Nazarenes, who accept Messiah in such a way that they do not cease to observe the old law explain the two houses as the two families, viz. of Shammai and Hillel, from whom originated the Scribes and the Pharisees. Akiba, who took over their school, is called the master of Aquila the proselyte, and after him came Meir who has been succeeded by Joannes the son of Zakkai and after him Eliezer and further Telphon, and next Joseph Galilaeus and Joshua up to the capture of Jerusalem. Shammai then and Hillel were born not long before the Lord; they originated in Judea. The name of the first means “scatterer” and of the second “unholy”, because he scattered and defiled the precepts of the Torah by his traditions and deutroseis. And these are the two houses who did not accept the Savior who has become to them ruin and scandal.

On Is. 8:20-21

20 For Torah and for testimony?
If they speak not according to this word,
there is no light in them.
21 And they shall pass this way that are sore bestead and hungry.
And it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry,
they shall fret themselves and curse by their king and by their Elohim.
And, whether they turn their faces upward,
(Isaiah 8:20-21 HRV)

For the rest the Nazarenes explain the passage in this way:
when the Scribes and Pharisees tell you to listen to them, men who do everything for the love of the belly and who hiss during their incantations in the way of magicians in order to deceive you, you must answer them like this: “It is not strange if you follow your traditions since every tribe consults its own idols. We must not, therefore, consult your dead about the living ones. On the contrary, God has given us the Torah and the testimonies of the scriptures. If you are not willing to follow them you shall not have light, and the darkness will always oppress you. It will cover your earth and your doctrine so that, when you see that they have been deceived by you in error and they feel a longing for the truth, they will then be sad or angry. And let them who believe themselves to be like their own gods and kings curse you. And let them look at the heaven and the earth in vain since they are always in darkness and they can not flee away from your ambushes.

On Is. 9:1-4

8:23 (9:1) For is there no gloom to her that was steadfast?
Now the former has lightly afflicted the land of Z’vulun, and the land of Naftali, but the latter has dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Yarden, in the district of the nations. 9:1 (9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. 9:2 (9:3) You have multiplied the nation, You have increased their joy; they joy before You according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 9:3 (9:4) For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder; the rod of his oppressor, You have broken as in the day of Midian. (Isaiah 8:23-9:3 (9:1-4) HRV)

The Nazarenes, whose opinion I have set forth above, try to explain this passage in the following way:
When Messiah came and his proclaiming shone out, the land of Zebulon and Naphtali first of all were freed from the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees and he shook off their shoulders the very heavy yoke of the Jewish traditions. Later, however, the proclaiming became more dominant, that means the proclaiming was multiplied, through the the emissary Paul who was the least of all the emissaries. And the goodnews of Messiah shone to the most distant tribes and the way of the whole sea. Finally the whole world, which earlier walked or sat in darkness and was imprisoned in the bonds of idolatry and death, has seen the clear light of the goodnews.

On Is. 29:20-21

20 For the terrible one is brought to nought,
and the scorner ceases,
and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender by words,
and lay a snare for him that reproves in the gate,
and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.
(Isaiah 29:20-21 HRV)

What we have understood to have been written about the devil and his angels, the Nazarenes believe to have been said against the Sribes and the Pharisees, because the deutrotai passed away, who earlier deceived the people with very vicious traditions (And they watch day and night to deceive the simple ones), who made men sin against the Word of God in order that they should deny that Messiah was the Son of God.

On. Is. 31:6-9

6 Turn you unto Him against whom you have deeply rebelled,
O children of Yisra’el. 7 For in that day they shall cast away every man, his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. 8 Then shall Assyria fall with the sword–not of man– and the sword not of men, shall devour him: and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become tributary. 9 And his rock shall pass away by reason of terror, and his princes shall be dismayed at the ensign, says YHWH, whose fire is in Tziyon, and His furnace in Yerushalayim. (Isaiah 31:6-9 HRV)

The Nazarenes understand this passage in this way:
O Sons of Israel, who deny the Son of God with a most vicious opinion, turn to him and his emissaries. For if you will do this, you will reject all idols which to you were a cause of sin in the past and the devil will fall before you, not because of your powers, but because of the comparison of God. And his young men, who at a certain time earlier fought for him, will be the servants of the assembly and any of his power and stone will pass. Also the philosophers and every perverse dogma will turn their backs to the sign of the cross. Because this is the meaning of the Lord that his will take place, whose fire or light is in Zion and his oven in Jerusalem.

INTRUDUCTION

(From Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History: Book IV Chapter 22)

Hegesippus in the five books of Memoirs which have come down to us has left a most complete record of his own views. In them he states that on a journey to Rome he met a great many bishops, and that he received the same doctrine from all. It is fitting to hear what he says after making some remarks about the epistle of Clement to the Corinthians…. The same author also describes the beginnings of the heresies which arose in his time,…

The same writer also records the ancient heresies which arose among the Jews, … And he wrote of many other matters, …. And he quotes some passages from The Gospel according to the Hebrews and from “The Syriac”, and some particulars from the Hebrew tongue, showing that he was a convert from the Hebrews, and he mentions other matters as taken from the oral tradition of the Jews. And not only he, but also Irenaeus and the whole company of the ancients, called the Proverbs of Solomon All-virtuous Wisdom. And when speaking of the books called Apocrypha, he records that some of them were composed in his day by certain heretics. …

On the martyrdom of Ya’akov, the brother of Yeshua,

From Book V.1

Ya’akov, the Lord’s brother, succeeds to the government of the Assembly, in conjunction with the apostles. He has been universally called HaTzadik (the Just), from the days of the Lord down to the present time. For many bore the name of Ya’akov; but this one was holy from his mother’s womb. He drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh; no razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, nor make use of the bath. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place: for he did not wear any woollen garment, but fine linen only. He alone, I say, was wont to go into the Temple: and he used to be found kneeling on his knees, begging forgiveness for the people-so that the skin of his knees became horny like that of a camel’s, by reason of his constantly bending the knee in adoration to God, and begging forgiveness for the people. Therefore, in consequence of his pre-eminent justice, he was called HaTzadik, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek Defense of the People, and Justice, in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.

Now some persons belonging to the seven sects existing among the people, which have been before described by me in the Notes, asked him: “What is the door of Yeshua? ” And he replied that He was the Savior. In Consequence of this answer, some believed that Yeshua is the Messiah. But the sects before mentioned did not believe, either in a resurrection or in the coming of One to requite every man according to his works; but those who did believe, believed because of Ya’akov. So, when many even of the ruling class believed, there was a commotion among the Jews, and scribes, and Pharisees, who said: “A little more, and we shall have all the people looking for Yeshua as the Messiah.

They came, therefore, in a body to Ya’akov, and said: “We entreat thee, restrain the people: for they are gone astray in their opinions about Yeshua, as if he were the Messiah. We entreat thee to persuade all who have come here for the day of Passover, concerning Yeshua. For we all listen to thy persuasion; since we, as well as all the people, bear you testimony that you art just, and show partiality to none. Do you, therefore, persuade the people not to entertain erroneous opinions concerning Yeshua: for all the people, and we also, listen to thy persuasion. Take your stand, then, upon the summit of the Temple, that from that elevated spot you may be clearly seen, and your words may be plainly audible to all the people. For, in order to attend the Passover, all the tribes have congregated here, and some of the Gentiles also.”

The aforesaid scribes and Pharisees accordingly set Ya’akov on the summit of the Temple, and cried aloud to him, and said: “O just one, whom we are all bound to obey, forasmuch as the people is in error, and follow Yeshua the crucified, do you tell us what is the door of Yeshua, the crucified.” And he answered with a loud voice: “Why ask ye me concerning Yeshua the Son of man? He Himself sits in heaven, at the right hand of the Great Power, and shall come on the clouds of heaven.”

And, when many were fully convinced by these words, and offered praise for the testimony of Ya’akov, and said, “Hosanna to the son of David,” then again the said Pharisees and scribes said to one another, “We have not done well in procuring this testimony to Yeshua. But let us go up and throw him down, that they may be afraid, and not believe him.” And they cried aloud, and said: “Oh! oh! the just man himself is in error.” Thus they fulfilled the Scripture written in Isaiah: “Let us away with the just man, because he is troublesome to us: therefore shall they eat the fruit of their doings.” (Is. 3:10) So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to one another: “Let us stone Ya’akov the Just.” And they began to stone him: for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned, and kneeled down, and said: “I beseech You, Lord God our Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

And, while they were thus stoning him to death, one of the priests, the sons of Rechab, the son of Rechabim, to whom testimony is borne by Jeremiah the prophet, began to cry aloud, saying: “Cease, what do you? The just man is praying for us.” But one among them, one of the fullers, took the staff with which he was accustomed to wring out the garments he dyed, and hurled it at the head of the just man.

And so he suffered martyrdom; and they buried him on the spot, and the pillar erected to his memory still remains, close by the Temple. This man was a true witness to both Jews and Greeks that Yeshua is the Messiah.

And shortly after Vespasian besieged Judaea, taking them captive.

Concerning the relatives of our savior.

There still survived of the kindred of the Lord the grandsons of Y’hudah, who according to the flesh was called his brother. These were informed against, as belonging to the family of David, and Evocatus brought them before Domitian Caesar: for that emperor dreaded the advent of Messiah, as Herod had done.

So he asked them whether they were of the family of David; and they confessed they were. Next he asked them what property they had, or how much money they possessed. They both replied that they had only 9000 denaria between them, each of them owning half that sum; but even this they said they did not possess in cash, but as the estimated value of some land, consisting of thirty-nine plethra only, out of which they had to pay the dues, and that they supported themselves by their own labor. And then they began to hold out their hands, exhibiting, as proof of their manual labor, the roughness of their skin, and the corns raised on their hands by constant work.

Being then asked concerning Messiah and His Kingdom, what was its nature, and when and where it was to appear, they returned answer that it was not of this world, nor of the earth, but belonging to the sphere of heaven and angels, and would make its appearance at the end of time, when He shall come in glory, and judge living and dead, and render to every one according to the course of his life.

Thereupon Domitian passed no condemnation upon them, but treated them with contempt, as too mean for notice, and let them go free. At the same time he issued a command, and put a stop to the persecution against the Assembly.

When they were released they became leaders of the assemblies, as was natural in the case of those who were at once martyrs and of the kindred of the Lord. And, after the establishment of peace to the Assembly, their lives were prolonged to the reign of Trojan.

Concerning the martyrdom of Shim’on the son of Klofah, overseer of Jerusalem.

Some of these heretics, forsooth, laid an information against Shim’on the son of Klofah, as being of the family of David, and a Messianic. And on these charges he suffered martyrdom when he was 120 years old, in the reign of Trajan Caesar, when Atticus was consular legate in Syria. And it so happened, says the same writer, that, while inquiry was then being made for those belonging to the royal tribe of the Jews, the accusers themselves were convicted of belonging to it. With show of reason could it be said that Shim’on was one of those who actually saw and heard the Lord, on the ground of his great age, and also because the Scripture of the Goodnews make mention of Mary the daughter of Klofah, who, as our narrative has shown already, was his father.

The same historian mentions others also, of the family of one of the reputed brothers of the Saviour, named Judas, as having survived until this same reign, after the testimony they bore for the faith of Messiah in the time of Domitian, as already recorded.

He writes as follows: They came, then, and took the presidency of every assembly, as witnesses for Messiah, and as being of the kindred of the Lord. And, after profound peace had been established in every assembly, they remained down to the reign of Trojan Caesar: that is, until the time when he who was sprung from an uncle of the Lord, the aforementioned Shim’on son of Klofah, was informed against by the various heresies, and subjected to an accusation like the rest, and for the same cause, before the legate Atticus; and, while suffering outrage during many days, he bore testimony for Messiah: so that all, including the legate himself, were astonished above measure that a man 120 years old should have been able to endure such torments. He was finally condemned to be crucified.

… Up to that period the Assembly had remained like a virgin pure and uncorrupted: for, if there were any persons who were disposed to tamper with the wholesome rule of the preaching of salvation, they still lurked in some dark place of concealment or other. But, when the sacred band of Emissaries had in various ways closed their lives, and that generation of men to whom it had been vouchsafed to listen to the Godlike Wisdom with their own ears had passed away, then did the confederacy of godless error take its rise through the treachery of false teachers, who, seeing that none of the apostles any longer survived, at length attempted with bare and uplifted head to oppose the preaching of the truth by preaching “knowledge falsely so called.”

Concerning his journey to Rome, and the Jewish sects

And the Assembly of the Corinthians continued in the orthodox faith up to the time when Primus was overseer in Corinth. I had some intercourse with these brethren on my voyage to Rome, when I spent several days with the Corinthians, during which we were mutually refreshed by the orthodox faith.

On my arrival at Rome, I drew up a list of the succession of overseers down to Anicetus, whose deacon was Eleutherus. To Anicetus succeeded Soter, and after him came Eleutherus. But in the case of every succession, and in every city, the state of affairs is in accordance with the teaching of the Torah and of the Prophets and of the Lord….

And after Ya’akov HaTzadik had suffered martyrdom, as had the Lord also and on the same account, again Shim’on the son of Klofah, descended from the Lord’s uncle, is made overseer, his election being promoted by all as being a kinsman of the Lord.

Therefore was the Assembly called a virgin, for she was not as yet corrupted by worthless teaching. Thebulis it was who, displeased because he was not made overseer, first began to corrupt her by stealth. He too was connected with the seven sects which existed among the people, like Shim’on, from whom come the Shim’oni; and Cleobius, from whom come the Cleobiani; and Doritheus, from whom come the Dorithiani; and Gorthaeus, from whom come the Gortheani; Masbothaeus, from whom come the Masbothaei. From these men also come the Menandrianists, and the Marcionists, and the Carpocratians, and the Valentinians, and the Basilidians, and the Saturnilians. Each of these leaders in his own private and distinct capacity brought in his own private opinion. From these have come false Messiahs, false prophets, false emissaries-men who have split up the one Assembly into parts through their corrupting doctrines, uttered in disparagement of God and of His Messiah….

There were, moreover, various opinions in the matter of circumcision among the children of Israel, held by those who were opposed to the tribe of Judah and to Messiah: such as the Essenes, the Galileans, the Hemerobaptists, the Masbothaei, the Samaritans, the Sadducees, the Pharisees.

READING 1
( Mt. 4:5 )

Then the devil took him into the holy city; and set him on the pinnacle of the Temple.

The Judaikon has not “into the holy city” but “in Jerusalem”.

To Ioudaikon ouk exei eij thn agian polin, alla en Ierousalhm

NOTES: This reading agrees with that of Luke 4:9 against canonical Matthew 4:5.

READING 2
( Mt. 5:22 )

but I say to you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgement…

The word [for] “without cause” is not written in some copies, nor in the Judaikon.

To eikh en tisin antigrafoij ou ketai, oude ea tw Ioudaikw

NOTES: + “without cause” = Western Type and their revisions (Codex D; Old Latin & Latin Vulgate; Old Syriac and Peshitta) and the Byzantine Type (Majority Text, Textus Receptus and Peshitta). “without cause” = almost all (if not all) Alexandrian witnesses. Also Hebrew Matthew (DuTillet, Munster and Shem Tob) all lack “without cause”. Final point: according to the Talmud (b.Yoma 9b) at the time of the Second Temple “hatred without cause” predominated.

READING 3
( Mt. 7:21-23 )

21: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The Judaikon has here, “If you are in my bosom and do not the will of my Father which is in heaven, out of my bosom will I cast you away.”

To Ioudaikon eatauQa outwj eXei <<ean hte en tw kolpw mou, kai to qelhma
tou Patroj mou tou en ouranoij uh poihte, ek tou kolpou mou aporriyw umaj>>

NOTES: This is quite probably the writing being referred to by Clement (early Second Century) in his Second Letter to the Corinthians where Clement says:

Also let us not fear men, but rather God. Wherefore, if
we should do such wicked things, the Lord has said,
“Though you should be joined to me, even in my very bosom and not keep my commandments, I would cast you off, and say to you, ‘Depart from me; I know not who you are, you workers of iniquity.’” (2Clement 4:5 (2:15 in some editions))

READING 4
( Mt. 10:16 )

Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, be you therefore wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

The Judaikon has “[wise] more than serpents”

To Ioudaikon <<uper ofeij>>

READING 5
( Mt. 11:12 )

And from the days of Yochanan the immerser until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and men of violence take it by force.

The Judaikon has “is ravished/plundered”

To Ioudaikon <<diarpazetai>> exei

Notes: DuTillet Hebrew Matthew has here “the Kingdom of Heaven is constricted and the forceful plunder (Nylzwg) it.

READING 6
( Mt. 11:25 )

At that time Yeshua answered and said, “I confess (logoumai) to you, O Father…

The Judaikon has “I give thanks/praise to you”

To Ioudaikon <<euxaristw soi>>

NOTES: Du Tillet & Munster have “thank you” Kdw) Shem Tob “praise” (xbt#y) ; Old Syriac and Peshitta have “thank” ()dwm).

READING 7
( Mt. 12:40 )

For Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The Judaikon has not “three [days and three nights]” there [in the heart of the earth].

To Ioudaikon ouk exei <<treij h [meraj kai treij nuktaj]>>

READING 8
( Mt. 15:5 )

…that which you might have been profited by me is a gift (dwron).

The Judaikon “corban [an offering] is what you should obtain from us.”

To Ioudaikon <<korban o umeij wfelhqhsesqe ec hmwn>>

NOTES: “corban” (korban = Nbrq) agrees with Greek Mark 7:11 as well as the Aramaic of the Old Syriac and Peshitta Versions.

READING 9
( Mt. 16:2-3 )

2: He answered and said unto them, *When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3: And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?*

What is marked with an asterisk is not found in other manuscripts, also it is not found in the Judaikon.

Ta seshmeiwmeaa dia tou asteriskou en eteroij en eteroij ouk emferetai, oute en tw Ioudaikw

NOTES: This text is also absent from the Aramaic of the Old Syriac.

READING 10
( Mt. 16:17 )

And Yeshua answered and said to him, “Blessed are you Shimon bar Yonah…

The Judaikon has “son of Yochanan”.

bariwna] To Ioudaikon <<uie Iwannou>>

READING 11
( Mt. 18:22 )

Yeshua said to him, “I say not to you, ‘Until seven times’ but ‘until seventy times seven’”.

The Judaikon has, immediately after the “seven times seven”, “for in the prophets, after they were anointed with the Ruach HaKodesh, there was found in them a word of sin.

To Ioudaikon echj exei meta to ebdomhkontakij epta <<Kai gar en toij
profhtaij meta to xrisqhnai autouj en Pneumati Agiw eurisketo ]-etw, eurisketai] en autoij logoj amartiaj

NOTES: This passage agrees with a reading of the Goodnews according to the Hebrews (recorded in Jerome; adv. Pelag III 2). This single agreement has caused some scholars to assume that the Judaikon is identical with this book, however one cannot draw that conclusion from a single common reading.

READING 12
( Mt. 26:74 )

Then began he to curse and to swear, “I know not the man,” and right away the rooster crowed.

The Judaikon “and he denied and swore and cursed.”

To Ioudaikon <<kai hrnhsato kai wmosen kai kathrasato>>

NOTES: Shem Tob has “then he began to deny (rwpkl) and to swear that at no time had he known him…”

READING 13
( Mt. 27:65 )

Pilate said to them, “You have a guard, go make it sure as you can.”

The Judaikon has “And he delivered to them armed men, that they might sit over gainst the cave and keep it day and night.”

To Ioudaikon <<kai paredwken autoij andraj enoplouj, ina kaqezwntai kat
enantion tou sphlaiou kai thrwsin auton hmeraj kai nuktaj>>

　

Fragments from the Goodnews according to the Hebrews

The Gospel according to the Hebrews is a lost apocryphal Gospel once used by the ancient Nazarenes which exists today only in about fifty quotations scattered throughout the writings of the ancient “Church Fathers”, however a reconstruction of the book in English has been created by James Scott Trimm, and is used by many modern Nazarenes today. To learn more see:

The Gospel according to the Hebrews.

Irenaeus

Irenaeus Against Heresies, i.26.2. But the Ebionites use only that Gospel which is according to Matthew, and repudiate the Apostle Paul, calling him an apostate from the Law.

Clement of Alexandria

Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis i. 9. 45). Even (or also, in the Gospel according to the Hebrews is written the saying, ‘he that wondereth shall reign, and he that reigneth shall rest’.

id. (Strom.) v.14.96. For those words have the same force as these: He shall not cease from seeking until he find, and having found, he will be amazed, and having been amazed will reign, and having reigned will rest.

Origen

Origen on John, ii. 12. And if any accept the Gospel according to the Hebrews, where the Saviour himself saith, ‘Even now did my mother the Holy Spirit take me by one of mine hairs, and carried me away unto the great mountain Thabor’, he will be perplexed, &c. . . .

On Jeremiah, homily xv.4. And if anyone receive that saying, ‘Even now my mother the Holy Spirit took me and carried me up unto the great mountain Thabor’, and the rest. . . .

Pseudo-Origin

It is written in a certain Gospel which is called according to the Hebrews (if at elast any one care to accept it, not as authoritative, but to throw light on the question before us):

The second of the rich men (it saith) said unto him: Master, what good thing can I do and live? He said unto him: O man, fulfil (do) the law and the prophets.

He answered him: I have kept them. He said unto him: Go, sell al that thou ownest, and distribute it unto the poor, and come, follow me. But the rich man began to scratch his head, and it pleased him not. And the Lord said unto him: How sayest though: I have kept the law and the prophets? For it is written in the law: Though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, and lo, many of thy brethren, sons of Abraham, are clad in filth, dying for hunger, and thine house is full of many good things, and nought at all goeth out of it unto them.

And he turned and said unto Simon his disciple who was sitting by him: Simon, son of Joanna, it is easier for a camel to enter in by a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Eusebius

Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. iii.39.17, speaking of the early writer Papias, says: He has also set forth (or expounded) another story, about a woman accused of many sins before the Lord, which the Gospel according to the Hebrews also contains.

It is the obvious, and general, view that this story was that of the woman taken in adultery, which, as is well known, forms no part of the true text of St. John’s Gospel, though it is inserted by most manuscripts at the beginning of the eighth chapter. A few manuscripts place it in St. Luke’s Gospel. The description suggests that Papias’s story, with its mention of many sins, differed from ours in detail.

id. iv.22.8. Hegesippus made use in his Memoirs of the Gospel according to the Hebrews.

id. iii.25.5 (in his list of antilegomena, writings whose canonicity was disputed): And among them some have placed the Gospel according to the Hebrews which is the especial delight of those of the Hebrews who have accepted Christ.

iii.27.4. (The Ebionites repudiated Paul) and used only the Gospel according to the Hebrews, making but slight account of the others.

