CHRIST’S BURIAL
(Matt 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-52;
John 19:38-39; GPt 6a; GNc 11:2a)
Jerusalem
Now it was the day before the Sabbath, the Day of Preparation. And
there was in that place a wealthy man whose name was Joseph, a
blameless, virtuous (and) distinguished member of the council. He
had dissented to both their verdict and their deed. Now, he was from a
Judean town called Arimathea, and was waiting for the coming of
God. (He was a follower of Jesus, though secretly, for fear of the
Jews.) So later on, as the dusk was settling in, he went boldly up to
Pilate and asked him for the body of Jesus.
But when Pilate heard that Jesus was already dead, he was
astonished, so he called the centurion over to himself and asked if he
had indeed passed on; and the centurion filled the governor in on
what had happened. And when the governor and his wife heard that
the report was true, both of them were deeply moved, and neither of
them ate or drank anything that day. And Pilate sent for the Jews and
asked: “Did you see all that came to pass?” But they simply replied, “It
was only an ordinary solar eclipse.” And at that, Pilate entrusted the
body to Joseph. So with the permission of Pilate, he came and took possession of
the corpse, and Nicodemus, the man who had earlier visited Jesus
under cover of darkness was with him. Joseph purchased some clean
linen cloth, (and) Nicodemus brought with him a mixture of aloes and
myrrh, in all about a hundred litrai. Together they took down the
cross, pulled the spikes from the Lord’s hands and placed him there
upon the ground. And at this, the whole world shook--and they were
seized with fear and dread.
(Matt 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-52;
John 19:38-39; GPt 6a; GNc 11:2a)
Jerusalem
Now it was the day before the Sabbath, the Day of Preparation. And
there was in that place a wealthy man whose name was Joseph, a
blameless, virtuous (and) distinguished member of the council. He
had dissented to both their verdict and their deed. Now, he was from a
Judean town called Arimathea, and was waiting for the coming of
God. (He was a follower of Jesus, though secretly, for fear of the
Jews.) So later on, as the dusk was settling in, he went boldly up to
Pilate and asked him for the body of Jesus.
But when Pilate heard that Jesus was already dead, he was
astonished, so he called the centurion over to himself and asked if he
had indeed passed on; and the centurion filled the governor in on
what had happened. And when the governor and his wife heard that
the report was true, both of them were deeply moved, and neither of
them ate or drank anything that day. And Pilate sent for the Jews and
asked: “Did you see all that came to pass?” But they simply replied, “It
was only an ordinary solar eclipse.” And at that, Pilate entrusted the
body to Joseph. So with the permission of Pilate, he came and took possession of
the corpse, and Nicodemus, the man who had earlier visited Jesus
under cover of darkness was with him. Joseph purchased some clean
linen cloth, (and) Nicodemus brought with him a mixture of aloes and
myrrh, in all about a hundred litrai. Together they took down the
cross, pulled the spikes from the Lord’s hands and placed him there
upon the ground. And at this, the whole world shook--and they were
seized with fear and dread.
THE END OF DARKNESS
(Matt 27:59-61; Mark 15:46-47; Luke 23:53-56;
John 19:40-42; GPt 6b; GNc 11:2b,3)
Near Jerusalem
At that point the sun appeared, and it turned out to be the ninth
hour. But the Jews rejoiced and turned his body over to Joseph, since
he had been a witness to all of the wonderful things that Jesus had
done. So the two of them took the Lord, washed him off, and wrapped
him up in the linen cloth along with the spices, in accordance with
Jewish burial customs. Now there was this garden known as the
garden of Joseph near to the spot where Jesus had been crucified, and in that garden there was this new tomb which belonged to Joseph,
who had carved it out of the rock himself, and no one had as yet been
placed therein. Now they laid him there both because it was nearby,
and because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the Sabbath Day
was drawing near. He then rolled a giant stone against the opening
and went away. Now his friends, Mary of Magdala, and Mary, mother
of Joses--women who had traveled with Jesus from Galilee--were
witnesses to all these things, (including) where (and) how he had been
placed, for they were standing in the distance. They then went home,
readied spices and ointments, and rested on the Sabbath Day, even as
the law directs.
(Matt 27:59-61; Mark 15:46-47; Luke 23:53-56;
John 19:40-42; GPt 6b; GNc 11:2b,3)
Near Jerusalem
At that point the sun appeared, and it turned out to be the ninth
hour. But the Jews rejoiced and turned his body over to Joseph, since
he had been a witness to all of the wonderful things that Jesus had
done. So the two of them took the Lord, washed him off, and wrapped
him up in the linen cloth along with the spices, in accordance with
Jewish burial customs. Now there was this garden known as the
garden of Joseph near to the spot where Jesus had been crucified, and in that garden there was this new tomb which belonged to Joseph,
who had carved it out of the rock himself, and no one had as yet been
placed therein. Now they laid him there both because it was nearby,
and because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the Sabbath Day
was drawing near. He then rolled a giant stone against the opening
and went away. Now his friends, Mary of Magdala, and Mary, mother
of Joses--women who had traveled with Jesus from Galilee--were
witnesses to all these things, (including) where (and) how he had been
placed, for they were standing in the distance. They then went home,
readied spices and ointments, and rested on the Sabbath Day, even as
the law directs.
THE THIEF
(DecLtA 5:3b; DecLtB 7:2)
The Underworld
Then the Lord himself looked down on earth from out of heaven to
hear the groaning of the fettered and to liberate the sons of the slain.
Now after the voice had sounded (in Hades,) a man appeared bearing
a cross upon his shoulders, and the look of a thief. He stood outside
and cried to them, “Open up and let me in!” So Satan cracked the
door a bit and pulled him into his abode, shutting the door behind him
there. Then all of the saints, seeing him clearly, immediately
questioned him, “We all can see that you are a thief, so explain to us
what you are carrying upon your back.” “Indeed I really was a thief,”
he replied in all humility, “and the Jews hung me on a cross alongside my Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High Father. I have come to
herald his arrival; to let you know that he is following after me.”
(DecLtA 5:3b; DecLtB 7:2)
The Underworld
Then the Lord himself looked down on earth from out of heaven to
hear the groaning of the fettered and to liberate the sons of the slain.
Now after the voice had sounded (in Hades,) a man appeared bearing
a cross upon his shoulders, and the look of a thief. He stood outside
and cried to them, “Open up and let me in!” So Satan cracked the
door a bit and pulled him into his abode, shutting the door behind him
there. Then all of the saints, seeing him clearly, immediately
questioned him, “We all can see that you are a thief, so explain to us
what you are carrying upon your back.” “Indeed I really was a thief,”
he replied in all humility, “and the Jews hung me on a cross alongside my Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High Father. I have come to
herald his arrival; to let you know that he is following after me.”
DAVID’S OUTCRY
(DecLtA 5:3c; DecLtB 7:3a)
The Underworld
Then David raged against Hades, crying out as loud as he could,
“Oh Hades, you most evil and disgusting fiend, open up your gates
right now, that the King of Glory might come in!” And all of God’s
saints likewise rose up against Satan, trying to get their hands on him
and tear him limb from limb.
(DecLtA 5:3c; DecLtB 7:3a)
The Underworld
Then David raged against Hades, crying out as loud as he could,
“Oh Hades, you most evil and disgusting fiend, open up your gates
right now, that the King of Glory might come in!” And all of God’s
saints likewise rose up against Satan, trying to get their hands on him
and tear him limb from limb.
JOSEPH DETAINED
(GNc 12:1)
A Windowless House, Jerusalem?
Now when the Jews heard that Joseph had asked for the body of
Jesus, they went all over looking for him, as well as the twelve who had
held that Jesus was not born out of wedlock; Nicodemus, and the
many others who had come before Pilate and borne witness to his wonderful works. They, however, were all in hiding, and the Jews only
managed to track down Nicodemus, who was himself a ruler of the
Jews. “Why are you in the synagogue?” Nicodemus asked them.
“Why indeed are you in here?” the Jews replied. “You are in league
with him, and will receive his portion in the life to come!” “Amen,
amen,” Nicodemus replied. Then Joseph came forward and asked
them, “Why are you so put out with me for requesting the body of
Jesus? Behold, I have wrapped it up in spotless linen and placed it in
my very own freshly hewn tomb, and I rolled a stone against the
mouth of the cave. You have dealt very poorly with the Righteous One,
for you never once repented the whole time that you were crucifying
him. And to top it all off, you went so far as to pierce him with a
spear.”
But the Jews seized Joseph and had him taken into custody until
the first day of the week. “Now realize that it is only because the
Sabbath is dawning, and the hour prevents us from harming you that
we are restraining ourselves. But you can be quite sure of this: you
will not even receive a burial. No, we are going to toss your carcass out for the birds of the sky to peck.” “This is how the boastful Goliath
once reproached the Living God and the righteous David,” Joseph
replied. “For through the prophet God has said, ‘Vengeance is mine,’
says the Lord, ‘I will repay!’ Now behold, someone who was
circumcised, though not in the flesh, but the heart instead, took water,
washed his hands before the sun, and proclaimed before you all, ‘I am
free of this righteous man’s blood. You will therefore see to it.’ At that
point you said to Pilate, ‘May his blood fall on us, and our children
too.’ Now I fear that the Lord’s anger may indeed come upon both you
and your children, even as you have said.” Now when the Jews heard
these words, they all grew bitter in their hearts, and they snatched
Joseph away and shut him up in a windowless house. They stationed
guards to watch the door and sealed up the entrance to where he was
confined.
(GNc 12:1)
A Windowless House, Jerusalem?
Now when the Jews heard that Joseph had asked for the body of
Jesus, they went all over looking for him, as well as the twelve who had
held that Jesus was not born out of wedlock; Nicodemus, and the
many others who had come before Pilate and borne witness to his wonderful works. They, however, were all in hiding, and the Jews only
managed to track down Nicodemus, who was himself a ruler of the
Jews. “Why are you in the synagogue?” Nicodemus asked them.
“Why indeed are you in here?” the Jews replied. “You are in league
with him, and will receive his portion in the life to come!” “Amen,
amen,” Nicodemus replied. Then Joseph came forward and asked
them, “Why are you so put out with me for requesting the body of
Jesus? Behold, I have wrapped it up in spotless linen and placed it in
my very own freshly hewn tomb, and I rolled a stone against the
mouth of the cave. You have dealt very poorly with the Righteous One,
for you never once repented the whole time that you were crucifying
him. And to top it all off, you went so far as to pierce him with a
spear.”
But the Jews seized Joseph and had him taken into custody until
the first day of the week. “Now realize that it is only because the
Sabbath is dawning, and the hour prevents us from harming you that
we are restraining ourselves. But you can be quite sure of this: you
will not even receive a burial. No, we are going to toss your carcass out for the birds of the sky to peck.” “This is how the boastful Goliath
once reproached the Living God and the righteous David,” Joseph
replied. “For through the prophet God has said, ‘Vengeance is mine,’
says the Lord, ‘I will repay!’ Now behold, someone who was
circumcised, though not in the flesh, but the heart instead, took water,
washed his hands before the sun, and proclaimed before you all, ‘I am
free of this righteous man’s blood. You will therefore see to it.’ At that
point you said to Pilate, ‘May his blood fall on us, and our children
too.’ Now I fear that the Lord’s anger may indeed come upon both you
and your children, even as you have said.” Now when the Jews heard
these words, they all grew bitter in their hearts, and they snatched
Joseph away and shut him up in a windowless house. They stationed
guards to watch the door and sealed up the entrance to where he was
confined.
THE JEWISH RULERS BEGIN TO SENSE THEIR GUILT
(GPt 7-8a; GHb 9:2, Quote by Jerome, On Famous Men 2)
Jerusalem
Then the Jews, the elders, and the priests, recognizing the evil they
had brought upon themselves, started beating their breasts and crying
out loud, “Oh, for the calamity of our sins, for our judgment is at hand,
and Jerusalem is doomed.” Now I, (Peter,) was in mourning with my
friends, and we hid ourselves in our hearts’ distress. They were, you
see, hunting us down as evildoers seeking to set the temple ablaze. Now James had vowed to eat nothing from the moment that he drank
of the Lord’s cup until such time as he saw Jesus raised up from
among those who sleep. And we (also) were fasting as we sat
mourning and weeping night and day until the Sabbath. And after the
scribes, Pharisees, and elders had convened, they learned that all of
the people were groaning, beating their breasts and lamenting, “If his
death has caused these amazing signs, this man must have been
righteous indeed!” THE SEALING OF THE TOMB
(Matt 27:62-66; GPt 8b; GNc 12:2)
Jerusalem
This so frightened the chief priests and the Pharisees that the
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following day, after the Preparation, they went up to Pilate and bid
him, “Sir, we recall that while that charlatan was still alive, he claimed
that he would rise again after three days. So give us soldiers (and)
order the tomb secured until the third day, or else his followers might
come and take his body away and then go around telling everyone that
he has risen up from the dead! This last lie would be even worse than
the first because the people might actually believe that he has been
raised from death and do us harm.”
“You have your guard,” Pilate replied. “Go and make it as safe as
you can.” And he gave them Petronius the centurion and some
soldiers to guard the sepulcher, and elders and scribes went with them
there. And all who were there helped the centurion and the soldiers to
secure the tomb, rolling the enormous stone against the opening.
They then placed seven seals thereon, pitched a tent and kept guard
there.
(GPt 7-8a; GHb 9:2, Quote by Jerome, On Famous Men 2)
Jerusalem
Then the Jews, the elders, and the priests, recognizing the evil they
had brought upon themselves, started beating their breasts and crying
out loud, “Oh, for the calamity of our sins, for our judgment is at hand,
and Jerusalem is doomed.” Now I, (Peter,) was in mourning with my
friends, and we hid ourselves in our hearts’ distress. They were, you
see, hunting us down as evildoers seeking to set the temple ablaze. Now James had vowed to eat nothing from the moment that he drank
of the Lord’s cup until such time as he saw Jesus raised up from
among those who sleep. And we (also) were fasting as we sat
mourning and weeping night and day until the Sabbath. And after the
scribes, Pharisees, and elders had convened, they learned that all of
the people were groaning, beating their breasts and lamenting, “If his
death has caused these amazing signs, this man must have been
righteous indeed!” THE SEALING OF THE TOMB
(Matt 27:62-66; GPt 8b; GNc 12:2)
Jerusalem
This so frightened the chief priests and the Pharisees that the
359
following day, after the Preparation, they went up to Pilate and bid
him, “Sir, we recall that while that charlatan was still alive, he claimed
that he would rise again after three days. So give us soldiers (and)
order the tomb secured until the third day, or else his followers might
come and take his body away and then go around telling everyone that
he has risen up from the dead! This last lie would be even worse than
the first because the people might actually believe that he has been
raised from death and do us harm.”
“You have your guard,” Pilate replied. “Go and make it as safe as
you can.” And he gave them Petronius the centurion and some
soldiers to guard the sepulcher, and elders and scribes went with them
there. And all who were there helped the centurion and the soldiers to
secure the tomb, rolling the enormous stone against the opening.
They then placed seven seals thereon, pitched a tent and kept guard
there.
THE HARROWING OF HELL
(Dec 5:3b; DecLtA 5:3d; DecLtB 7:3b-8:1a)
The Underworld
And again the voice went forth (in Hades) and the cry was heard,
“Hoist your gates, you princes, and be raised up, you everlasting gates,
the King of Glory is on his way.” And once again, at this clear voice,
Hades and Satan started asking, “Who is this King of Glory?” just as if
they did not know. “The Lord of Hosts is that King of Glory,” the
angels of the Lord proclaimed, “the great and powerful Lord, even the
Lord who is mighty in battle!”
And behold, even as the answer came, Hades started trembling, as
the gates of brass (and) bolts of death all shattered into pieces and the
iron bars fell broken to the ground. Everything was left lying there
completely exposed. And we were set free from [our] chains, as were the rest of the dead who had been bound up in it. And Satan was left
standing there confounded, spiritless and shackled of foot in [our]
midst.
(Dec 5:3b; DecLtA 5:3d; DecLtB 7:3b-8:1a)
The Underworld
And again the voice went forth (in Hades) and the cry was heard,
“Hoist your gates, you princes, and be raised up, you everlasting gates,
the King of Glory is on his way.” And once again, at this clear voice,
Hades and Satan started asking, “Who is this King of Glory?” just as if
they did not know. “The Lord of Hosts is that King of Glory,” the
angels of the Lord proclaimed, “the great and powerful Lord, even the
Lord who is mighty in battle!”
And behold, even as the answer came, Hades started trembling, as
the gates of brass (and) bolts of death all shattered into pieces and the
iron bars fell broken to the ground. Everything was left lying there
completely exposed. And we were set free from [our] chains, as were the rest of the dead who had been bound up in it. And Satan was left
standing there confounded, spiritless and shackled of foot in [our]
midst.
CHRIST DESCENDS INTO HADES
(Dec 5:3b-6:1; DecLtA 5:3e-6:1; DecLtB 8:1b)
The Underworld
And even as David was speaking, the Lord of Majesty came down
into Hades in the form of a man, bathed in heavenly light from above.
As one who was lowly, yet great, and full of compassion did he who
rescues with invincible power descend, chain in hand, illuminating the
eternal darkness and breaking the unbreakable chains; visiting us who
were sitting in this deepest darkness, underneath the shadow of the
death of sins.
And seeing Christ so suddenly in their abode, alarmed over the
horrible way that they had been brought down, Hades, Death, their
evil minions and their vicious helpers were all aghast that such a light
would dawn in their kingdom. And the legions of demons all shouted
as one, “Woe to us, for now we are vanquished! You have defeated us!
Oh Jesus, so mighty and glorious a man, so wonderful and great, so
spotless and so free of sin, where ever did you come from? Just look,
the earthly realm so long dominated by ourselves, and which until now
has paid us tribute, has never sent us such a dead man nor delivered
such gifts into this nether land. Who are you who have brought our
master to confusion? Who is the one who passes unscathed through
corruption; who in wrath condemns our power with proof of his
undefiled majesty? Who are you, so great and yet so small; so lowly
and so grand; commander and combatant; mighty in battle yet in the
form of a servant--the King of Glory--who died and yet lived; who
though he was slain has carried the cross? Who are you, that has
invaded our kingdom with such pluck? You not only show no fear of
our torments, but as if that were not enough, you are looking to free
everyone here from our bonds. You who once lay lifeless in the tomb
have now come down as the Living One. All of creation shook at your
death, and even the stars themselves trembled. You have been set free
among the deceased, and now you have come at last and disturbed our
legions. Who are you that you are able to liberate the prisoners who
had once been bound by original sin, restoring them to the freedom
that they once possessed? Who could you possibly be who radiate
361
such a divine and splendid light, illuminating those who are blinded
by the darkness of their sins? Might you be that same Jesus whom our high commander Satan warned us would lay claim to the whole world through his death and his cross?”
(Dec 5:3b-6:1; DecLtA 5:3e-6:1; DecLtB 8:1b)
The Underworld
And even as David was speaking, the Lord of Majesty came down
into Hades in the form of a man, bathed in heavenly light from above.
As one who was lowly, yet great, and full of compassion did he who
rescues with invincible power descend, chain in hand, illuminating the
eternal darkness and breaking the unbreakable chains; visiting us who
were sitting in this deepest darkness, underneath the shadow of the
death of sins.
And seeing Christ so suddenly in their abode, alarmed over the
horrible way that they had been brought down, Hades, Death, their
evil minions and their vicious helpers were all aghast that such a light
would dawn in their kingdom. And the legions of demons all shouted
as one, “Woe to us, for now we are vanquished! You have defeated us!
Oh Jesus, so mighty and glorious a man, so wonderful and great, so
spotless and so free of sin, where ever did you come from? Just look,
the earthly realm so long dominated by ourselves, and which until now
has paid us tribute, has never sent us such a dead man nor delivered
such gifts into this nether land. Who are you who have brought our
master to confusion? Who is the one who passes unscathed through
corruption; who in wrath condemns our power with proof of his
undefiled majesty? Who are you, so great and yet so small; so lowly
and so grand; commander and combatant; mighty in battle yet in the
form of a servant--the King of Glory--who died and yet lived; who
though he was slain has carried the cross? Who are you, that has
invaded our kingdom with such pluck? You not only show no fear of
our torments, but as if that were not enough, you are looking to free
everyone here from our bonds. You who once lay lifeless in the tomb
have now come down as the Living One. All of creation shook at your
death, and even the stars themselves trembled. You have been set free
among the deceased, and now you have come at last and disturbed our
legions. Who are you that you are able to liberate the prisoners who
had once been bound by original sin, restoring them to the freedom
that they once possessed? Who could you possibly be who radiate
361
such a divine and splendid light, illuminating those who are blinded
by the darkness of their sins? Might you be that same Jesus whom our high commander Satan warned us would lay claim to the whole world through his death and his cross?”
JESUS SEIZES SATAN
(Dec 6:2a; DecLtA 6:2b; DecLtB 8:1c)
The Underworld
Just then the King of Glory seized their leader, Satan, by his head,
handed him to the angels, and said, “Bind him hand and foot, neck
and mouth in irons!”
(Dec 6:2a; DecLtA 6:2b; DecLtB 8:1c)
The Underworld
Just then the King of Glory seized their leader, Satan, by his head,
handed him to the angels, and said, “Bind him hand and foot, neck
and mouth in irons!”