Theophany, iv.12 (preserved in Syriac). As we have found somewhere in the Gospel which the Jews have in the Hebrew tongue, where it is said: I choose for myself them that are good (or well pleasing): the good are they whome my Father which in heaven giveth (or hath given) me.

ibid. (A passage preserved in Greek also.) But since the Gospel written in Hebrew characters which has reached our hands turns the threat not against the man who hid the talent, but against him who had lived riotously (for it told of three servants, one who desereved his master’s substance with harlots and flute-girls, another who multiplied it by trading, and another who hid the talent; and made the one to be accepted, another only rebuked, and another to be shut up in prison), the question occurs to me whether in Matthew, after the conclusion of the speech against the man who did nothing, the threat that follows may refer, not to him, but by epanalepsis (i.e. taking up a former subject again) be said of the first, who ate and drank with the drunken.

Epiphanius

They [The Nazarenes] have the Gospel according to Matthew quite complete, in Hebrew: for this Gospel is certainly still preserved among them as it was first written in Hebrew letters. I do not know if they have even removed the genealogy from Abraham to Christ.
((Epiphanius, Panarion 29:9:4)

In the Gospel that is in general use among them [the Ebionites] which is called “according to Matthew”, which however is not whole and complete but forged and mutilated – they call it the Hebrews Gospel-it is reported:

There appeared a certain man named Jesus of about thirty years of age, who chose us. And when he came to Capernaum, he entered into the house of Simon whose surname is Peter, and opened his mouth and said: “As I passed the Lake of Tiberias, I chose John and James the sons of Zebedee, and Simon and Andrew and Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the Iscariot, and you, Matthew, I called as you sat at the receipt of custom, and you followed me. You, therefore, I will to be twelve apostles for a testimony unto Israel.” (Epiphanius, Panarion 30.13.2-3)

And:

It came to pass that John was baptzing; and there went out to him Pharisees and were baptized, and all of Jerusalem. And John had a garment of camel`s hair and a leather girdle about his loins, and his food, as it is said, was wild honey, the taste if which was that of manna, as a cake dipped in oil. Thus they were resolved to pervert the truth into a lie and put a cake in the place of locusts.
(Epiphanius, Panarion 30.13.4-5)

And the beginning of their Gospel runs:

It came to pass in the days of Herod the king of Judaea, when Caiaphas was high priest, that there came one, John by name, and baptized with the baptism of repentance in the river Jordan. It was said of him that he was of the lineage of Aaron the priest, a son of Zacharias and Elisabeth : and all went out to him.
(Epiphanius, Panarion 30.13.6)

And after much has been recorded it proceeds:

When the people were baptized, Jesus also came and was baptized by John. And as he came up from the water, the heavens was opened and he saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove that descended and entered into him. And a voice sounded from Heaven that said:
“You are my beloved Son, in you I am well pleased. ” And again: ” I have this day begotten you”. And immediately a great light shone round about the place. When John saw this, it is said, he said unto him : “Who are you, Lord?” And again a voice from Heaven rang out to him: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And then, it is said, John fell down before him and said: “I beseech you, Lord, baptize me.” But he prevented him and said: “Suffer it; for thus it is fitting that everything should be fulfilled.” (Epiphanius, Panarion 30.13.7-8)

Moreover, they deny that he was a man, evidently on the ground of the word which the Saviour spoke when it was reported to him:

“Behold, your mother and your brethren stand without.” namely: “Who is my mother and who are my brethren?” And he stretched his hand towards his disciples and said: “These are my brethren and mother and sisters, who do the will of my Father.” (Epiphanius, Panarion 30.14.5)

They say that Christ was not begotten of God the Father, but created as one of the archangels … that he rules over the angels and all the creatures of the Almighty, and that he came and declared, as their Gospel, which is called Gospel according to Matthew, or Gospel According to the Hebrews, reports:

“I am come to do away with sacrfices, and if you cease not sacrificing, the wrath of God will not cease from you.” (Epiphanius, Panarion 30.16,4-5)

But they abandon the proper sequence of the words and pervert the saying, as is plain to all from the readings attached, and have let the disciples say:

“Where will you have us prepare the passover?” And him to answer to that: “Do I desire with desire at this Passover to eat flesh with you?” (Epiphanius, Panarion 30.22.4)

Jerome

“Matthew, who is also Levi, and from a tax collector came to be an emissary first of all evangelists composed a Gospel of Messiah in Judea in the Hebrew language and letters, for the benefit of those of the circumcision who had believed, who translated it into Greek is not sufficiently ascertained. Furthermore, the Hebrew itself is preserved to this day in the library at Caesarea, which the martyr Pamphilus so diligently collected. I also was allowed by the Nazarenes who use this volume in the Syrian city of Borea to copy it. In which is to be remarked that, wherever the evangelist… makes use of the testimonies of the Old Scripture, he does not follow the authority of the seventy translators [the Greek Septuagint], but that of the Hebrew. To these belong the two “Out of Egypt have I called my son” and “For he shall be called a Nazaraean.” (Of illustrious Men 3)

In the Gospel according to the Hebrews,
which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian language,
but in Hebrew letters, and is used by the Nazarenes
to this day (I mean the Gospel according the Apostles,
or, as is generally maintained, the Gospel according to
Matthew, a copy of which is in the library at Caesarea,
We find:

Behold, the mother of our Lord
and His brothers said to him,
John the Baptist baptizes for the remission of sins;
let us go and be baptized by him.
But He said to them, what sin have
I committed that I should go and be baptized by him?
Unless perchance, the very words which I have said
Is [a sin of] ignorance.
(Jerome; Against Pelagius 3:2)

In the Gospel according to the Hebrews,
which is written in the Chaldee and Syrian language,
but in Hebrew letters, and is used by the Nazarenes
to this day (I mean the Gospel according the Apostles,
or, as is generally maintained, the Gospel according to
Matthew, a copy of which is in the library at Caesarea,)
We find: …

“If your brother sin against you in word, and make amends to you, receive him seven times in a day.” Simon, His disciple, said to Him, “Seven times in a day?” The Lord answered and said to him, “I say unto you until seventy times seven.” Even the prophets, after they were anointed with the Holy Spirit, were guilty of a word of sin.” (Jerome; Against Pelagius 3, 2)

According to the Gospel written in the Hebrew speech,
which the Nazarenes read, the whole fount of the
Holy Spirit shall descend upon him… Further in the Gospel which we have just mentioned we find the following written:

When the Lord ascended from the water,
the whole fount of the Holy Spirit descended
and rested upon him, and said to him, “My Son, in all the prophets I was waiting for you, that you might come, and that I might rest in you. For you are my rest; and you are my firstborn son, who reigns forever. (Jerome; Commentary on Is. 11:2)

And in the Gospel according to the Hebrews,
which the Nazarenes are accustomed to read,
one of the greatest sins is
“To grieve the spirit of one’s brother”, (Jerome; Commentary on Ezek. 18:7)

As also we read in the Hebrew Gospel
that the Lord spoke to his disciples:
“And never,” he said, “be joyful except when you look on your brother with love.” (Jerome on Eph. 5:4)

Also the gospel called according to the Hebrews, recently translated by me into Greek and Latin, which Origen often uses, says after the resurrection of the Savior:

Now the Lord, when he had given the cloth to the servant of the priest, went to Ya’akov and appeared to him.

(for James had sworn that he would not eat bread from that hour in which he had drank the Lord’s cup until he should see him risen from among them that sleep). A little further on the Lord says,

Bring a table and bread.

And immediately it is added,

He took bread and blessed and broke and gave it to Ya’akov HaTzadik and said to him, My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them that sleep.” (Jerome; On Illustrious Men, 2)

In the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews
Instead of “essential to existence” I found “mahar” (rxm) which means “of tomorrow”, so that the sense is: “Our bread of tomorrow (that is of the future) give us this day. (Jerome; on Mt. 6:11)

In the Hebrew Gospel according to Mathew
It is thus: “Our bread of tomorrow (that is of the future) give us this day.” That is, “The bread which you will give us in the Kingdom give us this day”. (Jerome; On Ps. 135)

Matthew, who wrote his Gospel in the Hebrew speech,
Put it thus: “Osanna barrama,” i.e. Osanna in the highest. (Jerome; Letter to Damascus 20)

In the Gospel which the Nazarenes and Ebionites use
which I have lately translated into Greek from the Hebrew
and which is called by many people the original of Matthew,
this man who has the withered hand is described as a mason,
who prays for help in such words as these: “I was a mason seeking a livelihood with my hands: I pray you Yeshua, to restore me my health, that I may not beg meanly for food.” (Jerome; On. Mt. 12:13)

Bethlehem of Judea. This is a mistake of the scribes: for I think it was originally expressed by the Evangelist as we read in the Hebrew
(On Mat. 2:6)

In the Gospel which the Nazarenes use,
instead of “son of Barachias” we have found written “son of Joiada.” (Jerome; Commentary on Matthew 23:35)

Barabbas… is interpreted in the so-called Gospel according to the Hebrews as “son of their teacher” (Jerome; On. Mt. 27:16)

But in the Gospel which is written in Hebrew letters
we read not that the veil of the Temple was rent,
but that the lintel of the Temple of wonderous size
collapsed.
(Jerome; Letter 120 to Hedibia and in his Commentary on Mt. 27:51)

Also the Gospel called according to the Hebrews,
recently translated by me into Greek and Latin,…

Of the Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp. In it he also inserts
a testimony about the person of Messiah, from the Gospel
which was recently translated by me; his words are:

But I both saw him in the flesh after the resurrection,
and believe that he is in the flesh:
and when he came to Peter, and those who were with Peter,
he said to them, “Lo, feel me and see that I am not a bodiless spirit”. And forthwith they touched him and believed. (Jerome; Of Illustrious Men 2, 16 and Comm. on Isa. Preface to Book 18)

The early second century “Church Father” Ignatius in his letter to the Smynaeans, quotes this story from the Goodnews according to the Hebrews (he never names his source, but Jerome does) while rebutting the false doctrine of Docetism:

He was also truly crucified… And he suffered truly as he also truly raised up himself: And not, as some unbelievers say, that he only seemed to suffer, they themselves only seeming to be [believers]…. But I know that even after his resurrection he was in the flesh; and I believed that he is still so.

And when he came to those who were with Peter,
he said to them, “Take, handle me, and see that I am not a bodiless demon.” And straightway they felt and believed; being convinced both by his flesh and spirit.

For this cause they despised death, and were found
to be above it. But after his resurrection he did
eat and drink with them, as he was flesh; although
as to his Spirit he was united to the Father.
(Smyraneans 3:1-2 (1:9-12 in some editions))

You Jerome (above) had wrongly placed the quotation in Ignatious’s letter to Polycarp, but it actually appears in his letter to the Smyraneans. According to Eusebious’s Ecclesiastical History 3:36, it also appeared in a lost book known as the Doctrine of Peter.

Didymous the Blind

It seems that Matthew is named Levi in the Gospel according to Luke. But they are not the same, but Matthias who replaced Judas and Levi are the same with a double name, this appears from the Gospel according to the Hebrews.
(Didymous the Blind; Comm. On Psalms K-R, 198)

From the Middle Ages

As it is said in the Gospel of the Nazarenes:

At this word of the Lord many thousands of Jews
who were standing around the cross became believers.
(Haimo of Auxerre; Commentary on Isaiah 53:2)

In the Gospel books which the Nazarenes use we read:

Rays went forth from his eyes,
by which they were frightened and fled.

(A Marginal note in a versified 8th century Bible manuscript known as the Aurora of Peter Riga)

This is likely the source for a similar comment made by the fourth century “Church Father” Jerome who elsewhere frequently quotes from the Goodnews according to the Hebrews gives the following citation without giving a source:

For a certain fiery and starry light radiated
from his eyes and the majesty of the Godhead
gleamed in his face.
(Jerome; Commentary on Matthew 21:12)

Fragments from the Middle Ages

These eight days of Passover, at which Messiah the son of God rose again, signify eight days after the recurrence of the Passover, at which the seed of Adam will be judged, as is proclaimed in the Gospel of the Hebrews; and for this reason the learned believe that the day of judgment will be at Passover, because on that day Messiah rose again, that on that day also the saints should rise again.
(cited in Cateches celtique of the Breton Vaticanus Reginus, lat. 49; Studi e Testi 59, 1933, p.58)

For thus the Gospel which is entitled According to the Hebrews
reports:

When Joseph looked out with his eyes, he saw a crowd of pilgrims
Who were coming in company to the cave, and he said:
I will arise and go out to meet them. And when Joseph went out,
he said to Simon, “It seems to me as if those coming were soothsayers, for lo, every moment they look up to heaven and confer with one another. But they seem to be strangers, for their appearance differs from ours; for their dress is very rich and their complexion quite dark; they have caps on their heads and their garments seem to be silky, and they have breeches on their legs. And they have halted and are looking at me, and lo, they have halted and are looking at me, and lo, they have again set themselves in motion and are coming here.

From these words it is clear that not merely three men, but a crowd
of pilgrims came to the Lord, even if according to some the foremost
leaders of this crowd were named with the definite names Melchus,
Casper and Phadizarda.
(Sedulius Scotus, Commentary on Matthew; MSS: Berlin, Phill. 1660,
9th century; fol. 17v; Vienna 740, 9th century, fol. 15 r.v.; cited by
Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 203f.)

According to a citation from the Gospel according to the Hebrews found in an 8th to 9th century commentary on Matthew the woman’s name was “Mariosa” (Comm. On Mt. 9:20; MS: Wurzburg, M.p.th. fol. 61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)

“a man” by name Malchus [Melekh] and he was a mason. (Commentary on Matthew 12:10; MS: Wurzburg, M.p.th. fol. 61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)

“the queen”, namely Meroe, “of the South” that is Ethiopia. (Commentary on Matthew 12:42; MS: Wurzburg, M. p. th. Fol. 61, 8th-9th Century; cited by Bischoff in Sacris Erudiri VI, 1954, 252)

“the daughter”, that is the synagogue, whose name is Mariossa. (Historical Commentary on Luke 8:42; MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 55v, cited by Bischoff op.cit., 262)

In these cities (namely Chorazin and Bethsaidsa)
Many wonders have been wrought, as their number
The Gospel according to the Hebrews gives 53.
(Historical Commentary on Luke 10:13; MS: Clem. 6235
fol. 55v, cited by Bischoff op.cit., 262)

“the queen of the south” whose name is Meruae. (Historical Commentary on Luke 11:31; MS: Clem. 6235 fol. 57v, cited by Bischoff op.cit., 262)

[And he wiped their feet] And as it is said
in the Gospel of the Nazarenes: “He kissed the feet of each of them.” (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, Foll. 25v)

And how the angel strengthened Messiah in his struggle
in prayer, as is told in the Gospel of the Nazarenes.
And the same is also adduced by Anselm in his lamentation:
Be constant, Lord, for now comes the time in which through
your passion mankind sold in Adam will be ransomed.
(Historia passionis Domini; MS: Tholog. Sammelhandschrift
14th-15th Century, Fol. 32r)

In the Gospel of the Nazarenes the reason is given
why John was known to the high priest. As he was
the son of the poor fisherman Zebedee, he had often
brought fish to the palace of the high priests Annas
and Caiaphas. And John went out to the damsel
that kept the door and secured from her permission
for his companion Peter, who stood weeping loudly
before the door, to come in.
(Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog.
Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, Foll. 35r)

We read in the Gospel of the Nazarenes that the Judeans
bribed four soldiers to scourge the Lord so severely
that the blood might flow from every part of his body.
They had also bribed the same soldiers to the end
that they crucified him as it is said in John 19… (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, Foll. 44r)

[Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do]
Note that in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we have to read that
at this virtuous discourse of Messiah eight thousand were later
converted to the faith; namely three thousand on the day of
Pentecost as stated in the Acts of the Apostles 2 [2:41],
and subsequently five thousand about whom we are informed
in the Acts of the Apostles 10 [really 4:4?]
(Historia passionis Domini; MS: Tholog. Sammelhandschrift
14th-15th Century, Fol. 55r)

Also in the Gospel of the Nazarenes we read that at the time of Messiah’s death the lintel of the Temple, of immense size, had split (Josephus says the same and adds that overhead awful voices were heard which said: “Let us depart from this abode). (Historia passionis Domini; MS: Theolog. Sammelhandschrift 14th-15th Century, foll. 65r)

Cyril of Jerusalem

(This is probably from a heretical version of the book)

In Budge’s Miscellaneous Coptic Texts is a Discourse on Mary by Cyril of Jerusalem. Cyril (Pseudo-Cyril) relates that he had to send for a monk of Maioma of Gaza who was teaching false doctrine. Called on for an account of his belief the monk (p. 637, Eng. trans.) said: It is written in the Gospel to the Hebrews that when Christ wished to come upon the earth to men, the good Father called a mighty power in the heavens which was called Michael, and committed Christ to the care thereof. And the power came down into the world and it was called Mary, and Christ was in her womb seven months. Afterwards she gave birth to him, and he increased in stature, and he chose the apostles, . . . ‘was crucified, and taken up by the Father’. Cyril asked: Where in the Four Gospels is it said that the holy Virgin Mary the mother of god is a force? The monk said: In the Gospel to the Hebrews. Then, said Cyril, there are five Gospels? Where is the fifth? The monk said: It is the Gospel that was written to the Hebrews. (Cyril convinced him of his error and burned the books. No more is told of the Gospel, which, whatever it may have been, was certainly not the book we have been dealing with, but a writing of pronouncedly heretical (Docetic?) views. The last sentence of themonk’s account of Christ, which I did not quote in full just now, is perhaps worth recording.) ‘After they had raised him up on the cross, the Father took him up into heaven unto himself.’ This, with its omissin of all mention of the resurrection, might be construed as heretical: on the other hand, it may be merely a case of extreme compression of the narrative.

The Gospel of the Nazaraeans

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Also possibly known as:

The Gospel of the Hebrews
The Gospel of the Jews
The Gospel of the Ebionites
(that is, the Poor)
The Gospel of Matthew
(that is, the "Authentic")
and/ or secondary quotes from other very early gospels.

As far as we know, none of these gospels exist today. All these titles may refer to one, two or several works. Our knowledge of the text comes from early quotations. We do know that these gospels were used primarily in assemblies of Messianic Jews.

quoted from Clement of Alexandria

: Whoever marvels will reign, and whoever has reigns will rest. Whoever looks will not rest until he finds; whoever finds will marvel; whoever marvels will reign. Whoever reigns will rest.

quoted from 2 Clement:

If you do not fulfill my commands then even if you should gather together in my bosom, I will throw you out and say: Leave me, I do not know where you come from, you workers of evil.

quoted from Jerome:

The Lord's mother and brothers said to him, "John baptizes for the forgiveness of sins. Let's go and be baptized by John!" The Lord said to them, "In what way have I sinned that I should go and be baptized by him? Unless, of course, I have just committed the sin of ignorance!"

Give us today tomorrow's bread.

"If your brother has sinned against you with words, but has asked forgiveness and made reparations, forgive him seven times a day." Simon, his disciple, asked him, "Seven times a day?" The Lord told him, "Yes, I'm telling you, as many as seventy times seven times; for it is written that the words of sinful discourse were found even after the Holy Spirit anointed the prophets."

When the Lord had come out of baptism's waters, the entire of the Holy Spirit descended on him and remained. The Spirit said, "My Son, through all the prophets I have been waiting for you so that I might rest in you. For you are my rest; you are my first-begotten Son that will reign forever."

The Lord said to his disciples, Be joyful only when you look upon your brother's face with love. The most grievous offenders are those who have offended their brothers' spirits.

quoted from Origen:

The other of two rich men said to him, "Master, what good works should I do so that I will live?" The Lord said to him, "Man, fulfill the law and the prophets." The rich man said, "I have done that already." Then the Lord commanded, "Go and sell everything you have and distribute it among the poor, then come and follow me." The rich man could only scratch his head, for what the Lord had said hadn't pleased him at all. So the Lord said to him "How can you say that you have fulfilled the law and the prophets? For it stands written in the law, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Yet, look around and see that many of the sons of Abraham are begrimed with dirt and die with hunger. Your house is full of all kinds of desirable things, but none of your wealth comes out of it for them!" He turned and said to his disciple Simon, who was sitting near by, "Simon, son of Jona, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus said, Even so my mother, the Holy Spirit, took me by one of my hairs and carried me to the great Mount Tabor.

quoted from Eusebius:

I choose for myself the most worthy - they are given me by my Father in Heaven.

quoted from Haimo of Auxerre:

As the Lord spoke the words of Isaiah from the cross, thousands of the Jews standing around became believers.

amplified from a marginal note on a copy of Aurora:

Jesus entered the temple of Yahweh and drove out all those who bought or sold. He overturned the moneychanger's tables and the seats of the pigeon-sellers. Rays of light came out from his eyes, by which many were terrified and ran away.

quoted from Epiphanius:

There appeared a man of about thirty years of age named Jesus who chose us. When he came to Capernaum, he went into the house of Simon Peter and said, "As I walked along the Lake of Tiberias, I chose John and James the sons of Zebedee, then Simon, Andrew, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the Iscariot. You, Matthew, I called as you sat at the tax collection table and you followed me. I will you to be 'sent ones' for a testimony to Israel."

I have come to do away with the system of sacrifices. If you do not quit sacrificing, the wrath of Yahweh will not quit you.

The disciples said, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover?" Jesus answered, "Do you think I desire with desire to eat flesh with you at this Passover?"

from other sources:

Whoever seeks will not rest until he finds; whoever finds will be amazed; whoever is amazed will reign; whoever reigns will rest.

The Lord appeared to James, who had sworn that he would not eat until he should see the Lord risen from them that are asleep. The Lord said, "Bring a table and bread!" James did as he was told. The Lord took the bread, blessed it and broke it. Handing it to James the Just, he said, "My brother, you may now eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from sleepers."

When he came to Peter and the others with him, he said to them, "Behold! Touch me and see that I am not a bodiless demon!" Right away, they touched him and believed, being in close contact with his flesh and his spirit.

Unknown Gospels I & II

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

I

This gospel fragment is of the school of John, and dated to around 150.

Jesus was keeping company with tax collectors. After he had eaten with them in the inn, a leper approached him and said, "Master Jesus, I was eating with lepers and keeping company with them, thus I became a leper. If you desire it, I am clean."

Immediately the Lord said, "I AM, be clean." Then the leprosy left him.

The scribes and lawyers came to test him, thus tempt him to break the law. "Master Jesus," they said, "we know that you came from Yahweh, for you have outdone all the prophets. Tell us, according to your teaching, are we allowed to bankroll kings by paying their taxes? Should we pay or not?" But Jesus discerned their evil intention and became angry, saying to them, "Why do you call me 'Master' with your mouth, but do nothing I say? Isaiah has spoken truly concerning you: 'This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; their worship is vanity. They teach man-made rules.'"

Jesus and his disciples were walking along the bank of the Jordan river. Jesus quizzed his disciples, "Behold, a grain of wheat. When it is planted by nature, lying invisible beneath the earth, do we consider that time is well spent pondering its wealth?"

And as they were pondering, perplexed by this strange question, Jesus knelt and sowed a handful of wheat on the bank, watering it. Immediately before their eyes, the wheat sprouted and grew to seed, to their amazement and great joy.

II

Here is another nameless gospel excerpt of the Synoptic school found at Oxyrhynchus and dated to the early second century.

"Evil doers plan their evil works through crafty designs. Guard that you do not deserve the same fate as they! Evil doers not only receive their just recompense in this life, but they must also suffer punishment and great torment after."

He took his disciples to the place of purification, and he walked through the courts of the Temple of Jerusalem. Levi, a Pharisee, fell in with them and asked the Savior, "Who gave you and your followers permission to inspect this holy place and its holy utensils without having bathed and changed your clothing or even washing your feet? You are defiled, and have defiled this holy place and its utensils!"

Not venturing to leave that place, the Savior spoke to Levi and said, "How is it with you, since you, too, are in the same Temple Court as we are? Are you then clean?" Levi said, "I am clean, because I washed in the pool of David by going down the one stair, through the water, and up the other stair, and I have put on clean, white clothing in the prescribed manner. Only after becoming clean have I ventured into this pure place and viewed its holy utensils."

Then the Savior said to him, "Woe unto you unseeing blind man! So you have washed yourself in the water that was poured out from the same source where dogs and swine lie day after day. So you have scrubbed your skin to a chafe, just like prostitutes and erotic dancers do, making themselves up with rouge, oils, and perfumes in order to arouse men, looking so attractive, but being full of scorpions and vermin of every kind. You, who bathed with the swine, have dared to accused those who have been cleansed in the living water which falls from Heaven of being unclean? Woe to you and all like you!"

The Interpretation of Knowledge

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

The excerpt below demonstrates a little Gnostic theology applied to familiar, orthodox scriptures; it is a part of an exegesis on texts from the Sermon on the Mount. The Interpretation was found in the Nag Hammadi library.

This Teacher of Immortality made a living school against the other school, that which teaches using dead writings as textbooks. Through this school we are taught about our death and dead things. On the other hand, the teacher of immortality causes us to remove ourselves from this kind of worldly evil.

Here is his teaching: Don't call to any father on the earth; rather, call upon your Father in heaven, for he is one. Those who do his will are my family and friends.

You are the light of the world. But what good is it to gain the world when you lose your very soul? Now the world does not belong to you, nor you to it. Don't esteem worldly possessions as advantageous! On the contrary, the world is disadvantageous, even punishment....

The

Papyrii Library of Oxyrhynchus

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

About 1900, two Oxford professors went to Oxyrhynchus in Upper Egypt to search for treasure among the ancient tombs. In the course of their excavation, they found alarge, subterranean room filled with thousands of stuffed crocodiles. By accident, one of the crocodiles was dropped and split open. Inside was found papyrii with writing on Christian and many other subjects. The Oxyrhynchus fragments were later dated to about the same time as the New Testament autographs!

(The first example was released by BAR in the March 2011 issue, p. 67. Much of this issue is dedicated to the find, which is still yielding much valuable information yet today.)

In December 1905—the sixth season at Oxyrhynchus—Grenfell and Hunt registered the discovery of a very small parchment book measuring approximately 3.3 by 2.75 inches (8.5 x 7 cm). Such a relic was likely valued as much as an amulet as for its content, which was written in the tiniest of scripts. The contents, however, turned out to be quite interesting: parts of two episodes from a heretofore-unknown gospel, the identity of which remains a mystery to this day. The manuscript is housed in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. In the first episode, we hear Jesus warning the disciples against imitating certain "evildoers," who are to be punished in this life and in the next. In the second episode, Jesus and his disciples wander into the Temple precinct and are confronted by a Pharisaic priest.

Text of POxy 840

SIDE1
He took [the disciples] and went into the place of purification itself and walked around in the Temple. And a certain Pharisee, a high priest named [...] approached them and fell in with them and said to the savior, "Who allowed you to set foot in this place of purification and look upon these holy vessels when you have not bathed and your disciples have not even washed their feet? In spite of being unclean, you have set foot in this temple which is clean, in which no one may walk unless he has bathed and changed his clothes, nor dare to look at these holy vessels." And
standing with his disciples, the savior answered him,

SIDE2
"Then are you, being in the Temple, clean?' He [the Pharisee] said to him, "I am clean, for I have bathed in the pool of David. I went down into it by
one flight of stairs and came up out of it by another. Then I put on clean,
white clothes. Only then did I come and view these holy vessels." The savior answered him, "Woe to the blind who cannot see! You have bathed in these gushing waters, in which dogs and pigs lie night and day! And you have washed and scraped the outer layer of skin, just where prostitutes and flute girls anoint, bathe, cleanse and adorn in order to arouse the desires of men—but they are filled with scorpions and all kinds of evil on the inside. But I and my disciples, whom you say have not washed, have been dipped in waters [of which you know nothing ...]

(Some of the biblical texts found at Oxyrhynchus were later identified as passages from the Gospel of Thomas once it was found nearby a generation later.)

He who has found the meaning of these words (of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas) will not experience death.

The one who is far from you today will be near tomorrow.

The splinter that is in your brother's eye you see; but the beam that is in your own eye you cannot. When you pull the beam out of your eye, then you may see clearly enough to remove your brother's splinter.

If you do not fast as to the things of this world, you will not find the kingdom of Yahweh. If you do not keep the Sabbath, you will not see the Father.

Jesus says: A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither does a doctor cure those who know him well.

The Pharisees have obtained the keys of the kingdom, but they have hidden them. They do not go in themselves, and they do not allow those in who desire to go. But you, be wise as serpents and meek as doves.

The scribes, the Pharisees, and the priests were angry when they saw that Jesus reclined at the table with sinners. Jesus heard of their anger and said: The healthy do not need a doctor.

Pray for your enemies. The one who is not against you is for you. The one who is today far away will be near you tomorrow.

His disciples asked him, When will we again be able to see you? He said, When you have undressed and are not ashamed.

　

Sayings of the Savior

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Collected and Amplified from Diverse Sources.

Acts 20:35, quoted by Paul:

It is more blessed to give than receive.

Justin and several others:

In the last days, there will be dissenting opinions and squabbles brought about by false teachers.

Theodatus quotes Clement of Alexandria:

Save your soul and your life!

Apelles quotes Epiphanius:

Be competent money managers!

Tertullian:

One who has never gone through trials can never perceive the Kingdom of Heaven!

Clement of Alexandria:

Seek first the Reign of the Deity and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Ask for great things and the Deity will add unto you small things.

Actus Vercellenses:

Those with me haven't understood me.

Origen and several others:

He who is close to me is close to the fire; she who is far from the fire is far from the Kingdom.

Luke 6:4, variant reading from Codex D:

On the Sabbath Jesus saw a man working, and he said to him, "Man! If you know what you are doing, you are blessed! But if you don't know what you are doing, you are a law-breaker and cursed!"

Inscription on a mosque in India (1601), but traced back to at least the 8th century:

Jesus, on whom be peace, said, "The world is like a bridge. Go over it, but do not install yourself upon it."

Ephraem:

I have chosen you before the world was.

Berlin papyrus 11710:

Jesus to Nathaniel: Walk in the sun!

Fayyum Fragment:

As he led them out, he said, "All of you will be offended tonight, as it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.'" When Peter said, "Even if all, not I," Jesus said, "Before the cock crows twice, three times you will today deny me."

Letter of the Romans to the Corinthians; Clement, Bishop of Rome, first century:

Show mercy so that you may receive it. Forgive others so that you may be forgiven. As you do, it will be so done to you. As you give, so will it be given to you. As you judge, so will you also be judged. As you show kindness, so will you be shown kindness. With the same rule you use to measure these things, so will you be measured.

An Ancient Christian Sermon; Pseudo-Clement, second century:

If you are gathered with me into my bosom yet you do not keep my commandments, I will discard you and say to you, "Get away from me; I do not know where you are from, you evildoer!"

Let the lambs not fear the wolves after their death. As for you, do not fear those who kill you, for they can do no more. Fear him who has the power to throw soul and body into hell after you are dead.

If you do not guard something small, who will give you something great? Whoever is faithful with very little is faithful with very much.

Ignatius to the Smyrnians, first decade of the second century:

Hold and handle me to see that I am not a disembodied demon.

Epistle of Barnabas, between A.D. 70 and 135: Those who want to see me and gain my kingdom must receive me through suffering and affliction.

The Gospel of Mark,

Freer

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Also known as

Mark 16: The Freer Logion

In one version of

The Gospel of Mark, found in Egypt and

dating from around the 5th century, there is an insertion between Mark 16:14 and 15. The manuscript is in the Freer Museum in Washington.

Afterward Jesus appeared to the eleven as they reclined at table and reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he arose. The eleven made an excuse: "This age of lawlessness and unbelief is controlled by Satan, who, by means of unclean spirits, doesn't allow the truth to be known. So," they said to Christ, "reveal your righteousness now!"

Christ replied to them, "The measure of Satan's years of power is filled up, although other fearful things draw nigh to those for whom I, because of their sin, was delivered to death, that they might turn back and not sin anymore so that they might inherit the imperishable, spiritual glory of righteousness in heaven."

　

The

(Greek) Gospel of the Egyptians

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

This

Gospel of the Egyptians is to be distinguished from the Nag Hammadi gospel of the same name, and no longer exists in any form other than early quotes. Scholars think it is similar or related to the Gospel of Thomas, since Salome is an important character in each. The work is dated to the first or second century.

quoted from

Clement of Alexandria: Salome: "How long will death have power?" The Lord: "As long as you women have children." Salome: "Then it is good that I haven't had any children!"

The Lord: "Eat every herb but the bitter one. I have come to undo the effects of lust, which are birth, then decay." Salome: "When will all know this?" The Lord: "When the garment of shame has been put underfoot; when two become one; when male and female are no longer distinguishable."

quoted from

2 Clement: The married should not repudiate the spouse; the unmarried should remain so.

quoted from Justin's

Apology: The Lord said, "You will be like sheep among wolves." Peter said, "What if the wolves tear the sheep to pieces?" The Lord replied, "Then let the sheep not fear the wolves after death. So, have no fear of those that kill you, for that is the last and worst they can do. Fear the one who has power to throw you into hell after you've been killed."

from the

Oxyrhynchus Papyrii: You will not recognize the Kingdom of Yahweh until you make what is in your right hand the same as what is in your left hand; what is in your left hand the same as what is in your right hand; what is above as what is below; what is behind you as what is before.

from the

Epistle of Titus: What manner of woman are you! You have told me a mystery of resurrection, you who instituted vain festivals in your own honor and delighted in worldly revelries and amusements! See what manner of young people are among you! Come together and think about the condition of your souls, for he is here who is a soul-thinker, and the last days of persecution and punishment are upon us. To me, those who despise their sinful condition are precious. I see that some have allowed their hearts to grow cold through vanity. Some have surrendered themselves to this age of uncleanliness and turned to the devil. I can help them by exhorting them by saying: O you hearts who abandon yourselves to voluptuousness! The fear of the Deity is not in you!

Finally:

Hear me, my chosen lambs! Do not fear the wolves!

The cypress tree is a mystery of pious conduct.

The Gospel of Mani

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Mani was an early and very influential cult leader and messiah who founded a movement known as Manicheism. These fragments are from

The Book of Mysteries, The Coptic Psalm Book, and The Gospel of Mani (a commentary on the gospel of Jesus). Mani was influenced by The Lost Gospel of Peter and The Gospel of Thomas.

The old men of gray hair will be instructed by little children; six year-olds will teach sixty year-olds.

Know what is in front of your face and what is hidden will be revealed.

I came to redeem you from death and destruction. I will give you what you have not seen with your eyes, have not heard with your ears, have not grasped with your hands.

Blessed are the persecuted, for they will rest in light. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty, for they will be satisfied.

They will deliver me up and crucify me; on the third day will I rise from the dead. Go to Galilee this afternoon, and tell the news to Simon and the others.

Mary, Mary - know me but do not touch me. Stop the tears from flowing and know that I am your master. Only do not touch me, for I haven't seen my Father's face yet. Your God wasn't stolen from you, as your small thoughts lead you to believe. Your God did not die, but mastered death! I am not the gardener! I have given life and received life eternal. But I now appear to you because I have seen the tears in your eyes. Throw your sadness away from me to wandering orphans. Start rejoicing now and tell the eleven. You will find them gathered on Jordan's bank. The traitor persuaded them to once again become fishermen as once they were and to lay down their nets that caught people to life!

Say to them, 'Rise up! Let's go! Your brother calls for you!' If they scorn brotherhood with me, tell them, 'Your master calls.' If they disagree with that, tell them, 'It is your Lord.' Use all your skill to bring the sheep in to the shepherd. If you see that they have lost their wits for grief, draw Simon Peter away and say to him, 'Remember what I spoke to you about privately on the Mount of Olives: I have something to say but no one to say it to.'

Jesus stands among us; he winks at us secretly and says, "Repent, so that I may forgive you your sins".

I am close to you, like clothing.

He that dies will live; the humble will be lifted up.

Blessed is the one who knows her own soul.

Whoever works to come to that world of peace must collect his soul in the sign of the gods in paradise from now on.

The one who sees himself on the outside only becomes small and makes others small.

The one who has compassion on his soul will weep and lament, pray and implore, and beg remission of sins.

Where love is little, all deeds are imperfect.

What good is it for a man to say, "I have power in my members," when he creates corruption by eye, ear, and senses?

Every time you gather for begging for remission of sins, forgive - seek pardon from one another. The one who doesn't forgive is not forgiven.

The Wisdom of Jesus Christ

This text was first discovered in its entirety in 1896, then was rediscovered as part of the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. The papyrus dates from the middle fourth century and the text perhaps from middle second. This test is certainly the 'deepest' of them all.

After Jesus rose from the dead, nineteen disciples (twelve men and seven women) went to Galilee to the mountain that is called "Divination and Joy." The Savior appeared there to them as great luminescent angel, indescribable. He said, "Peace to you. My peace I give you!" They were amazed and afraid. The Savior laughed, and asked them: What are you thinking? Are you perplexed? What do you want to know?"

Philip ventured, "We want you to explain the underlying reality of the universe and the divine plan." The Savior replied, "All the dust called mankind from the beginning of the world until now has wondered about the Deity. Who is he? What is he like? But they have not found him! The wisest have speculated as to the mechanism that powers the universe and its movement, but they have not found the truth. These philosophers have said that it happens three different ways - they don't agree. Some say the world is self-directed. Others believe in providence. Still others say it is fate. None of these are even close to the truth, for they are the creation of man. But since I came from the Infinite Light (and I know the Light), I am here to tell you about the precise nature of truth. Whatever comes from itself is polluted, since it is self-made. Providence has no wisdom and fate doesn't discern! But it is your portion to know. Whoever is worthy of knowledge will receive it: whoever has been born of the First Who Was Sent is immortal in the midst of mortality."

Matthew said to him, "Lord, the truth is found only through you. So teach us the truth." The Savior answered, "He Who Is is awesome and indescribable. No principle, authority, manipulator or creature from the genesis of the universe until know has known the One from the First Light except Himself, and those to whom he reveals himself. I am the Great Savior, immortal and everlasting. Everyone who is born dies. But the eternal is not born, the unbegotten has no beginning. All who begin end! He is not named by a ruler, for those who are named were created by others. He is, in fact, unnamable. He is not human, nor does he look like a human being. He doesn't resemble creation.

"But he has a likeness of his own. It is not like that which you have seen and come to know; rather, it is a strange likeness that is more splendid than anything, including the wondrous sight of the universe itself. He looks side to side, every side, and sees himself from himself. Since he is infinite, the human mind can't comprehend him. Since he is imperishable, he is unlike anything else. His goodness never changes. He is faultless. He is blessed. He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect. He is imperishably blessed. So he is called, 'Father of the Universe.'"

Philip said, "Lord, how then did he appear to the Perfect who have seen him?" The Perfect Savior answered Philip, "The Father's majesty and authority was present before he became visible, since he encompasses all things while nothing encompasses him. For he is total mind engaged in thought, consideration, reflection, rationality, and power. The worthy ones also have such powers, and are likewise sources of all. The infinite, unbegotten Father foreknew their whole race from the first one to the last."

Thomas said to him, "Lord Savior, why did the perfect come to be and why were they made visible?" The perfect Savior said, "I came here from the Infinite to make these things visible to you. Spirit-Who-Is was the progenitor, for he has the power to bring life and the nature of a creator. The great wealth hidden within him had need of self-revelation. Because of his natural mercy and love, he alone wished to generate life with which to share his goodness. In turn, this goodness was imparted to the Unwavering Generation, progenitor of body and fruit, glory and honor in immortality and infinite grace. Such imperishable treasure is revealed through those who came afterward, though they were not yet visible. Though generated by God, still a great difference exists between the imperishables."

Then the Savior cried out, "Whoever has ears to hear about the Infinite Ones, let him hear! I have addressed and am addressing those who are awake!" He continued by saying, "Everything that came from the perishable will perish, but everything that came from the imperishable doesn't perish, but becomes imperishable. Many went astray and died because they didn't know the difference!"

Mary said to him, "Lord, if many went astray and died, how will we know the difference?" The Perfect Savior answered, "Forsake the visible realm, make an end of visible things, then approach from the realm of the invisible, and the very Source of Thought will reveal to you how faith in the invisible can be found in the visible realm - those things that are the unbegotten Father's. Whoever has ears, let him hear!

"Actually, the Lord of the Universe is more aptly called 'Forefather' than 'Father;' for the Father is progenitor in principle of those who are to be created, but since he is beginningless, he is more precisely called 'Forefather.' Seeing himself as though he were looking into an internal mirror, he appears to himself as Divine Self-Father, the defender of those under assault, and the First Existent Unbegotten Father. He is of the same age as the Forefather, who is the Light before him, but not of the same in ability.

"Later appeared the innumerable multitude of aggressive, self-existent beings, all begotten at the same time and endued with the same powers, living in the heavenly realms. They are called 'The Generation over Whom There Is No Kingdom,' and you are their descendants. These are also called 'Children of the Unbegotten Father, God, Savior, and Son of God,' whose likeness is within you. Now he is the Unknowable, full of immortal glory and indescribable joy. Those who belong to him now rest in him and share this joy, glory, and jubilation of his. Up until this time such a thing has not been heard of or known even among the heavenly host and their worlds."

Matthew said to him, "Lord, Savior, how did mankind come to be?" The perfect Savior said, "Know now that the Infinite One who lived before the universe was formed is the self-nurtured, self-made Father. He is full of striking luminescence as to be indescribable. In the beginning, it was decided that his likeness would be a great power. Immediately, Light assumed the appearance of the Immortal Androgynous Man (who is the Savior); through him mankind has the opportunity to attain salvation. These ones will be attended to until the end of time by the Interpreter, who was sent forth so that they might awake from their forgetfulness and escape the poverty brought about by thieves.

"His consort is the Great Sophia, whom he destined as the agent in creation, through whom the Immortal Man appeared, representing the First, divinity, and kingdom, as revealed by the Father. He thus created a great angel as well for his own glory, who is Ogdoad.

"He had great authority and power to rule over an impoverished creation. He created gods, angels, archangels, innumerable myriads, as a heavenly community surrounding him and the Spirit of Wisdom, thus originating divinities and kingdoms. This is why Ogdoad is called 'God of gods' and 'King of kings.'

"The first man had his unique mind and thought, being able to reflect on the past, consider the future, rationalize problems, and live in this kind of power. All his attributes were perfect and everlasting, and he was imperishable. In his imperishableness, he equaled the Father, but in respect to power, his was different as is the difference between a father and his son.

"After this, all else that was revealed was generated from the power of the first man. And from created ones came fashioned ones. From fashioned ones came formed ones, which were named. So is explained the difference between the unbegotten ones from the beginning to the end."

Bartholomew was next to question: "In the Gospel, one is designated 'man' and also 'Son of Man.' To which of these is the Son of God related?" The Holy one replied, "You need to know that the First Man Adam is called 'Progenitor, Self-perfected Mind.' The First Man reflected with the 'Great Sophia' and revealed the First-Begotten Son, having the characteristics both of the maleness of the Father and the femaleness of Sophia. The male name of this son is 'First Begetter Son of God'; his female name is 'First Begettress Sophia, Mother of the Universe,' also known as 'Love.' He is thus called 'Christ.' Since he holds his Father's authority, he created a numberless multitude of angels from Spirit and Light to be his retinue."

His disciples said to him, "Lord, reveal the one called 'Man' to us, that we might know the precise magnitude of his glory." The perfect Savior said, "Whoever has ears to hear, hear! First Begetter Father Adam came from the shining Light (thus is called 'Eye of Light') as were holy angels, being indescribable, shadowless, and continually rejoicing in their ability to reason, a gift received from their Father. The whole dominion of the 'Son of Man - Son of God' is full with indescribable and shadowless joy, with continual jubilation over such imperishable glory, which has never been revealed to any until this time. I came from the Self-Begotten and First Infinite Light in order to reveal everything to you."

Again said the disciples, "Tell us clearly how they came from the invisible and immortal realms to the world that is full of death and dying?" The perfect Savior replied, "All who come into this world come as a drop from the Light and are guarded by the Light. But I came from the heavenly realm by the direct will of the Great Light, escaping the bondage of the atmosphere, and have awakened each drop sent from Sophia that each might bear much fruit through me, be perfected through me, and joined to the Father through me; that the sons of Sophia might be justified in regards to their imperfection, and might obtain their rightful honor and glory and access to their Father, and know the true words of Light. And you were sent out by the Son, receiving Light to escape the evil designs of the powers of the air, to tread upon their malicious intents, overcoming temptation to carnal immorality and licentiousness."

Then Thomas said to him, "Lord, Savior how many high dimensions (aeons) surpass the heavens?" The Perfect Savior said, "I bless you because you have asked about the great high heavenly realms - indeed, your roots are in infinity. As I said before, the Self-Begetter created twelve high heavenly dimensions for his twelve angels. All these were perfect and good."

Thomas continued, "How many high dimensions of immortals are there, starting from infinity?" The Perfect Savior said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! The primary dimensional realm: Son of Man, First Begetter, Savior, who has appeared. The secondary: Man, Adam - Eye of Light. Greater still is the dimensional realm of the Eternal Infinite Deity, the Self-Begotten Dimension of Dimensions, embracing both the realm of the Son of Man and Man, to include all the immortals I described earlier appearing from the realm of Sophia.