JESUS DRAWS ALL THE SAINTS TO HIMSELF
(Dec 8:1b; DecLtA 6:2c,8:1b; DecLtB 9:1a)
The Underworld
Then the kind and gentle Lord Jesus, King of Glory and Savior to
all, stretched out his right hand and grabbed Adam by his, lifting him
up and drawing him into his brilliance, greeting him and saying to
him, “Peace to you, Adam, and your children too, through numberless
ages of ages! Amen.” And with joy upon his face, our father Adam fell
at the Lord’s knees and prayed loudly through his tears, “I will praise
you, oh Lord, for you have raised me up, and given my enemies no
cause to gloat. Oh my Lord, my God, I cried out to you, and you, oh
Lord, have restored me! To your majesty, oh Lord, I offer up my
gratitude, for you have lifted me from deepest Hades. You have freed
my soul from hell, saving me from those who sink into the pit.”
(Dec 8:1b; DecLtA 6:2c,8:1b; DecLtB 9:1a)
The Underworld
Then the kind and gentle Lord Jesus, King of Glory and Savior to
all, stretched out his right hand and grabbed Adam by his, lifting him
up and drawing him into his brilliance, greeting him and saying to
him, “Peace to you, Adam, and your children too, through numberless
ages of ages! Amen.” And with joy upon his face, our father Adam fell
at the Lord’s knees and prayed loudly through his tears, “I will praise
you, oh Lord, for you have raised me up, and given my enemies no
cause to gloat. Oh my Lord, my God, I cried out to you, and you, oh
Lord, have restored me! To your majesty, oh Lord, I offer up my
gratitude, for you have lifted me from deepest Hades. You have freed
my soul from hell, saving me from those who sink into the pit.”
THE TESTIMONY OF ADAM AND EVE
(DecLtA 8:1c; DecLtB 9:1b)
The Underworld
Then our forefather Adam fell at the feet of the Lord. And as he was
rising up, he started kissing his hands and shedding many tears. And
he spoke these things before them all: “Look and see the hands that
fashioned me.” And to the Lord he said, “Oh King of Glory, you have
come to free mankind and deliver them into your eternal reign!” Our
mother Eve likewise fell at the feet of the Lord. And lifting herself up,
she kissed his hands and poured forth many tears. And she testified
before them all, “Behold the hands that fashioned me!”
(DecLtA 8:1c; DecLtB 9:1b)
The Underworld
Then our forefather Adam fell at the feet of the Lord. And as he was
rising up, he started kissing his hands and shedding many tears. And
he spoke these things before them all: “Look and see the hands that
fashioned me.” And to the Lord he said, “Oh King of Glory, you have
come to free mankind and deliver them into your eternal reign!” Our
mother Eve likewise fell at the feet of the Lord. And lifting herself up,
she kissed his hands and poured forth many tears. And she testified
before them all, “Behold the hands that fashioned me!”
THE TESTIMONY OF THE SAINTS
(Dec 8:1c; DecLtA 8:1a,d; DecLtB 9:2a)
The Underworld
(And Adam said,) “Oh you, his saints, sing to the Lord and offer
thanks to the memorial of his holiness. For in his anger there is wrath,
but in the mercy of his will, there is life.” Then the saints all
worshiped him, crying out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord! The Lord God has shined his light upon us all throughout the ages. Amen. Hallelujah for ages of ages! Praise, honor, power,
and glory to you, for you have come down to visit us from on high!”
Jesus turned to the others; and stretching forth his hand to them, he
said, “You who are sanctified, who belong to me and share in my
image and my likeness, approach me now (and) come with me. All of
you who have perished through the tree that was touched by this man,
who on account of the tree the devil and death have been condemned,
see now just how the devil and death have perished on account of the
tree. Just look, I have raised you all back up to life through the tree of
the cross!” Together they sang Hallelujah, rejoicing as one in his
glory. Then the saints all ran suddenly beneath the hands of the Lord
and assembled together, and all of the saints and the prophets of God
likewise fell at the feet of the Lord. They all cried out with one accord,
“We thank you, oh Christ, Savior of the world, for you have brought
our life back up from destruction. Oh you who ransom all the world--
you have come to us at last! Most assuredly you have fulfilled all that
you have foretold through the law and the prophets. You have
redeemed the living ones through your cross, and through your death
thereon you have come down to us, that through your greatness you
might save us all from death and the nether realm.”
(Dec 8:1c; DecLtA 8:1a,d; DecLtB 9:2a)
The Underworld
(And Adam said,) “Oh you, his saints, sing to the Lord and offer
thanks to the memorial of his holiness. For in his anger there is wrath,
but in the mercy of his will, there is life.” Then the saints all
worshiped him, crying out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord! The Lord God has shined his light upon us all throughout the ages. Amen. Hallelujah for ages of ages! Praise, honor, power,
and glory to you, for you have come down to visit us from on high!”
Jesus turned to the others; and stretching forth his hand to them, he
said, “You who are sanctified, who belong to me and share in my
image and my likeness, approach me now (and) come with me. All of
you who have perished through the tree that was touched by this man,
who on account of the tree the devil and death have been condemned,
see now just how the devil and death have perished on account of the
tree. Just look, I have raised you all back up to life through the tree of
the cross!” Together they sang Hallelujah, rejoicing as one in his
glory. Then the saints all ran suddenly beneath the hands of the Lord
and assembled together, and all of the saints and the prophets of God
likewise fell at the feet of the Lord. They all cried out with one accord,
“We thank you, oh Christ, Savior of the world, for you have brought
our life back up from destruction. Oh you who ransom all the world--
you have come to us at last! Most assuredly you have fulfilled all that
you have foretold through the law and the prophets. You have
redeemed the living ones through your cross, and through your death
thereon you have come down to us, that through your greatness you
might save us all from death and the nether realm.”
EVENTS OF THE SABBATH:
MANY VISIT THE TOMB
THE SYNAGOGUE RULERS SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY
THE WOMEN BUY SPICES FOR JESUS
(Mark 16:1; GPt 9a; GNc 12:2a)
The Tomb, Outside Jerusalem
The following morning, when the Sabbath Day had dawned, a
crowd came from Jerusalem and the countryside to visit the sealed
tomb. On the Sabbath Day, the synagogue rulers, priests, and Levites
called for everyone to meet in the synagogue on the first day of the
week. (And) when the Sabbath Day had come and gone, when the
week was nearly at an end, Mary of Magdala, Mary, the mother of
James, and Salome bought aromatic spices with which they wished to
go and anoint the body of Jesus.
THE SIGN OF VICTORY
(DecLtA 8:1e; DecLtB 10:1a)
The Underworld
Then everyone whom God had sanctified besought the Lord to leave
the sign of his holy cross as a symbol of triumph in the underworld,
that its evil officials might not keep as an offender anyone whom the
Lord had forgiven. “Oh Lord,” they said, “even as you have fixed your glorious name in the heavens and raised your cross upon the earth as a
gesture of your redemption, so also, oh Lord, set as a sign in Hades the
cross of victory, that death may no longer hold sway.” And then it was
done: the Lord planted his cross in the heart of Hades; and this, the
mark of his conquest, will truly stand forevermore.
LEAVING HADES
(Dec 6:2b,7,8:1a,2a; DecLtA 6:2a,7:1-8:2a; DecLtB 8:1d,9:2b,10:1b)
The Underworld
And after he had spoken this, the Savior reached out his hand and
blessed Adam, placing the sign of the cross upon his forehead. And he
did the same to all of the patriarchs and prophets, martyrs and
forebears. And through his majesty alone, the King of Glory trampled
Death. Then he fixed his holy foot upon his throat and said, “You have
performed countless evils through endless ages, and never once have
you let up. But today I am giving you over to the everlasting flames.”
And right away he summoned Hades and commanded him, “Take this
wicked and most loathsome creature into your keeping until I say;
until the time of my second coming.”
And when Hades had taken hold of Satan, he said to him, “Oh
Beelzebub, Prince of Damnation and Head of Destruction, heir to fire
and torment, enemy of the saints, whom the angels deride and the
righteous contemn, why did you seek to do such things? Why did you
need to arrange for the crucifixion of the King of Glory? Was it so that
he might come down here and strip us bare? Was it just that you were
wholly bent on crucifying the King of Glory, through whose death you
promised us all such vastness of plunder? Were you really too foolish
to see what you were doing? Now behold, this Jesus is dispelling this
darkness with the glory of his divinity. He has fractured the firm
foundations of our prisons, sending all the captives forth and freeing
those who had once been bound. All who used to groan under our
torments now deride us. Their prayers have caused the storming of
our dominion and the conquering of our kingdom. The race of men
now fears us not! And as if that were not enough, the dead, who never
before could gloat over us, nor as prisoners could they ever be joyful,
torment us now without any fear. Oh Prince Satan, father of all
impious scoundrels and renegades, tell me why you did this thing?
The howls of those who had given up all hope of ever being saved and
living again can no longer be heard. Not a single groan or solitary tear
is to be found on any of their faces. Oh Prince Satan, keeper of the
keys to the underworld, look around and recognize that no man now
lies dead in me! The loss of paradise and all the spoils that you had gained through the tree of transgression you have now lost through
the tree of the cross. All of your joy has come to an end. When you
hung up that Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, you were not acting
against yourself alone, but me as well. You had hoped to kill the King
of Glory, but have destroyed yourself in his stead. So now that I’ve
taken you to myself, you will come to know firsthand of the evils that I
will inflict on you from this time forth! You will meet with the
everlasting torments and endless punishments that await you in my
eternal custody. Oh Prince Satan, Founder of all Death and Fount of
all Pride, you should have thought the wicked case of that Jesus
through. Oh Head of all Devils, Beginning of Death and End of all
Evil, where did you find any iniquity in this Jesus to win his
destruction? Why did you presume to carry out such a sin? Why did
you, for no reason at all and contrary to justice, crucify the one you
knew to be sinless? You brought an innocent and righteous man down
here to our sphere, thereby releasing all of the guilty, wicked and
unrighteous of the world! What were you thinking when you brought
this man down into this darkness? Through him you have been
stripped of all who have died since the world began. Now all of your
joy has been turned into sorrow.” And when Hades had thus finished
speaking to Prince Satan, the King of Glory said, “Prince Satan is to
remain under your authority for ages without end in the place of Adam
and his children, my holy ones.”
Now Jesus placed Satan into his hands even as he was saying all of
this to him. And seizing Hades, the Savior smote him, demanding an
account for all things. And right away he took hold of Satan, its
prince, shoving him backwards, throwing him and some others down with Hades into Tartarus, dispensing with them--one and all. (And)
they fell with him beneath the feet of the Lord into the yawning chasm
below, but others he led into the world above. And grasping the hand
of Adam, he rose up out of the underworld with all whom he had
sanctified streaming behind. And he ordered us, and many others, to
rise up bodily and offer to the world our testimony of the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all the things that had been done in
the regions below.
MANY VISIT THE TOMB
THE SYNAGOGUE RULERS SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY
THE WOMEN BUY SPICES FOR JESUS
(Mark 16:1; GPt 9a; GNc 12:2a)
The Tomb, Outside Jerusalem
The following morning, when the Sabbath Day had dawned, a
crowd came from Jerusalem and the countryside to visit the sealed
tomb. On the Sabbath Day, the synagogue rulers, priests, and Levites
called for everyone to meet in the synagogue on the first day of the
week. (And) when the Sabbath Day had come and gone, when the
week was nearly at an end, Mary of Magdala, Mary, the mother of
James, and Salome bought aromatic spices with which they wished to
go and anoint the body of Jesus.
THE SIGN OF VICTORY
(DecLtA 8:1e; DecLtB 10:1a)
The Underworld
Then everyone whom God had sanctified besought the Lord to leave
the sign of his holy cross as a symbol of triumph in the underworld,
that its evil officials might not keep as an offender anyone whom the
Lord had forgiven. “Oh Lord,” they said, “even as you have fixed your glorious name in the heavens and raised your cross upon the earth as a
gesture of your redemption, so also, oh Lord, set as a sign in Hades the
cross of victory, that death may no longer hold sway.” And then it was
done: the Lord planted his cross in the heart of Hades; and this, the
mark of his conquest, will truly stand forevermore.
LEAVING HADES
(Dec 6:2b,7,8:1a,2a; DecLtA 6:2a,7:1-8:2a; DecLtB 8:1d,9:2b,10:1b)
The Underworld
And after he had spoken this, the Savior reached out his hand and
blessed Adam, placing the sign of the cross upon his forehead. And he
did the same to all of the patriarchs and prophets, martyrs and
forebears. And through his majesty alone, the King of Glory trampled
Death. Then he fixed his holy foot upon his throat and said, “You have
performed countless evils through endless ages, and never once have
you let up. But today I am giving you over to the everlasting flames.”
And right away he summoned Hades and commanded him, “Take this
wicked and most loathsome creature into your keeping until I say;
until the time of my second coming.”
And when Hades had taken hold of Satan, he said to him, “Oh
Beelzebub, Prince of Damnation and Head of Destruction, heir to fire
and torment, enemy of the saints, whom the angels deride and the
righteous contemn, why did you seek to do such things? Why did you
need to arrange for the crucifixion of the King of Glory? Was it so that
he might come down here and strip us bare? Was it just that you were
wholly bent on crucifying the King of Glory, through whose death you
promised us all such vastness of plunder? Were you really too foolish
to see what you were doing? Now behold, this Jesus is dispelling this
darkness with the glory of his divinity. He has fractured the firm
foundations of our prisons, sending all the captives forth and freeing
those who had once been bound. All who used to groan under our
torments now deride us. Their prayers have caused the storming of
our dominion and the conquering of our kingdom. The race of men
now fears us not! And as if that were not enough, the dead, who never
before could gloat over us, nor as prisoners could they ever be joyful,
torment us now without any fear. Oh Prince Satan, father of all
impious scoundrels and renegades, tell me why you did this thing?
The howls of those who had given up all hope of ever being saved and
living again can no longer be heard. Not a single groan or solitary tear
is to be found on any of their faces. Oh Prince Satan, keeper of the
keys to the underworld, look around and recognize that no man now
lies dead in me! The loss of paradise and all the spoils that you had gained through the tree of transgression you have now lost through
the tree of the cross. All of your joy has come to an end. When you
hung up that Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, you were not acting
against yourself alone, but me as well. You had hoped to kill the King
of Glory, but have destroyed yourself in his stead. So now that I’ve
taken you to myself, you will come to know firsthand of the evils that I
will inflict on you from this time forth! You will meet with the
everlasting torments and endless punishments that await you in my
eternal custody. Oh Prince Satan, Founder of all Death and Fount of
all Pride, you should have thought the wicked case of that Jesus
through. Oh Head of all Devils, Beginning of Death and End of all
Evil, where did you find any iniquity in this Jesus to win his
destruction? Why did you presume to carry out such a sin? Why did
you, for no reason at all and contrary to justice, crucify the one you
knew to be sinless? You brought an innocent and righteous man down
here to our sphere, thereby releasing all of the guilty, wicked and
unrighteous of the world! What were you thinking when you brought
this man down into this darkness? Through him you have been
stripped of all who have died since the world began. Now all of your
joy has been turned into sorrow.” And when Hades had thus finished
speaking to Prince Satan, the King of Glory said, “Prince Satan is to
remain under your authority for ages without end in the place of Adam
and his children, my holy ones.”
Now Jesus placed Satan into his hands even as he was saying all of
this to him. And seizing Hades, the Savior smote him, demanding an
account for all things. And right away he took hold of Satan, its
prince, shoving him backwards, throwing him and some others down with Hades into Tartarus, dispensing with them--one and all. (And)
they fell with him beneath the feet of the Lord into the yawning chasm
below, but others he led into the world above. And grasping the hand
of Adam, he rose up out of the underworld with all whom he had
sanctified streaming behind. And he ordered us, and many others, to
rise up bodily and offer to the world our testimony of the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of all the things that had been done in
the regions below.
THE RESURRECTION
(Matt 28:1a; GPt 9-10; 1Pet 3:18,19)
The Tomb, The Palace of Pilate
Now later on that night, after the Sabbath had passed and the
Lord’s Day was drawing near, the soldiers were keeping watch in pairs.
And a great noise came from the sky, and they could see the heavens opening. Then they saw two men coming down in a beam of light.
And as they were approaching the tomb, the stone that had been
pushed against the door started of itself to roll aside. And when the
tomb was opened up, the two young men went into it. And when the
soldiers saw this, they roused the centurion from his slumber, as well
as the elders, for they were also keeping watch. And even as they were
describing all that they had seen to them, they once again saw: Three
men came out of the tomb, two of them were supporting the third, and
a cross came following after! Now the heads of the two reached all the
way into the skies, but that of the one they were leading by the hand,
extended even beyond them. And they all heard a voice from heaven
inquire, “Have you preached to those who sleep?” And from the cross
the answer came: “Indeed I have!” Christ, you see, died once for the
sins of all mankind--the righteous and unrighteous alike--that he
might deliver us to God. His body was put to death, but he was made
alive in spirit, in the which he went and preached to the spirits in
prison.
(Matt 28:1a; GPt 9-10; 1Pet 3:18,19)
The Tomb, The Palace of Pilate
Now later on that night, after the Sabbath had passed and the
Lord’s Day was drawing near, the soldiers were keeping watch in pairs.
And a great noise came from the sky, and they could see the heavens opening. Then they saw two men coming down in a beam of light.
And as they were approaching the tomb, the stone that had been
pushed against the door started of itself to roll aside. And when the
tomb was opened up, the two young men went into it. And when the
soldiers saw this, they roused the centurion from his slumber, as well
as the elders, for they were also keeping watch. And even as they were
describing all that they had seen to them, they once again saw: Three
men came out of the tomb, two of them were supporting the third, and
a cross came following after! Now the heads of the two reached all the
way into the skies, but that of the one they were leading by the hand,
extended even beyond them. And they all heard a voice from heaven
inquire, “Have you preached to those who sleep?” And from the cross
the answer came: “Indeed I have!” Christ, you see, died once for the
sins of all mankind--the righteous and unrighteous alike--that he
might deliver us to God. His body was put to death, but he was made
alive in spirit, in the which he went and preached to the spirits in
prison.
THE ASCENT INTO PARADISE
(Dec 8:2b; DecLtA 8:2b)
Between Paradise And Earth
And as he sailed into the sky, the righteous forefathers trailed
behind him singing praises and proclaiming, “Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord! Hallelujah! Give him the glory, oh you
saints!” Then the righteous David in a loud voice sang, “Sing a new
song to the Lord, for he has performed glorious works! His right hand
and his holy arm have wrought salvation for us all. The Lord has
made known his salvation and has shown forth his righteousness for
the nations to behold.” Then the host of saints chimed in, “This
indeed is the glory of the saints. Amen and hallelujah!”
(Dec 8:2b; DecLtA 8:2b)
Between Paradise And Earth
And as he sailed into the sky, the righteous forefathers trailed
behind him singing praises and proclaiming, “Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord! Hallelujah! Give him the glory, oh you
saints!” Then the righteous David in a loud voice sang, “Sing a new
song to the Lord, for he has performed glorious works! His right hand
and his holy arm have wrought salvation for us all. The Lord has
made known his salvation and has shown forth his righteousness for
the nations to behold.” Then the host of saints chimed in, “This
indeed is the glory of the saints. Amen and hallelujah!”
HABAKKUK
(DecLtA 8:3a)
Between Paradise And Earth
Then Habakkuk the prophet cried out, “You went forth to rescue
your people and to free your chosen ones.” And the saints all shouted,
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Lord himself
indeed is God, and he has caused his light to shine on us. Amen and
hallelujah!”
(DecLtA 8:3a)
Between Paradise And Earth
Then Habakkuk the prophet cried out, “You went forth to rescue
your people and to free your chosen ones.” And the saints all shouted,
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! The Lord himself
indeed is God, and he has caused his light to shine on us. Amen and
hallelujah!”
MICAH
(DecLtA 8:3b)
Between Paradise And Earth
Then the prophet Micah likewise cried, “What other ‘god’ is like
you, oh Lord? Who else can blot out transgressions and forgive sins?
But now you have bridled your anger and confirmed that your desire is
for mercy. And even as you have sworn to our fathers in days of old,
you have looked away and shown us your forbearance, forgiving us of
our misdeeds and causing all of our sins to sink down in the mass of
death.” “This is our God forever and ever,” echoed the saints, “and he
will rule us all forevermore. Amen and hallelujah!” So they followed
after the Lord, the prophets reciting their holy words and praises, and
the saints all responding, “Amen and hallelujah!”
(DecLtA 8:3b)
Between Paradise And Earth
Then the prophet Micah likewise cried, “What other ‘god’ is like
you, oh Lord? Who else can blot out transgressions and forgive sins?
But now you have bridled your anger and confirmed that your desire is
for mercy. And even as you have sworn to our fathers in days of old,
you have looked away and shown us your forbearance, forgiving us of
our misdeeds and causing all of our sins to sink down in the mass of
death.” “This is our God forever and ever,” echoed the saints, “and he
will rule us all forevermore. Amen and hallelujah!” So they followed
after the Lord, the prophets reciting their holy words and praises, and
the saints all responding, “Amen and hallelujah!”
INTO PARADISE
(Dec 9; DecLtA 9)
Paradise
The Lord then took Adam by the hand and delivered him over to the
archangel Michael. And the saints all followed after him, who carried
them into the wondrous grace of paradise. And two most ancient
ones, men who were full of days, approached them as they were
passing through the gates. The holy fathers questioned them, “Who
are you, for you have neither seen death nor gone down into hell, but
have dwelled, body and soul, right here in paradise.” And one of them
replied, “I am Enoch, who was pleasing to God, and by the word of the
Lord was translated here. And the one that you see with me is Elijah
the Tishbite, who was taken up in a chariot of fire. Never to this day
have we tasted of death, (for) we are to remain alive until the end of
the age. But we have been awaiting the arrival of the Antichrist, when
God will send us forth to withstand him, that we might do battle
against him with heavenly signs and wonders. He will then have us
put to death, but three and a half days after killing us in Jerusalem, we
will then be raised again. And after the three days, we will again be
taken up alive in clouds to meet the Lord.”
(Dec 9; DecLtA 9)
Paradise
The Lord then took Adam by the hand and delivered him over to the
archangel Michael. And the saints all followed after him, who carried
them into the wondrous grace of paradise. And two most ancient
ones, men who were full of days, approached them as they were
passing through the gates. The holy fathers questioned them, “Who
are you, for you have neither seen death nor gone down into hell, but
have dwelled, body and soul, right here in paradise.” And one of them
replied, “I am Enoch, who was pleasing to God, and by the word of the
Lord was translated here. And the one that you see with me is Elijah
the Tishbite, who was taken up in a chariot of fire. Never to this day
have we tasted of death, (for) we are to remain alive until the end of
the age. But we have been awaiting the arrival of the Antichrist, when
God will send us forth to withstand him, that we might do battle
against him with heavenly signs and wonders. He will then have us
put to death, but three and a half days after killing us in Jerusalem, we
will then be raised again. And after the three days, we will again be
taken up alive in clouds to meet the Lord.”
THE PENITENT THIEF
(Dec 10; DecLtA 10)
Paradise
And even as Enoch and Elijah were addressing the saints, behold,
this other most wretched man approached, bearing his cross upon his
shoulder. And when the saints caught sight of him, they asked him,
“Who might you be, who have the look of a thief? And what is that
sign that you are carrying?” And he answered them, “What you say is
indeed the truth. You are right to call me a thief, for I did all kinds of
terrible things in that world. The Jews crucified me alongside Jesus,
and I was a witness to all of the miraculous events that came about as a result of the cross of Jesus the crucified. And I came to accept that
he was the creator of the natural order, the all-powerful King! So I
called to him in prayer and said, ‘Oh Lord, remember me when you
come into your kingdom!’ And receiving my plea, he immediately
answered me, ‘In all truth do I say to you, this very day you will be
with me in paradise.’ And he gave me this sign of the cross, and said
to me, ‘Walk right into paradise carrying this sign, and should the
angel who is guarding it not let you in, simply show him the sign of the
cross and say to him, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has just now
been crucified has sent me to you.”’
“And I came carrying my cross into paradise, and was met by the
archangel Michael, so I said to him, ‘Jesus Christ our Lord, who has
been crucified, has sent me here, so please lead me to Eden’s gate.’
And after hearing me say this, he let me pass through. (The flaming
sword, when it saw the sign of the cross, opened right up for me.) But
he placed me off to the right and said, ‘Behold, wait a while and Adam,
the father of the human race, will enter in with all of his children, the
holy and the righteous. And after the glorious and most victorious
ascension of the crucified Lord Christ, they will also be allowed inside.’
And now that I have seen you, I have come to welcome you!” And
when the saints heard these words, they all proclaimed, “How great is
the Lord, and powerful his might! We bless you, oh Almighty Lord,
Father of eternal blessings and of all mercies. You have shown
yourself merciful to your own, who have sinned, and have brought them all into the delight of paradise and into your fertile pastures, for
surely this is the life of the spirit. Amen and amen!”
THE EARTHQUAKE AND THE REPORT TO PILATE
(Matt 28:2-4; GPt 11)
The Tomb
Now those who were at the tomb were advising one another as to
how to approach Pilate and break these things to him. And even as
they were working it out, a man came down from the sky and entered
into the tomb. And when the centurions saw all this, they abandoned
the tomb that they had been guarding and hurried over to Pilate under
cover of darkness.
Those who saw it were deeply unsettled as they related all that they
had seen to him. “This man really was the Son of God!” they
confessed. Pilate answered them, “My hands are clean of the blood of
God’s Son--this was all your own doing!” Then they all closed in on
him and pleaded with him to tell the centurion and his soldiers to
speak nothing of what they had seen to anyone. “For it is better for us to bear the guilt of the greatest sin before God, than to be stoned to
death at the hands of the Jews.” So Pilate ordered the soldiers to keep
silent about it.
And behold, there was this terrible shaking of the earth, and an angel
of the Lord came down from the sky. He went over to the tomb, rolled
away the stone and sat down on it. His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was as white as snow. Those who were keeping watch
were so afraid that they all shook and lay as dead.
JOSEPH NOT FOUND
(GNc 12:2b)
Jerusalem
And the entire multitude--the synagogue rulers, the priests, and the
Levites--got up early and took council in the synagogue as to how they
should put Joseph to death. And even as the council sat, they ordered
that he be brought before them in disgrace. But after they had opened
the door, they found that he was not inside. They all were taken with
surprise and dread, since none of the seals had been broken, and
Caiaphas still held the key. So they no longer dared to lay their hands on the ones who had stood up for Jesus in the presence of Pilate.
(Dec 10; DecLtA 10)
Paradise
And even as Enoch and Elijah were addressing the saints, behold,
this other most wretched man approached, bearing his cross upon his
shoulder. And when the saints caught sight of him, they asked him,
“Who might you be, who have the look of a thief? And what is that
sign that you are carrying?” And he answered them, “What you say is
indeed the truth. You are right to call me a thief, for I did all kinds of
terrible things in that world. The Jews crucified me alongside Jesus,
and I was a witness to all of the miraculous events that came about as a result of the cross of Jesus the crucified. And I came to accept that
he was the creator of the natural order, the all-powerful King! So I
called to him in prayer and said, ‘Oh Lord, remember me when you
come into your kingdom!’ And receiving my plea, he immediately
answered me, ‘In all truth do I say to you, this very day you will be
with me in paradise.’ And he gave me this sign of the cross, and said
to me, ‘Walk right into paradise carrying this sign, and should the
angel who is guarding it not let you in, simply show him the sign of the
cross and say to him, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has just now
been crucified has sent me to you.”’
“And I came carrying my cross into paradise, and was met by the
archangel Michael, so I said to him, ‘Jesus Christ our Lord, who has
been crucified, has sent me here, so please lead me to Eden’s gate.’
And after hearing me say this, he let me pass through. (The flaming
sword, when it saw the sign of the cross, opened right up for me.) But
he placed me off to the right and said, ‘Behold, wait a while and Adam,
the father of the human race, will enter in with all of his children, the
holy and the righteous. And after the glorious and most victorious
ascension of the crucified Lord Christ, they will also be allowed inside.’
And now that I have seen you, I have come to welcome you!” And
when the saints heard these words, they all proclaimed, “How great is
the Lord, and powerful his might! We bless you, oh Almighty Lord,
Father of eternal blessings and of all mercies. You have shown
yourself merciful to your own, who have sinned, and have brought them all into the delight of paradise and into your fertile pastures, for
surely this is the life of the spirit. Amen and amen!”
THE EARTHQUAKE AND THE REPORT TO PILATE
(Matt 28:2-4; GPt 11)
The Tomb
Now those who were at the tomb were advising one another as to
how to approach Pilate and break these things to him. And even as
they were working it out, a man came down from the sky and entered
into the tomb. And when the centurions saw all this, they abandoned
the tomb that they had been guarding and hurried over to Pilate under
cover of darkness.
Those who saw it were deeply unsettled as they related all that they
had seen to him. “This man really was the Son of God!” they
confessed. Pilate answered them, “My hands are clean of the blood of
God’s Son--this was all your own doing!” Then they all closed in on
him and pleaded with him to tell the centurion and his soldiers to
speak nothing of what they had seen to anyone. “For it is better for us to bear the guilt of the greatest sin before God, than to be stoned to
death at the hands of the Jews.” So Pilate ordered the soldiers to keep
silent about it.
And behold, there was this terrible shaking of the earth, and an angel
of the Lord came down from the sky. He went over to the tomb, rolled
away the stone and sat down on it. His appearance was like lightning
and his clothing was as white as snow. Those who were keeping watch
were so afraid that they all shook and lay as dead.
JOSEPH NOT FOUND
(GNc 12:2b)
Jerusalem
And the entire multitude--the synagogue rulers, the priests, and the
Levites--got up early and took council in the synagogue as to how they
should put Joseph to death. And even as the council sat, they ordered
that he be brought before them in disgrace. But after they had opened
the door, they found that he was not inside. They all were taken with
surprise and dread, since none of the seals had been broken, and
Caiaphas still held the key. So they no longer dared to lay their hands on the ones who had stood up for Jesus in the presence of Pilate.
THE WOMEN FIND THE TOMB OPEN;
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER
WOMEN
(Matt 28:1b,5-10; Mark 16:2-9; Luke 24:2-8; John 20:1-17;
GPt 12,13; EpAp 9b-10a)
The Tomb
And when Jesus rose up early on the first day, (which is) the Lord’s,
his first appearance was to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
forth seven demons. In the early morning darkness of the first day of
the week, even as the Lord’s Day was dawning, Mary of Magdala, one
of the Lord’s female disciples went with the other Mary to have a look
at the tomb. And Mary Magdalene, for fear of the Jews--all of whom
were burning with rage--had not done what women customarily do for
their loved ones who have died. So she, with the spices they had
prepared, took some of her lady friends, (among whom was) the other
Mary, and went to visit the sepulcher where the Lord had been placed.
Now these three women visited that spot: Mary, Mary Magdalene, and
her daughter Sarah. Now they were all afraid that the Jews would see
them, so they agreed, “Even though we were not able to weep and
mourn for him on the day of his crucifixion, let’s all go and do so now.”
They wept and wailed over what had happened, and they took
ointment with them to pour over his body. And as they neared the burial site, they asked each other, “Now who will roll the stone from
the mouth of the tomb, so that we might go in, sit at his side and
perform what is due?” (The stone, you see, was very large.) “And if
someone should see us, as we all fear they might, and we find
ourselves unable to do so, let us at least place what we have brought
before the door as a memorial to him, and we will weep and beat our
breasts all the way home.”
But as they were approaching the tomb they looked up, and on their
arrival they saw where the giant stone had been rolled away from the
opening, and they found the burial spot uncovered. So Mary
Magdalene ran over to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom
Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have placed him!”
Peter and the other disciple therefore hurried out and raced to the
tomb. The two of them ran there together, but the other disciple
outran Peter, arriving first at the burial place. He bent down and saw
the linen cloth lying there, but did not enter into it. Then Simon Peter
came following after him and did go in. And Simon, bending over, saw
the burial linens lying there, and the cloth from his head rolled up and
in another spot. And he went away marveling over all that had
happened. So the other disciple who got to the tomb first went in and
saw, and he believed. (You see, at the time they had not understood
from the Scriptures that it was needful for Jesus to rise up from death.)
The women, (however,) went up to the tomb, bent over, opened the
door and had a look inside. And right there in the midst of the tomb,
they saw a handsome young man sitting, all dressed in dazzlingly
bright attire. The angel asked the women, “Why have you come here?
Who are you looking for? Him that was crucified? He has risen up
and gone away. But if you should doubt my words, just bend down
and look inside.” And when they went into the tomb, they did not find
the body of the Lord Jesus there. Instead they saw a young man
dressed in a white robe sitting off to the right hand side, and they were
frightened. “Have no fear,” he said to them. “I know that you are
seeking Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here, but has
risen like he said he would. Come and see where he was put; see that
he is not there! Realize that he has risen up and gone back to the place
from which he was sent.”
And all of a sudden, even as they were marveling at this, two men
stood beside them in garments that gleamed like lightning, and the
women were so frightened that they fell to their faces on the ground before them. But then those men questioned them, “Why are you
looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen!
Call to mind what he said to you while he was yet in Galilee: ‘The Son
of Man must be handed up to wicked men, undergo crucifixion and on
the third day, be raised again.’”
And they then recalled the things he said. “Now go quickly to Peter
and the disciples and let them know that he has risen from the dead.
And behold, he is going on ahead of you into Galilee. Listen, I am
telling you as he has told you; you are all to meet him there.” Then,
frightened and bewildered, they quickly left the tomb and fled in fear
and tremendous joy. And without saying anything, they ran to inform
his disciples--for they were too afraid to tell anyone about what had
happened.
Now Mary stood weeping just outside the tomb. And even as she
wept, she stooped down into it and saw two angels sitting there all
dressed in white, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of
Jesus had been placed. And the angels said to Mary, “Woman, why
are you weeping?” “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said,
“and I do not know where they have put him.” Now after Mary had
spoken these words, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
though she did not yet recognize him. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why
are you crying? Who are you looking for?” And supposing him to be
the groundskeeper, she said to him, “Sir, if you have taken him away
somewhere, then please tell me where you have placed him and I will
go and get him.” Then Jesus said, “Mary!” And she turned around
and cried, “Rabboni!” which means ‘Teacher.’ Jesus said, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my
brothers and let them know that I am going up to my Father, Who is
also your Father, and to my God, Who is also your God.”
Now behold, even as the women were mourning and weeping there
along the way, the Lord Jesus met them, and appeared to them saying,
“Hello there! For whom are you weeping? Stop your crying this
instant; I am the one that you are seeking.” And they went up to him,
took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. “Have no fear,” he said to
them, “but let one of you go to your brothers, the disciples, and tell
them that they should travel on to Galilee and meet me there. Say to
them, ‘Let’s go. The Master has risen from the dead!’”
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER
WOMEN
(Matt 28:1b,5-10; Mark 16:2-9; Luke 24:2-8; John 20:1-17;
GPt 12,13; EpAp 9b-10a)
The Tomb
And when Jesus rose up early on the first day, (which is) the Lord’s,
his first appearance was to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
forth seven demons. In the early morning darkness of the first day of
the week, even as the Lord’s Day was dawning, Mary of Magdala, one
of the Lord’s female disciples went with the other Mary to have a look
at the tomb. And Mary Magdalene, for fear of the Jews--all of whom
were burning with rage--had not done what women customarily do for
their loved ones who have died. So she, with the spices they had
prepared, took some of her lady friends, (among whom was) the other
Mary, and went to visit the sepulcher where the Lord had been placed.
Now these three women visited that spot: Mary, Mary Magdalene, and
her daughter Sarah. Now they were all afraid that the Jews would see
them, so they agreed, “Even though we were not able to weep and
mourn for him on the day of his crucifixion, let’s all go and do so now.”
They wept and wailed over what had happened, and they took
ointment with them to pour over his body. And as they neared the burial site, they asked each other, “Now who will roll the stone from
the mouth of the tomb, so that we might go in, sit at his side and
perform what is due?” (The stone, you see, was very large.) “And if
someone should see us, as we all fear they might, and we find
ourselves unable to do so, let us at least place what we have brought
before the door as a memorial to him, and we will weep and beat our
breasts all the way home.”
But as they were approaching the tomb they looked up, and on their
arrival they saw where the giant stone had been rolled away from the
opening, and they found the burial spot uncovered. So Mary
Magdalene ran over to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom
Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have placed him!”
Peter and the other disciple therefore hurried out and raced to the
tomb. The two of them ran there together, but the other disciple
outran Peter, arriving first at the burial place. He bent down and saw
the linen cloth lying there, but did not enter into it. Then Simon Peter
came following after him and did go in. And Simon, bending over, saw
the burial linens lying there, and the cloth from his head rolled up and
in another spot. And he went away marveling over all that had
happened. So the other disciple who got to the tomb first went in and
saw, and he believed. (You see, at the time they had not understood
from the Scriptures that it was needful for Jesus to rise up from death.)
The women, (however,) went up to the tomb, bent over, opened the
door and had a look inside. And right there in the midst of the tomb,
they saw a handsome young man sitting, all dressed in dazzlingly
bright attire. The angel asked the women, “Why have you come here?
Who are you looking for? Him that was crucified? He has risen up
and gone away. But if you should doubt my words, just bend down
and look inside.” And when they went into the tomb, they did not find
the body of the Lord Jesus there. Instead they saw a young man
dressed in a white robe sitting off to the right hand side, and they were
frightened. “Have no fear,” he said to them. “I know that you are
seeking Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here, but has
risen like he said he would. Come and see where he was put; see that
he is not there! Realize that he has risen up and gone back to the place
from which he was sent.”
And all of a sudden, even as they were marveling at this, two men
stood beside them in garments that gleamed like lightning, and the
women were so frightened that they fell to their faces on the ground before them. But then those men questioned them, “Why are you
looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen!
Call to mind what he said to you while he was yet in Galilee: ‘The Son
of Man must be handed up to wicked men, undergo crucifixion and on
the third day, be raised again.’”
And they then recalled the things he said. “Now go quickly to Peter
and the disciples and let them know that he has risen from the dead.
And behold, he is going on ahead of you into Galilee. Listen, I am
telling you as he has told you; you are all to meet him there.” Then,
frightened and bewildered, they quickly left the tomb and fled in fear
and tremendous joy. And without saying anything, they ran to inform
his disciples--for they were too afraid to tell anyone about what had
happened.
Now Mary stood weeping just outside the tomb. And even as she
wept, she stooped down into it and saw two angels sitting there all
dressed in white, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of
Jesus had been placed. And the angels said to Mary, “Woman, why
are you weeping?” “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said,
“and I do not know where they have put him.” Now after Mary had
spoken these words, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
though she did not yet recognize him. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why
are you crying? Who are you looking for?” And supposing him to be
the groundskeeper, she said to him, “Sir, if you have taken him away
somewhere, then please tell me where you have placed him and I will
go and get him.” Then Jesus said, “Mary!” And she turned around
and cried, “Rabboni!” which means ‘Teacher.’ Jesus said, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my
brothers and let them know that I am going up to my Father, Who is
also your Father, and to my God, Who is also your God.”
Now behold, even as the women were mourning and weeping there
along the way, the Lord Jesus met them, and appeared to them saying,
“Hello there! For whom are you weeping? Stop your crying this
instant; I am the one that you are seeking.” And they went up to him,
took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. “Have no fear,” he said to
them, “but let one of you go to your brothers, the disciples, and tell
them that they should travel on to Galilee and meet me there. Say to
them, ‘Let’s go. The Master has risen from the dead!’”
THE REPORT OF THE SOLDIERS TO THE JEWS
(Matt 28:11-15; GNc 13)
In the Synagogue
Now as they were on their way, even as those who were in the synagogue continued to sit and marvel over what had happened to
Joseph, some members of the guard went into the city. The Jews, out
of fear that the disciples would come and steal his body and take the
Lord away somewhere, had requested them of Pilate to keep the tomb
of Jesus safe. These passed along all that had happened to the
synagogue rulers, the chief priests, and the Levites. “There was this
powerful earthquake,” they explained, “and we saw an angel come
down out of heaven, who rolled the stone from the mouth of the cave
and sat on it. He was as white as snow and like lightning in
appearance, and we were all terrified and fell as dead men to the
ground. We also heard the voice of the angel speaking with the
women who were waiting at the tomb, saying, ‘Have no fear. See, I
know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not
here, but has risen as he said he would. Come and see the spot where
the Lord once lay. Go right now to his disciples and let them know
that he has risen from the dead, and is even now in Galilee.’”
“Who were these women that he spoke with?” the Jews inquired.
And the members of the guard said, “We have no idea who they were.”
So the Jews then asked, “And just when did all these things take
place?” “In the middle of the night,” responded the guard. “Why,
then, did you fail to arrest them?” the Jews demanded. “We were so
terrified that we became as dead men,” the guard explained. “We
didn’t even hope to see the light of day, so how could we have possibly
detained them?” “As the Lord lives,” the Jews rejoined, “we do not
believe you.” “You saw that man perform so many signs,” the guard
reproved the Jews, “and you still did not believe in him, so why should
you take our word for it? You are right when you say that the Lord
lives; for he is indeed alive. We have come to learn,” added the guard,
“that you locked up that man who asked for the body of Jesus. For
even though you sealed the door, when you opened it back up, you did
not find him there. So why not hand Joseph over to us, and we will
hand Jesus over to you.” “Joseph is back in his own home town,” the
Jews affirmed. “And Jesus has risen up, and is in Galilee, as we heard
the angel say,” replied the members of the guard.
Now these words struck fear in their hearts, so they cautioned them, “Be careful that people don’t hear this telling; or else everyone
will come to believe in Jesus.” And the elders of the Jews took counsel
together. They laid out a sufficient quantity of silver, and gave it to the
soldiers with these words: “Say, ‘His followers all came late at night,
even as we slept, and made away with his remains.’ Now do not worry, if the Governor should hear of this; we will convince him and keep you
out of harm’s way.” So they took the money and did as they were told.
And the Jews put forth this story of theirs, which is spread abroad
among all men to this day.