"Next, Immortal Man reveals high heavenly dimensions, powers, and kingdoms, giving authority as he sees fit and allowing them to 'exercise their desires until the last things are above chaos.' They conferred with each other to reveal every magnificence, even from the spiritual dimension of glorious and numberless lights. These were once called by number and name: The first realm was 'Unity and Rest,' the third, 'Assembly' (because a great multitude appeared and revealed itself). Because these multitudes gather in unity in a particular realm, we have called it 'The Eight Assembly.' It is composed partly of those with male spiritual characteristics, the rest having female characteristics. The male contingency is called the 'Assembly,' the female, 'Life,' that it might be demonstrated that all high heavenly dimensions came to life from the female.

"Names were then given. Some were called 'gods'; gods of gods revealed gods by wisdom; lords of lords from their thoughts revealed lords; lords from their power revealed archangels; archangels revealed angels by their words, from angels other semblances with structure and form appeared, as well as other high heavenly dimensions, worlds, and a panoply of names.

"All these immortals have authority from Immortal Man, who is also called 'Silence,' for her majesty was perfected without need for speech. With this authority, the imperishables each created a kingdom in the Eight Assembly, erecting thrones, temples, and other firmaments reflecting their own majesty and for their own glory. This was by the will of Sophia, the 'Mother of the Universe.'"

Then the Holy Apostles said, "Lord, Savior, relate to us concerning the ones living in the high heavenly dimensions, since this knowledge is pertinent to our discussion." The Perfect Savior said, "I will reveal anything you ask about. These beings made numberless myriads of angels for their own company and glory. They made virgin spirits, known as the Indescribable, Unchanging Heavenly Lights. These were made perfect in an instant by force of will, and, by nature, are immune to sickness and weakness. So have been completed the high heavenly dimensions to the glory of Immortal Man and Wisdom-Sophia, the which are heavenly, chaotic patterns for all other firmaments and establishments beneath. All nature, beginning with this revelation of the chaotic, are within the sphere of the shadowless Light, indescribable, with unutterable jubilation. All such spirits delight in their stability of glory and their continual repose. Subsequent generations of such beings have not even the capability of describing such glory, joy, and rest. I am telling you all this in order to make you aware that you might shine in Light even more than these!"

Mary said, "Holy Master, where did your disciples originate and where are they going?" The Perfect Savior said, "You should know that the Great Sophia, Mother of the universe and consort of creation, desired to bring these into existence alone. But their lives came to be only by the intervening will of the Father of the Universe, so that his unimaginable goodness might be revealed. Through the creation of the mortal, a spiritual barrier came into being, dividing the mortal and their kind from the immortal and those that came after, followed by every historical circumstance and consequence that we are aware of, such as the revelation of the innate weakness of the first mortal woman, and her consequent contention with Error.

"As I said before, from the High Heavenly Realm came a drop from Light and Spirit, descending into the lower regions, the Chaos, so that forms of living beings might be molded from it by the heat of the breath of the Great Light. (This is a judgment on the Arch-Begetter, known as 'Yaldabaoth.') Into these forms were breathed as it were a living soul, withered and sleeping in ignorance. Then names were received by all those who were in the world of chaos through the Immortal One when the breath was blown on him.

"By the consent of Mother Sophia-Wisdom, Immortal Man pieced together clothing of sorts, thus passing judgment on thieves. But since he was like a soul, he was not able to accommodate the power himself until the number of formed beings were completed, the time of which was to be determined by the great angel.

"Now I have completed my teaching on the Immortal Man and have loosed the bonds of the thieves from him. I have broken the gates of the pitiless ones in their presence. I have humiliated their maliciousness, and they have been shamed, rising from their ignorance. I came to this place that they might be joined with that same Spirit and Breath, that through the Breath, from two might come one, just as from the beginning, that you might yield much fruit and go up to Him Who Is From The Beginning, in the indescribable joy, glory, honor and grace of the Father of the Universe.

"Whoever knows the Father in pure knowledge will go to the Father and rest in the Unbegotten Father. But whoever does not know him in the correct sense will depart to the defective god and to the rest of the Eighth Assembly. Whoever knows the Son of Man in knowledge and love, let that one bring me his sign that he might depart to the mansions with those of the Eighth Assembly.

"Behold, I have revealed the name of the Perfect One to you, and the perfect will of the Mother of the Holy Angels, so that the multitude might be completed and appear in the sky, so that all these might take of the goodness and untraceable wealth (that is, repose) of the Great Invisible Spirit, and live in the place of liberty. I came from the First Who Was Sent to show you Who Was From The Beginning, in spite of the arrogance of the Arch-Begetter and his angels, since they boast that they are gods.

"I came to remove even their blindness, that I might share the knowledge of God who is above all things. Therefore, I bid you to walk on their graves, humiliate their evil intentions, and break their yokes, replacing them with my yoke. I have given you authority over all things as Sons of Light, so that you might walk upon their power with your feet."

These things the Blessed Savior said before he disappeared from them. All the disciples were then in great and indescribable joy in the Spirit from that day forward. And the disciples began to preach the Divine Gospel, the eternal, immortal spirit. Amen.

　

The Acts of Andrew

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

The following is an excerpt of a fragment translated from Coptic of what scholars believe to be one of several lost manuscripts designated Acts of Andrew. These Acts are known from Eusebius, 4th century, who, along with other apocryphal books, condemned it to the fire.

Jesus said to Andrew, "Come close to me, Andrew. Your name is 'the fire.' Blessed are you among men!"

Andrew answered, "Let me speak."

Jesus replied, "Speak, then, Andrew. You are a steadfast pillar."

Andrew said, "As God lives, who is your father? I came to you from the house of my father and mother, and as my soul lives, I have not returned to it. I haven't even looked at the faces of my father and mother, my children, or even my wife. But I have borne my cross every day, following you from morning until night, without once laying it down. A lesser disciple could not so bear your name, Lord. I have not even desired two tunics for myself. I despise even this coat that I wear."

The Acts of John

Secret Sayings

Jackson Snyder

"No one is to copy this book...we consider that it deserves to be consigned to the fire," the Nicene Council of 787 proclaimed. Nevertheless, much of this book survives in several languages and is dated by scholars to as early to the fourth century.

One time Jesus took James, Peter, and I (John) to the mountain where he prayed, and we saw him in an indescribable light.

Another time he bid us come up the mountain saying, "Come with me." When we arrived, he went a distance and began to pray.

Since I knew he loved me, I quietly approached him from behind and stood looking at his back. Then I perceived in the spirit that he was not dressed in clothing, but stripped of his usual garments. As such, he did not look at all like a regular man. For his feet were very white, snow white, and the ground was lit up by them. And his head seemed to stretch upward to heaven. It so frightened me that I cried aloud.

As he turned to answer my cry, I saw him once again as a small man. He grabbed my beard and pulled it saying, "John, do not be without your faith, but believe. Do not question the vision that you have seen." I said to him, "Lord, what have I done?" But I'm telling you, friends, that, for a month, I suffered nearly unbearable pain where he pulled at my beard. I even told him, "Lord, if your playful tug has caused me such pain, how much pain would I have had to bear if you had struck me?" He said to me, "Be concerned from now on not to tempt the untemptable one."

One time all the disciples were sleeping in a house in Gennesaret. I unwrapped my covers to see what Jesus was doing. Jesus said to me, "John, go back to sleep." I pretended to sleep, and after a while I saw another man like him descending and I heard him say to the Lord, "Jesus, these men you have chosen still do not believe you." My Lord replied, "You are right; for they are men."

Before Jesus was arrested by the lawless Jews, whose lawgiver is the lawless serpent, he brought us together and said, "Before I am delivered to them, let us sing a hymn to the Father, and then go on to meet our destiny." We held hands at his bidding, and he stood in the middle of our circle. "Answer Amen to me." He sang this hymn.

Glory be to thee, Father.
Glory be to thee, Logos:
Glory be to thee, Grace. --Amen.

Glory be to thee, Spirit:
Glory be to thee, Holy One:
Glory be to thy Glory. --Amen.

We praise thee, Father:
We thank thee, Light:
In whom darkness stays not.
--Amen.

And why we give thanks,
I tell you: I will be saved,
And I will save.
--Amen.

I will be loosed,
And I will loose.
--Amen.

I will be wounded,
And I will wound.
--Amen.

I will be born,
And I will bear.
--Amen.

I will eat,
And I will be eaten.
--Amen.

I will hear,
And I will be heard.
--Amen.

I will be thought,
Being wholly thought.
--Amen.

I will be washed,
And I will wash.
--Amen.

Grace dances.
I will pipe,
Dance, all of you.
--Amen.

I will mourn,
Beat you all your breasts.
--Amen.

The one Ogdoad
sings praises with us.
--Amen.

The twelfth number
dances on high.
--Amen.

To the Universe
belongs the dancer.
--Amen.

He who does not dance
does not know what happens.
--Amen.

I will flee,
and I will be fled.
--Amen.

I will adorn,
and I will be adorned.
--Amen.

I will be united,
and I will unite.
--Amen.

I have no house,
and I have houses.
--Amen.

I have no place,
and I have places.
--Amen.

I have no temple
and I have temples.
--Amen.

I am a lamp to you
who see me.
--Amen.

I am a mirror to you
who know me.
--Amen.

I am a door to you
who knock on me.
--Amen.

I am a way to you
the traveler.
--Amen.

Now if you follow my dance,
see yourself in Me who am speaking, And when you have seen what I do, keep silent about my mysteries. You who dance, consider what I do, for yours is This Passion of Man which I am to suffer. For you could by no means have understood what you suffer unless I was to you as the Logos, sent by the Father.

You who have seen what I suffer saw me as suffering yourself, and seeing it you did not stay, but were wholly moved. Being moved towards wisdom, you have me as a support; rest in me.

Who I am, you shall know when I go forth. What I now am seen to be, that I am not; What I am you shall see when you come yourself.

If you knew how to suffer you would be able not to suffer. Learn how to suffer and you shall be able not to suffer.

What you do not know I myself will teach you.

I am your Deity, not the Deity of the traitor. I will that there be prepared holy souls for me.

Understand the word of wisdom!

As for me,
If you would understand what I am: By the word Word I was mocked at all things and I was not mocked at all. I leaped but do you understand the whole. And when you have understood it, then say, Glory be to thee, Father.

Say again with me,

Glory be to thee, Father,
Glory be to thee, Word.
Glory be to thee, Holy Spirit.
--Amen.

After the Lord had danced with us he left. We were like men amazed or fast asleep, and we ran away to and fro.

Jesus revealed the mystery of the cross. "One ready man must hear what I have to say, John.... For your sakes I sometimes call this mysterious 'cross of light' by various names, among them, the Logos, the Son, the Father, the Spirit, Jesus, the Christ, the Mind, the Door, the Way, the Bread, the Seed, the Resurrection, the Faith, and Grace. All these are part of the mystery, but given names for the sake of mankind.

"But the true identity of the 'cross of light,' as it is known to itself and spoken to us, is the discernment of the nature of all things, the strengthening bulwark of stability from instability, and the harmonious application of wisdom, being wisdom in harmony. For unstable and transient things proceed from other convenient entities, such as principalities, powers, authorities, and demons with the accompanying demonic activities, the like of threats, inflamed passions, and devilish intentions.

All these sprout from the inferior root of Satan and his nature.

"This cross has united all things through the Logos, then dispatched that which is unstable and inferior. But I do not speak of the cross made of wood that you will see when you descend from here; nor am I that man you on the cross, I who you can hear but not see. I was recognized for what I am not. That which I was recognized for was the subject of mean insults, the likes of them I did not deserve. I am the Lord of this place, and as my place of rest is not seen nor rightly spoken of, all the more will I not be seen or rightly spoken of.

"Since the crowd around the cross is not united, then we perceive its inferior nature. Those who you saw on the cross are not united in him, for they had not yet been gathered together.

When human nature is humbled and the masses come to me and obey me, the one who hears me will be united with me. That one will be changed, and become superior to the rest even as I am now superior.

"For as long as you do not say that you belong to me, I am not what I am. If you listen to me, you will be like me, and I will be what I was, and we will be united - from me you become what I am!

So ignore what the rest say, and despise the talk of those outside the mystery. Know only that I am with the Father entirely, and he is with me.

"They will say I have suffered grievously, but I have not suffered at all. What you and the others perceived as suffering is to be called a mystery that has been revealed to you in my dance. For I have shown you that which you are; but what I am is known only to me. Allow me to be what I am and let me have that which is mine. What is yours you must see through me. Now you must see me not as I appear to your natural mind, but rather through your knowledge as my brother.

"You have heard that I did suffer, but I did not. You heard that I did not suffer, yet I did. You have heard that I was pierced, yet I was not wounded; that I was hanged, yet I wasn't; that my blood flowed, yet it didn't. Those things that they say that I endured, I did not. But those things that they did not say I endured. I did!

Now I will show you the mystery of what I really suffered, for I know that you will understand. Know me, then, as the torment of the Logos, the piercing of the Logos, the blood of the Logos, the wounding of the Logos, the nailing of the Logos, and the death of the Logos. I have thus discarded my manhood. In order to fully know the Deity, you must first know the Logos. Finally, know the man, and what he has suffered."

The Preaching of Peter

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

The

Preaching of Peter (Kerugmata Petrou) expounds several important opinions of Peter: the secrecy of his books of sermons, his attitude toward women and his version of the confrontation with Paul described in Galatians. It is a very enlightening collection of sermons dated to the second century.

Jesus to the disciples: If anyone of Israel desires to repent and through my name believes in Yahweh, his sins will be forgiven him. For 12 years go into the world and preach this message so that no one may say, "We haven't heard."

I have chosen the twelve because I have found them worthy to be my disciples. I sent these, whom I was sure would be true Apostles, into the world to proclaim to all the joyous message that all may know that there is only one qeos, and to reveal the future through those who believe in me. The end of which is that those who hear and believe might be saved; and those who do not believe may yet testify that they too have heard the message. That they might not be able to excuse themselves by saying, "We haven't heard."

　

The Acts of Peter

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

There is a wealth of early Petrine literature, and I will paraphrase excerpts from several. The Acts of Peter here transcribed have been condemned by several church Fathers, accepted by one as inspired and was canonized in the Muratori Canon as

The Passion of Peter.

The resurrected Lord said to his disciples, "Go to the city called Habitation. Stay there and endure with patience those who have believed in my name because of the hardships I have endured. They should be taught the things I have imparted to you. I will provide for your needs if you are obedient in this work. Give the poor what they need from what you have until I give them something better - those things that you received from me for nothing."

Peter answered the Lord, "Lord you have instructed us to give up the world and all that is therein. We have done so for your sake. But we are concerned about what we will eat, for we have sustenance only from day to day, and no more than for a single day. How will we be able to provide for these poor when we can barely provide for ourselves?"

The Lord answered, "Peter, understand me. Don't you yet know that my name, which you teach, is greater than all riches, and the Wisdom of the Deity is better than gold, silver, and precious stones?"

He gave the disciples a small bag of medicine and told them, "Heal all who live in the city that believe in my name."

Peter doubted the words of the Lord, but was afraid to speak up again. He motioned to John and said to him, "You speak to him about it this time." So John said, "Lord, we are afraid to say much to your face. We have not been taught to be doctors, but this is what you have asked us to be. How then will we heal bodies, as you bid us to?"

The Lord answered them, "You are correct in what you have said, John. I know that the world's doctors are able to heal those that belong to this world. However, the doctors of souls heal hearts. It is less difficult to heal bodies than hearts! Knowing this, heal the bodies first with true healing power, not medicines. Then, the ones who you have cured will have enough faith in your method that their hearts might be likewise healed!"

"But I caution you to stay out of the houses of the rich of the city who have not even taken notice of what I have accomplished; do not eat with them or befriend them. You may think that you will influence them, but they will influence you! Many disciples have given undue respect to the rich, because they desire the riches of the world above heavenly wealth, and thus sin. These so-called disciples then influence others to sin. You have the discernment to judge these ones, but I exhort you to judge with honesty, so that your ministry may become well-known. In this way my name will be glorified."

The disciples answered, "Yes, these are the right things to do."

The Gospel of Mark, Secret Mark

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Secret Mark is a section of perhaps the source of Mark that was left out or lost from the canonical issue, and quoted from the epitomes of Clement of Alexander. There is a scene in Secret Mark that could be construed as 'Jesus' performing a homosexual act upon the 'boy in the sheet.' It is little wonder Secret Mark was 'discovered' by the late Morton Smith, being himself a famous homosexual? Here is Secret Mark from Smith's own translation.

From the letters of the most holy Clement, the author of the Stromateis. To Theodore.

You did well in silencing the unspeakable teachings of the Carpocratians. For these are the “wandering stars” referred to in the prophecy, who wander from the narrow road of the commandments into a boundless abyss of the carnal and bodily sins. For, priding themselves in knowledge, as they say, “of the deep things of Satan,” they do not know that they are casting themselves away into “the nether world of the darkness” of falsity, and, boasting that they are free, they have become slaves of servile desires. Such men are to be opposed in all ways and altogether. For, even if they should say something true, one who loves the truth should not, even so, agree with them. For not all true things are the truth, nor should that truth which merely seems true according to human opinions be preferred to the true truth, that according to the faith.

Now of the things they keep saying about the divinely inspired Gospel according to Mark, some are altogether falsifications, and others, even if they do contain some true elements, nevertheless are not reported truly. For the true things being mixed with inventions, are falsified, so that, as the saying goes, even the salt loses its savor.

As for Mark, then, during Peter’s stay in Rome he wrote an account of the Lord’s doings, not, however, declaring all of them, nor yet hinting at the secret ones, but selecting what he thought most useful for increasing the faith of those who were being instructed. But when Peter died a martyr, Mark came over to Alexandria, bringing both his own notes and those of Peter, from which he transferred to his former book the things suitable to whatever makes for progress toward knowledge. Thus he composed a more spiritual Gospel for the use of those who were being perfected. Nevertheless, he yet did not divulge the things not to be uttered, nor did he write down the hierophantic teaching of the Lord,* but to the stories already written he added yet others and, moreover, brought in certain sayings of which he knew the interpretation would, as a mystagogue,** lead the hearers into the innermost sanctuary of that truth hidden by seven veils. Thus, in sum, he prepared matters, neither grudgingly nor incautiously, in my opinion, and, dying, he left his composition to the church in Alexandria, where it even yet is most carefully guarded, being read only to those who are being initiated into the great mysteries.

But since the foul demons are always devising destruction for the race of men, Carpocrates, instructed by them and using deceitful arts, so enslaved a certain presbyter of the church in Alexandria that he got from him a copy of the secret Gospel, which he both interpreted according to his blasphemous and carnal doctrine and, moreover, polluted, mixing with the spotless and holy words utterly shameless lies. From this mixture is drawn off the teaching of the Carpocratians. To them, therefore, as I said above, one must never give way; nor, when they put forward their falsifications, should one concede that the secret Gospel is by Mark, but should even deny it on oath. For, “Not all true things are to be said to all men.” For this reason the Wisdom of God, through Solomon, advises, “Answer the fool from his folly,” teaching that the light of the truth should be hidden from those who are mentally blind. Again it says, “From him who has not shall be taken away,” and, “Let the fool walk in darkness.” But we are “children of light,” having been illuminated by “the dayspring” of the spirit of the Lord “from on high,” and “Where the Spirit of the Lord is,” it says, “there is liberty,” for “All things are pure to the pure.”

To you, therefore, I shall not hesitate to answer the questions you have asked, refuting the falsifications by the very words of the Gospel. For example, after “And they were in the road going up to Jerusalem,” and what follows, until “After three days he shall arise,” the secret Gospel brings the following material word for word: “And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me.’ But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway a great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. And straightway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going out of the tomb they came into the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the kingdom of God. And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan.” After these words follows the text, “And James and John come to him,” and all that section. But “naked man with naked man,” and the other things about which you wrote, are not found. And after the words, “And he comes into Jericho,” the secret Gospel adds only, And the sister of the youth whom Jesus loved and his mother and Salome were there, and Jesus did not receive them.” But the many other things about which you wrote both seem to be and are falsifications. Now the true explanation and that which accords with the true philosophy.

* hierophantic teaching of the Lord = instructions for gaining access to holy places; how to ascend to heaven, or how to conjure a prophet.

** mystagogue = one who leads others into mystical or mysterious experiences or psychological states.

The Gospel of Mary

(Magdalene)

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

In this excerpt, Mary Magdalene receives a message from the risen Savior that she conveys to the other disciples. Peter, who disdains women, does not believe her story. Part of a fifth century manuscript still exists in Berlin; the text is dated to the second century.

Peace be with you - receive my peace in your hearts. Take care that no one led you astray by saying such things as, "Look here!" or "Look over there!" For the Son of Man is among you. Follow him! Those who look for him will find him!

Go then and preach the good news of the kingdom. Do not lay down any rules beyond those that I have authorized, and never dispense law like a lawgiver. You may find yourself breaking your own rules and constrained by your own laws!

The Gospel of Peter

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Also known as

The Lost Gospel of Peter.

Early commentators first spoke of this gospel around 200 A. D. It's content was totally unknown until a fragment was discovered in 1886 inside the crypt of a Christian monk (dated to the 8th century) in Upper Egypt. That fragment bore the story of Jesus' passion from Pilate's washing of hands through a somewhat different account of the resurrection.

It was noon, yet darkness descended over Judea. Those who were in charge of the crucifixion were troubled, because they had a law that the sun should not set on anyone who has been put to death. One of them said, "Mix up some gall and vinegar for him to drink." They did so and administered it to him, thus fulfilling that which was to happen and completing their sins against themselves.

Many there had lamps, attempting to dispel the darkness, for they supposed that it was night; it was very dark. They stumbled and fell.

Soon the Lord cried out loud, saying, "My Power, my Power, you have left me!" When he said this, he ascended. In that same hour the veil of the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two.

The Gospel of Philip

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

We knew of that this gospel existed before its discovery at Nag Hammadi by a quotation from Epiphanius (fourth century). Philip is dated as early as the second century.

A disciple asked Jesus to give him something belonging to the world. Jesus told him, "Ask your mother and she will see that you have someone else's things."

Jesus went into Levi's dye works. He took seventy-two different colors and mixed them in a vat. Afterward, the cloth in the vat came out all white. "Even so, the Son of Man has come as one who dyes," he said.

The disciples asked Jesus, "Why do you love Mary [Magdalene] more than any of us?" The Savior answered them, "Why don't I love you as much as I love her? Who said that I loved her? When a sighted person goes into a dark place with a blind person, they are both blind. When the light comes, the one who sees perceives it, but the blind man remains in darkness. The truth is that you are blind."

"I came to make all things new, as things above are new, and to make the outside things like the inside. I came to bring these things together in one place.