(Matt 28:11-15; GNc 13)
In the Synagogue
Now as they were on their way, even as those who were in the synagogue continued to sit and marvel over what had happened to
Joseph, some members of the guard went into the city. The Jews, out
of fear that the disciples would come and steal his body and take the
Lord away somewhere, had requested them of Pilate to keep the tomb
of Jesus safe. These passed along all that had happened to the
synagogue rulers, the chief priests, and the Levites. “There was this
powerful earthquake,” they explained, “and we saw an angel come
down out of heaven, who rolled the stone from the mouth of the cave
and sat on it. He was as white as snow and like lightning in
appearance, and we were all terrified and fell as dead men to the
ground. We also heard the voice of the angel speaking with the
women who were waiting at the tomb, saying, ‘Have no fear. See, I
know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not
here, but has risen as he said he would. Come and see the spot where
the Lord once lay. Go right now to his disciples and let them know
that he has risen from the dead, and is even now in Galilee.’”
“Who were these women that he spoke with?” the Jews inquired.
And the members of the guard said, “We have no idea who they were.”
So the Jews then asked, “And just when did all these things take
place?” “In the middle of the night,” responded the guard. “Why,
then, did you fail to arrest them?” the Jews demanded. “We were so
terrified that we became as dead men,” the guard explained. “We
didn’t even hope to see the light of day, so how could we have possibly
detained them?” “As the Lord lives,” the Jews rejoined, “we do not
believe you.” “You saw that man perform so many signs,” the guard
reproved the Jews, “and you still did not believe in him, so why should
you take our word for it? You are right when you say that the Lord
lives; for he is indeed alive. We have come to learn,” added the guard,
“that you locked up that man who asked for the body of Jesus. For
even though you sealed the door, when you opened it back up, you did
not find him there. So why not hand Joseph over to us, and we will
hand Jesus over to you.” “Joseph is back in his own home town,” the
Jews affirmed. “And Jesus has risen up, and is in Galilee, as we heard
the angel say,” replied the members of the guard.
Now these words struck fear in their hearts, so they cautioned them, “Be careful that people don’t hear this telling; or else everyone
will come to believe in Jesus.” And the elders of the Jews took counsel
together. They laid out a sufficient quantity of silver, and gave it to the
soldiers with these words: “Say, ‘His followers all came late at night,
even as we slept, and made away with his remains.’ Now do not worry, if the Governor should hear of this; we will convince him and keep you
out of harm’s way.” So they took the money and did as they were told.
And the Jews put forth this story of theirs, which is spread abroad
among all men to this day.
REPORT TO THE DISCIPLES;
THE VISIT OF THE THREE WOMEN
(Mark 16:10,11; Luke 24:9-12; John 20:18; GPt 12; EpAp 10b)
Outside the Tomb, Jerusalem
When Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, and the
others got back from the tomb, they reported all of these things to the
eleven, and to all the other disciples. Then Mary Magdalene brought
the news that she had seen the Lord, and related all that he had said to
her to those followers who had been with him.
Now the disciples were mourning and weeping, for they had not
believed the women. After hearing that Jesus was alive, and that Mary
had seen him, they did not accept it, for their words seemed ridiculous
to them. Now Mary came and reported it to us (apostles,) but we just
asked her, “Woman, what have we to do with you? Can the one who is
dead and in the grave possibly be alive again?” (For when she told us
that our Savior had risen from the dead, we did not believe her.) She
then went back to our Lord and said, “None of them believed me when
I told them of your resurrection.” “Let another one of you go and tell them again” he said. And Martha came and let us know, but we
replied, “Tell us what you want with us? Is it possible for the one who
has died and is entombed to be alive again?” (For when she said, “The
Savior has risen up from the dead,” we did not take her at her word.)
She then went back to the Lord and said, “No one believed me when I
told them that you were alive.” And he said to her, “Let another of you
go and tell this to them again.” So Sarah came to us and gave us the
same report, and we called her a liar. So she went back to our Lord
and gave him the same word as Mary had. Then Mary came back and
told us again, but we did not believe her, so she went back to the Lord
and reported it to him.
Now it was the final day of Unleavened Bread, and since the feast by
then was at an end, many people left the city and returned to their
homes. And we, the twelve disciples of the Lord, wept and grieved,
and each of us went back home mourning over what had happened.
But I, Simon Peter, and my brother Andrew took our nets and headed
out for the sea, and Levi, whom the Lord <had called at the tax booth>
was with us.
THE VISIT OF THE THREE WOMEN
(Mark 16:10,11; Luke 24:9-12; John 20:18; GPt 12; EpAp 10b)
Outside the Tomb, Jerusalem
When Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, and the
others got back from the tomb, they reported all of these things to the
eleven, and to all the other disciples. Then Mary Magdalene brought
the news that she had seen the Lord, and related all that he had said to
her to those followers who had been with him.
Now the disciples were mourning and weeping, for they had not
believed the women. After hearing that Jesus was alive, and that Mary
had seen him, they did not accept it, for their words seemed ridiculous
to them. Now Mary came and reported it to us (apostles,) but we just
asked her, “Woman, what have we to do with you? Can the one who is
dead and in the grave possibly be alive again?” (For when she told us
that our Savior had risen from the dead, we did not believe her.) She
then went back to our Lord and said, “None of them believed me when
I told them of your resurrection.” “Let another one of you go and tell them again” he said. And Martha came and let us know, but we
replied, “Tell us what you want with us? Is it possible for the one who
has died and is entombed to be alive again?” (For when she said, “The
Savior has risen up from the dead,” we did not take her at her word.)
She then went back to the Lord and said, “No one believed me when I
told them that you were alive.” And he said to her, “Let another of you
go and tell this to them again.” So Sarah came to us and gave us the
same report, and we called her a liar. So she went back to our Lord
and gave him the same word as Mary had. Then Mary came back and
told us again, but we did not believe her, so she went back to the Lord
and reported it to him.
Now it was the final day of Unleavened Bread, and since the feast by
then was at an end, many people left the city and returned to their
homes. And we, the twelve disciples of the Lord, wept and grieved,
and each of us went back home mourning over what had happened.
But I, Simon Peter, and my brother Andrew took our nets and headed
out for the sea, and Levi, whom the Lord <had called at the tax booth>
was with us.
APPEARANCE TO JAMES
(GHb 9, Quote by Jerome, On Famous Men 2)
Jerusalem
Jesus then appeared to James. (According to the Gospel of the
Hebrews, after the resurrection of the Savior, the Lord handed his
robe to the servant of the priest. Then he went and showed himself to
James. A little while later, the Lord said, “Bring me a table and some
bread.” And right away he took the bread and blessed it. And after he
had broken it, he gave the bread to James the Just and said to him,
“Brother, eat this your bread, for the Son of Man has risen up from
those who sleep!”)
(GHb 9, Quote by Jerome, On Famous Men 2)
Jerusalem
Jesus then appeared to James. (According to the Gospel of the
Hebrews, after the resurrection of the Savior, the Lord handed his
robe to the servant of the priest. Then he went and showed himself to
James. A little while later, the Lord said, “Bring me a table and some
bread.” And right away he took the bread and blessed it. And after he
had broken it, he gave the bread to James the Just and said to him,
“Brother, eat this your bread, for the Son of Man has risen up from
those who sleep!”)
THE WALK TO EMMAUS
(Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-32)
On the Road to Emmaus
Now behold, later on that day Jesus showed himself to two of them
in a different form as they were walking in the countryside, on their
way out to Emmaus, a village about sixty stadia from Jerusalem. And
together they were going over all the things that had come to pass.
And even as they were discussing these issues, Jesus drew near and
traveled alongside them. Now their eyes were being held so as not to
recognize him; and he asked them, “What are these things that you are
saying to one another as you walk all dejectedly along?” And one of
them, whose name was Cleophas, answered him, “Are you but a
stranger in Jerusalem, unaware of the things that have happened there
over the past few days.” “What things?” asked Jesus. “With regard to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered him, “this man, this prophet who
was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; how our
chief priests and rulers handed him up to the judgment of death, and
crucified him. But we were counting on him for the redemption of
Israel, and it has been three days now since these things have
happened. Now there were these women who went early to his tomb,
but were unable to locate his remains. They came and surprised us
with news of an angelic vision that they had experienced, and they all
claimed that he was alive. Now some of those who were with us went
over to the tomb and found things even as the women had described it
to them, but they did not see him.” “You fools!” he chided them, “and
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had foretold. Ought not
the Messiah to have suffered and entered into his glory?” And from all
of the prophets, beginning with Moses, he expounded the Scriptures
with reference to himself.
And as they drew near to the village for which they had set out,
Jesus acted as if he were traveling further. “Stay with us,” they said to him, “for evening is approaching and the day has nearly passed.” And
he turned aside to stay with them. And as they were reclining
together, he took the loaf, blessed it, broke it, and divided it among
them. Then their eyes were opened up, and they recognized him, and
he vanished from their sight. “Did our hearts not burn within us as he
spoke with us along the road and clarified the Scriptures to us?” they
marveled to each other.
(Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-32)
On the Road to Emmaus
Now behold, later on that day Jesus showed himself to two of them
in a different form as they were walking in the countryside, on their
way out to Emmaus, a village about sixty stadia from Jerusalem. And
together they were going over all the things that had come to pass.
And even as they were discussing these issues, Jesus drew near and
traveled alongside them. Now their eyes were being held so as not to
recognize him; and he asked them, “What are these things that you are
saying to one another as you walk all dejectedly along?” And one of
them, whose name was Cleophas, answered him, “Are you but a
stranger in Jerusalem, unaware of the things that have happened there
over the past few days.” “What things?” asked Jesus. “With regard to Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered him, “this man, this prophet who
was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; how our
chief priests and rulers handed him up to the judgment of death, and
crucified him. But we were counting on him for the redemption of
Israel, and it has been three days now since these things have
happened. Now there were these women who went early to his tomb,
but were unable to locate his remains. They came and surprised us
with news of an angelic vision that they had experienced, and they all
claimed that he was alive. Now some of those who were with us went
over to the tomb and found things even as the women had described it
to them, but they did not see him.” “You fools!” he chided them, “and
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had foretold. Ought not
the Messiah to have suffered and entered into his glory?” And from all
of the prophets, beginning with Moses, he expounded the Scriptures
with reference to himself.
And as they drew near to the village for which they had set out,
Jesus acted as if he were traveling further. “Stay with us,” they said to him, “for evening is approaching and the day has nearly passed.” And
he turned aside to stay with them. And as they were reclining
together, he took the loaf, blessed it, broke it, and divided it among
them. Then their eyes were opened up, and they recognized him, and
he vanished from their sight. “Did our hearts not burn within us as he
spoke with us along the road and clarified the Scriptures to us?” they
marveled to each other.
THE REPORT FROM EMMAUS.
(Mark 16:13; Luke 24:33-35)
These men rose up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem and
reported it to the others. They found the eleven gathered together in
the company of some others. “The Lord has assuredly been raised to
life,” they affirmed, “and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they
explained to them all that had happened as they walked along the
road, and about the way that he had made himself known in the
breaking of the bread, but the disciples did not believe them either.
(Mark 16:13; Luke 24:33-35)
These men rose up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem and
reported it to the others. They found the eleven gathered together in
the company of some others. “The Lord has assuredly been raised to
life,” they affirmed, “and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they
explained to them all that had happened as they walked along the
road, and about the way that he had made himself known in the
breaking of the bread, but the disciples did not believe them either.
PASSION 2
JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE ELEVEN
(Mark 16:14, Freer Logion-Codex Washingtonianus;
Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-20; EpAp 11a)
Jerusalem
Late in the evening, on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to
the eleven. At that time the Lord said to Mary and her sisters, “Let’s
all go and visit them now.” He came to us veiled and found us inside
eating. Now for fear of the Jews the doors had been locked in the
place where [we] disciples had gathered, and we were full of doubt and
lacking faith. But Jesus came and stood in [our] midst even as [we]
were discussing these things. “Peace to you!” he said to us. But all [of
us] were terrified, and thought that [we] had seen a ghost. So he
questioned [us], “Why are you so full of fear, and why do doubts arise
in your hearts? Just look at my hands and my feet, it is me all right. A
ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see that I have.” And
he showed them his hands, his feet, and his side.
Now as soon as they recognized that it was the Lord, his disciples
rejoiced. And in spite of all their joy and amazement, they still could
not believe it was him. Then he asked them, “Have you got anything
to eat around here?” So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, which he
took and ate before them all. Then he rebuked them for repeatedly
refusing to believe the ones who had seen him after his resurrection.
Now they all apologized and said, “Satan holds sway over this lawless
and faithless age. He uses unclean spirits to keep the true power of God from being understood. Let your justice become apparent,
therefore,” they all besought the Christ. “Satan’s time in power is
through,” the Christ replied. “Even so, other terrible things are about
to take place. I was put to death for the sake of those who sinned, that
they might have the truth restored to them. And this is how they are
to inherit the imperishable glory of the spirit that exists in heaven.”
JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO THE ELEVEN
(Mark 16:14, Freer Logion-Codex Washingtonianus;
Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-20; EpAp 11a)
Jerusalem
Late in the evening, on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared to
the eleven. At that time the Lord said to Mary and her sisters, “Let’s
all go and visit them now.” He came to us veiled and found us inside
eating. Now for fear of the Jews the doors had been locked in the
place where [we] disciples had gathered, and we were full of doubt and
lacking faith. But Jesus came and stood in [our] midst even as [we]
were discussing these things. “Peace to you!” he said to us. But all [of
us] were terrified, and thought that [we] had seen a ghost. So he
questioned [us], “Why are you so full of fear, and why do doubts arise
in your hearts? Just look at my hands and my feet, it is me all right. A
ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see that I have.” And
he showed them his hands, his feet, and his side.
Now as soon as they recognized that it was the Lord, his disciples
rejoiced. And in spite of all their joy and amazement, they still could
not believe it was him. Then he asked them, “Have you got anything
to eat around here?” So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, which he
took and ate before them all. Then he rebuked them for repeatedly
refusing to believe the ones who had seen him after his resurrection.
Now they all apologized and said, “Satan holds sway over this lawless
and faithless age. He uses unclean spirits to keep the true power of God from being understood. Let your justice become apparent,
therefore,” they all besought the Christ. “Satan’s time in power is
through,” the Christ replied. “Even so, other terrible things are about
to take place. I was put to death for the sake of those who sinned, that
they might have the truth restored to them. And this is how they are
to inherit the imperishable glory of the spirit that exists in heaven.”
THE DIALOGUE OF THE SAVIOR
(DSav; John 20:21-23; GEgp, Quotes by Clement of Alexandria,
Stromateis 3.6.45, 3.9.63, 3.9.64, 3.9.66,
3.9.67, 3.13.91, 3.13.92, 3.15.97;
Epiphanius, Excerpts of Theodotus 67;
Epiphanius, Heresies 62.2.7.8f; 2Clem 12:2-5;
Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel 16.52)
Jerusalem?
“Now the time has come, my followers,” said the Savior to his
disciples, “for us to abandon our labors and to rest, for the one who
rests will rest forever. Now I say to you, be always above <matter
and> time. <Yet I> caution you, <do not be> fearful <of anger, for>
to you <it has been given to escape it.> Anger, you see, is fearsome,
<and to> stir up anger is <indeed unwise.> However, because you
have <understood that anger> comes from <fear, you have become
wise.> They spoke these words against anger with fear and trembling,
and that placed them under the power of the archons, for nothing had
the strength to resist it. But when I came, I made a way for them and
disclosed it to the chosen and the solitary, for they, knowing the
Father, have had faith in what is true.
“Now when you offer praise, do it like this:
Hear us, Oh Father,
Even as You heard Your only begotten Son,
Receiving him and giving him rest from his many labors.
You are He Whose power <is
Unlimited.> Your armor
Is <impenetrable and Your word is> light.
<You are indeed the God of the> living;
<The One> whom they touch not.
<You are> the Word of <life,
Opening the door to> repentance <and to> life.
<Everything proceeds> from You. You are
The entire thought and serenity
Of the solitary. Again, hear
Us as You heard Your elect. By means of Your sacrifice
Will these enter in; and by means of their
Good works have they reclaimed
Their souls from these
Blind limbs, that they might live
Forevermore. Amen.
“I will instruct you. When the time of dissolution comes, the first
power of darkness will approach you. Have no fear, and do not say,
‘Behold! The hour has come!’ Rather, when you come to see a single
staff, which <indicates that> this <time indeed has come,> you <who
have been chosen to receive this instruction,> understand that <which
is to come> from the work <you are to bring forth.> And <in anger
will> the archons approach you <that they might frighten you.> How
truly is fear the power of darkness, so if you are going to be fearful of
what will soon come upon you, it will consume you. For there is not so
much as one among them who will spare you or show you any mercy.
But look at the <great power that lies> within it, for you see, you have
prevailed against every statement on this earth. This <will> raise you
to the place beyond the authorities, <where there is no> tyrant. When
you <get there> you will see all of those who <came before> and <all
who will come after you. And so> I tell you that which <you must do
with regard to> the design. <For to understand the> design <which
exists in the> place of truth <is to find life.> They, however, <are the
sons of falsehood.> whereas you <are children> of the truth. This,
<the path to the> living mind, <will be opened up, so> that you might
brim with joy. So then <fear not,> that <you might find rest for> your souls, <and doubt not,> lest the word <should become obscured. For
> what they have lifted up <is the word, but> they were not able to
<overpower it. Make> your inside <the same as your outside, for your
inside and> your outside <are one and the same.> Formidable, you
see, is that place of crossing that lies before you. Even so, pass it by in
singleness of mind! For great is its depth and lofty is its height.
<But> in singleness of mind, <you must pass it by!> And the fire that
<burns> is <apart from> the waters <in that place, and> all the
powers <will subject themselves to> you. They will <all submit,> and
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the powers <over which> they <rule will likewise succumb.> I am
telling you <the truth,> this <soul will> become a <light, which will
shine> within everyone <who is of the truth.> You are the <ones who
know this truth,> and that <which you bring forth will provide the
remedy for the> forgetfulness <that now dominates the> children of <light.> And what you <produce when> you <bring it forth will make
them free.>”
Matthew asked, “How <are we to bring out what is inside of us?”>
The Savior replied, <“You do not yet understand> what is within
you. <But if you> will abide <in me,> you <will come to know of it.”>
Judas asked, “Lord, <what will be> the works <done by> these
souls, these <elect,> these little ones? When <will they come, and>
where will they be? <In what way will> the spirit <show itself?”>
The Lord answered, <“The Spirit will assign them their places and
their labors, and the truth will itself receive them.> These do not
perish <in that day,> nor do they come to destruction, for they have
known their consorts, and He Who would accept them. The truth, you
see, goes searching for the wise and the righteous.
“The mind is the lamp of the body,” the Savior affirmed. “As long as
all things are ordered properly within you, that is to say, <in line with
the truth,> your bodies will all be luminous. But as long as your
hearts remain darkened, the radiance which you await <will not
come.> I have called <you here to let you know> that I will travel <on
ahead of you. Those who are to reveal> my word with <truth will> I
send to <those who seek after it.>”
His followers then inquired of him, “Lord, who is the seeker, and
<who is the> revealer?”
“The one who seeks <the truth> reveals <the mysteries of God.>”
the Lord replied.
“Lord,” asked Matthew, “when I hear <something,> and when I
speak it, who is it that <is speaking, and who is it that is> hearing?”
“The one who speaks,” the Lord explained, “is also the one who
hears, and the one who sees is also the one who reveals.”
Mary asked him, “Lord, behold! From where do I carry the body
when I am weeping, and from where do I carry it when I am
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laughing?” The Lord answered, “The body weeps on account of its
works, as also for that which remains, and the mind laughs because <it
recognizes the> spirit. There is a confusion that leads you to death
and a confusion that leads you to life. Should one not stand in the
darkness he will not be able to see the light. And so I am telling you
<that ignorance> of the light is itself the darkness. And if you do not
stand in the darkness, you will never come to see the light. <Flee from
that which comes from> the lie, <for> they brought them out <from
the place of darkness.> You will give <off a brilliant> light, and <you
will> exist for all time in the <blessedness> of one <who will live in
peace> forever. Then the powers that are above, as well as those that are below, will <flee from> you. In that place there will be weeping
and grinding of teeth with regard to the end of all these things.”
Judas said, “Tell us, Lord, what was there before the heavens and
the earth came into being?”
The Lord answered him, “There was darkness, and there was water,
and there was spirit on the water. And I am here to tell you that what
you are searching for and asking about, behold, it lies within you, and
<within you lies both> the power and the mystery <of> the spirit, for
out of <darkness, light beams forth.> Evil comes <in order to
conceal> the real mind and <to alienate you from your true self.>
Behold, <it will be unveiled, and you will come to possess it.>”
<One of them> said, “Lord, tell us where the soul is established and
where the real mind exists.”
The Lord answered, “The fire of the spirit came to be within them
both. And for this reason, the <spirit> came to be, and the true mind
came into being inside them <both.> If one should place his soul on
high, he will be lifted up thereby.”
And Matthew said, “<Tell us,> who took it, that is to say <the mind
of truth? Surely> it was those who are powerful.”
The Lord said, “<You are> more powerful than he <who rules at
present. And> you are <more powerful than> he who follows; you
and all of the works <that are brought forth from> your hearts. For
even as your hearts <have overcome,> so is this the means to
overwhelm the powers that are above and also those that are below, <who reign at this time.> I am telling you, let whoever has power
renounce it and repent. And let him who knows seek and find and
take delight.”
“Behold!” said Judas, “I see that everything exists <according to
providence,> like the signs that are above the earth. This was why
things happened this way.”
The Lord said, “When the Father set up the world, He collected
water from it and His Word issued forth from it and it came to live in
many <places.> It was higher than the path of the stars, which
surround the whole earth. They <were all in want of it,> for the water
that was collected existed beyond them. <All of them were deprived>
of it, a massive fire surrounding them all, even as it were a wall. And
<there came a> time when many things became separated from what
was within. When the Word was established, He looked upon <the
earth> and said, ‘Go and cast forth from yourself, that <nothing
might> be lacking from generation to generation, and from age to age.’
Afterward it spewed forth from itself gushers of milk and wellsprings of honey and oil and wine and fine fruits, along with sweetness of
flavor and edible roots, that it might lack nothing from generation to
generation, and from age to age.
“And the Word exists above <all things, and there it has been> set,
namely <above the firmament.> Its beauty <was great,> and beyond
it was a powerful light, luminous and even more dazzling than the one
that resembles it, for this is the one that rules over the host of eternal
ones, those that are above along with those that are below. The light
was taken out of the fire and dispersed over the fullness that exists
above and below all of the works that depend on them. They are <set>
over the heavens above and the earth below. And all the works depend
on them.”
And Judas, when he heard these things, bowed down in worship to
the Lord and offered him praise.
“These things which you seek of the Son of Man,” Mary asked the
brothers, “where ever will you keep them?”
“Sister,” the Lord answered her, “no one will be able to look into
these things except for someone who has a place for them in his heart
and is capable of coming forth from this realm and entering into the
place of life, that he might not be detained here in this world of
poverty.”
Matthew said, “Lord, I would like to see that place of life, that place
where there is no evil, but only pure light exists!” The Lord answered
him, “Brother Matthew, you will never be able to see it as long as you
are wearing this flesh.” Matthew said, “Lord, even if I will not be able
to see it, allow me to discern it!” The Lord said, “All who have come to
know themselves have recognized within themselves all that has been given to themselves alone to do, and they have come to resemble it in
their virtue.”
“Lord,” said Judas, “tell me, what causes the shaking that moves the
earth?” And picking up a stone, the Lord held it in his hand and
asked, “What am I holding in my hand?”
“It is a rock,” answered Judas. “What supports the earth,” Jesus
informed them, “is also what supports the heavens. When a word
issues forth from the Greatness, it moves along that which supports
the heaven and the earth. You see, it is not in fact the earth that
moves, for if it were the thing that moved, it would fall. This, however,
does not happen, lest the First Word should fail, for that was what
established the universe. Now the universe came into being within it
and received its fragrance from it. For whatever things remain
unmoved, I <will move> them on behalf of you, the sons of man.
That, you see, is your place of origin. You exist within the hearts of
those who speak from joy and truth. And even though it goes forth
among mankind from the very body of the Father, they are not
receptive to it. Even so, it goes back upward to its place.
“He who recognizes not the work of perfection knows nothing at all,
and one who does not stand in the darkness will never come to see the
light. Whoever understands not how fire was brought into being will
burn therein, for they do not know the root thereof. Whoever does not
first understand water understands nothing, so what good does it do
to baptize him? Whoever does not understand how the wind that
blows came into being will blow away with it. Whoever fails to
understand how the body that they carry around came into being will perish along with it. And how will he who knows not the Son ever
come to know the Father? As for anyone who will not know the root of
evil, he is not a stranger to it. Whoever will not know how he came
into being, will never know how he is to depart. He is no stranger to
this world, which will <perish, and> be humiliated.”
Then he took Judas, Matthew, and Mary <out to> the end of
heaven and earth. And after placing his hand upon them, they hoped
that they might come to see. Judas lifted up his eyes, and there he saw
a lofty place, and down below, a great abyss. Judas asked Matthew,
“Brother, who can hope to scale this height, or to go down into this
depth? For there is a great fire in that place, as well as a great terror.”
That very moment a Word came from it. And even as it stood there he
observed the way in which the Word came down. Then he asked it,
“Why have you come down to this place?” And greeting them, the Son of Man said, “A seed from a power was lacking, and it sank down into
the abyss of the earth. Then the Greatness remembered it and sent the
Word down to it. That Word brought it up into His presence, that the
First Word might not fail.” His disciples were amazed by all that he
had said and they received it all on faith. And they all came to see that
it was not necessary to look upon evil. Then he explained to his
disciples, “Did I not say to you that like a visible thunder, or the
flashing of lightning would the good be taken up to the light?”
Then all of his followers praised him and said, “Lord, who was there
to offer you praise before you came here to this place--for all praises
exist on your account? Or who is it that will offer you blessings--for all
good things proceed from you?” And even as they were standing
there, he saw two spirits carrying a single soul with them in a dazzling
bolt of lightning. And a word came from the Son of Man, saying,
“Present them with their garment!” The small became just like the great; these and the ones receiving them were just alike. <Then he
returned with the> disciples whom he had <taken up.>
“<Did you> see evil <among> them from the first <time they saw>
one another?” asked Mary. <“Yes I did,”> the Lord replied, <“and>
when you see them <unite and> become enormous, they will <all feign
their own importance.> But when you come to see the One Who lives forever, that is indeed the great vision.”
“Explain it to us!” they all implored. “How would you rather see it,”
he asked, “in a fleeting vision, or an eternal one?” He said, moreover,
“Try to save what can follow after you. Look for it and speak from
within it, so all that you seek for may be in harmony with you.
Because I am here to tell you, the Living God lives within you, <and
you live> within Him.”
“How truly I wish <to dwell in that place,”> said Judas. “The Living
God lives <within the one who is> whole,” the Lord answered,
<“whereas> the deficiency <resides within the empty.”>
Judas asked, “Who <will come to dwell therein?”> The Lord
answered him, <“Those who complete> the works that <remain to be
done. As for> that which remains, it is they who you <are to prepare
for victory over the angelic rulers.”>
“Behold,” said Judas, “the archons are above us, so they will be the
ones to rule over us!”
“You will be the ones to govern them,” Jesus countered, “but only
after you have rid yourselves of covetousness. Then you will don the
garments of light and enter into the bridal chamber.”
“How will our garments be brought to us?” asked Judas. “There are
some who will bring them to you,” the Lord answered, “and there are
others who will receive you. You see, they are the ones who will
provide you with your clothes. For who will be able to pass through
that place of retribution? Even so, the clothing of life has been given
to men since they see the path by which they must go. It is even a
challenge for me to pass through.” “Hence,” said Mary, “‘The Trouble
Of Each Day,’ and ‘The Worker Deserves His Wage,’ and ‘The Disciple
Is Like His Teacher.’” (She put forth these expressions as a woman
who understood them fully.)
The disciples then asked him, “What is this ‘fullness’ and what is
this ‘deficiency’?” “The ‘fullness,’” he said, “is where you came from,
whereas the ‘deficiency’ is the place where you currently dwell. But
look and see, how His light has poured down on me!”
“Lord,” asked Matthew, “tell me how the dead pass on, and the
living come alive!” The Lord answered him, “You have asked me about the saying; <‘You have shown me> what no eye has seen, nor
have I heard it from anyone but you.’ Nonetheless I say to you, a man
is referred to as ‘dead’ when what animates him is taken away. Now
when what is alive escapes from what is dead, it will then be called
‘alive’ again.”
Judas asked: “Why do these die and live again for the sake of
truth?” “What the truth brings forth is not what dies,” the Lord
replied. “That which is born of woman is the thing that dies.”
“Lord,” Mary asked him, “tell me, was I brought to this place to gain
a profit or to suffer a loss?” “You are here,” the Lord explained, “to
show forth the abundance of the Revealer!” “Is there any place, then,
that is unproductive, or in want of truth?” Mary inquired. “In the
place that I am not!” the Lord replied. “Lord,” said Mary, “you are
wonderful and fearsome; an all-consuming fire to those who do not
know you.”
Matthew asked, “Why can’t we all just rest right now?” The Lord
answered him, “Once you’ve laid these burdens down, your rest will
come.” Matthew asked, “How does the small become one with the
great?” The Lord replied, “You will indeed find rest once you have
abandoned the works that cannot follow after you.”
Mary said, “I would like to see all things as they truly are.” “Life is
the fortune for him that seeks it,” the Lord declared. “The pleasure
that this world provides is counterfeit; its gold and its silver are but a delusion.” His followers asked him, “What ought we to do to ensure that our
work comes to perfection?” “Be prepared in the face of all things,” the
Lord replied. “How blessed is the man who has recognized the war,
and has seen the battle with his own two eyes, for he has emerged
triumphantly, having neither killed nor suffered death.”
“Lord,” Judas inquired, “tell me where the path begins.” “With love
and with righteousness,” he answered us. “Had even one of these been
among the archons, evil never would have come into existence.”
“Lord,” said Matthew, “you have spoken openly about the end of all
things.” The Lord said, “You have understood and accepted on faith
all that I have said to you. They are yours as far as you can understand. If, however, you cannot comprehend them, they are not
for you to have.”
“What is this place that we are headed for?” they prodded him.
“Whatever place lies within your grasp, there you must stand,” said the
Lord. Mary asked, “Is it possible to see everything that is established in
this manner?” The Lord replied, “The one who sees is the one who
reveals, even as I have told you before.”
His twelve disciples questioned him, “Teacher, <where is the path
to the> peaceful <heart?> Teach us <how we are to attain it.>”
The Lord said, “If you have understood all that I have explained to
you, you will achieve immortality. You <are,> after all, <the path that
leads to> everything.”
Mary said, “There is but one word that I will speak to the Lord with
regard to the mystery of the truth in which we have come to stand: We
have been revealed to the cosmic beings.”
Judas said to Matthew, “We would like to understand the type of
garment with which we are to be clothed when we depart from this
corrupted flesh.” The Lord answered, “The archons and
administrators possess garments which have been given to them only
for a certain time, and which do not endure. You, however, as children
of truth, are not to array yourselves in these temporal vestments. You
will instead receive your blessing when you come to undress
yourselves! You see, it is no great thing <to strip yourselves and to
step> outside.”
<One of them> said, <“Lord,> speak <to us about ‘The Mustard
Seed.’”> The Lord replied, <“It has been sown by> your Father <and
it is He that brings it forth.”> “What is the nature of that mustard
seed?” Mary asked him. “Does it come from heaven, or from the
earth?” The Lord answered, “When the Father established the world
for Himself, He retained some things from the Mother of all, and this
inspires both His speaking and His actions.”
“This you have spoken from the mind of truth,” Judas remarked.
“When we pray, how should we do it?” “Pray in the place where there
is no woman,” the Lord replied. (“Now by telling us to pray in a place
388
where there is no woman,” said Matthew, “he means that we should
destroy the works of the female. This does not mean that there is
some other way of bringing forth, only that someday women will no
longer give birth.”) “They will never cease to exist!” Mary protested.
“Who is so sure that they won’t all dissolve,” the Lord replied, “their
works being undone in this place too?” (Now when Salome asked,
“How long will death continue to reign?” the Lord answered her, “As
long as you women continue to bear.” You see, the Savior has himself
affirmed, “I have come to undo the works of the female.” He does not
mean that procreation is bad, for such is necessary for the redemption
of those who believe. Furthermore, the Lord has said, “Whoever has taken a wife should never forsake her, but whoever has not done so
would be better off not getting married.” For in the Gospel of the
Egyptians many mysterious matters of this nature are passed down as
esoteric wisdom given secretly by the Savior, teaching his disciples
that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are a single One. The
Naassenes maintain that the soul is difficult to find and to become
familiar with. This is because it remains neither in a singular form,
nor does it conform to a particular aspect, and as such does not
possess a definite appearance such that any pattern or perception of it
could possibly describe it. Now since the Word had spoken of the end,
Salome was right to ask, “How long are men to suffer death?”
Scripture utilizes the word ‘man’ here in two ways; both as that of the
outward, visible form along with the soul, and also with reference to
the redeemed and the unredeemed alike. The impulse of the ‘male’ is
used to represent aggression, and the term ‘female’ is used to indicate
lusting. ‘Works’ signifies both birth and decay. This does not mean
that life is a bad thing or that the creation is evil, only that such is the
course of nature. You see, when Salome asked, “Then have I done well
by not having children?” The Lord replied, “You may eat of every
herb, but of the bitter one do not partake.” Let us all wait in constant
expectation of the arrival of the kingdom of God in love and
righteousness, for we do not know the day of God’s coming. For you
see, when Salome inquired of him, “Tell us when your kingdom will
come.” the Lord replied, “When you tread underfoot this covering of shame, and when the two should unite, the inner becoming one with
the outer, and when the male becomes neither male nor female with
regard to the female.” Whenever we speak the truth to one another,
you see, the two become one, for a single soul, free of all that is false,
occupies the two persons. As for the ‘outside’ being even as the
‘inside,’ here is the interpretation: With reference to what is within, he
means the soul, and with reference to what is without, he means the
physical body. So even as your body can be clearly seen, so also ought
you to make the character of your soul apparent through your good
works. Now when he says, ‘the male with regard to the female, neither
male nor female,’ he is saying, ‘when a brother looks upon a sister, he
ought not to think of her as female, and she likewise ought not to think
of him as male.’ Thus he assures us: “If you do these things, my
kingdom will appear.”)
Judas said to Matthew, “The works of the female will all dissolve.
<And when they see it,> the archons will call upon <their every
strength.> Is this how we are to become prepared for them?”
The Lord asked, “Can they honestly see you? Can they see the ones
receiving you? Behold! A Word is issuing from the Father silently
into the abyss, bringing forth like a lightning flash. Are they able to
see or overpower it? Not at all, for even now it remains to you! You
have known the way which no angel or power has ever seen. But it
belongs to the Father and the Son, for they are both a single <One.>
You will travel along the path that all of you have come to know, and
no matter how great the archons become, they will never be able to
attain to it. Even so, listen here--it is a burden even for me to do it.”
“When the works dissolve <into nothingness,”> Mary asked the
Lord, <“will it be your works> that dissolve a work?” The Lord
answered her, “Without question, for <the way> is known to each of
you. <Now> if I should dissolve <the works, they> will <each> go
back to their place.”
“How does the spirit appear?” asked Judas. “How does the sword
appear?” answered Jesus. “How does the light appear?” Judas probed.
The Lord said, <“You already exist> eternally within it.”
Judas asked, “Who forgives the works of whom? Those works which <will condemn> the world. <When the time of judgment comes
about,> who is it that forgives the works.” The Lord answered him,
“Who is it <that condemns?> It is fitting for one who has understood
the works to carry out the Father’s will. As for all of you, strive to rid
yourselves of anger and of envy. Also, strip yourselves of your
<worldliness,> and do not <seek after that which is not your own.(?)>
<...> <And do not waver when the time comes for you to> reproach
<the world.> For I say to you, <the archons will fall on you to strike
fear into your hearts.(?)> <...> <When> you take the <word of God
to yourselves(?)> you <will rest upon it, and the person> who has
sought, and has <come to understand> this, will rest <upon it also.>
He will live forevermore. And I say this to you <now, so that> your
spirits and your souls might not be led astray.” Then Jesus again said
to them, “Peace to you! I am sending you forth even as the Father has
sent me.” And after saying this, he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit! The sins of those you have forgiven will
indeed be forgiven, and the sins of those you have not forgiven will
remain unforgiven.”
(DSav; John 20:21-23; GEgp, Quotes by Clement of Alexandria,
Stromateis 3.6.45, 3.9.63, 3.9.64, 3.9.66,
3.9.67, 3.13.91, 3.13.92, 3.15.97;
Epiphanius, Excerpts of Theodotus 67;
Epiphanius, Heresies 62.2.7.8f; 2Clem 12:2-5;
Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel 16.52)
Jerusalem?
“Now the time has come, my followers,” said the Savior to his
disciples, “for us to abandon our labors and to rest, for the one who
rests will rest forever. Now I say to you, be always above <matter
and> time. <Yet I> caution you, <do not be> fearful <of anger, for>
to you <it has been given to escape it.> Anger, you see, is fearsome,
<and to> stir up anger is <indeed unwise.> However, because you
have <understood that anger> comes from <fear, you have become
wise.> They spoke these words against anger with fear and trembling,
and that placed them under the power of the archons, for nothing had
the strength to resist it. But when I came, I made a way for them and
disclosed it to the chosen and the solitary, for they, knowing the
Father, have had faith in what is true.
“Now when you offer praise, do it like this:
Hear us, Oh Father,
Even as You heard Your only begotten Son,
Receiving him and giving him rest from his many labors.
You are He Whose power <is
Unlimited.> Your armor
Is <impenetrable and Your word is> light.
<You are indeed the God of the> living;
<The One> whom they touch not.
<You are> the Word of <life,
Opening the door to> repentance <and to> life.
<Everything proceeds> from You. You are
The entire thought and serenity
Of the solitary. Again, hear
Us as You heard Your elect. By means of Your sacrifice
Will these enter in; and by means of their
Good works have they reclaimed
Their souls from these
Blind limbs, that they might live
Forevermore. Amen.
“I will instruct you. When the time of dissolution comes, the first
power of darkness will approach you. Have no fear, and do not say,
‘Behold! The hour has come!’ Rather, when you come to see a single
staff, which <indicates that> this <time indeed has come,> you <who
have been chosen to receive this instruction,> understand that <which
is to come> from the work <you are to bring forth.> And <in anger
will> the archons approach you <that they might frighten you.> How
truly is fear the power of darkness, so if you are going to be fearful of
what will soon come upon you, it will consume you. For there is not so
much as one among them who will spare you or show you any mercy.
But look at the <great power that lies> within it, for you see, you have
prevailed against every statement on this earth. This <will> raise you
to the place beyond the authorities, <where there is no> tyrant. When
you <get there> you will see all of those who <came before> and <all
who will come after you. And so> I tell you that which <you must do
with regard to> the design. <For to understand the> design <which
exists in the> place of truth <is to find life.> They, however, <are the
sons of falsehood.> whereas you <are children> of the truth. This,
<the path to the> living mind, <will be opened up, so> that you might
brim with joy. So then <fear not,> that <you might find rest for> your souls, <and doubt not,> lest the word <should become obscured. For
> what they have lifted up <is the word, but> they were not able to
<overpower it. Make> your inside <the same as your outside, for your
inside and> your outside <are one and the same.> Formidable, you
see, is that place of crossing that lies before you. Even so, pass it by in
singleness of mind! For great is its depth and lofty is its height.
<But> in singleness of mind, <you must pass it by!> And the fire that
<burns> is <apart from> the waters <in that place, and> all the
powers <will subject themselves to> you. They will <all submit,> and
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the powers <over which> they <rule will likewise succumb.> I am
telling you <the truth,> this <soul will> become a <light, which will
shine> within everyone <who is of the truth.> You are the <ones who
know this truth,> and that <which you bring forth will provide the
remedy for the> forgetfulness <that now dominates the> children of <light.> And what you <produce when> you <bring it forth will make
them free.>”
Matthew asked, “How <are we to bring out what is inside of us?”>
The Savior replied, <“You do not yet understand> what is within
you. <But if you> will abide <in me,> you <will come to know of it.”>
Judas asked, “Lord, <what will be> the works <done by> these
souls, these <elect,> these little ones? When <will they come, and>
where will they be? <In what way will> the spirit <show itself?”>
The Lord answered, <“The Spirit will assign them their places and
their labors, and the truth will itself receive them.> These do not
perish <in that day,> nor do they come to destruction, for they have
known their consorts, and He Who would accept them. The truth, you
see, goes searching for the wise and the righteous.
“The mind is the lamp of the body,” the Savior affirmed. “As long as
all things are ordered properly within you, that is to say, <in line with
the truth,> your bodies will all be luminous. But as long as your
hearts remain darkened, the radiance which you await <will not
come.> I have called <you here to let you know> that I will travel <on
ahead of you. Those who are to reveal> my word with <truth will> I
send to <those who seek after it.>”
His followers then inquired of him, “Lord, who is the seeker, and
<who is the> revealer?”
“The one who seeks <the truth> reveals <the mysteries of God.>”
the Lord replied.
“Lord,” asked Matthew, “when I hear <something,> and when I
speak it, who is it that <is speaking, and who is it that is> hearing?”
“The one who speaks,” the Lord explained, “is also the one who
hears, and the one who sees is also the one who reveals.”
Mary asked him, “Lord, behold! From where do I carry the body
when I am weeping, and from where do I carry it when I am
381
laughing?” The Lord answered, “The body weeps on account of its
works, as also for that which remains, and the mind laughs because <it
recognizes the> spirit. There is a confusion that leads you to death
and a confusion that leads you to life. Should one not stand in the
darkness he will not be able to see the light. And so I am telling you
<that ignorance> of the light is itself the darkness. And if you do not
stand in the darkness, you will never come to see the light. <Flee from
that which comes from> the lie, <for> they brought them out <from
the place of darkness.> You will give <off a brilliant> light, and <you
will> exist for all time in the <blessedness> of one <who will live in
peace> forever. Then the powers that are above, as well as those that are below, will <flee from> you. In that place there will be weeping
and grinding of teeth with regard to the end of all these things.”
Judas said, “Tell us, Lord, what was there before the heavens and
the earth came into being?”
The Lord answered him, “There was darkness, and there was water,
and there was spirit on the water. And I am here to tell you that what
you are searching for and asking about, behold, it lies within you, and
<within you lies both> the power and the mystery <of> the spirit, for
out of <darkness, light beams forth.> Evil comes <in order to
conceal> the real mind and <to alienate you from your true self.>
Behold, <it will be unveiled, and you will come to possess it.>”
<One of them> said, “Lord, tell us where the soul is established and
where the real mind exists.”