"Some say that there is a heavenly man and one even above him. They call the former 'the lower one' and the latter, who knows all hidden things, 'the upper one.' This type of thinking is wrong. It would be more accurate for them to say, 'There is the inner and there is the outer. Then there is the one outside the outer.' For example, the mouthpieces of the Lord called the place of destruction 'the outer darkness' because there is no other greater darkness. Likewise, we pray to the 'outer one,' (known as the Father, 'the one who is in secret'), from inside our own secret places. Yet, the Father, being the outer, is among us all at the same time and is the fullness of deity. So the Father is the one who they mean when they say, 'The man above.'"

"Some have entered the kingdom of heaven laughing, and have left laughing, as well."

The Gospel of Thomas

the Athlete

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

This Thomas, identified with the disciple, is, in the context of the tradition it is written, the twin brother of Jesus. His gospel is composed of dialogue between Thomas and Jesus, as recorded by Matthew or Matthias. It is one of the installments of the Nag Hammadi Library, and was not known before its discovery in 1945.

You have heard it said, Everyone who seeks truth from the true Wisdom of God will grant himself wings to fly away from the lust that scorches men's spirits, as well as every spirit that the eye can see.

Blessed is the wise one who has searched for the truth. When that one finds truth, he rests on it unafraid forever, undaunted by skeptics.

It is useful and good to know the end. All things visible to men will dissolve, including men themselves. The vessel they call flesh will dissolve. Flesh will be dissolved to nothing. Those that have given up or otherwise denied the faith will count the flame as punishment for what they have renounced. The ordeal will make them finally realize that they are visible indeed and outside the invisible kingdom they once inhabited. Even those with a measure of spiritual insight will be scorched and perish, because their worldly concerns had overshadowed their first love.

The dissolving of all things will happen unexpectedly. What will be left of men will appear to be shapeless ghosts unable to abandon their pain-filled corpses, dwelling forever in the dimness of the graveyard, their souls corrupted and ruined.

Woe to you, godless ones, who have no hope, yet rely on a future that you have created for your own safety and security. Your future will never become reality! Woe to you, whose hope is set on your prison of flesh - you will surely die! How long will you be oblivious to the truth? How long will you suppose yourselves to be imperishable? Your hope is set on the world; your god is this life! Your blindness is ruining your chances by corrupting your souls.

Woe to you. The fire is already burning you up from within, and it is insatiable! Woe to you, for you are in the grip of an inward fire, which devours you openly, but secretly destroys your souls! Be prepared to meet your companions!

Woe to you because of the wheels that grind in your minds. Woe to you captives bound in dark caves! You laugh! In mad laughter you rejoice! You do not reflect on your dire circumstances nor understand that you are already in perdition: living in darkness and death!

On the contrary, you are drunk on fire, and consumed by bitterness! Your minds are deranged from your inner burning; the poison is sweet, as are the blows of your adversaries! Darkness rises as sunlight to you, for you have traded your freedom for bondage! You have surrendered your minds to the folly of your ways - you meditate on smoke, thus your hearts are blackened from it!

Light only exists within light. Any light you might have shone has been hidden in the haze - it enshadows you like a shroud! Consider whom you have believed! Don't you know that your confidence cannot be placed in those who share your desperate situation? That the baptism of the world is in dirty waters? That you are the victims of your own untimely whims?

Woe to you who dwell in this error. Why can't you heed the light of the sun which observes all from the sky as it circles. Only light can free you from your enemies! Even the moon, with its lesser light, can judge you by observing the bodies left from your slaughtering!

Woe to you sex perverts, who thrive on immoral and wanton acts with with women! Woe to you, in the grips of the powers of your bodies! You are so afflicted! Woe to you, servants of the powers of demons!

Woe to you who destroy your limbs in fire! Who is it that can quench the burning with refreshing dew? Who is it that can chase away the darkness that enshrouds you, enlighten your inner man, and cleanse the polluted baptismal waters with holy sunlight?

Who is it that can hide the confusion that torments you? It is not too late! The light of the sun and the moon together with fresh air, holy spirit, clean earth and unpolluted water will give you a new fragrance if you allow it to be so!

For if the light does not shine on your bodies, they will dry up and die like weeds or grass. If the light shines on these, they become so strong that they grow to choke out the grapevine! But if the grapevine prevails, and shades the weeds and grasses, it alone inherits the land on which it is planted. Every place a grapevine shades it dominates! We know grape arbors dominate all the land, bringing profit to the farmer, which pleases him greatly. He would have suffered great hardship on account of the worthless plants, until he would finally have to put forth the effort to uproot them! But the grapevine, because it was so nourished by the light, was able to remove them by choking them out. Thus the grapevine strengthens its dominion even more, as the remains of the weeds become as the soil, and provide mulch.

Blessed are you who know your stumbling-blocks, and flee alien things. Blessed are you who are reviled, and not respected because of the love that the Lord has for you. Blessed are you who weep and are held captive by the hopeless, for you will be released from every bondage. Watch and pray that you do not remain in the flesh, but that you come forth. For the flesh is a bondage of bitterness that brings much suffering and disgrace.

When you leave the passion and suffering of your bodies, you will receive rest from the Good; you will reign with the King; you will be one with him and he with you from this time on and forever. Amen.

　

The Apocalypse of Peter

("Gnostic")

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

This Apocalypse, discovered at Nag Hammadi, contains Jesus' interpretation of Peter's visions. It is significant in that it exemplifies Gnostic passion theology. It was probably written in the third century.

I had a vision (said Peter) that the Savior was sitting in the temple speaking these words to me. "Peter, blessed are those above who belong to the Father. They have revealed life to those who are of life. They have done this through me, since I have reminded them of who they are and whose strength that they are empowered with. And this power is the ability to distinguish words of unrighteousness and sin from those of righteousness. They are yet able to hear my words. For they are from the realm of the Authorities of Truth, having been brought to saving knowledge by the very One sought by all principalities. None have found him through scripture alone, since his name was never specifically mentioned therein, even among the generation of the prophets. Nevertheless, the Son of Man (who is exalted above all men, even those of like nature and being) has appeared among those who belong to him.

"But you, Peter, become completed, even though you are already completed in my estimation. Remember that I chose you out of all to become the foundation of the remnant whom I have summoned to knowledge (gnwssis). So be strong until the Image of Holiness - which is the one who has called you to know him, the one who was rejected by mankind, the one who is branded by the mark of rejection in the flesh of his hands and feet, the one who was crowned in the nether world, the one who has put on a body of radiance which is the hope of the servant and his badge of honor - tests you three times this night."

As the Lord was saying these things, I saw the priests and people quickly approaching us with stones; their intent was to kill us! I was afraid that we were going to die!

Then he said to me, "Peter, I have told you many times that these people are blind, and they have no leader. If you want to experience their blindness, hold your robe over your eyes, then tell me what you see." When I had done this thing, I saw nothing at all. "No one is able to see this way," I said. Then he told me to do it again. I did, and a mixture of fear and joy came into my being, for I saw a new light greater than the light of day. Then the light descended on the Savior, and I told him what I saw.

He spoke to me again, "Put your hands to your ears and listen to what the people are saying." I listened to the priests as they sat with their scribes, while the multitudes were shouting. I told him what I heard, and he again said to me, "Prick up your ears and listen to what they are saying." I listened again. "As you sit, the multitude is praising you!" When I said this, the Savior replied, "I told you before that these people can neither see nor hear. But now I tell you to listen to what they say, for their words are a mystery. Guard the words you hear! Keep them secret; do not tell anyone, for they are not for this time, but for the future. If you do this, you will be praised for your divine wisdom. On the other hand, if you tell all that you know, and make your visions public, the ignorant will beseech God against you!

"The interpretation is this: that many will accept our teaching at first, and will turn against the priests and back to the Father, for they have done his will. And the Father will reveal the Servants of the Logos. But if some choose to mingle with these priests, they will be taken captive by them, since they are naturally blind and without spiritual perception. In this way the guileless, good, and pure will join the congregation of those still looking for their christ and awaiting final delivery to the Worker of Death. Skilled men will come after you who will be highly praised for the propagation of false teaching. They will cause many to cleave to the name of a dead man, thinking that through death alone (and not life) they have become pure. Their very means to purification will defile them, and they will fall into a congregation called 'Name of Error,' into the hands of evil and conniving men with manifold doctrines and laws, and they will be ruled by a heretic hierarchy.

"Some will speak against the truth as well as proclaim evil teaching. They will even revile each other. Some will give themselves impressive names - names of the very demons that control them and give them their strength! They will not be threatened, even by the possibility of suffering for the sake of their sexual immorality. They will solicit for dreams. And if they perceive that a dream came from a kindred demon, one skilled at deception, they shall pronounce judgments that will render perdition instead of incorruption.

"For a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Whatever the tree is, that is what will come from it. Certainly not every one is of the truth. Not all are immortal! Actually, in our view all souls of these ages are naturally assigned to death, because the soul-man is always a slave, being generated to fulfill its desires and their destruction. Soul-men are in destruction and from destruction! Souls love the flesh which was generated with them!

"But immortal souls are not like these, Peter. Until death, the immortal resembles the mortal. But the revealed nature of the immortal soul produces thoughts of everlasting life, has faith, and desires to renounce that which is not good!

"Figs are not plucked from thorn trees by the wise, nor grapes from thistles. The mortal soul is always developing into what it already is. Since it is not from good, but evil, it becomes destruction and death. But the immortal soul which comes to be united with the Eternal One (which is the one of life), resembles immortality and all the good fruit that comes from Him.

"Therefore those who are deaf and blind will join with their own kind, and the things dead will dissolve into non-existence. Others will be transformed from their practice of evil speaking and misleading mysteries.

"Some of those who are 'intellectual' (yet 'unenlightened'), who do not understand true mysteries, will boast that they alone know all truth. They will come to believe their own fables; then, being envious of the immortals, will arrogantly and pridefully seek to lead others to their own point of view. (But these boasters have never been saved by the prescribed method; that is, the Way, although their greatest desire may yet be imperishability!) To hear them speak, one would think that they had direct communication with the various ranks of angels (principalities, powers, authorities), and that they were present at the very creation of the world! Their desire is to be remembered, praised and blessed by the immortals, even though they know that they have no part in immortality. Those who are deceived by such do indeed receive a feeling of soul-power, but it emanates from the intellect rather than the spirit. Thus, these 'disciples' immediately join those who mislead them!

"Other messengers of error oppose the truth by making up laws against thoughts that are pure (and are my thoughts). They speak from one narrow-minded doctrinal perspective, teaching that good and evil are from the same place. They make what they call 'God's Word' into a business concern, and promise a harsh fate to those who will not cooperate. Even the race of the immortal will continue in deception until my public return. Only through the power of forgiving sins, will the chosen come out from among them, for I have ransomed them from the slavery of their adversaries. Even then, the free will create an 'imitation remnant' in the name of a dead man, who is in fact Hermas, the eldest son of unrighteousness, in order that the light which exists may not be believed by the 'little ones.' But those of this sort will be separated from the sons of light, and cast into outer darkness! For they will neither enter in themselves nor release those who are ascending for their reprieve.

"Still others think that they can improve upon the perfect wisdom that the 'brotherhood' already enjoys; that is, the spiritual fellowship of those united in the communion, through which comes the revelation of the binding of the corruptible with the incorruptible. A kindred fellowship of imitators will appear and be known as 'The Sisterhood.' These sisters will oppress their brothers by saying such things as, "Because Salvation came from the womb, God has given women special privileges." They do not know of the severe punishment they will have to endure for approaching and taking those little ones prisoner with this deception.

"Even some who are outside our fellowship have given themselves impressive titles such as Reverend So-and-so, Bishop Something-else, and Deacon What's-his-name, and speak as though they have received their authority directly from God. These defy the judgment of true leaders, and are but dry canals."

But I said, "I am very troubled by what you told me, that the little ones, in our view, are counterfeit, and that multitudes will mislead multitudes of those possessing life, and destroy them by intermingling. But when they speak your name, they will be believed."

The Savior said, "For a predetermined time in proportion to their error, they will have authority over the little ones. When the time is right, the Never-Aging One of Immortal Understanding will become young, and the little ones will overturn their rulers. He will excise the root of their error, and will expose it in all the impudent glory that it has taken for itself. Then those who witness this will become unchangeable, O Peter.

"Come, then, let us continue completing the will of the incorruptible Father. For behold, those who will bring false judgment are on their way, and they will be shamed. They cannot touch me now! But you, Peter, shall stand amongst them. You are a coward, but I tell you, have no fear! Their minds shall be closed, for the Invisible One has come against them!"

When he had said these things, I saw the multitude seize him. I said, "What do I see, O Lord! Are they really taking you away? Are you grasping at me? Who is this person I see, glad and laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they are striking at?"

The Savior said to me, "The person that you saw on the tree, the one who is glad and laughing, that is the living Jesus! The other one, into whose hands and feet they are driving spikes, that one is the body; he is the flesh-manifestation of the immortal being put to shame, the likeness perceived by the natural eye. Look at him, then look at me."

I looked, and was much afraid and perturbed. In my confusion I said, "Lord, no one is looking at you. Let's get out of here!" But he said to me, "Haven't I told you to stay away from the blind? Can't you hear that they don't know what they are saying? They think that they have put my servant to shame, when in reality, they have hung the son of THEIR glory on the tree!"

Then I looked again and saw someone approaching that resembled the one who was laughing on the tree. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and I knew him then to be the Savior.

There was a great and searing light around and about him. And I perceived a multitude of luminescent and invisible angels blessing him. And when I looked at him, the Blessed One was revealed!

And he said to me, "Be strong, you have been trusted with these mysteries and their interpretation through divine revelation. The one whom they crucified was the first-born in the home of demons, in a corruptible vessel with which the god of this world had his way by means of the Law and its cross. But near the first-born you have seen the living Savior, the first in spirit, whom they seized and released, who looks at his assassins with joy, while they are yet confused and divided among themselves. He laughs at their lack of perception, knowing full well that they were born blind and are blind still. The one susceptible to suffering suffered; that is, this one who they perceive with their eyes. But what they have released is my divine body. Yes, I am the all-knowing spirit filled with radiant light! The light which you saw about me is our Heavenly Host, which unite perfect light with my Holy Spirit.

"These things you have seen you will present to a future generation. There is no natural honor in any one who is not immortal, but only in those chosen to be from an the immortal, the only substance able to contain the one who gives his abundance! It is for this reason that I said, 'Every one who has, it will be given him, and he will have plenty.' But the completely dead - those that are creatures of this place - are rooted out from the planting of the recreation of what is begotten of God. Even if the immortal substance appears to some extent in these, it will be taken from him and added the living. You, then, take courage and do not fear anything. None of your enemies will defeat you, for I will be with you. Take peace; be strong!"

When Jesus had said these things, I came to myself.

The Apocalypse of Peter

(Orthodox)

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

One should feel more comfortable in this apocalypse of Peter than in the last. Like the Acts of John and other such writings, the Savior ascends with his disciple(s) to the mountain of prayer, then a theophany of some kind takes place through which the disciples' thorny questions are answered.

My Lord Jesus Christ, our King, said to me, "Let's go into the holy mountain." And all the disciples went with him in an attitude of prayer.

Behold, two men appeared. We could not look them in the face, for a light brighter than the sun emanated from them. Their clothing also was glistening and indescribable. Nothing in the world could compare in radiance! They were gentle, and mouths cannot describe their beauty. Their countenance was astonishing and wonderful! One was very great, and appeared as though he were crystal. His appearance was like the color and texture of roses. They wore crowns of nard and braided flowers; their hair was as a rainbow in water. This was the beauty of their countenance, and they were adorned with a variety of ornaments. We saw them most suddenly, and marveled.

I approached the Lord and asked, "Who are these?" He told me that "These are your righteous brothers that you longed to see."

I said, "Then where are all the righteous, and what is the nature of their world?" The the Lord showed me a wide expanse of space outside this world, all agleam with light and flooded with the sun's rays. The ground of that place was budding with flowers which never fade, and bear fruit of blessings. The fragrance of the flowers was so strong that we even smelled it through the vision! The inhabitants wore radiant clothing suited to their surroundings.

Angels walked among them. Each inhabitant possessed equal glory and with one voice praised God as Lord, rejoicing there. The Lord explained, "This is the dwelling place of your high priests, righteous men."

Having seen the vision, I was joyful and began to believe wholeheartedly and understand perfectly that which is to be found in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ.

I said to him, "My Lord, do you want me to make three houses here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias?" But he was angry with me, saying, "Satan makes war against you, and has veiled your understanding.

The good things of this world conquer you. Your eyes must be opened and your ears unstopped! Our dwelling place is a home which the hand of humankind has not made, but which my heavenly Father has made for me and for the elect." And we were full of joy as we beheld him.

Then Behold! A voice came from heaven saying, "This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I have pleasure, who has revealed my commandments." There came a great white cloud overhead that bore away our Lord, Moses and Elias. I was shaking, and very scared!

We looked up and the heavens opened. We saw men of flesh, and they greeted our Lord, Moses and Elias, then they all ascended into the second heaven. Scripture was thus fulfilled: This generation seeks him and has sought the face of the Elohim of Jacob.

The Apocalypse of Thomas

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

One citation dates this apocalypse to "the 18th year of Tiberius Caesar," but scholars date it late, due to its similarity in some aspects to the canonical

Revelation. Note the reference to 7 days.

Listen to me, Thomas, for I am the Son of God the Father and father of all spiritual beings. Hear about the signs of the end of the world which must be fulfilled before my elect ones come out of the world. Openly I tell you what is about to happen to me; when these things will happen not even the princes of the angels will know.

When the time is fulfilled, world rulers will divide the earth among themselves. There will be widespread famine, plagues, and much distress. Men and women will be forced into slavery, and many will be slain by weapons. Disorder will be rampant. When the very hour of the end draws near, there will be great signs in the sky for seven days while the powers of the heavens are set in motion.

At nine o'clock (the third hour) on the first day there will be a loud and mighty voice in the midst of the clouds. A cloud of blood will ascend from the north followed by great rolls of thunder and powerful flashes of lightning. Such will fill the entire sky. There will be a bloody rain all over the world. These are signs of the first day.

On the second day a great voice will resound from the clouds. The earth's orbit will shift. The entrance gates of Heaven will be opened in the sky from the east. The smoke of a great fire will burst through these gates and will pollute the skies as far as the west. On that day there will be great fears and terrors among the people of the world. These are the signs of the second day.

On the third day at about nine in the morning there will be a great voice coming from Heaven, and the depths of the earth will roar out from the four corners of the earth. The pinnacles of the sky will be laid open; all the air will be polluted with pillars of smoke. A terrible smell resembling sulfur fumes will continue until five in the afternoon. It will be said on earth, "We believe that the end of the world is upon us and we will now perish." These are the signs of the third day.

At seven in the morning of the fourth day, the Abyss, in the land of the east, will rumble and erupt. The entire earth will shake from its earthquake. The idols of heathens will fall along with all the buildings on earth. These are the signs of the fourth day.

On the fifth day at noon there will suddenly be great thunder from the skies, tremendous lightning will flash, and the sun will burst. The moon will be darkened. Stars will quit shining. The earth as far as the west will be engulfed in darkness. The air will be heavy with sorrow, for people will only be able to see as though they were enclosed inside a sack. They will despise living in such a world. These are the signs of the fifth day.

At ten in the morning on the sixth day another great voice will call from heaven. The sky will be split from east to west so that the angels will look out through the tears in the sky. People on earth will likewise be able to see angels watching above. At this sight, all people left will search for refuge in tombs and caves saying, "O, that the earth would open and swallow us!" Such things will happen as haven't happened since the creation of the earth. Then all will see me as I descend from above in the light of my Father, and with the power and honor of the holy angels.

When I arrive on earth, the restraint holding back the fire of paradise will be loosed (for paradise is enclosed by fire). This is the eternal fire which will devour the orb of the worlds and all its elements. Then the spirits and souls of the saints will come out of paradise to the earth, each into the body wherever it is laid up. When the voices of these spirits are heard, there will be such an earthquake that its force will shatter the mountains above and rocks below. Then each spirit will enter its own vessel, and these bodies of sleeping saints will arise. These bodies will be changed into the image, likeness, and honor of the holy angels and into the power of the image of my holy Father. They will put on the garment of eternal life. This garment is from the cloud of light that has never before been seen in this world, for this cloud comes down from the upper kingdom by the power of my Father, and will invest every spirit that has believed in me with its glory.

These glorified saints will be borne up by the hands of holy angels to a cloud of light, which will carry them off into the skies. Rejoicing, the saints will go with me into the heavens and remain in the light and honor of my Father. There will be great joy for them in the presence of my Father and the holy angels. These are the signs of the sixth day.

At two in the afternoon of the seventh day there will be voices in the four corners of heaven. All the air will be set in motion and filled with holy angels, who will battle each other for the entire day, but the elect will be delivered from the subsequent destruction of the world. Then all will see that the hour of their destruction has come. These are the signs of the seventh day.

And when the seven days are finished, on the eighth day at noon there will be a soft, pleasant voice from the east of heaven. Then the chief angel of all will be seen. With him will go forth all the other angels of my Father's chariot of clouds to deliver those who have believed in me, and they will rejoice that the destruction of the earth has come.

So ends the words of the Savior to Thomas about the end of the world.

The Apocryphon of James

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

An apocryphon is a secret book.. The secret book of James contains teachings of Jesus in the form of a dialogue between the Savior and his disciples James the Just (Jesus' brother) and Peter. This text surfaced as part of the Nag Hammadi library discovered in Egypt in 1945. The manuscript itself dates to the fourth century and the text dates from perhaps the middle first century.

You say that your bitter tears, mourning, and anguish are behind you now, but I still remember them. You must continue to weep, but now for those outside Father's inheritance. So preach what is good - for the son is about to ascend as it is fit for him to do. Verily I say unto you, I would never have descended to earth if my mission was to those who had ears to hear my message. It is to your shame that I say this.

In your heart of hearts you really do not wish me to stay with you any longer. And I do not wish to stay. Behold then, I shall soon depart from you. Therefore, follow me quickly! After all, I told you that "for your sakes I came down," and for this reason! Until you ascend to my place, you will still be "the Beloved," the ones who will cause many to live for eternity!

Invoke your Father, fervently ask him often, and he will grant your desires. You are blessed, for you were seen with the Son when he was proclaimed before the angels and glorified among the saints. Yours is life! Rejoice and be glad as sons of the Deity! You will be saved if you keep in his will; you will save yourself if you accept my reproof. Father will forgive much i know, for I am interceding on your behalf.

The body without the soul cannot sin. Neither can the soul be saved without the spirit. For it is the spirit that saves the soul, but the body that kills it. In other words, since soul and body are the same (scripture says, the man became a living soul), the soul thus kills itself. But if the spirit saves the soul by freeing it from evil, then the body becomes free from sin.