The Lord answered, “The fire of the spirit came to be within them
both. And for this reason, the <spirit> came to be, and the true mind
came into being inside them <both.> If one should place his soul on
high, he will be lifted up thereby.”
And Matthew said, “<Tell us,> who took it, that is to say <the mind
of truth? Surely> it was those who are powerful.”
The Lord said, “<You are> more powerful than he <who rules at
present. And> you are <more powerful than> he who follows; you
and all of the works <that are brought forth from> your hearts. For
even as your hearts <have overcome,> so is this the means to
overwhelm the powers that are above and also those that are below, <who reign at this time.> I am telling you, let whoever has power
renounce it and repent. And let him who knows seek and find and
take delight.”
“Behold!” said Judas, “I see that everything exists <according to
providence,> like the signs that are above the earth. This was why
things happened this way.”
The Lord said, “When the Father set up the world, He collected
water from it and His Word issued forth from it and it came to live in
many <places.> It was higher than the path of the stars, which
surround the whole earth. They <were all in want of it,> for the water
that was collected existed beyond them. <All of them were deprived>
of it, a massive fire surrounding them all, even as it were a wall. And
<there came a> time when many things became separated from what
was within. When the Word was established, He looked upon <the
earth> and said, ‘Go and cast forth from yourself, that <nothing
might> be lacking from generation to generation, and from age to age.’
Afterward it spewed forth from itself gushers of milk and wellsprings of honey and oil and wine and fine fruits, along with sweetness of
flavor and edible roots, that it might lack nothing from generation to
generation, and from age to age.
“And the Word exists above <all things, and there it has been> set,
namely <above the firmament.> Its beauty <was great,> and beyond
it was a powerful light, luminous and even more dazzling than the one
that resembles it, for this is the one that rules over the host of eternal
ones, those that are above along with those that are below. The light
was taken out of the fire and dispersed over the fullness that exists
above and below all of the works that depend on them. They are <set>
over the heavens above and the earth below. And all the works depend
on them.”
And Judas, when he heard these things, bowed down in worship to
the Lord and offered him praise.
“These things which you seek of the Son of Man,” Mary asked the
brothers, “where ever will you keep them?”
“Sister,” the Lord answered her, “no one will be able to look into
these things except for someone who has a place for them in his heart
and is capable of coming forth from this realm and entering into the
place of life, that he might not be detained here in this world of
poverty.”
Matthew said, “Lord, I would like to see that place of life, that place
where there is no evil, but only pure light exists!” The Lord answered
him, “Brother Matthew, you will never be able to see it as long as you
are wearing this flesh.” Matthew said, “Lord, even if I will not be able
to see it, allow me to discern it!” The Lord said, “All who have come to
know themselves have recognized within themselves all that has been given to themselves alone to do, and they have come to resemble it in
their virtue.”
“Lord,” said Judas, “tell me, what causes the shaking that moves the
earth?” And picking up a stone, the Lord held it in his hand and
asked, “What am I holding in my hand?”
“It is a rock,” answered Judas. “What supports the earth,” Jesus
informed them, “is also what supports the heavens. When a word
issues forth from the Greatness, it moves along that which supports
the heaven and the earth. You see, it is not in fact the earth that
moves, for if it were the thing that moved, it would fall. This, however,
does not happen, lest the First Word should fail, for that was what
established the universe. Now the universe came into being within it
and received its fragrance from it. For whatever things remain
unmoved, I <will move> them on behalf of you, the sons of man.
That, you see, is your place of origin. You exist within the hearts of
those who speak from joy and truth. And even though it goes forth
among mankind from the very body of the Father, they are not
receptive to it. Even so, it goes back upward to its place.
“He who recognizes not the work of perfection knows nothing at all,
and one who does not stand in the darkness will never come to see the
light. Whoever understands not how fire was brought into being will
burn therein, for they do not know the root thereof. Whoever does not
first understand water understands nothing, so what good does it do
to baptize him? Whoever does not understand how the wind that
blows came into being will blow away with it. Whoever fails to
understand how the body that they carry around came into being will perish along with it. And how will he who knows not the Son ever
come to know the Father? As for anyone who will not know the root of
evil, he is not a stranger to it. Whoever will not know how he came
into being, will never know how he is to depart. He is no stranger to
this world, which will <perish, and> be humiliated.”
Then he took Judas, Matthew, and Mary <out to> the end of
heaven and earth. And after placing his hand upon them, they hoped
that they might come to see. Judas lifted up his eyes, and there he saw
a lofty place, and down below, a great abyss. Judas asked Matthew,
“Brother, who can hope to scale this height, or to go down into this
depth? For there is a great fire in that place, as well as a great terror.”
That very moment a Word came from it. And even as it stood there he
observed the way in which the Word came down. Then he asked it,
“Why have you come down to this place?” And greeting them, the Son of Man said, “A seed from a power was lacking, and it sank down into
the abyss of the earth. Then the Greatness remembered it and sent the
Word down to it. That Word brought it up into His presence, that the
First Word might not fail.” His disciples were amazed by all that he
had said and they received it all on faith. And they all came to see that
it was not necessary to look upon evil. Then he explained to his
disciples, “Did I not say to you that like a visible thunder, or the
flashing of lightning would the good be taken up to the light?”
Then all of his followers praised him and said, “Lord, who was there
to offer you praise before you came here to this place--for all praises
exist on your account? Or who is it that will offer you blessings--for all
good things proceed from you?” And even as they were standing
there, he saw two spirits carrying a single soul with them in a dazzling
bolt of lightning. And a word came from the Son of Man, saying,
“Present them with their garment!” The small became just like the great; these and the ones receiving them were just alike. <Then he
returned with the> disciples whom he had <taken up.>
“<Did you> see evil <among> them from the first <time they saw>
one another?” asked Mary. <“Yes I did,”> the Lord replied, <“and>
when you see them <unite and> become enormous, they will <all feign
their own importance.> But when you come to see the One Who lives forever, that is indeed the great vision.”
“Explain it to us!” they all implored. “How would you rather see it,”
he asked, “in a fleeting vision, or an eternal one?” He said, moreover,
“Try to save what can follow after you. Look for it and speak from
within it, so all that you seek for may be in harmony with you.
Because I am here to tell you, the Living God lives within you, <and
you live> within Him.”
“How truly I wish <to dwell in that place,”> said Judas. “The Living
God lives <within the one who is> whole,” the Lord answered,
<“whereas> the deficiency <resides within the empty.”>
Judas asked, “Who <will come to dwell therein?”> The Lord
answered him, <“Those who complete> the works that <remain to be
done. As for> that which remains, it is they who you <are to prepare
for victory over the angelic rulers.”>
“Behold,” said Judas, “the archons are above us, so they will be the
ones to rule over us!”
“You will be the ones to govern them,” Jesus countered, “but only
after you have rid yourselves of covetousness. Then you will don the
garments of light and enter into the bridal chamber.”
“How will our garments be brought to us?” asked Judas. “There are
some who will bring them to you,” the Lord answered, “and there are
others who will receive you. You see, they are the ones who will
provide you with your clothes. For who will be able to pass through
that place of retribution? Even so, the clothing of life has been given
to men since they see the path by which they must go. It is even a
challenge for me to pass through.” “Hence,” said Mary, “‘The Trouble
Of Each Day,’ and ‘The Worker Deserves His Wage,’ and ‘The Disciple
Is Like His Teacher.’” (She put forth these expressions as a woman
who understood them fully.)
The disciples then asked him, “What is this ‘fullness’ and what is
this ‘deficiency’?” “The ‘fullness,’” he said, “is where you came from,
whereas the ‘deficiency’ is the place where you currently dwell. But
look and see, how His light has poured down on me!”
“Lord,” asked Matthew, “tell me how the dead pass on, and the
living come alive!” The Lord answered him, “You have asked me about the saying; <‘You have shown me> what no eye has seen, nor
have I heard it from anyone but you.’ Nonetheless I say to you, a man
is referred to as ‘dead’ when what animates him is taken away. Now
when what is alive escapes from what is dead, it will then be called
‘alive’ again.”
Judas asked: “Why do these die and live again for the sake of
truth?” “What the truth brings forth is not what dies,” the Lord
replied. “That which is born of woman is the thing that dies.”
“Lord,” Mary asked him, “tell me, was I brought to this place to gain
a profit or to suffer a loss?” “You are here,” the Lord explained, “to
show forth the abundance of the Revealer!” “Is there any place, then,
that is unproductive, or in want of truth?” Mary inquired. “In the
place that I am not!” the Lord replied. “Lord,” said Mary, “you are
wonderful and fearsome; an all-consuming fire to those who do not
know you.”
Matthew asked, “Why can’t we all just rest right now?” The Lord
answered him, “Once you’ve laid these burdens down, your rest will
come.” Matthew asked, “How does the small become one with the
great?” The Lord replied, “You will indeed find rest once you have
abandoned the works that cannot follow after you.”
Mary said, “I would like to see all things as they truly are.” “Life is
the fortune for him that seeks it,” the Lord declared. “The pleasure
that this world provides is counterfeit; its gold and its silver are but a delusion.” His followers asked him, “What ought we to do to ensure that our
work comes to perfection?” “Be prepared in the face of all things,” the
Lord replied. “How blessed is the man who has recognized the war,
and has seen the battle with his own two eyes, for he has emerged
triumphantly, having neither killed nor suffered death.”
“Lord,” Judas inquired, “tell me where the path begins.” “With love
and with righteousness,” he answered us. “Had even one of these been
among the archons, evil never would have come into existence.”
“Lord,” said Matthew, “you have spoken openly about the end of all
things.” The Lord said, “You have understood and accepted on faith
all that I have said to you. They are yours as far as you can understand. If, however, you cannot comprehend them, they are not
for you to have.”
“What is this place that we are headed for?” they prodded him.
“Whatever place lies within your grasp, there you must stand,” said the
Lord. Mary asked, “Is it possible to see everything that is established in
this manner?” The Lord replied, “The one who sees is the one who
reveals, even as I have told you before.”
His twelve disciples questioned him, “Teacher, <where is the path
to the> peaceful <heart?> Teach us <how we are to attain it.>”
The Lord said, “If you have understood all that I have explained to
you, you will achieve immortality. You <are,> after all, <the path that
leads to> everything.”
Mary said, “There is but one word that I will speak to the Lord with
regard to the mystery of the truth in which we have come to stand: We
have been revealed to the cosmic beings.”
Judas said to Matthew, “We would like to understand the type of
garment with which we are to be clothed when we depart from this
corrupted flesh.” The Lord answered, “The archons and
administrators possess garments which have been given to them only
for a certain time, and which do not endure. You, however, as children
of truth, are not to array yourselves in these temporal vestments. You
will instead receive your blessing when you come to undress
yourselves! You see, it is no great thing <to strip yourselves and to
step> outside.”
<One of them> said, <“Lord,> speak <to us about ‘The Mustard
Seed.’”> The Lord replied, <“It has been sown by> your Father <and
it is He that brings it forth.”> “What is the nature of that mustard
seed?” Mary asked him. “Does it come from heaven, or from the
earth?” The Lord answered, “When the Father established the world
for Himself, He retained some things from the Mother of all, and this
inspires both His speaking and His actions.”
“This you have spoken from the mind of truth,” Judas remarked.
“When we pray, how should we do it?” “Pray in the place where there
is no woman,” the Lord replied. (“Now by telling us to pray in a place
388
where there is no woman,” said Matthew, “he means that we should
destroy the works of the female. This does not mean that there is
some other way of bringing forth, only that someday women will no
longer give birth.”) “They will never cease to exist!” Mary protested.
“Who is so sure that they won’t all dissolve,” the Lord replied, “their
works being undone in this place too?” (Now when Salome asked,
“How long will death continue to reign?” the Lord answered her, “As
long as you women continue to bear.” You see, the Savior has himself
affirmed, “I have come to undo the works of the female.” He does not
mean that procreation is bad, for such is necessary for the redemption
of those who believe. Furthermore, the Lord has said, “Whoever has taken a wife should never forsake her, but whoever has not done so
would be better off not getting married.” For in the Gospel of the
Egyptians many mysterious matters of this nature are passed down as
esoteric wisdom given secretly by the Savior, teaching his disciples
that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are a single One. The
Naassenes maintain that the soul is difficult to find and to become
familiar with. This is because it remains neither in a singular form,
nor does it conform to a particular aspect, and as such does not
possess a definite appearance such that any pattern or perception of it
could possibly describe it. Now since the Word had spoken of the end,
Salome was right to ask, “How long are men to suffer death?”
Scripture utilizes the word ‘man’ here in two ways; both as that of the
outward, visible form along with the soul, and also with reference to
the redeemed and the unredeemed alike. The impulse of the ‘male’ is
used to represent aggression, and the term ‘female’ is used to indicate
lusting. ‘Works’ signifies both birth and decay. This does not mean
that life is a bad thing or that the creation is evil, only that such is the
course of nature. You see, when Salome asked, “Then have I done well
by not having children?” The Lord replied, “You may eat of every
herb, but of the bitter one do not partake.” Let us all wait in constant
expectation of the arrival of the kingdom of God in love and
righteousness, for we do not know the day of God’s coming. For you
see, when Salome inquired of him, “Tell us when your kingdom will
come.” the Lord replied, “When you tread underfoot this covering of shame, and when the two should unite, the inner becoming one with
the outer, and when the male becomes neither male nor female with
regard to the female.” Whenever we speak the truth to one another,
you see, the two become one, for a single soul, free of all that is false,
occupies the two persons. As for the ‘outside’ being even as the
‘inside,’ here is the interpretation: With reference to what is within, he
means the soul, and with reference to what is without, he means the
physical body. So even as your body can be clearly seen, so also ought
you to make the character of your soul apparent through your good
works. Now when he says, ‘the male with regard to the female, neither
male nor female,’ he is saying, ‘when a brother looks upon a sister, he
ought not to think of her as female, and she likewise ought not to think
of him as male.’ Thus he assures us: “If you do these things, my
kingdom will appear.”)
Judas said to Matthew, “The works of the female will all dissolve.
<And when they see it,> the archons will call upon <their every
strength.> Is this how we are to become prepared for them?”
The Lord asked, “Can they honestly see you? Can they see the ones
receiving you? Behold! A Word is issuing from the Father silently
into the abyss, bringing forth like a lightning flash. Are they able to
see or overpower it? Not at all, for even now it remains to you! You
have known the way which no angel or power has ever seen. But it
belongs to the Father and the Son, for they are both a single <One.>
You will travel along the path that all of you have come to know, and
no matter how great the archons become, they will never be able to
attain to it. Even so, listen here--it is a burden even for me to do it.”
“When the works dissolve <into nothingness,”> Mary asked the
Lord, <“will it be your works> that dissolve a work?” The Lord
answered her, “Without question, for <the way> is known to each of
you. <Now> if I should dissolve <the works, they> will <each> go
back to their place.”
“How does the spirit appear?” asked Judas. “How does the sword
appear?” answered Jesus. “How does the light appear?” Judas probed.
The Lord said, <“You already exist> eternally within it.”
Judas asked, “Who forgives the works of whom? Those works which <will condemn> the world. <When the time of judgment comes
about,> who is it that forgives the works.” The Lord answered him,
“Who is it <that condemns?> It is fitting for one who has understood
the works to carry out the Father’s will. As for all of you, strive to rid
yourselves of anger and of envy. Also, strip yourselves of your
<worldliness,> and do not <seek after that which is not your own.(?)>
<...> <And do not waver when the time comes for you to> reproach
<the world.> For I say to you, <the archons will fall on you to strike
fear into your hearts.(?)> <...> <When> you take the <word of God
to yourselves(?)> you <will rest upon it, and the person> who has
sought, and has <come to understand> this, will rest <upon it also.>
He will live forevermore. And I say this to you <now, so that> your
spirits and your souls might not be led astray.” Then Jesus again said
to them, “Peace to you! I am sending you forth even as the Father has
sent me.” And after saying this, he breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit! The sins of those you have forgiven will
indeed be forgiven, and the sins of those you have not forgiven will
remain unforgiven.”
JESUS’ SECOND APPEARANCE TO THE TWELVE
(EpAp 11b,12; John 20:24-29)
Jerusalem
But Thomas, one of the twelve apostles--who is also known as
Didymus--was not there at the time that Jesus came. And when the other disciples informed him, “All of us have seen the Lord!” he
answered them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand, and place my
finger into them, and my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now after eight days had passed, all of the disciples were again
gathered together inside, and the doors were locked, and Thomas was
with them. Then Jesus came and stood in their midst, saying, “Peace
to you!” Now he presented himself to us in an ethereal form; and we,
imagining him to be a ghost, were startled and frightened, still not
believing that it could be him. But indeed it was the Lord, so he
questioned us, “Why are you so unsettled, and why do doubts arise in
your hearts? Come now, and have no fear. I am your master, your
teacher; the one you, Peter, denied three times before the crowing of the cock. Are you denying me yet again?”
And we approached him, doubting in our hearts whether it could
possibly be him. Then he asked us, “Why this stubborn refusal to
believe? Why are you so skeptical? Believe that I am the one who
spoke to you about my flesh, my death, and my resurrection. Now just
so that you might know it’s me, touch me, Peter, and you will see.
Place your hand on the nail prints in my hands, and your finger within
them.” And to Thomas he said, “As for you, Thomas, bring your finger
over and inspect my hands. Now bring your hand over and touch the
spear wound that was made in my side. Place your finger (and) your
hand therein, and be not doubtful, but believing!” And at this Thomas
confessed, “You are my Lord and my God!” “Thomas,” Jesus
questioned him, “does your faith rely on your having seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have yet believed. As for you, Andrew, look at my feet and see whether or not they touch the ground,
or leave a footprint. You see, in the prophet it stands written, ‘The foot
of a ghost or a demon neither touches the ground, (nor) leaves any
kind of print behind.’”
But now we touched him to know for sure whether he had truly
risen in the flesh, and when we had felt him and found that he had
indeed risen up bodily, we fell to our faces before him. And confessing
our sin, we asked that he forgive us for our faithlessness, for we had
not believed him. Then our Redeemer, the Lord and Savior said to us,
“Rise up now, and I will reveal to you all that is on the earth, and what
is in heaven, and even that which is above the heavens, including your
resurrection, the rest that exists in the kingdom of God, and just why it
is that my Father has sent me. My Father, you see, has given me
power to take you up, along with all who trust in me.”
(EpAp 11b,12; John 20:24-29)
Jerusalem
But Thomas, one of the twelve apostles--who is also known as
Didymus--was not there at the time that Jesus came. And when the other disciples informed him, “All of us have seen the Lord!” he
answered them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hand, and place my
finger into them, and my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now after eight days had passed, all of the disciples were again
gathered together inside, and the doors were locked, and Thomas was
with them. Then Jesus came and stood in their midst, saying, “Peace
to you!” Now he presented himself to us in an ethereal form; and we,
imagining him to be a ghost, were startled and frightened, still not
believing that it could be him. But indeed it was the Lord, so he
questioned us, “Why are you so unsettled, and why do doubts arise in
your hearts? Come now, and have no fear. I am your master, your
teacher; the one you, Peter, denied three times before the crowing of the cock. Are you denying me yet again?”
And we approached him, doubting in our hearts whether it could
possibly be him. Then he asked us, “Why this stubborn refusal to
believe? Why are you so skeptical? Believe that I am the one who
spoke to you about my flesh, my death, and my resurrection. Now just
so that you might know it’s me, touch me, Peter, and you will see.
Place your hand on the nail prints in my hands, and your finger within
them.” And to Thomas he said, “As for you, Thomas, bring your finger
over and inspect my hands. Now bring your hand over and touch the
spear wound that was made in my side. Place your finger (and) your
hand therein, and be not doubtful, but believing!” And at this Thomas
confessed, “You are my Lord and my God!” “Thomas,” Jesus
questioned him, “does your faith rely on your having seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have yet believed. As for you, Andrew, look at my feet and see whether or not they touch the ground,
or leave a footprint. You see, in the prophet it stands written, ‘The foot
of a ghost or a demon neither touches the ground, (nor) leaves any
kind of print behind.’”
But now we touched him to know for sure whether he had truly
risen in the flesh, and when we had felt him and found that he had
indeed risen up bodily, we fell to our faces before him. And confessing
our sin, we asked that he forgive us for our faithlessness, for we had
not believed him. Then our Redeemer, the Lord and Savior said to us,
“Rise up now, and I will reveal to you all that is on the earth, and what
is in heaven, and even that which is above the heavens, including your
resurrection, the rest that exists in the kingdom of God, and just why it
is that my Father has sent me. My Father, you see, has given me
power to take you up, along with all who trust in me.”
THE MISSION OF THE APOSTLES
(EpAp 13-30)
Jerusalem?
Now this is what he revealed to us: “It so happened that when I had
nearly reached this place, even as I was passing through the heavens,
on my way down from the Father of all, I put on the wisdom of the
Father and clothed myself in His power and might; and when I was in
392
the heavens, I was like the heavens. I passed by the angels and
archangels, and being like them in appearance, I passed by the Orders
and Dominions, Princes and Powers, possessing in full measure the
wisdom of the Father Who sent me. But Michael, who ranks highest
among the angels, followed after me. And archangels Gabriel, Uriel,
and Raphael, followed me secretly as well, until we arrived at the fifth
heavenly plane, in their hearts believing me to be among their ranks,
my appearance being like theirs. The Father Himself had given me
this power. Then I graced the archangels with the voice of wonder,
distracting them all and summoning them to ascend before the altar of
the Father to complete the service of their work until such time as I
should return to Him. And it was as the image of His wisdom that I
did this. I became the all within the all among them, you see, that I
might return to the glory of the Father of Majesty, having brought
about the merciful will of the One Who sent me. Are you aware that
the angel Gabriel came down bringing the Word to Mary?” “Yes,
Lord,” we answered him. So he continued, “Now do you recall me
saying to you that I became like an angel among the angels?” And we answered him, “Yes, Lord.” “Back then,” he revealed to us, “it was I
who appeared to the Virgin Mary, and it was I who spoke with her,
transforming myself into the image of the archangel Gabriel. With
faith and laughter did she accept me into her heart. And I, the Word,
transformed myself and entered her womb and became flesh. And
with regard to Mary, I became a servant to myself, appearing in the
semblance of an angel. Even so will I do after I rise again to my
Father.
“Now you must observe my passing. If, at the time of Passover, you
should commemorate the memorial of my death, then one of you
standing here with me will be thrown into prison for the sake of my
name. And he will be in great distress and sorrow, lamenting in
distant isolation from you even as you are observing it. For the one
who is confined will regret that he cannot keep it with you. Now I will
send my own power in the form of the angel Gabriel, and the prison
doors will be opened up. He will slip away and come to keep the all
night vigil with you, and remain with you until the crowing of the cock. But at the cock’s crow, the completion of my Agape and of my
remembrance, he will once again be taken away and thrown into
prison for a testimony until the time comes for him to leave that place
and begin to preach what I have given you in the way that I have
instructed you.” And we asked him, “Lord, have you not yet finished
the drinking of the Passover? Do we, perchance, have to take the cup
and drink once more?” And he answered us, “As a matter of fact, it is
essential to do so until such time as I return with those who have
suffered martyrdom for my sake.” And we said, “Oh Lord, what you
are now saying to us is great, as is what you have said before. So in
what form or power are you about to come?” “How truly do I say to
you,” he answered us, “that on the wings of clouds will I come, bearing
me in glory and bursting forth with a sevenfold brightness--even as
the sun--and my cross going before me. I will come down upon the
earth to pass judgment on the living and the dead.”
And we asked him, “Lord, how many years remain until this
happens?” He answered us, “The coming of the Father will take place
at the completion of the one hundred and fiftieth year, between
Pentecost and Passover, after the hundredth and the twentieth part
have passed.” (The fulfillment of [these] number[s], you see,
corresponds to his crucifixion and his resurrection.) “Now Lord,” we
said, “up to now you have only told us that you were coming, but just
now you said that He Who sent you would come. So how can you say,
‘It will be the One Who sent me who will come’?” “I am entirely within
my Father,” he explained to us, “and my Father is entirely within me.”
Then we asked him, “Are you really going to leave us until the time
of your return? Where ever will we find a teacher?” “Do you not understand,” he answered us, “that even up to now I exist both here
and there with the One Who sent me?” “Lord,” we asked him, “is it
really possible for you to exist both here and there at the same time?”
And he said, “I am entirely within the Father, and the Father is within
me. I exist after His image and His likeness, after His power, His
perfection, and His light.” (Now when he said, “I am His perfect Word
in its fullest sense,” this indicates the work that he did by means of the
flesh, even as he said after his crucifixion, when he had died and risen up.) “To Him,” (he continued,) “I have become something like this: I
am the perfect thought in the form of a type. Now I came into being
on the eighth day, (which is the Lord’s.) But through my own
redemption you will come to perceive the wonders, and His image,
and every thing in its perfection--the completion of all things and their conclusion as well. Then you will see me rise again to my heavenly
Father, Who is in the sky. Now behold, I am giving you a new
command; love one another and defer to one another so that peace
might always be with you. Show love to your adversaries, and do to no
one else what you would not have done to you. Preach this and teach
it among those whose faith is in me. Proclaim the celestial kingdom of
my Father; and even as my Father has empowered me, so also do I
empower you, that you might bring near the children of the heavenly
Father.
“If you preach this, they will believe you! It is your duty to lead His
children into heaven!” But we asked him, “Lord, certainly you can do
all that you have bidden us to; but just how are we supposed to do it?”
“I am telling you the truth,” he said, “preach it and teach it, for I will
be there at your side. You see, I am more than pleased to remain with
you, helping you to become my fellow heirs in the kingdom of heaven,
which belongs to Him Who sent me. I am telling you the truth, you
will be my friends and brothers, for my Father has delighted in both
you and those who will come to believe in me through you. I say to
you most emphatically, such a great and wondrous joy has my Father
prepared for you that the angels and authorities have long desired,
(and still) desire to look upon it and perceive! But they will not be
given the vision of my Father’s glory.” “Oh Lord,” we asked him,
“what is the meaning of all you are saying?” “You are going to see a
light that is brighter than any other light that shines,” he replied, “and
even more perfect than perfection itself; and the Father of light will perfect the Son. You see, the Father is Perfection itself; and it is
through death and resurrection that the Son is made perfect. So the
one feat, in fact, outshines the other, and I am in all regards the right
hand of the Father, for I exist within the One Who accomplishes; the
fullness of the Father <who sent> me.” “But Lord,” the twelve of us responded, “you have become our life and our salvation, even as you
speak such hopeful words to us!” “Believe in it, and take courage in
it,” he advised us, “and may peace dwell within your hearts, for truly
do I say to you that there exists such a rest in store for you in heaven,
that place where there is no eating or drinking, no mourning or
merrymaking, no worldly concerns, no garment of flesh and no
perishing of those who dwell therein. You will not exist as part of the
creation below, but you imperishable ones are to receive a share in,
and to dwell within the incorruptibility of my Father. And even as I
remain continually within the Father, so also does your place of rest lie
within me.” “Will we appear in the form of an angel,” we asked him, “or that of the flesh?” “Behold,” he said, “I have put on that flesh of
yours. I was born with it, crucified with it, buried with it, and through
my heavenly Father, rose again with it. This happened to fulfill the
oracle that the prophet David spoke of me, foretelling of both my
death and my resurrection:
‘Oh Lord, how those who strive
With me have multiplied,
And how many are those
Who rise against me.
Many are those who say to my soul,
“God will never come to your aid.”
But You, Oh Lord, are my protection and my glory;
Even the One Who lifts up my head.
Then my voice cried out to God,
And from the mount of His sanctuary
He heard me.
I lay down and slept, and I arose,
For God Himself had raised me up.
You, Oh Lord, are my refuge.
I had no fear of the multitudes
Who rose up against me and hedged me about.
Rise up and deliver me now,
Oh, my Lord and my God!
For You have smitten and cast to the ground All who have hated me for no good cause.
You have trampled them beneath Your feet,
And You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation comes from God alone.
May You sanctify Your own.’
“All that the prophets have spoken has thus been completed, taking
place and having its fulfillment in me. I was within them, you see,
(and) I myself spoke through them, so with how much more certainty
will what I have disclosed to you truly happen, so that you and all who
believe in me might bring glory to the One Who sent me!”
But after saying all of this to us, we said, “Lord, you have shown us
mercy and it is on your account that we are saved. You have shown us
all these things; but if it should seem good to you, we would like to ask
you a question.” And Jesus answered us, “I realize that you are
listening closely and that you long to hear, for truly you will all endure,
and even as you listen to me your hearts all fill with joy. Look, ask me
anything you’d like to know. As long as you listen close to what I say, it will be my pleasure to speak well with you. How truly do I say to
you, even as the Father has awakened me from out of death, so also
will you rise up in the flesh. He will transport you to that place that is
above the heavens about which I have spoken to you from the first,
prepared for you by the One Who sent me here. And this is how I will
bring to pass all that has been arranged for your salvation--and it is
with this in mind that I have brought mercy to its perfection. For
being unbegotten, I was born of mankind, and as one who was without
flesh have I worn the flesh and grown up in it. You see, I came to
regenerate you who were begotten in the flesh, that through your
regeneration you might gain in your fleshly resurrection an
imperishable garment. For my Father has delighted in you, and in all
of those who hope and place their faith in Him. And I will awaken the
hope of the kingdom in whomever I please.” At that point we all
remarked, “How great is the hope that you inspire, and the way in
which you speak!” And he responded, “Do you believe that everything
I am telling you will truly happen?” And we answered him, “Yes Lord,
we do.” “I am telling you the truth,” he said, “my Father has given me complete authority to draw all of those who are in darkness into the
light and all of those who are in corruptibility into incorruptibility, and
those who are in falsehood into righteousness, and those who are in
death into life, and those who are in captivity into freedom. You see, it
is possible for God to do what mankind cannot. I am hope for the
hopeless, a helper for the needy, a treasure for the impoverished, a
physician for the ill, and the resurrection for the dead.”
And after saying this to us, we asked him, “Lord, will the flesh
indeed be judged with the soul and the spirit? Will the one indeed rest
in heaven while the other suffers a life of everlasting punishment?”
Then he asked us, “How long will you continue to prompt me for
answers?” “But Lord,” we again prodded him, “it is important that we
ask these things of you, since you have commanded us to preach,
prophesy and teach, that we might therefore become competent
preachers, able to teach them in such a way that they come to believe
in you, having learned the certainty of all things through you. This is
why we are asking you so many questions.” And he answered us,
“Truly do I say to you, the flesh of every man will rise up with his soul
and spirit still within.” And we asked him, “Lord, is it possible for
what has passed away and disappeared to live again (and) be made
whole? Now we are not asking this because we doubt, for such is not
impossible with you, for we believe all that you are saying either has
already happened or will someday happen.” “Oh you limited of faith,” he responded in wrath, “how long will you yet ask of me? Even so, do
not be afraid to ask me about what you would like to know;
ungrudgingly will I disclose it to you. Simply keep my commandments
and do as I say to you without hesitation. Hold nothing back, and do
not show respect of persons nor avert your eyes from anyone, that I
might not turn my face from you. Rather, serve in a straight, direct,
and narrow way. If you should do this, my Father will take great
pleasure in you all.” Again we said, “Lord, behold, we are taken with
distress. We know that we are annoying you with so many questions.”
At that point he answered us, “I know that in faith, with (and) from
your entire being do you inquire of me, and so I am delighted by you.
For truly do I say to you, that both myself and my Father within me are pleased that you prod and question me. I rejoice that you have the
boldness to do it, for it truly leads you into life.” But we were happy to
hear him answer this way, for he had spoken meekly to us. We
therefore urged him: “Lord, you have shown yourself gracious to us in
all things; giving us life by answering all that we have put to you. Will
you again reveal to us whatever we might ask of you?” Then he asked
us, “Is it the spirit or the flesh that passes away?” “What perishes is
the flesh,” we answered him. Then he said, “What has fallen will rise
again, what is lost will be found, and what languishes will bounce
back, that in so doing my Father’s glory might be revealed. And even
as He has done for me, so also will I do for you who believe in me. For
indeed I say to you, the soul will not rise up without the flesh so that
on that day an accounting might take place. This is so that they might
own up to their works, be they either good or bad, and face their
judgment accordingly, that a selection and presentation of those who
have been faithful and kept the command of the Father Who sent me
might thus be made. Then the judgment of bitterness will take place
in accordance with my Father’s will, Who said to me, ‘My Son, on
Judgment Day, you are not to fear the rich, nor out of pity are you to
spare the poor. No, you are to deliver each of them over to eternal
punishment according to their actions.’ But to my beloved, those who
have loved me back and have done as the Father Who sent me has
commanded, will I grant rest and life in my Father’s heavenly
kingdom. Look and see what authority He has given me. These will
also see the kind of power that the Father has given to me, that I might
achieve what I wish in the way that I desire, that I might give it to
those in whom I have awakened this hope, those to whom it is my will
to give and to provide it. And it was for this reason that I went down to the place of Lazarus and spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, preaching the good news to the righteous and the prophets, that they
might rise up out of the kind of repose that exists below to that which
lies above in heaven, as with you, extending to them the right hand of
the baptism of life, together with the remission of sins and the
deliverance from all that is wrong. And thus will I offer from this time
on to all who place their faith in me. Nevertheless, should someone
believe in me and not heed my commands, it will profit them nothing,
whatever their view of me might be. Such have run the course in vain,
and their lot will be error and destruction and a great and painful
punishment, since through their willful disregard they have sinned
against my command. But to you, and to all of those who place their
trust in me have I granted to become the children of the light, (and) of
life in God, free from all evil, and the burden of the judgment, (and)
the power of the archons. And everything I have promised you, I will
give to all these others too, that they might escape from the prison, the
fetters (and) the spears of the archons--and also from their blazing
fire!” And at that we said to him, “Lord, you have caused us to rejoice
and have given us rest, (and) life, (and) <have bolstered> our faith
with amazing works. For in all truth have you preached to our fathers
and the prophets, and even so do you preach to us and to all of
mankind. Will you now teach us as you taught them?” Then he
informed us, “Indeed I say to you and to all who have trusted in me,
and to all who will come to believe in the One Who sent me, that I will
lead you up and into heaven, to the place which my Father has
prepared for the chosen and the most chosen, and the kingdom of the
elect in the promised rest, and I will give you endless life. As for those
who have sinned against my commandments, teaching something else
instead, adding to and taking from them, to inflate their own
greatness, who if as a result should estrange and destroy those who
believe in me in truth, will I give over to eternal destruction.”
But we asked him, “Lord, will others <put forth a> grievance and
bring about another teaching besides that which you have given us?”
“Just as there are those who do what is appropriate and beautiful,” he
answered us, “so also must the wicked come, that both good and evil
might be made known. Then a just trial will take place in which these
will be given over to destruction (and) death, in accordance with their
works and deeds.” And again we said to him, “Lord, how joyful we are
to look on you and hear you speak such words to us, for our eyes have
seen all the wonders that you have worked.” And he answered us,
“How much more joyful are they who have not seen and have yet
believed, for they will be called the Children of the Kingdom. They are to be made perfect within the Perfect One, and in my Father’s
kingdom I will be their life forevermore.” Once again we questioned
him, “Lord, <seeing> that you are going to leave us, how will anyone
ever come to believe us, in light of the fact that you have informed us,
‘A day and an hour is coming when I will rise up to my Father’?” He
answered us, “Go and preach to the twelve tribes of Israel, and to the
Israelites among the Gentiles, from north to south (and) from south to
north; from the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west. Many will
believe in me, the Son of God.” But we asked him, “Lord, who will
believe the things we say? Who will even give us a hearing? How are
we to perform or teach or recount the signs, wonders, and powerful
works that you have done?” He answered, “Simply go and preach to
them, and teach everyone about my return, in the light of my Father’s
mercy. I will work through you even as the Father has worked through
me, since I will be there at your side. I will send my peace to you; my
spirit and my power, too. From my very power and spirit will I enable
you to prophesy to them unto eternal life. That is how it will be with
you--and they will believe you! Indeed, to these also will this power be
given and passed along, that they might teach it to the Gentiles in
turn.”
(EpAp 13-30)
Jerusalem?
Now this is what he revealed to us: “It so happened that when I had
nearly reached this place, even as I was passing through the heavens,
on my way down from the Father of all, I put on the wisdom of the
Father and clothed myself in His power and might; and when I was in
392
the heavens, I was like the heavens. I passed by the angels and
archangels, and being like them in appearance, I passed by the Orders
and Dominions, Princes and Powers, possessing in full measure the
wisdom of the Father Who sent me. But Michael, who ranks highest
among the angels, followed after me. And archangels Gabriel, Uriel,
and Raphael, followed me secretly as well, until we arrived at the fifth
heavenly plane, in their hearts believing me to be among their ranks,
my appearance being like theirs. The Father Himself had given me
this power. Then I graced the archangels with the voice of wonder,
distracting them all and summoning them to ascend before the altar of
the Father to complete the service of their work until such time as I
should return to Him. And it was as the image of His wisdom that I
did this. I became the all within the all among them, you see, that I
might return to the glory of the Father of Majesty, having brought
about the merciful will of the One Who sent me. Are you aware that
the angel Gabriel came down bringing the Word to Mary?” “Yes,
Lord,” we answered him. So he continued, “Now do you recall me
saying to you that I became like an angel among the angels?” And we answered him, “Yes, Lord.” “Back then,” he revealed to us, “it was I
who appeared to the Virgin Mary, and it was I who spoke with her,
transforming myself into the image of the archangel Gabriel. With
faith and laughter did she accept me into her heart. And I, the Word,
transformed myself and entered her womb and became flesh. And
with regard to Mary, I became a servant to myself, appearing in the
semblance of an angel. Even so will I do after I rise again to my
Father.
“Now you must observe my passing. If, at the time of Passover, you
should commemorate the memorial of my death, then one of you
standing here with me will be thrown into prison for the sake of my
name. And he will be in great distress and sorrow, lamenting in
distant isolation from you even as you are observing it. For the one
who is confined will regret that he cannot keep it with you. Now I will
send my own power in the form of the angel Gabriel, and the prison
doors will be opened up. He will slip away and come to keep the all
night vigil with you, and remain with you until the crowing of the cock. But at the cock’s crow, the completion of my Agape and of my
remembrance, he will once again be taken away and thrown into
prison for a testimony until the time comes for him to leave that place
and begin to preach what I have given you in the way that I have
instructed you.” And we asked him, “Lord, have you not yet finished
the drinking of the Passover? Do we, perchance, have to take the cup
and drink once more?” And he answered us, “As a matter of fact, it is
essential to do so until such time as I return with those who have
suffered martyrdom for my sake.” And we said, “Oh Lord, what you
are now saying to us is great, as is what you have said before. So in
what form or power are you about to come?” “How truly do I say to
you,” he answered us, “that on the wings of clouds will I come, bearing
me in glory and bursting forth with a sevenfold brightness--even as
the sun--and my cross going before me. I will come down upon the
earth to pass judgment on the living and the dead.”
And we asked him, “Lord, how many years remain until this
happens?” He answered us, “The coming of the Father will take place
at the completion of the one hundred and fiftieth year, between
Pentecost and Passover, after the hundredth and the twentieth part
have passed.” (The fulfillment of [these] number[s], you see,
corresponds to his crucifixion and his resurrection.) “Now Lord,” we
said, “up to now you have only told us that you were coming, but just
now you said that He Who sent you would come. So how can you say,
‘It will be the One Who sent me who will come’?” “I am entirely within
my Father,” he explained to us, “and my Father is entirely within me.”
Then we asked him, “Are you really going to leave us until the time
of your return? Where ever will we find a teacher?” “Do you not understand,” he answered us, “that even up to now I exist both here
and there with the One Who sent me?” “Lord,” we asked him, “is it
really possible for you to exist both here and there at the same time?”
And he said, “I am entirely within the Father, and the Father is within
me. I exist after His image and His likeness, after His power, His
perfection, and His light.” (Now when he said, “I am His perfect Word
in its fullest sense,” this indicates the work that he did by means of the
flesh, even as he said after his crucifixion, when he had died and risen up.) “To Him,” (he continued,) “I have become something like this: I
am the perfect thought in the form of a type. Now I came into being
on the eighth day, (which is the Lord’s.) But through my own
redemption you will come to perceive the wonders, and His image,
and every thing in its perfection--the completion of all things and their conclusion as well. Then you will see me rise again to my heavenly
Father, Who is in the sky. Now behold, I am giving you a new
command; love one another and defer to one another so that peace
might always be with you. Show love to your adversaries, and do to no
one else what you would not have done to you. Preach this and teach
it among those whose faith is in me. Proclaim the celestial kingdom of
my Father; and even as my Father has empowered me, so also do I
empower you, that you might bring near the children of the heavenly
Father.
“If you preach this, they will believe you! It is your duty to lead His
children into heaven!” But we asked him, “Lord, certainly you can do
all that you have bidden us to; but just how are we supposed to do it?”
“I am telling you the truth,” he said, “preach it and teach it, for I will
be there at your side. You see, I am more than pleased to remain with
you, helping you to become my fellow heirs in the kingdom of heaven,
which belongs to Him Who sent me. I am telling you the truth, you
will be my friends and brothers, for my Father has delighted in both
you and those who will come to believe in me through you. I say to
you most emphatically, such a great and wondrous joy has my Father
prepared for you that the angels and authorities have long desired,
(and still) desire to look upon it and perceive! But they will not be
given the vision of my Father’s glory.” “Oh Lord,” we asked him,
“what is the meaning of all you are saying?” “You are going to see a
light that is brighter than any other light that shines,” he replied, “and
even more perfect than perfection itself; and the Father of light will perfect the Son. You see, the Father is Perfection itself; and it is
through death and resurrection that the Son is made perfect. So the
one feat, in fact, outshines the other, and I am in all regards the right
hand of the Father, for I exist within the One Who accomplishes; the
fullness of the Father <who sent> me.” “But Lord,” the twelve of us responded, “you have become our life and our salvation, even as you
speak such hopeful words to us!” “Believe in it, and take courage in
it,” he advised us, “and may peace dwell within your hearts, for truly
do I say to you that there exists such a rest in store for you in heaven,
that place where there is no eating or drinking, no mourning or
merrymaking, no worldly concerns, no garment of flesh and no
perishing of those who dwell therein. You will not exist as part of the
creation below, but you imperishable ones are to receive a share in,
and to dwell within the incorruptibility of my Father. And even as I
remain continually within the Father, so also does your place of rest lie
within me.” “Will we appear in the form of an angel,” we asked him, “or that of the flesh?” “Behold,” he said, “I have put on that flesh of
yours. I was born with it, crucified with it, buried with it, and through
my heavenly Father, rose again with it. This happened to fulfill the
oracle that the prophet David spoke of me, foretelling of both my
death and my resurrection:
‘Oh Lord, how those who strive
With me have multiplied,
And how many are those
Who rise against me.