Verily I say to you, the Deity will not forgive the sin of the soul nor the guilt of the flesh by any means other than by spirit - no one who wears flesh will be saved. Do you think that many will find themselves to be the fourth one in heaven?

I have endued you with many measures of faith and have even revealed my glory to you, James. Still, neither of you have known me for who I AM. Now and again I have seen you elated and rejoicing at the promise of eternal life, yet you are very sad and full of grief when you learn of the kingdom. Why? After all, you, through faith-knowledge, have received eternal life!

So do not grieve at the hardship of the kingdom or the rejection of mankind, but rejoice the more in hearing the promise! Verily I say to you, the ones who receive life and believe in the kingdom will never leave it, even if the Father should wish to throw them out!

The Apocryphon of John

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

These

secret words of Jesus are part of a longer explanation of the creation story in Genesis, as told from the viewpoint of the Gnostic Christians, an early "heretic" sect exposed by some New Testament authors. The manuscript was known before its discovery (as part of the Nag Hammadi Library) through secondary quotes in

Irenaeus' Against Heresies of 185 A. D.

The Father of Light is not merely god or a god, or similar to a god. It is incorrect to think of him so: he is The Invisible Spirit. Since there is none more powerful, no one is able to give him orders. He does not live in inferior beings; rather, everything exists in him. He even brought himself into being, and he lives forever because he does not require sustenance. Since he does not lack for anything, he needs nothing for completion. He is a completely perfect being in light.

His ability is unlimited, since there is no one more powerful to set limits. He is not able to be closely examined as a specimen, for no one lived before him to examine him. For the same reason, he cannot be measured. He is invisible since no one has seen him. He is eternal for he had no beginning.

He is indescribable since no one is able to comprehend him to speak of him. He cannot be named since there was no one with the authority to name him. He is blinding light - pure, holy, immaculate.

Since all but him are corrupt, and he is incorruptible, no one is able to describe his blessedness, divinity, or perfection.

He is even superior to such eloquent words in their fullness of meaning!

He is not corporal or incorporeal. He is neither large nor small. One cannot say, "Of what quantity is he, or what quality?" No one can know him. He is more than superior - he is beyond the confines of time and reality since he created these and did not receive them from another. He does not look to anyone for anything out of need. All look expectantly to him in his light.

His perfection is majestic. He is pure, limitless mind. He is time-giving time, life-giving life, blessings-giving blessed, knowledge-giving knowledge, goodness-giving goodness, mercy- and redemption-giving mercy, grace-giving grace - not because these are his possession; rather, they are the benefits of his gift of immeasurable and incomprehensible light.

How can I describe him so that you can understand? His existence is indestructible; his repose is in the confident knowledge of being before all. He is the head of all creation, and he imparts strength through his goodness. We are unable to describe him accurately or understand him; all, that is, but the one who came forth from the Father.

This one who came forth is able to describe him because he looks at the Father through the very light that surrounds him. This light is also called the "spring water of life." So he is the mediator who imparts this light to all creations in every way, for he is able to gaze upon the Father's image in the spring water of the spirit. He is able to accomplish his desires through this water-light that surrounds him. Now you know, for I have told only you.

Dialogue of the Savior

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

As part of the

Nag Hammadi Library, this dialogue is similar in composition to parts of the Gospel of John, yet somewhat less complex. It may be dated to the late first century.

Matthew said, "Lord, I long to see the place of eternal life; the place where there is no wickedness, but pure Light." The Lord replied, "Brother, you will never be able to see it in this life, not as long as you carry flesh around with you."

Matthew said, "Lord, even if I cannot now see this place, let me know more about it." The Lord said, "Anyone who knows his true self has seen this place in every good work he has been given to do, and has come to experience a part of it through these good deeds."

Judas asked, "Tell me, Lord. What causes the earth to shake?" The Lord picked up a stone in his hand and asked, "What am I holding in my hand?" Judas said, "A stone." The Savior said to them, "That which supports this stone supports the earth and heavens. When the Word comes forth from the Greatness, it will come by the same force that supports the heavens and the earth. The earth does not move. If it were to move, it would surely fall. But it neither moves nor falls, in order that the First Word might not fail. After all, it was the First Word that established the world, caused it to be populated and inhaled fragrance from it. Likewise, sons of men who are established in the First Word do not move or fall. You are from the Greatness also. You exist for those whom in their hearts cry out for joy and truth. Even if the Greatness comes forth through you for these and is not received, the effort is not wasted, for the Word returns to its place. Whoever does not know this Word and its work knows nothing. If one does not stand in darkness, he will not be able to perceive light!"

"If someone doesn't know the meaning of fire, that person will burn in it, because he doesn't know how hot it is or where it came from. If someone doesn't know the origin of water, he knows nothing. What is the use of baptism if you doesn't understand the origin or meaning of the water? If someone doesn't understand how tornadoes came into existence and what their power is, he will blow away in one. If someone does not understand the origin or nature of the body that he carries with him, he will surely perish when the body does. Therefore, how will someone know the Father if he does not know the Son? If someone refuses to learn about the natures and origins of things, they remain unknowable secrets, although a person who doesn't know the origin of wickedness will practice it anyway! Whoever doesn't understand how he came will not know how to go. He will seem to know his way in this world, but will be utterly lost and humiliated."

Suddenly, Judas, Matthew, and Mary were transported in a vision to a place between heaven and earth. These disciple were perplexed by what they were experiencing. Despite their fears, they hoped that they might understand the mysteries before them as they felt Jesus' hands upon them. Judas raised his eyes and saw a very high plateau above them and a deep abyss below. He said to Matthew, "Brother, we will never be able to escape this place by climbing up, for the way is much too steep. We can't go down into the abyss, for there is a tremendous fire there and other dreadful things!" At that moment a living Word in the form of a man came to them from above. Judas, amazed, asked the Living Word why it had come down.

The Son of Man greeted the disciples and said, "A seed of power in heaven was imperfect, and was cast down to the abyss of the earth. The Greatness remembered it in love and sent the Word to it. The Word brought the imperfect seed up before the Greatness so that the First Word might not fail in his mission."

The disciples were amazed at what they saw and heard. Although they could not understand what the Son was saying to them, they took all these things on faith. The one thing they concluded was that they could no longer entertain wicked ways.

Then the Savior said to his disciples, "Haven't I told you that with an audible cry and a flash of lightning the just will be taken up to the light?" Then all the disciples praised him and said, "Lord, before you made yourself known to us, who offered you praise? For all praise exists on your account. Or who is it that is able to bless you, since all blessings emanate from you?"

Then, as they stood there, they saw two angels bringing a person with them in a great flash of lightning. A word came forth from the Son of Man, saying, "Give them the garment that belongs to them." And the small one became like the big one....

Judas said, "Behold, those in power live above us and rule us." The Lord said, "It is you who will rule over them when you rid yourself of your jealousy. Only then will you be clothed in light and be worthy to enter the bridal suite."

Judas asked, "How will our garments be brought to us?" Jesus answered, "There are some appointed to provide them for you, and others to receive you. How else will one be able to enter the bridal chamber unless some provide appropriate garments and others receive? Remember that the bridal suite is a reward. The ones who know the path to their reward receive bridal garments, by which they leave this existence. It has been difficult even for me to endure it all."

Mary said, "You speak these word in context with what you have told us about 'the wickedness of each day,' 'the laborer is worthy of his food,' and 'the disciple resembles his teacher.'" She spoke as a woman of complete understanding.

The disciples spoke, "How are we to know abundance from deprivation?" The Lord said, "You are from abundance and live in depravity. Behold! His light has poured down upon me!"

Matthew asked, "Lord, how will the dead die and the living live?" The Lord answered, "Brother, you have asked me about things that no one has before witnessed, nor has anyone asked but you. But I say to you, when the thing that keeps man alive is removed, he will be called 'dead.' When what is alive leaves what is dead, what is alive will be called upon."

Judas asked, "What else, but for the sake of truth, do people live and die?" The Lord answered, "Whatever is born of Truth doesn't die. Whatever is born of a woman will."

Mary said, "Tell me, Lord, if I have come to this place to gain or lose." The Lord said, "You make it clear that you profit from the abundance of the Revealer."

Mary then said, "Is there a place, Lord, where there is no truth?" The Lord said, "The place where I am not." Mary finished by saying, "You are fearful and wonderful. Those who do not know you are losers indeed."

Matthew asked, "When can we rest?" The Lord answered, "When you lay your burdens down."

Matthew asked another question, "When does the insignificant join itself to the great?" Jesus replied, "When you abandon unprofitable works, then you have laid down the burdens that keep you from unity and have found rest."

Mary said, "I want to know all facts just as they are!" The Lord said, "Those that seek for eternal life will know all things. This knowledge is universal currency - far superior to gold and silver - those perishables that have mislead so many."

The disciples asked, "How shall we do our tasks perfectly?" The Lord said, "Be prepared for anything. Blessed is the one who has won the contest before it has even begun; who has seen sure victory before his eyes! When the fray is over, he emerges from the dust victorious neither by killing nor by being killed!"

Judas asked, "Where does the path begin?" Jesus answered, "It begins with love - love and goodness. If these were practices of your rulers in the beginning, wickedness would never have come into existence."

Matthew said, "Lord, you have spoken about the end of all things as though you were unconcerned!" The Lord said, "Matthew, you have understood most of what I have said to you and believed the rest by faith. Then if you know these things, they are yours to rest on; if not, then be concerned."

They said to him, "Where are we going?" He replied, "Where you can reach."

Mary said, "Everything in place can thus be seen." The Lord said, "As I have told you, the one who sees, reveals!"

Mary said, "I will say one thing to the Lord concerning the mystery of truth; that is, in truth we have taken our stand - we are transparent to the world."

Judas said to Matthew, "Don't we want to know what sort of garment we will put on when we leave this decaying flesh?" The Lord heard them and said, "Those in temporal power wear garments of a temporary nature; such garments do not last forever. For children of truth like yourselves, your blessings of power remain when the flesh is stripped away!"

Judas asked, "How is the spirit perceived?" Jesus answered, "How do you perceive the sword?"

The Wisdom

of Jesus Christ

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

This text was first discovered in its entirety in 1896, then was rediscovered as part of the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. The papyrus dates from the middle fourth century and the text perhaps from middle second. This test is certainly the 'deepest' of them all.

After Jesus rose from the dead, nineteen disciples (twelve men and seven women) went to Galilee to the mountain that is called "Divination and Joy." The Savior appeared there to them as great luminescent angel, indescribable. He said, "Peace to you. My peace I give you!" They were amazed and afraid. The Savior laughed, and asked them: What are you thinking? Are you perplexed? What do you want to know?"

Philip ventured, "We want you to explain the underlying reality of the universe and the divine plan." The Savior replied, "All the dust called mankind from the beginning of the world until now has wondered about the Deity. Who is he? What is he like? But they have not found him! The wisest have speculated as to the mechanism that powers the universe and its movement, but they have not found the truth. These philosophers have said that it happens three different ways - they don't agree. Some say the world is self-directed. Others believe in providence. Still others say it is fate. None of these are even close to the truth, for they are the creation of man. But since I came from the Infinite Light (and I know the Light), I am here to tell you about the precise nature of truth. Whatever comes from itself is polluted, since it is self-made. Providence has no wisdom and fate doesn't discern! But it is your portion to know. Whoever is worthy of knowledge will receive it: whoever has been born of the First Who Was Sent is immortal in the midst of mortality."

Matthew said to him, "Lord, the truth is found only through you. So teach us the truth." The Savior answered, "He Who Is is awesome and indescribable. No principle, authority, manipulator or creature from the genesis of the universe until know has known the One from the First Light except Himself, and those to whom he reveals himself. I am the Great Savior, immortal and everlasting. Everyone who is born dies. But the eternal is not born, the unbegotten has no beginning. All who begin end! He is not named by a ruler, for those who are named were created by others. He is, in fact, unnamable. He is not human, nor does he look like a human being. He doesn't resemble creation.

"But he has a likeness of his own. It is not like that which you have seen and come to know; rather, it is a strange likeness that is more splendid than anything, including the wondrous sight of the universe itself. He looks side to side, every side, and sees himself from himself. Since he is infinite, the human mind can't comprehend him. Since he is imperishable, he is unlike anything else. His goodness never changes. He is faultless. He is blessed. He is immeasurable. He is untraceable. He is perfect. He is imperishably blessed. So he is called, 'Father of the Universe.'"

Philip said, "Lord, how then did he appear to the Perfect who have seen him?" The Perfect Savior answered Philip, "The Father's majesty and authority was present before he became visible, since he encompasses all things while nothing encompasses him. For he is total mind engaged in thought, consideration, reflection, rationality, and power. The worthy ones also have such powers, and are likewise sources of all. The infinite, unbegotten Father foreknew their whole race from the first one to the last."

Thomas said to him, "Lord Savior, why did the perfect come to be and why were they made visible?" The perfect Savior said, "I came here from the Infinite to make these things visible to you. Spirit-Who-Is was the progenitor, for he has the power to bring life and the nature of a creator. The great wealth hidden within him had need of self-revelation. Because of his natural mercy and love, he alone wished to generate life with which to share his goodness. In turn, this goodness was imparted to the Unwavering Generation, progenitor of body and fruit, glory and honor in immortality and infinite grace. Such imperishable treasure is revealed through those who came afterward, though they were not yet visible. Though generated by God, still a great difference exists between the imperishables."

Then the Savior cried out, "Whoever has ears to hear about the Infinite Ones, let him hear! I have addressed and am addressing those who are awake!" He continued by saying, "Everything that came from the perishable will perish, but everything that came from the imperishable doesn't perish, but becomes imperishable. Many went astray and died because they didn't know the difference!"

Mary said to him, "Lord, if many went astray and died, how will we know the difference?" The Perfect Savior answered, "Forsake the visible realm, make an end of visible things, then approach from the realm of the invisible, and the very Source of Thought will reveal to you how faith in the invisible can be found in the visible realm - those things that are the unbegotten Father's. Whoever has ears, let him hear!

"Actually, the Lord of the Universe is more aptly called 'Forefather' than 'Father;' for the Father is progenitor in principle of those who are to be created, but since he is beginningless, he is more precisely called 'Forefather.' Seeing himself as though he were looking into an internal mirror, he appears to himself as Divine Self-Father, the defender of those under assault, and the First Existent Unbegotten Father. He is of the same age as the Forefather, who is the Light before him, but not of the same in ability.

"Later appeared the innumerable multitude of aggressive, self-existent beings, all begotten at the same time and endued with the same powers, living in the heavenly realms. They are called 'The Generation over Whom There Is No Kingdom,' and you are their descendants. These are also called 'Children of the Unbegotten Father, God, Savior, and Son of God,' whose likeness is within you. Now he is the Unknowable, full of immortal glory and indescribable joy. Those who belong to him now rest in him and share this joy, glory, and jubilation of his. Up until this time such a thing has not been heard of or known even among the heavenly host and their worlds."

Matthew said to him, "Lord, Savior, how did mankind come to be?" The perfect Savior said, "Know now that the Infinite One who lived before the universe was formed is the self-nurtured, self-made Father. He is full of striking luminescence as to be indescribable. In the beginning, it was decided that his likeness would be a great power. Immediately, Light assumed the appearance of the Immortal Androgynous Man (who is the Savior); through him mankind has the opportunity to attain salvation. These ones will be attended to until the end of time by the Interpreter, who was sent forth so that they might awake from their forgetfulness and escape the poverty brought about by thieves.

"His consort is the Great Sophia, whom he destined as the agent in creation, through whom the Immortal Man appeared, representing the First, divinity, and kingdom, as revealed by the Father. He thus created a great angel as well for his own glory, who is Ogdoad.

"He had great authority and power to rule over an impoverished creation. He created gods, angels, archangels, innumerable myriads, as a heavenly community surrounding him and the Spirit of Wisdom, thus originating divinities and kingdoms. This is why Ogdoad is called 'God of gods' and 'King of kings.'

"The first man had his unique mind and thought, being able to reflect on the past, consider the future, rationalize problems, and live in this kind of power. All his attributes were perfect and everlasting, and he was imperishable. In his imperishableness, he equaled the Father, but in respect to power, his was different as is the difference between a father and his son.

"After this, all else that was revealed was generated from the power of the first man. And from created ones came fashioned ones. From fashioned ones came formed ones, which were named. So is explained the difference between the unbegotten ones from the beginning to the end."

Bartholomew was next to question: "In the Gospel, one is designated 'man' and also 'Son of Man.' To which of these is the Son of God related?" The Holy one replied, "You need to know that the First Man Adam is called 'Progenitor, Self-perfected Mind.' The First Man reflected with the 'Great Sophia' and revealed the First-Begotten Son, having the characteristics both of the maleness of the Father and the femaleness of Sophia. The male name of this son is 'First Begetter Son of God'; his female name is 'First Begettress Sophia, Mother of the Universe,' also known as 'Love.' He is thus called 'Christ.' Since he holds his Father's authority, he created a numberless multitude of angels from Spirit and Light to be his retinue."

His disciples said to him, "Lord, reveal the one called 'Man' to us, that we might know the precise magnitude of his glory." The perfect Savior said, "Whoever has ears to hear, hear! First Begetter Father Adam came from the shining Light (thus is called 'Eye of Light') as were holy angels, being indescribable, shadowless, and continually rejoicing in their ability to reason, a gift received from their Father. The whole dominion of the 'Son of Man - Son of God' is full with indescribable and shadowless joy, with continual jubilation over such imperishable glory, which has never been revealed to any until this time. I came from the Self-Begotten and First Infinite Light in order to reveal everything to you."

Again said the disciples, "Tell us clearly how they came from the invisible and immortal realms to the world that is full of death and dying?" The perfect Savior replied, "All who come into this world come as a drop from the Light and are guarded by the Light. But I came from the heavenly realm by the direct will of the Great Light, escaping the bondage of the atmosphere, and have awakened each drop sent from Sophia that each might bear much fruit through me, be perfected through me, and joined to the Father through me; that the sons of Sophia might be justified in regards to their imperfection, and might obtain their rightful honor and glory and access to their Father, and know the true words of Light. And you were sent out by the Son, receiving Light to escape the evil designs of the powers of the air, to tread upon their malicious intents, overcoming temptation to carnal immorality and licentiousness."

Then Thomas said to him, "Lord, Savior how many high dimensions (aeons) surpass the heavens?" The Perfect Savior said, "I bless you because you have asked about the great high heavenly realms - indeed, your roots are in infinity. As I said before, the Self-Begetter created twelve high heavenly dimensions for his twelve angels. All these were perfect and good."

Thomas continued, "How many high dimensions of immortals are there, starting from infinity?" The Perfect Savior said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear! The primary dimensional realm: Son of Man, First Begetter, Savior, who has appeared. The secondary: Man, Adam - Eye of Light. Greater still is the dimensional realm of the Eternal Infinite Deity, the Self-Begotten Dimension of Dimensions, embracing both the realm of the Son of Man and Man, to include all the immortals I described earlier appearing from the realm of Sophia.

"Next, Immortal Man reveals high heavenly dimensions, powers, and kingdoms, giving authority as he sees fit and allowing them to 'exercise their desires until the last things are above chaos.' They conferred with each other to reveal every magnificence, even from the spiritual dimension of glorious and numberless lights. These were once called by number and name: The first realm was 'Unity and Rest,' the third, 'Assembly' (because a great multitude appeared and revealed itself). Because these multitudes gather in unity in a particular realm, we have called it 'The Eight Assembly.' It is composed partly of those with male spiritual characteristics, the rest having female characteristics. The male contingency is called the 'Assembly,' the female, 'Life,' that it might be demonstrated that all high heavenly dimensions came to life from the female.

"Names were then given. Some were called 'gods'; gods of gods revealed gods by wisdom; lords of lords from their thoughts revealed lords; lords from their power revealed archangels; archangels revealed angels by their words, from angels other semblances with structure and form appeared, as well as other high heavenly dimensions, worlds, and a panoply of names.

"All these immortals have authority from Immortal Man, who is also called 'Silence,' for her majesty was perfected without need for speech. With this authority, the imperishables each created a kingdom in the Eight Assembly, erecting thrones, temples, and other firmaments reflecting their own majesty and for their own glory. This was by the will of Sophia, the 'Mother of the Universe.'"

Then the Holy Apostles said, "Lord, Savior, relate to us concerning the ones living in the high heavenly dimensions, since this knowledge is pertinent to our discussion." The Perfect Savior said, "I will reveal anything you ask about. These beings made numberless myriads of angels for their own company and glory. They made virgin spirits, known as the Indescribable, Unchanging Heavenly Lights. These were made perfect in an instant by force of will, and, by nature, are immune to sickness and weakness. So have been completed the high heavenly dimensions to the glory of Immortal Man and Wisdom-Sophia, the which are heavenly, chaotic patterns for all other firmaments and establishments beneath. All nature, beginning with this revelation of the chaotic, are within the sphere of the shadowless Light, indescribable, with unutterable jubilation. All such spirits delight in their stability of glory and their continual repose. Subsequent generations of such beings have not even the capability of describing such glory, joy, and rest. I am telling you all this in order to make you aware that you might shine in Light even more than these!"

Mary said, "Holy Master, where did your disciples originate and where are they going?" The Perfect Savior said, "You should know that the Great Sophia, Mother of the universe and consort of creation, desired to bring these into existence alone. But their lives came to be only by the intervening will of the Father of the Universe, so that his unimaginable goodness might be revealed. Through the creation of the mortal, a spiritual barrier came into being, dividing the mortal and their kind from the immortal and those that came after, followed by every historical circumstance and consequence that we are aware of, such as the revelation of the innate weakness of the first mortal woman, and her consequent contention with Error.

"As I said before, from the High Heavenly Realm came a drop from Light and Spirit, descending into the lower regions, the Chaos, so that forms of living beings might be molded from it by the heat of the breath of the Great Light. (This is a judgment on the Arch-Begetter, known as 'Yaldabaoth.') Into these forms were breathed as it were a living soul, withered and sleeping in ignorance. Then names were received by all those who were in the world of chaos through the Immortal One when the breath was blown on him.

"By the consent of Mother Sophia-Wisdom, Immortal Man pieced together clothing of sorts, thus passing judgment on thieves. But since he was like a soul, he was not able to accommodate the power himself until the number of formed beings were completed, the time of which was to be determined by the great angel.

"Now I have completed my teaching on the Immortal Man and have loosed the bonds of the thieves from him. I have broken the gates of the pitiless ones in their presence. I have humiliated their maliciousness, and they have been shamed, rising from their ignorance. I came to this place that they might be joined with that same Spirit and Breath, that through the Breath, from two might come one, just as from the beginning, that you might yield much fruit and go up to Him Who Is From The Beginning, in the indescribable joy, glory, honor and grace of the Father of the Universe.

"Whoever knows the Father in pure knowledge will go to the Father and rest in the Unbegotten Father. But whoever does not know him in the correct sense will depart to the defective god and to the rest of the Eighth Assembly. Whoever knows the Son of Man in knowledge and love, let that one bring me his sign that he might depart to the mansions with those of the Eighth Assembly.

"Behold, I have revealed the name of the Perfect One to you, and the perfect will of the Mother of the Holy Angels, so that the multitude might be completed and appear in the sky, so that all these might take of the goodness and untraceable wealth (that is, repose) of the Great Invisible Spirit, and live in the place of liberty. I came from the First Who Was Sent to show you Who Was From The Beginning, in spite of the arrogance of the Arch-Begetter and his angels, since they boast that they are gods.

"I came to remove even their blindness, that I might share the knowledge of God who is above all things. Therefore, I bid you to walk on their graves, humiliate their evil intentions, and break their yokes, replacing them with my yoke. I have given you authority over all things as Sons of Light, so that you might walk upon their power with your feet."

These things the Blessed Savior said before he disappeared from them. All the disciples were then in great and indescribable joy in the Spirit from that day forward. And the disciples began to preach the Divine Gospel, the eternal, immortal spirit. Amen.

The Epistle of Jesus

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Also known as

The Abgar Legend

The legend is first mentioned in Eusebius' church history, written around the first quarter of the 4th century. It concerns the founding of a Christian church in Edessa as a result of a letter from King Abgar the Black to Jesus, and the Savior's reply. Eusebius claims his source to be Edessa public records.

Here is a copy of the the letter from King Abgar of Edessa to Jesus, delivered by Ananias to Jerusalem:

From Abgar Uchama the King to Jesus the good Savior in Jerusalem, greetings! I have heard about you, and your ability to heal without the benefit of drugs or herbs. It is said hereabouts that you make the blind see and the lame walk; You cleanse lepers, cast out demons and spirits, cure long-term diseases, and raise the dead. When I heard about these wonders, I concluded that either you are God or the Son of God. So now I am writing to ask you to visit with me, and hear me describe my affliction.

Moreover, I have heard that the Jews are speaking against you and wish to harm you. I have a city here for your safety. It is small but noble, and sufficient for both of us.

Jesus' reply:

You are blessed, for you believe in me having not yet seen me. For it is written of me that those who see me won't believe in me, but those who haven't will, and those who believe will live!

But concerning your letter that I should come to you: It is necessary that I fulfill all the purposes for which I was sent here. Afterwards, I must be taken back to Him who sent me. When that time comes, and I am taken up, I will send one of my disciples to you, so that you may be healed of your affliction, and that you and yours might have life.

After the fulfillment of this prophesy, he appeared to Thaddeus, his disciple, and sent him to Edessa, where King Abgar was healed of his affliction, and many came to know of the power of the risen Lord through the disciple.

Epistles of Jeu

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

The books of Jeu (Jeu being an emanation from the bosom of the Father and a "true god") were composed in the third century, and are mentioned in the

Pistis Sophia. This short excerpt presents the familiar question and answer format of many other "gospels." Other parts of the book have Jesus dealing with the 3 baptisms, explaining the 28 emanations, imparting the "mystery" of removal of sins and reciting esoteric formulas.

Jesus said, "As for the mysteries I will impart to you: keep them; repeat them to no one except the worthy. Don't confide them to your mother, brother, sister, or any relative neither for food, drink, women, gold or silver or for anything else of this world. Keep them and give them to no one for the sake of the world's good!"

Jesus, the living, said to his apostles, "Blessed is he who has crucified the world, and has not allowed the world to crucify him!" The Apostles answered with a voice, "Lord, teach us how to crucify the world so that it may not crucify us, so that we may not perish by losing our lives!" Jesus answered, "The one who has crucified the world is the one who has found my Word and has fulfilled it in the will of the One who sent me."

The Apostles said, "Speak to us that we may hear. We have followed you with our whole heart, having left father and mother, vineyard and field and all our goods. We have left the glory of the king and have followed you so that you might teach us about the life of your Father." The Living One answered, "This is the life of my Father, that you receive your soul back from reason; that it cease to be of this world and become wise according to the words that I say to you so that it may be completed. For your soul needs be delivered from the Watcher of this Age and his endless traps. Since you are my disciples, be quick to carefully listen to what I say so that you may come to perfect understanding. May the Watcher of this Age find my commands within you, and thus no longer strive with you. May you yourselves, my Apostles, fulfill my Word in my way. I will thus make you free, and through freedom you may become whole and unblemished. As the spirit of the Comforter is whole, you will become whole through its freedom."

The Apostles, Matthew, John, Philip, Bartholomew, and James, answered him together, "Lord Jesus, you are the Living One whose goodness is spread out on those who have found his wisdom and know him; O light who shines and illuminates our hearts; true Word, which through knowledge teaches us the hidden wisdom of the Lord Jesus, the living."

Jesus answered, "Blessed is he who knows these things and has brought Heaven down to earth, then sent it back again. He became The Midst within nothingness."

The Epistle of Peter to Philip

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

This tract, written in the second century, was found at Nag Hammadi in Egypt.

The Lord instructed the Apostles: "Powerful demons are striving against the inner man! This is how you are to fight them: Be united, and teach the world salvation with a promise. Clothe yourself with my Father's power and authority. Become known as people of prayer. In this way, the Father will help you in the same way as he helped you by sending me. I am with you forever, just as I told you when I was in the body, so you need not have any fear of demons."

After he had said these words, there was lightning and thunder, and that which had appeared to them there was taken up through the stratosphere.

The apostles gave thanks to the Lord with every blessing they knew, then returned to Jerusalem. As they were walking along, they spoke about the light which had come. Someone made a remark about the Lord - "If he, our Lord, suffered, then how much must we?"

The Gospel of Bartholomew

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Bartholomew deals with Christ's descent into Hades, and

his liberation of the Old Testament saints there. The text is preserved in many fragments in several languages, and can be dated to around 200.

Before the passion of our Lord Christ, he assembled with all the Apostles. They asked him as one, "Lord, show us the secrets of Heaven." Jesus answered, "I can show you nothing about the afterlife until I have put off this body of flesh." After his suffering and rising, the Apostles didn't dare ask him that question, because his appearance changed; he revealed himself to them in the glory and fullness of the Godhead.

Courageously, Bartholomew approached him and said, "Lord, I wish to speak to you." Jesus spoke next, "Bartholomew, my beloved, I already know what you wish to say. Ask then, and I will tell you what you need to know. I will make known to you what you do not say."

Bartholomew said, "Lord, when you went to be hanged on the cross, I followed from a distance and saw that angels from above descended to worship you. When it became dark, I looked up and found you gone; except that I seemed to hear your voice speaking from among the sounds of wailing and gnashing of teeth rising from the nether world. Tell me, Lord, where you left the cross." The Lord replied, "When I seemed to disappear from the cross, I descended to the nether world with my angels in order to raise Adam and the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) as Michael, the archangel, had petitioned me to do. As we intended to shatter the doors and rend the iron bars of that place, all hell cried out to the devil, 'I perceive that God has come down to earth!' Then the angels cried to the principalities and powers there, 'Open your gates, you princes, for the King of Glory has come down!' Hell asked, 'Who is this King of Glory?'

"When I had descended down the length of five-hundred steps, all Hell began to tremble violently and cried, 'I believe Yah has come! His mighty breath comes before him! I cannot stand it!' But the Devil said to Hell, 'Don't submit! Make yourself strong! Yahweh has not come down!'

"When I descended another five-hundred steps, the strong angels commanded, 'Open up, you doors of your prince! Throw the gates wide open! Look, the King of Glory has come.' Again Hell cried out to the devil in fear, 'How doleful I am! I feel the Divine breath! Yet you say He has not come!'

"The Lord of the Flies replied, 'Why do you fear? You think it is Yahweh, but it is only a prophet who has made himself like the Most High. We will take him and put him with the rest of those who have the ridiculous hope that they will ascend to Heaven!'

"Hell then said, 'So which of the prophets comes? Enoch, the scribe of holiness? Yahweh has not allowed him to descend until six thousand years are completed. Elijah, the avenger? You told me that he does not come down here before the end. What will I do if I am to be destroyed by Yahweh? I feel that already the end is near, for I know the number of years that I have!'

"But when the Devil finally perceived that the Logos of the Father had come down, he said, 'Hell, don't be afraid! We will lock the gates and fortify the bars. This is not Yah that comes down.' And Hell cried out, 'Where, oh where will we hide ourselves from the face of Yahweh, the greatest king? Do not keep me from hiding; I was created before you!'

"At this cry, the angels tore the brass gates of Hell to pieces, while I shattered the iron bars. I went in and pummeled Hell with one hundred blows, and bound him up with unbreakable chains. I brought out all those awaiting, then I returned to the cross."

Then Bartholomew said to him, "Lord, I saw you again on the cross, and what appeared to be the dead arising and worshipping you. Tell me, Lord, who was that giant whom the angels brought up in their arms, and what did you say to him that caused him to groan so deeply?"

The Lord told Bartholomew, "It was Adam, the first living soul that was created. I said to him, 'I suffered on the cross for your sake and for your generation.' He groaned and told me, 'You were pleased to complete this mission, O Lord.'"

Bartholomew then said, "Lord, I saw angels coming up before Adam and singing songs of praise. The largest of these angels, who had a fiery sword in his hands, would not come up. Although he was bid to arise, he refused. When you commanded him to come, I saw a mighty flame issue from the sword in his hands, that reached as far as Jerusalem!" Jesus replied, "My beloved Bartholomew, you are blessed to have seen such mysteries! This angel you witnessed was one of the avengers who stands before my Father's throne, and he was sent to me. He would not go up because he wanted to destroy all the power of this world. When I commanded him to rise, he ripped the temple veil in two by that fiery sword as a testimony to the children of Israel of my sufferings. They are the ones who bear the guilt of my crucifixion."

After he had spoken with Bartholomew, he again addressed his Apostles and said, "Wait for me here." I am going to Paradise where a sacrifice is being offered in my honor." But Bartholomew, bewildered, said, "Lord, what kind of sacrifice can be offered in Paradise?" Jesus answered, "When the body dies, the spirits of the righteous ascend to Paradise. Unless I am present there, they cannot enter. The spirits of the righteous are the sacrifices of Paradise!"

Bartholomew further questioned the Lord, "How many die daily?" Jesus answered, "About thirty thousand." Again he asked, "If thirty thousand die daily, about how many go to Paradise?" "Only three," Jesus answered.

Bartholomew continued, "How many are born every day?" Jesus said, "Thirty thousand and one." Again he asked, "Lord, when you lived here among us, how were they able to receive sacrifices in Paradise?" Jesus answered, "Truly I say to you, my beloved, even when I was here teaching you, I sat at the Father's right hand and received the sacrifices in Paradise."

When Jesus had said these things, he passed them the peace and left their sight.

Mary Magdalene quotes Christ, "Did not our Lord say: 'The head of the man is Christ, but the head of the woman is man?'"

Later, the Apostles followed Jesus to the mountain Moriah,and he sat down among them. They were in awe of him, and afraid to ask anything of him.

Jesus told them, "Ask me whatever you want, and give me the opportunity to teach and show you things, for I will no longer appear to you in this form after I ascend to my Father. I will be here only seven more days."

Hesitating, they said to him, "Lord, show us the abyss, as you promised." He said, "The abyss is not a good thing for you to see, but if you so desire, my promise I will keep. Follow me and see." He led them to Cherubim, the place of truth. He then summoned the angels of the west. The earth seemed to be rolled as a scroll, and beneath it was the awesome sight of the abyss.

When the Apostles beheld the spectacle, they fell into a swoon on their faces. Jesus said to them, "Didn't I say that it wasn't a good thing for you to see the abyss?" Again he summoned the angels, who covered the abyss.

After the Apostles had recovered from the sight of the abyss, Jesus again appeared to them. Bartholomew said, "Lord, show us the adversary of men so that we can see what he looks like, or what evil he works, where he comes from, and the power he has in that he did not even spare you, but caused you to be hanged on the cross." Jesus looked on Bartholomew and said, "O bold heart! You ask for something you cannot have."

Bartholomew, being afraid, fell at Jesus' feet and cried, "O lamp never extinguished, Lord Jesus Christ, the everlasting, who entrusted grace to the ones he loved for the entire world, and gave everlasting light through his appearance on earth, who at the Father's bidding gave up his heavenly home and fulfilled his destiny, who transformed the shame of Adam into joy and nullified the sorrowful curse of Eve through his birth from a virgin mother; Do not be angry, but grant me the right to ask."

When he had thus said, Jesus compassionately raised him to his feet and told him, "Bartholomew, do you truly wish to see the Adversary of Men? I tell you the truth, that the Apostles, Mary, and yourself will all fall on your faces like the dead when you see him." Nevertheless, they all said, "Lord, this is our desire."

So he led them down from the mount of Olives. He bound the demons that protected hell, and commanded Michael to sound the trumpet of authority in the heavens. When the notes of the trumpet reverberated over the earth, it began to shake as though there were an earthquake, and Beliar himself came up from beneath the earth, held by 666 angels and bound with chains that appeared as fire.

Beliar seemed to be nearly a mile long by about forty yards wide. His face was ablaze as though it was lightning, and his eyes were threatening sparks. His nostrils exuded a stinking and foul smoke. His mouth was like the crag of a mountain, and each wing spanned about eighty yards. As soon as the Apostles saw the spectacle, they fell to the ground in a deathlike swoon. Jesus came near to each and lifted them up, imparting to them the strengthening Spirit of Power.

When Bartholomew recovered, he found this Beliar approaching. Before he could fear any more, Jesus said, "Approach Beliar, and draw near to him, Bartholomew." He did. Then Jesus told him, "Put your foot on Beliar's neck, and take authority over him; command him to tell you what his mission is, and how he deceives men." Then Jesus left Bartholomew there with Beliar, and retreated back a space with his Apostles.

Bartholomew cried out, "O womb larger than a city! O womb wider than the heavens! O womb that held the one whom seven heavens could never contain! Painlessly you held within your bosom him who was able to change into the smallest of things! O womb that hid the Messiah who became visible to many! O womb that became greater than the space of the entire creation!" Then Bartholomew became exceedingly the more afraid and cried to the Lord, "Jesus! Give me but a hem of your garment, and I will have courage to approach closer!" Jesus replied, "You can have none of my garment. It isn't the garment I wore before my passion!"

Then Bartholomew said, "Lord, I fear that Beliar will swallow me whole, since he did not spare your angels!" Jesus answered, "Weren't all things created through the Word and according to my Father's plan? Even Solomon had authority over spirits. Go on, then - you have been commanded to do so in my name! Ask him what you wish!"

Finally Bartholomew put his foot on the neck of Beliar. To his surprise, he was able to press his face in to the ground as far as his ears! Bartholomew asked him, "Tell me your name and who you are." Beliar said, "Let up a little, and I will tell you how great my power is...."

Then Bartholomew commanded Beliar to return to where he came from. Then he came back to Jesus and prostrated himself before him and began to cry. And he prayed, "Abba, Father, who can't be discovered by mortal men, Word of the Father...whose thought ordained all as it should be...because of your advent you have made all souls rejoice at the prospect of the gospel of eternal life. My God, great Father and King; save the sinner, Lord!"

When Bartholomew finished praying, Jesus said to him, "Bartholomew, the Father appointed me as Messiah, that I might come and anoint everyone who comes to me with the oil of life. He called me Jesus, that I might heal every evil of the ignorant and dispense God's truth."

Again Bartholomew spoke, "Lord, allow me to tell everyone the mysteries that have been revealed to me." Jesus answered him, "My beloved, tell the faithful who can keep these mysteries to themselves. Some are worthy of mysteries, but others can't be trusted with such revelation, especially the boasters, drunkards, prideful, merciless, idol worshipers, sexual seducers, gossips, false teachers, and those who follow the devil. Do not let these mysteries fill their ears, for they are not worthy! So it would be better if you kept these things a secret, for ones such as these will not believe you - they will mock you!

"On the other hand, all who can bear these things will have a part in them. Therefore, my beloved, I have shown you because you are especially blessed, as are all those to whom you entrust this message. Those who gain grace from your words will receive all they want in all times of my judgment."

The Testimony of Josephus

Secret Sayings Jackson Snyder

Flavius Josephus was the historian of the Jews and lived in the late first century. He was a Jewish General at the start of the Jewish revolt against Rome in 66AD, but seeing the hopelessness of the war, he switched sides, becoming the translator for the Roman General Titus (later Emperor) who destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD.

Josephus' extensive histories are considered, for the most part, reliable, and are used extensively by contemporary scholars. Josephus mentions James the Just and John the Baptist. He also mentions Jesus twice. Here is his testimony.

First mention of Jesus:

Annanus (Annas) summoned the Council to judgment, and brought before it the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ. James was his name.

And here is what is known as

Josephus' Testimony:

At this time appeared Jesus, a wise man, if one may call him a man at all. For he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of men who received the truth with gladness. And he attracted Jews and also people of the Greeks sort in great number. He was the Christ. And when on the denunciation of our leading men Pilate had punished him with crucifixion, those who had loved him formerly did not cease to love him. He appeared to them alive again on the third day, for the godly prophets had foretold this and innumerable other wonderful things concerning him. And even now the race of men, called after him 'Christians,' has not died out.

Josephus was not a Christian (was he?). An Arabic translation of his works by one Agapius dated to the 10th century quotes Josephus' Testimony this way:

At this time there was a wise man called Jesus. His conduct was good and he was known to be virtuous, and many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon him. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive. Accordingly, he may have been the Messiah, of whom the prophets recounted wonders.

Hebrew or Greek

Which language did Yeshua and his Disciples communicate?

Most agree on the basic developments of the Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Netzarim). Yeshua was born of Jewish lineage and he taught his disciples in his native Hebrew and Aramaic, the original disciples of Yeshua were also known as Jews, Hebrews and Israelites. Yeshua and his people lived under Roman occupation, but their language and religious identity as Jewish people is based on Torah, the written Word of YHWH. As the oral transmission of Yeshua’s teaching widened to a greater audience, the disciples wrote about their experience with Yeshua in Hebrew and Aramaic, for the benefit of others who were not first hand witnesses like they to the things Yeshua said and did. But even before accounts of Yeshua’s life were written, his teachings and fame was disseminated among Greeks and in the Greek language as well. Additionally, all who follow YHWH and His Mashiyach do so to the exclusion of all other religions and gods. YHWH sets His own apart, whether Greek or Jew, all who permit Torah to be written upon their hearts become a peculiar people (kedoshim) whom YHWH sets apart.

“You have seen ~what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy (set apart) nation…” Sh’mot/Exodus 19:4-6

Even before man’s first sin YHWH gave a covenant for man to be joined to Him as our One and Only Elohim and throughout history YHWH sought to protect mankind from counterfeit and substitute gods. YHWH has always demonstrated His love and loyalty to His Creation, and we have always been given the freedom to volunteer to serve Him alone, or volunteer to serve other gods. YHWH’s chosen people and the Ger Toshav (non-Jewish Sojourners) are instructed in Torah, how to enter into Covenant with YHWH and be a “peculiar” people, and YHWH tells us very clearly that those who follow Him are NOT to learn the ways of the heathen.

“You shall utterl~y destroy all the places, wherein the nations which you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And you shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and you shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.” D’varim/Deuteronomy 12:2, 3

This passage of Torah is fresh in the mind of everyone who follows YHWH as their Elohim. At least once every year these verses are read and remembered, and there are many other verses that say the same thing, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Hellenic polytheistic culture and Torah do not mix, according to YHWH and His Mashiyach.

A thousand years passed before Torah was translated into Greek

Even 1,000 years later, Jewish translators refused to Hellenize the Name of YHWH! The Jewish scribes were so highly respectful of the Name of YHWH, that they chose to insert Paleo Hebrew letters in the Greek text when they came to the Name of YHWH (see Nahal Hever texts). After a thousand years the Word of YHWH, the Aseret ha-Dibrot (Ten Sayings or Ten Commandments) were finally made available in the Greek language. Prior to this, if Greeks wanted to read the Word of YHWH, they had to learn the Hebrew language. The Greek language originated around 800 BC, it spawned out of a polytheistic culture that differentiated itself as being “modernized”, caretakers of philosophy and knowledge, rather than being set apart unto YHWH and His Word. The very first of YHWH’s Ten Commandments opposed the “modernization”, or the rebellion in mankind that desired to steward all peoples and earth, without YHWH.

I am YHWH thy ElohimYou shall have no other godsYou shall not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vainRemember the ShabbatSh’mot/Exodus 20:2-7

The first commandment indicates that YHWH is Elohim and there is none other. This commandment also reveals the relationship between man and YHWH, that YHWH is the Architect of all Life. The Name of YHWH cannot be transliterated into any another language, because within the spoken Name of YHWH is an aspirant identity that connects the spirit of man, his nephesh chaya, to the Spirit of YHWH. A transliteration of the Name of YHWH would only amount to one person’s revelation or ideology, even the act of translating His name would consequently be a violation of the second commandment, “You shall have no other gods” . The second commandment is a prohibition against fractionalizing YHWH Elohim in our hearts, minds and actions. The first undoing of man, is to divide his loyalty between YHWH and another authority. Many people suppose that their own language and culture is equal to all other cultures, and yes there must be equality for things upon earth, but not in “heaven”. There is nothing on earth that man can fabricate which is equal to YHWH, certainly not “culture”, and especially if man’s culture prides itself at contradicting YHWH Elohim.

The second commandment instructs us not to put anything before YHWH, and this can also refer to a language or a culture. There is no doubt that the Kingdom of Elohim is being taught in multitudinous languages, however the culture of the Kingdom of Elohim is the same wherever one travels on the earth, and in heaven. For a people to remake the words and values of the Kingdom of Elohim in a polytheistic culture is to re-define Torah and Mashiyach by the words and values of that culture, and make another god. Changing the revealed Name of YHWH into another language is making a “likeness” something other than the original. Whether they be real or perceived gods, names or titles in a persons estimation is not a factor, the names Theos, Zeus, Ishtar, Lord, God, Jupiter, Mercury and names used for man’s deities before they were plied to the Kingdom of Elohim.

The third commandment instructs us to NOT take the Name of YHWH in vain, this means to turn His Holy Name into a common thing, lessen it, or substitute it with a name of other deities. YHWH is Holy and His Name is Holy, which means that those who Fear His Name will not act presumptuously regarding His Name or His Word.

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish anything from it, that you may keep the mitzvot of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.” D’varim 4:2

Rabbinical tales are told of how Torah was given in 70 languages, so that all souls would have some understanding of how man was live and steward the earth. Certainly YHWH’s intention is that there would be a universal acknowledgment of His Word, and that mankind would live in harmony with Himself and each other. While it might be a nice idea that Torah was given in all the known languages of Moshe’s day, we know that YHWH spoke to Moshe in the Hebrew tongue, YHWH did not speak 70 languages to Moshe, nor does Torah say that the people were given the “gift of tongues”. YHWH gave instruction to “not add unto the Word… neither diminish from it” so we need not speculate because we know that from the beginning of time, YHWH used the Hebrew language to reveal Himself. He raised up individuals like Noah, Avraham, Moshe, His Prophets, His Mashiyach and those whom He chooses who will keep Covenant with Him. The revelation of YHWH comes about in one’s spirit, in thoughts, speech and in the reading of His Word so there are manifold ways that one can have access to the Word of YHWH.

YHWH has shown through time that He protects his Word, when Masoretic Jewish Scribes and Pharisees chose to change and distort Torah, YHWH provided ancient Hebrew manuscripts from Qumran to restore the accuracy of His Word.

When Hellenized Christianity attempted to choke hold the language, culture and values of Yeshua and His Talmidim, YHWH brought forth ancient writings of the Ketuvim Netzarim, the Kaboris Manuscript from the Hakkan Mountains in Assyria http://www.peshitta.org/initial/peshitta.html. In every case, because change is difficult to make, many deny and argue against what is self evident truth. The Kaboris Manuscript (Kabouris Codex) has come under harsh attack by the Greek primacy religious crowd who are fearful that the authority of the Greek Scriptures may be undermined, and put themselves in a tight spot. But everyone knows that Yeshua and his disciples weren’t Greeks, and didn’t venerate either the language or the culture of Rome.

When the James Ossuary was discovered it embarrassed the Catholic Church, when it was found out that Yeshua had a blood brother and his mother Miriam didn’t remain a virgin, they are still trying to put out the fires. The ossuary embarrassed a handful of Jews who wrote about Ya’akov Ha Tsadiq and Yeshua being mythical legends, nevertheless the highly questioned patina was upheld by many archeologists from Israel and throughout the world, who testified of the inscription being original, in its entirety. Later of course the patina was clouded in controversy, and many people wished it would go away. I viewed the Ossuary at the Royal Museum in Toronto, the Aramaic patina appeared consistent, “Ya’akov bar Yosef akhui diYeshua”, James son of Joseph brother of Yeshua. Most agree that a close friend or relative would have made the inscription, as was the custom, to make sure they got the right bones in the right box. But even while at the museum in Toronto I was delighted to hear the conversation between two Catholic nuns as it pertained to Yeshua. One nun was trying for the life of her to explain that Yeshua was the Name of Jesus, the other nun was horrified and unbelieving. As I listened the nun’s were getting a bit exasperated with each other, finally the one nun exclaimed, how can his Name be Yeshua if his name was Jesus! I could see from their looks that they weren’t interested in me preaching to them, but nevertheless they happily moved along dressed in their flowing penguin-like outfits.**

YHWH commands His Word as “Kadosh” (Holy), Observant Jews entice non-Observant Jews back to Judaism by encouraging Jews to read and study in Hebrew. Aramaic is a sister language to Hebrew, it has long been used as the common language in which commentaries and discussion about Torah have been written. Hebrew has and will always be the language of formal Torah readings, and for good reason, generation after generation the verses have been cherished, revered and committed to memory for preservation and teaching to the next generation in the language in which Torah had been birthed.

The Babylonian Talmud was written in 3rd to 6th Century in the “lingua franca” of Babylon which was Aramaic, but it wasn’t until 1520 AD when a Christian named Daniel Bomberg chose to translate it into English. It took a thousand years before the supply and demand curve met, and the Babylonian Talmud was translated. As with the Septuagint, the Talmud was not necessarily translated by adherents of Judaism but by and for parties seeking information, however language is very conceptually interfaced with cultural interpretation, and Hebrew is written using many idioms and poetic emphasis that are impossible to translate. If our deep desire is to learn intimate things from the Word of YHWH about the Mashiyach, then we must understand Hebrew and Aramaic terms and definitions, there is no way around it. Substitute or counterfeit words and ideas coined by the theological world are meant to serve the theological world, history has shown that the early Church founders had a Greek mindset, none had actually met Netzarim Jewish disciples of Yeshua, their information was based on hearsay.

It is very telling of “New Testament scholars” who are quick to discount the Jewish Hebraic Heritage which Mashiyach, His Talmidim and Apostle Paul lived, in favor of Greek ideas and language. There are many places in the “Greek New Testament” that scream foul, for example. Picture this, Andrew is running flat out along the Galilee shoreline, adrenaline is pumping through his body, his mind is racing, he sees his brother Peter floating out about 200 meters off the shoreline and Andrew screams out at the top of his LUNGS…

“We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

John 1:41

EYPHKAMEN (we have found) TON (the) MECCIAN (Messiah)

O (which) ECTIN (is) MEOEPMHNEYOMENON (being after translated) XPICTOC (Christ)

Whether you are a Christian who “Loves the Lord”, or a Jew who waits for Mashiyach, what would it mean to you if your brother whom you loved and trusted came barreling in shouting… “WE HAVE FOUND THE MASHIYACH!!!”, but then… not knowing if you knew what he was talking about, he adds, “which is being interpreted, “the Christ”? It is beyond belief, that anyone could be so rudely ignorant to not realize that there is NO WAY this happens in the real world, in the religious worlds certainly, BUT NOT THE REAL WORLD!!! This is what is called a scribal gloss, the Greek translators realized that although this is a very BIG DEAL for Jews, most Greeks would be shrugging their shoulders and wondering what a Mashiyach is! There is no original concept of an “Anointed One” in Greek culture, so the translator put in a gloss, a narrative, so Greeks wouldn’t be sitting with dumb looks wondering what it all meant…

Three chapters further, a Samaritan woman is at the well, (hint: she is not Greek) the Mashiyach opens her life up to her in a whole new dimension, after her once in a lifetime experience she replies,

“I know that Messias is coming,which is called Christ:when he is come, he will tell us all things.”

John 4:25

MECCIAC (Messiah) EPXETAI (is coming)O (the) AEROMENOC (being said) XPICTOC (anointed) OTAN (whenever) EAOH (may be coming)

Again, it’s brutal to think that a Samaritan women while speaking with a Jew has to translate what Mashiyach means in order to talk about THE SUPREME most important and profound concept of both of their cultures. The Mashiyach has always been the lifeblood of Jewish hope! What does Mashiyach mean to you? Where would you go to find out about Mashiyach? To a Greek scholar or to those who Mashiyach came through? These are just two verses that contain dialogue about Mashiyach, both speakers probably loved the Romans and their Greek language as much as the Jews riding trains to Auschwitz loved the Germans.

Our beloved Paul the Apostle informs us in Romans 16:22 that it was “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle…”, the Greek primacy crowd must think that Paul had a multiple personality disorder, bipolar or something like this. It says right in your Bible that Paul never wrote the book of Romans, he dictated it to Tertius. Those who have studied Paul from a historical perspective (ie without Christian or Jewish religious bias) tell us that Paul wasn’t such an ordinary Jew. Paul was born into wealth and was sent to Jerusalem when he was 3 years old to study under the greatest Rabbinical Sage of the day. If you were a Jew hanging out with the greatest Sages in Jerusalem you would NOT be learning Greek literature, maybe someone could find an Orthodox Shul in Jerusalem, Israel that studies Greek and let me know? Apostle Paul was on target to be the next head Rabbi of Israel, that’s why for Paul to serve Hellenized Jews and Gentiles is a greater miracle than Christians can imagine, something like Jonah going to tell Nineveh to repent. For Shaul to attend the most prized Yeshiva in the known world, he would have memorized Torah before his was 13. His Rabbi was Gamliel who according to the Gemara in Megilla 21a: “The Rabbis taught, from the days of Moshe until Rabban Gamliel, they only studied Torah while standing. When R. Gamliel died, a weakness came into the world and they studied Torah while seated. This is the meaning of [the Mishna at the end of Sota, which states:] “When R. Gamliel died, the honor of Torah was gone.” According to Shaul’s testimony in Acts 22:4 he “persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Shaul was a very zealous Pharisee, a “nut-basket” for TRADITION who would have been very guarded against being assimilated into Roman and Greek culture. Two thousand years later, observant Jews are still very guarded against becoming assimilated into Hellenized culture.

Any person who has suffered the infamy of living a righteous life in a Hellenized world knows what it means to live separate from a carnal Torahless world. We know how it feels like to be treated as a stranger in our own land, by our own families, even in churches and synagogues. Others may, but we cannot deny the standards YHWH has set before us to walk in. Paul was not a Hellenist, neither was he two faced to live in a way that pleased others and got himself notoriety. When it says “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle…” it means what it says, Paul’s epic letter to the Romans was written by Tertius. Remember when the Romans picked Paul up and hauled him out of the Temple, after he completed the Nazirite purification along with the four other men Acts 21:26,27? Think about 4 men plus Paul, which equals FIVE men, and how having FIVE MEN purify themselves is a distinct sign of Torah Observance? Remember also how Paul addressed the P’rushim and Tz’dukim, in Hebrew but someone wrote a commentary in Acts 22:2, to inform the reader that Paul, a very widely known man throughout Israel, spoke in Hebrew and the crowd listened? Why would anyone really need to supply that bit of information? Paul asks a question of the Chief Captain of the Romans and then in Acts 21:37 the Captain asks Paul, “Can you speak Greek?” The Greek primacy spin doctors teach that the Captain was so amazed that Paul spoke such GOOD Greek? Or, it makes more sense that the Chief Captain of the Romans was simply requesting that Paul speak in Greek, so he could understand what he was saying.

Joseph ben Mattathias (nicknamed Josephus), is by far the most famous Jewish historian, intellect and writer of the 1st Century who wrote, “I have also taken a great deal of pains to obtain the learning of the Greeks, and understanding the elements of the Greek language although I have so long accustomed myself to speak our own language, that I cannot pronounce Greek with sufficient exactness: for our nation does not encourage those that learn the languages of many nations.” Josephus is a champion of the Greek Christian world, he is considered to be a secret Christian by many Christian theologians, Josephus wrote in Hebrew not in Greek. Josephus says “I cannot pronounce Greek with sufficient exactness”, but Christian theologians are quick to point out that he was just being “modest”. If you read Josephus, he’s about as in your face as any good Jew could be. Yoseph ben Mattathias was a Pharisee who leaned heavily toward the idea that the Roman armies were just too powerful for them to beat, otherwise he would have happily made war against Rome! The Roman occupation of Israel was extremely troublesome for the Jews, as much then as it is now, a common saying among Jews was “it would be better to feed your children swine than to learn the language of the Romans”. It’s nothing personal really, it’s like what happens in any other occupation, even places like Iraq where American armies control the region, the locals are trying to beat them off but can’t, the résistance from family members leaves them lying in their blood, then it was the Romans who were too “big and bad” to take down, now it’s the Americans who feel they are god’s gift to the world? Even if you tell them nicely that their welcome is a bit worn out, they just don’t seem to get it and so it was with the Jews and the Romans in Yeshua’s day. The Romans went on a rampage against the Jews and caused hundreds of blood baths, then they took tens of thousands of young Jews captive and made slaves out of them, so one should understand that there was no love lost between the majority of Jews and Romans in the Land of Israel

HaEretz Israel is a very important piece of real estate, then as today the Jews have very little hope of emancipating themselves from the political forces against them. However the tyranny of christo-paganism that has fashioned a pagan religion out of the Jewish Mashiyach, Yeshua has a very self defeating component. Even though most Christians realize that Christianity needs a major reformation, most are unwilling to search back to Messiah’s “roots” to find the foundation of the Kingdom. Yeshua says that one day, Torahless religious folk will hear him say, “I never knew you, depart from me you doers of iniquity”. Iniquity means Torahlessness, missing the mark of Torah (YHWH’s righteous instruction), Yeshua is NOT Jesus, and Jesus is NOT Yeshua.

The goal of ardent Greek primacy theologians,is to establish the Greek language as the authorityso their Hellenized (anti-Torah) ideals are protected.

This subject of whether the “New Testament” has a Greek or Hebrew/Aramaic origin has been addressed by many scholars. Information is surfacing in all sorts of publications about Hebrew and Aramaic primacy, if one cares to learn. Texts such as Khabouris, Peshitta, Munsters, ShemTob, and DuTillet clearly show that it is impossible that the early followers of Yeshua were Greek thinkers. Scholars and researchers like Howard Gordon, Charles Cutler Torrey, Robert Balgarnie Young Scotts, James Trimm, Paul Younan, Andrew Gabriel Roth, Christopher Lancaster and hundreds of others are providing mountains of evidence and documentation to show the impossibility of a Greek primacy for the Ketuvim Netzarim (writings of the Nazarenes).

Neither can it be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Apostle Paul wrote anything in the Greek language, it is only one theory. It’s also interesting to note that it is NOT Greeks, who are the most adamant about “New Testament” Greek primacy, but it’s English speakers. This dialogue would redundant if Christianity even remotely resembled the fundamental Faith of Yeshua and His Talmidim, but it doesn’t, this is why it is very important that we look deeper into the life and teachings of Yeshua from his original language.

The language of Yeshua, according to the Ketuvim Netzarim was Hebrew and Aramaic, the terms and definitions of the Kingdom were given according to the King who conveyed his thoughts, ideas and values in Hebrew and Aramaic. Each one of us most certainly receives direction by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in the language of the Spirit, but we think and understand in words and definitions. Let’s not forget that it was the WORD of YHWH that spoke the Universe into Existence, the Word is of supreme importance for us to connect with YHWH. The invention of new Greek terms and definitions for Hebrew words in the Ketuvim Netzarim propagated Hellenistic ideas that existed long before Yeshua came to earth. The Hellenistic pagan world tries to project its ideas upon Mashiyach and His Talmidim as a bid to usurp the authority and purity of truth.

Religious ideas birthed through Marcion and the Greek Church founders have established the “Shibboleth” of modern Christianity, to even refer to the Ketuvim Netzarim as “kainos diatheke” or the “New Testament”, is a “testament” to the forces of Hellenized theology that are at war against Mashiyach Yeshua and Torah. Although Marcion was considered a heretic by early “mainstream” Christians, he established dualism and dispensationalism very early in Christian history, and these are fundamental to the vast majority of Christian teaching. The Greek word diatheke does not distinguish between BRITH “covenant” and EDYOT “testimony”, so the Christian words “New Testament” still has the pockmarks of Marcion. Marcion who coined the words “Old and New Testament”, was also a rabid Jew hater, a heretic and a man who sought fame and power unto himself.

Epiphanius said about the Jewish Talmidim of Yeshua, “they are rather Jews and nothing else”. What really perplexed the Church founders, was when they discovered that Jewish followers of Yeshua, continued to live as Jews, the church founders would have none of that, they wanted Jews to conform to Hellenistic lifestyles and values.

The concept of a “New Testament” is somewhat blurred in the Greek, if we read Jeremiah 31:31 we quickly discover that what Jeremiah called the “New Covenant” has not been entirely fulfilled yet. If we follow through to the Words of Yeshua, His Talmidim and Apostle Paul we also discover Paul practiced sacrifices in the Temple, the Disciples practiced circumcision, and the Gentile converts observed Shabbat and complied with Levitical Kosher laws ie no blood, and not eating nothing strangled. This is the kind of “Jewish stuff” that Greek Christian founders abhorred, and is still abhorred by most Christians today as being too “Jewish”, or “legalistic” and those who teach it are called “Judaisers”. James who was “FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” says, “trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to G-d: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” This preliminary directive was the undoing of James, by many Church fathers. Tertullian, the man who coined the word “Trinity”, vetoed James and suggested that Christians should go ahead and celebrate pagan feasts in the name of Jesus. Even the great Protestant Christian Reformer Martin Luther suggested that the Book of James be removed from the Bible.

It is Jewish custom to maintain Oral Tradition, so it is not unusual that some years would pass before Yeshua’s Talmidim would get around to writing about their experiences with Yeshua. It is very likely that Greek followers of Yeshua had a greater urgency to have script in hand, than did Jewish Disciples of Yeshua, so think about this. None of the Church forefathers were well versed in Hebrew. Picture yourself sitting in while foreigners are talking about something, but don’t have a clue what they are saying, but you have a translator sitting beside you. Whether you like it or not, you are going to hear your translator give you their own commentary, because there are words and concepts that are not supported in your own language. We must look at the Greek “New Testament” as a commentary, before we read the Letter to the Romans it would be good to read all the Torah and the Prophets and the Writings, especially Isaiah because Paul quotes Isaiah some 29 times in his letter to the Romans. We should also understand a bit of the halacha (duties) and minhagim (tradition) of the P’rushim, Tz’dukim and Essenes as it relates to righteousness, and not rely on Hellenized church founders to interpret these things for us

The writings of the Talmidim of Yeshua are critically important to understand in their original context. Yeshua is YHWH come in the flesh, when He taught He manifest the wisdom of YHWH as was given unto Moshe in Torah and throughout the Prophets of YHWH. It cannot be emphasized enough how critical these writings are to our understanding of the Kingdom of Elohim, we have no better way to the TRUE Mashiyach than through His OWN WORD!

The Greek primacy crowd is anxious to protect their theologies, the “mother of all” Christian theology is the “Trinity” which happens to be as old as Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz and as pagan as hell. The theology of sun worship (Sun-day), Tammuz worship (Christ-mass), Ishtar (Easter) etc are all patently pagan. The Trinity not only fits well with Hellenistic thinking, it’s origin is pagan. There would be far fewer bridges to Hellenism had Greek Christians studied Yeshua in His own language and culture rather than coining new Greek terms, definitions and methodologies that are of pagan origin. It’s not just a simple matter of knowing Hebrew or Greek, it’s a matter of whose authority we choose to follow. Our goal must not only be the truth, but to also be willing to bear the infamy of truth as it pertains to Yeshua and the Kingdom of Elohim, regardless of the language we speak or the culture we’ve come from. We are told that the Faithful will know the Song of Moshe and the Song of the Lamb, both songs have a Jewish melody.

Abraham, Isaac, and Ya’akov were called and chosen by YHWH to make a distinction between the True Faith and Paganism. The Kingdom of Elohim and Paganism are opposites and are at war with each other, hasatan is the author of paganism. Avraham, whose name is his calling, is the father of all who seek the Kingdom of Elohim, the language of our Fathers Avraham, Yitzak and Ya’akov is Hebrew. All who seek the Mashiyach are to be joined in Spirit and Truth together with all the Israel of Elohim. We must see ourselves as being children of a common Father, from Adam to Noach to Abraham to Moshe to David to Yeshua to the Talmidim of Yeshua, to Paul the Apostle and hopefully even to the soul who first introduced us to Mashiyach Yeshua. Let’s hope the values and teaching about the Kingdom of Elohim have been consistent with truth, if not, then it’s time to explore the “Ancient Paths” as Jeremiah says and turn to YHWH. If we haven’t much “Hebraic” exposure at least we should learn the basic distinctions between Hebraic and Hellenistic thinking. Knowing and learning Hebrew in itself is not going to lead a person out of false religion, there are countless Christian evangelists in Jerusalem who speak Hebrew for the sole purpose of finding and Hellenizing Jews into pagan Christianity. What leads us out of deception is the work of the Ruach HaKodesh in conjunction with the original Word of YHWH, if we want to know HaMashiyach we must study and meditate on the Word of YHWH to know the WILL of YHWH for our lives, just as King David did.

Did Mashiyach speak Greek to the woman of Canaan? No.

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon’. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, ‘Send her away; for she cries after us’. But he answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, ‘Master, help me’. But he answered and said, ‘It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs’. And she said,

True, Master: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table’. Then Yeshua answered and said unto her, ‘O woman, great is your faith: be it unto you even as you wish’. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Matthew 15:22-28

Did Mashiyach speak Greek to Pilate? No.

“Then said Pilate unto him, do you not hear how many things they witness against you? And he answered him never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.” Matthew 27:13-14

We should be careful to distinguish between Messianic Judaism and Hellenism, the Mashiyach warned us about religion:

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9

Mashiyach did not think or teach in Greek, He taught in Hebrew. It was a grave mistake for translators to coin Greek words and redefine Hebrew principles into a Hellenized language and culture, it has caused “the church” to remain stagnant and join itself tightly to the fallen world. It is vital that Mashiyach be brought to all people of all languages, but what will it profit if Mashiyach be rendered as a Hellenized image?

The Mashiyach was Zeus-ified, each Sunday morning people go up to the temple of Zeus and sing songs, make jubilation that Zeus has freed the people from bondage and delivered them from Torah. When the children of Israel made the golden calf in the wilderness they were calling upon YHWH, they worshipped the golden calf by the Name of YHWH, which they made with their own hands. Today Christians bow and worship Je-zeus who was fashioned by the hands of the church fathers, idolaters and pagans, that’s clearly what Paul said in Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” The solution is to come out from Hellenism and be separate, anyone who adamantly maintains a Greek primacy of the New Testament does so to establish an authority that is not of Mashiyach.

YHWH asks us to come out of paganism and be separate,and touch not the unclean thing,then He will receive us and be a Father unto usand we will be His sons and daughters!

Say NO to Hellenism!

“For there is NO OTHER NAMEunder heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved.”

Shalom U’Vrachot,Baruch Ben Daniel

First century Jews DID NOT converse in Greek:

The Roll Concerning Fasts in Aramaic (66-70 AD)

The Letter of Gamaliel in Aramaic (c. 30-110 AD)

Wars of the Jews by Joseph ben Mattathias in Hebrew (c. 75 AD)

The Mishna in Hebrew (c. 220 AD)
The Gemara in Aramaic (c. 500 AD)

It is Hellenism to believe that Yeshua and His Talmidim conversed and wrote in the Greek language.

The Ketuvim Netzarim records Yeshua entering into the Temple on Hanukkah, endorsing the

Maccabean victory of the overthrow of foreign occupiers.

The historical event on which Chanukah is based is the Jewish struggle to,

NOT becoming Hellenized

!!!

Click on links for more info

*Nazis were following a “political zionist” plot that is still aiming to make “Zion” a curse word, Nazis were and are funded by self hating Jews who are “political zionists” that hate YHWH, Torah and His Mashiyach. It is the “spirit” of political zionists who also finance Paganism and Hellenism and who established many seminaries and yeshivot to spin lies against HaMashiyach and His Talmidim, its a new different face on the tower of Bavel.

** Penguins are making a huge impact on the fashion world, so one shouldn’t think this statement to be derogatory of the nuns “fashion statement”. Much more importantly, Zephaniah 1:4 states that YHWH detests the black robed priests of Baal, and he states that He, “will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests. The long long black (or dark brown) robes of christo-paganism has it’s origin in Baal, not among YHWH’s people nor His priesthood.