Many are those who say to my soul,
“God will never come to your aid.”
But You, Oh Lord, are my protection and my glory;
Even the One Who lifts up my head.
Then my voice cried out to God,
And from the mount of His sanctuary
He heard me.
I lay down and slept, and I arose,
For God Himself had raised me up.
You, Oh Lord, are my refuge.
I had no fear of the multitudes
Who rose up against me and hedged me about.
Rise up and deliver me now,
Oh, my Lord and my God!
For You have smitten and cast to the ground All who have hated me for no good cause.
You have trampled them beneath Your feet,
And You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation comes from God alone.
May You sanctify Your own.’
“All that the prophets have spoken has thus been completed, taking
place and having its fulfillment in me. I was within them, you see,
(and) I myself spoke through them, so with how much more certainty
will what I have disclosed to you truly happen, so that you and all who
believe in me might bring glory to the One Who sent me!”
But after saying all of this to us, we said, “Lord, you have shown us
mercy and it is on your account that we are saved. You have shown us
all these things; but if it should seem good to you, we would like to ask
you a question.” And Jesus answered us, “I realize that you are
listening closely and that you long to hear, for truly you will all endure,
and even as you listen to me your hearts all fill with joy. Look, ask me
anything you’d like to know. As long as you listen close to what I say, it will be my pleasure to speak well with you. How truly do I say to
you, even as the Father has awakened me from out of death, so also
will you rise up in the flesh. He will transport you to that place that is
above the heavens about which I have spoken to you from the first,
prepared for you by the One Who sent me here. And this is how I will
bring to pass all that has been arranged for your salvation--and it is
with this in mind that I have brought mercy to its perfection. For
being unbegotten, I was born of mankind, and as one who was without
flesh have I worn the flesh and grown up in it. You see, I came to
regenerate you who were begotten in the flesh, that through your
regeneration you might gain in your fleshly resurrection an
imperishable garment. For my Father has delighted in you, and in all
of those who hope and place their faith in Him. And I will awaken the
hope of the kingdom in whomever I please.” At that point we all
remarked, “How great is the hope that you inspire, and the way in
which you speak!” And he responded, “Do you believe that everything
I am telling you will truly happen?” And we answered him, “Yes Lord,
we do.” “I am telling you the truth,” he said, “my Father has given me complete authority to draw all of those who are in darkness into the
light and all of those who are in corruptibility into incorruptibility, and
those who are in falsehood into righteousness, and those who are in
death into life, and those who are in captivity into freedom. You see, it
is possible for God to do what mankind cannot. I am hope for the
hopeless, a helper for the needy, a treasure for the impoverished, a
physician for the ill, and the resurrection for the dead.”
And after saying this to us, we asked him, “Lord, will the flesh
indeed be judged with the soul and the spirit? Will the one indeed rest
in heaven while the other suffers a life of everlasting punishment?”
Then he asked us, “How long will you continue to prompt me for
answers?” “But Lord,” we again prodded him, “it is important that we
ask these things of you, since you have commanded us to preach,
prophesy and teach, that we might therefore become competent
preachers, able to teach them in such a way that they come to believe
in you, having learned the certainty of all things through you. This is
why we are asking you so many questions.” And he answered us,
“Truly do I say to you, the flesh of every man will rise up with his soul
and spirit still within.” And we asked him, “Lord, is it possible for
what has passed away and disappeared to live again (and) be made
whole? Now we are not asking this because we doubt, for such is not
impossible with you, for we believe all that you are saying either has
already happened or will someday happen.” “Oh you limited of faith,” he responded in wrath, “how long will you yet ask of me? Even so, do
not be afraid to ask me about what you would like to know;
ungrudgingly will I disclose it to you. Simply keep my commandments
and do as I say to you without hesitation. Hold nothing back, and do
not show respect of persons nor avert your eyes from anyone, that I
might not turn my face from you. Rather, serve in a straight, direct,
and narrow way. If you should do this, my Father will take great
pleasure in you all.” Again we said, “Lord, behold, we are taken with
distress. We know that we are annoying you with so many questions.”
At that point he answered us, “I know that in faith, with (and) from
your entire being do you inquire of me, and so I am delighted by you.
For truly do I say to you, that both myself and my Father within me are pleased that you prod and question me. I rejoice that you have the
boldness to do it, for it truly leads you into life.” But we were happy to
hear him answer this way, for he had spoken meekly to us. We
therefore urged him: “Lord, you have shown yourself gracious to us in
all things; giving us life by answering all that we have put to you. Will
you again reveal to us whatever we might ask of you?” Then he asked
us, “Is it the spirit or the flesh that passes away?” “What perishes is
the flesh,” we answered him. Then he said, “What has fallen will rise
again, what is lost will be found, and what languishes will bounce
back, that in so doing my Father’s glory might be revealed. And even
as He has done for me, so also will I do for you who believe in me. For
indeed I say to you, the soul will not rise up without the flesh so that
on that day an accounting might take place. This is so that they might
own up to their works, be they either good or bad, and face their
judgment accordingly, that a selection and presentation of those who
have been faithful and kept the command of the Father Who sent me
might thus be made. Then the judgment of bitterness will take place
in accordance with my Father’s will, Who said to me, ‘My Son, on
Judgment Day, you are not to fear the rich, nor out of pity are you to
spare the poor. No, you are to deliver each of them over to eternal
punishment according to their actions.’ But to my beloved, those who
have loved me back and have done as the Father Who sent me has
commanded, will I grant rest and life in my Father’s heavenly
kingdom. Look and see what authority He has given me. These will
also see the kind of power that the Father has given to me, that I might
achieve what I wish in the way that I desire, that I might give it to
those in whom I have awakened this hope, those to whom it is my will
to give and to provide it. And it was for this reason that I went down to the place of Lazarus and spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, preaching the good news to the righteous and the prophets, that they
might rise up out of the kind of repose that exists below to that which
lies above in heaven, as with you, extending to them the right hand of
the baptism of life, together with the remission of sins and the
deliverance from all that is wrong. And thus will I offer from this time
on to all who place their faith in me. Nevertheless, should someone
believe in me and not heed my commands, it will profit them nothing,
whatever their view of me might be. Such have run the course in vain,
and their lot will be error and destruction and a great and painful
punishment, since through their willful disregard they have sinned
against my command. But to you, and to all of those who place their
trust in me have I granted to become the children of the light, (and) of
life in God, free from all evil, and the burden of the judgment, (and)
the power of the archons. And everything I have promised you, I will
give to all these others too, that they might escape from the prison, the
fetters (and) the spears of the archons--and also from their blazing
fire!” And at that we said to him, “Lord, you have caused us to rejoice
and have given us rest, (and) life, (and) <have bolstered> our faith
with amazing works. For in all truth have you preached to our fathers
and the prophets, and even so do you preach to us and to all of
mankind. Will you now teach us as you taught them?” Then he
informed us, “Indeed I say to you and to all who have trusted in me,
and to all who will come to believe in the One Who sent me, that I will
lead you up and into heaven, to the place which my Father has
prepared for the chosen and the most chosen, and the kingdom of the
elect in the promised rest, and I will give you endless life. As for those
who have sinned against my commandments, teaching something else
instead, adding to and taking from them, to inflate their own
greatness, who if as a result should estrange and destroy those who
believe in me in truth, will I give over to eternal destruction.”
But we asked him, “Lord, will others <put forth a> grievance and
bring about another teaching besides that which you have given us?”
“Just as there are those who do what is appropriate and beautiful,” he
answered us, “so also must the wicked come, that both good and evil
might be made known. Then a just trial will take place in which these
will be given over to destruction (and) death, in accordance with their
works and deeds.” And again we said to him, “Lord, how joyful we are
to look on you and hear you speak such words to us, for our eyes have
seen all the wonders that you have worked.” And he answered us,
“How much more joyful are they who have not seen and have yet
believed, for they will be called the Children of the Kingdom. They are to be made perfect within the Perfect One, and in my Father’s
kingdom I will be their life forevermore.” Once again we questioned
him, “Lord, <seeing> that you are going to leave us, how will anyone
ever come to believe us, in light of the fact that you have informed us,
‘A day and an hour is coming when I will rise up to my Father’?” He
answered us, “Go and preach to the twelve tribes of Israel, and to the
Israelites among the Gentiles, from north to south (and) from south to
north; from the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west. Many will
believe in me, the Son of God.” But we asked him, “Lord, who will
believe the things we say? Who will even give us a hearing? How are
we to perform or teach or recount the signs, wonders, and powerful
works that you have done?” He answered, “Simply go and preach to
them, and teach everyone about my return, in the light of my Father’s
mercy. I will work through you even as the Father has worked through
me, since I will be there at your side. I will send my peace to you; my
spirit and my power, too. From my very power and spirit will I enable
you to prophesy to them unto eternal life. That is how it will be with
you--and they will believe you! Indeed, to these also will this power be
given and passed along, that they might teach it to the Gentiles in
turn.”
THE GOSPEL OF MARY
(GMary, GPh 28, 48b)
Jerusalem?
{Six pages are missing from the manuscript.}
<One of the disciples asked the Savior,> “Will matter be destroyed
or not?”
“Every nature,” replied the Savior, “every formation, and every
creature exists within and among one another. Each will, in turn, be
resolved again into its own root, for into its original root does the
essence of all matter return. Whoever has ears to hear, had better
hear!”
Peter said, “Since you have been revealing all things to us, describe
to us also the sin of the world.”
“The ‘sin’ does not lie in this world,” the Savior replied. “It is you
who bring sin about through your pursuit of the adulterous nature,
and this creates the perception of sin. It was to restore every essence
of every nature to its proper root that the Good came down to be with
you.” “This is why sickness and death remain with you,” he continued,
“for you give yourselves over to the thing that misleads you. Whoever
has a mind that can grasp this, let him understand. Matter brought
passion into existence, and this passion had no counterpart since it
came into being against nature. Then a disturbance arose in the entire
body, which was why I told you to be of good cheer, and not to
conform yourselves to this flesh, but to that other image of nature
instead. Whoever has ears that hear, let him hear.” After saying all these things, the Blessed One said to them all,
“Peace to you! Make a place within you for my peace. Be on the
lookout for anyone who leads you astray by saying, ‘Look, over here!’
or, ‘Look, over there!’ For the Son of Man lies within yourselves, so
you must seek after him. Those who search for him will discover him.
Now go out and preach the gospel of the kingdom! And do not be like
the lawgiver, laying down rules beyond those that I have given you, or
else they will come to dominate you.” And after speaking these words,
he left their presence.
But all of them were deeply saddened, and through their tears they
asked, “How are we supposed to go out to the Gentiles and preach the kingdom of the Son of Man? How ever will we escape when they did
not even spare him?” Then Mary, standing up and addressing them
all, said to her brothers, “Weep not! Do not be sad or lose resolve, for
his grace will always be with you, protecting you at all times. Let us
instead give praise to his greatness, for he has readied us all and put us
in touch with our true humanity.” And after she had spoken this, she
turned their thoughts toward the good, and they started discussing the
words of the Savior.
(Now there were three Marys who walked with Jesus: his mother,
his sister, and Mary Magdalene, who was called his companion. His
sister, his mother, and his companion were all called “Mary.” But
Mary Magdalene <was his> companion, and <he loved> her more
than any of the disciples, and he would often kiss her <on the mouth.>
<This would offend> the other disciples, <and they used to openly
disapprove.> “Why,” they would ask, “do you love her more than the
rest of us?” The Savior answered them, “Why is my love for you not
like my love for her?” If a blind man should stand in darkness
alongside someone who can see, what difference is there between the
two. But when at last the light breaks forth, the one with sight will see
the light, but the blind one will remain in darkness.”)
“Sister,” Peter questioned Mary, “we know how the Savior favored
you above all other women. Tell us what you know and recall of the
words that the Savior spoke to you; things that we have not yet known,
nor have we so much as heard before.” “I will reveal to you all that is hidden from you,” answered Mary. And she thus began to speak to
them: “I was given a vision of the Lord. And I said to him, ‘Lord, this
very day have I seen you in a vision!’ ‘How blessed you are for not
wavering at the sight of me,’ he answered her, ‘for the treasure is in the
same place as is the mind.’ ‘Lord,’ I asked, ‘is it through the soul or the
spirit that the one who sees a vision experiences it?’ ‘It is through
neither the soul nor the spirit that he comes to see,’ the Lord replied.
‘It is through the mind instead, which exists between these two that
the vision is experienced. And it is <through the mind that the soul
and the spirit come together.’” (And Mary continued to relate the
hidden things of the Lord to them.)>
{Four pages are missing from the manuscript.}
<(Then she related a vision of the soul’s passage to them.) “After
meeting up with and overcoming the first power, which is called
Darkness, the soul approached the second power, which is called
Desire, and spoke with> it. And Desire said, ‘I never saw you going
down, yet now I see you going up. Why are you lying to me? You therefore belong to me!’ But the soul responded, ‘You neither saw, nor
recognized me, but I saw you! You have confused my true self with the
clothing that I wore. You never saw me for who I was.’ The soul, after
saying these things, went away rejoicing.
“Then it came to the third power, which is called Ignorance. After
closely examining the soul, it demanded, ‘Where do you think that you
are going? You are caught up in fornication! You dare not pass
judgment, therefore, because you are bound up in it!’ And the soul
responded, ‘How can you judge me when I have not myself passed
judgment? I have indeed been bound up, but I have not bound up
other people. No one ever recognized me. Even so, I have recognized
the dissolution of all things, both of heaven and of earth.’
“After overcoming the third power, it went on up to and beheld the
fourth, which was sevenfold in its appearance. The first form being
Darkness, the second, Desire, the third, Ignorance, the fourth, the
Impulse toward Death, the fifth, the Empire of the Flesh, the sixth,
Foolish Fleshly Logic, and the seventh is the Wisdom of Wrath. These
are the seven Wrathful Powers. They posed these questions to the soul: ‘Where have you come from, you slayer of men?’ and ‘Where are
you headed, you conqueror of space?’ ‘What had me bound up has
been vanquished,’ the soul replied, ‘and what had me hedged about
has been undone. Desire has lost its grip on me, and my ignorance has
died. I was released from this world as an eternal one, and as a type
from the type have I been freed from the fleeting fetters of oblivion.
From this time and forevermore, throughout the season and the
fullness of the age, I will rest in silence.’”
And after saying all this, Mary fell silent, for it was up to this point
that the Savior had spoken to her. But Andrew complained to the
brothers, saying, “You can say what you like about the things she just
said, but I for one do not believe that the Savior said all that. Come
on, what do you suppose? For these things seem vastly different from
his thinking, (and) these teachings certainly contain some strange
ideas!” And Peter seconded, speaking out against these things. He
asked them all with regard to the Savior, “Has he really disclosed all of
these things secretly to a woman without speaking them openly to us?
Are we supposed to turn around and start listening to the likes of her?
Does he honestly prefer her to us?”
And through her tears, Mary questioned Peter, “What are you
thinking, brother Peter? Do you imagine that I have conjured all of
this up out of my own heart, or that I am telling lies about the Savior?”
Levi cut in, saying to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hottempered; ever inclining toward anger and constantly giving way to it.
And even now that is exactly what you are doing, questioning her as
though you were her enemy. Are you now going to attack this woman
as if she were one of the adversaries? If the Savior thought her to be
worthy, then who are you to dismiss her? For he knew her fully and
loved her devotedly, and it is because the Savior knows her so well that
he loves her more than he does us. Let us therefore be ashamed and
clothe ourselves in our ideal humanity. Let us all be on our way and
preach the gospel as the Savior has commanded, not laying down any
rules or laws beyond those which he laid down for us.” And after
hearing this, they went and started to publish and to preach.
(GMary, GPh 28, 48b)
Jerusalem?
{Six pages are missing from the manuscript.}
<One of the disciples asked the Savior,> “Will matter be destroyed
or not?”
“Every nature,” replied the Savior, “every formation, and every
creature exists within and among one another. Each will, in turn, be
resolved again into its own root, for into its original root does the
essence of all matter return. Whoever has ears to hear, had better
hear!”
Peter said, “Since you have been revealing all things to us, describe
to us also the sin of the world.”
“The ‘sin’ does not lie in this world,” the Savior replied. “It is you
who bring sin about through your pursuit of the adulterous nature,
and this creates the perception of sin. It was to restore every essence
of every nature to its proper root that the Good came down to be with
you.” “This is why sickness and death remain with you,” he continued,
“for you give yourselves over to the thing that misleads you. Whoever
has a mind that can grasp this, let him understand. Matter brought
passion into existence, and this passion had no counterpart since it
came into being against nature. Then a disturbance arose in the entire
body, which was why I told you to be of good cheer, and not to
conform yourselves to this flesh, but to that other image of nature
instead. Whoever has ears that hear, let him hear.” After saying all these things, the Blessed One said to them all,
“Peace to you! Make a place within you for my peace. Be on the
lookout for anyone who leads you astray by saying, ‘Look, over here!’
or, ‘Look, over there!’ For the Son of Man lies within yourselves, so
you must seek after him. Those who search for him will discover him.
Now go out and preach the gospel of the kingdom! And do not be like
the lawgiver, laying down rules beyond those that I have given you, or
else they will come to dominate you.” And after speaking these words,
he left their presence.
But all of them were deeply saddened, and through their tears they
asked, “How are we supposed to go out to the Gentiles and preach the kingdom of the Son of Man? How ever will we escape when they did
not even spare him?” Then Mary, standing up and addressing them
all, said to her brothers, “Weep not! Do not be sad or lose resolve, for
his grace will always be with you, protecting you at all times. Let us
instead give praise to his greatness, for he has readied us all and put us
in touch with our true humanity.” And after she had spoken this, she
turned their thoughts toward the good, and they started discussing the
words of the Savior.
(Now there were three Marys who walked with Jesus: his mother,
his sister, and Mary Magdalene, who was called his companion. His
sister, his mother, and his companion were all called “Mary.” But
Mary Magdalene <was his> companion, and <he loved> her more
than any of the disciples, and he would often kiss her <on the mouth.>
<This would offend> the other disciples, <and they used to openly
disapprove.> “Why,” they would ask, “do you love her more than the
rest of us?” The Savior answered them, “Why is my love for you not
like my love for her?” If a blind man should stand in darkness
alongside someone who can see, what difference is there between the
two. But when at last the light breaks forth, the one with sight will see
the light, but the blind one will remain in darkness.”)
“Sister,” Peter questioned Mary, “we know how the Savior favored
you above all other women. Tell us what you know and recall of the
words that the Savior spoke to you; things that we have not yet known,
nor have we so much as heard before.” “I will reveal to you all that is hidden from you,” answered Mary. And she thus began to speak to
them: “I was given a vision of the Lord. And I said to him, ‘Lord, this
very day have I seen you in a vision!’ ‘How blessed you are for not
wavering at the sight of me,’ he answered her, ‘for the treasure is in the
same place as is the mind.’ ‘Lord,’ I asked, ‘is it through the soul or the
spirit that the one who sees a vision experiences it?’ ‘It is through
neither the soul nor the spirit that he comes to see,’ the Lord replied.
‘It is through the mind instead, which exists between these two that
the vision is experienced. And it is <through the mind that the soul
and the spirit come together.’” (And Mary continued to relate the
hidden things of the Lord to them.)>
{Four pages are missing from the manuscript.}
<(Then she related a vision of the soul’s passage to them.) “After
meeting up with and overcoming the first power, which is called
Darkness, the soul approached the second power, which is called
Desire, and spoke with> it. And Desire said, ‘I never saw you going
down, yet now I see you going up. Why are you lying to me? You therefore belong to me!’ But the soul responded, ‘You neither saw, nor
recognized me, but I saw you! You have confused my true self with the
clothing that I wore. You never saw me for who I was.’ The soul, after
saying these things, went away rejoicing.
“Then it came to the third power, which is called Ignorance. After
closely examining the soul, it demanded, ‘Where do you think that you
are going? You are caught up in fornication! You dare not pass
judgment, therefore, because you are bound up in it!’ And the soul
responded, ‘How can you judge me when I have not myself passed
judgment? I have indeed been bound up, but I have not bound up
other people. No one ever recognized me. Even so, I have recognized
the dissolution of all things, both of heaven and of earth.’
“After overcoming the third power, it went on up to and beheld the
fourth, which was sevenfold in its appearance. The first form being
Darkness, the second, Desire, the third, Ignorance, the fourth, the
Impulse toward Death, the fifth, the Empire of the Flesh, the sixth,
Foolish Fleshly Logic, and the seventh is the Wisdom of Wrath. These
are the seven Wrathful Powers. They posed these questions to the soul: ‘Where have you come from, you slayer of men?’ and ‘Where are
you headed, you conqueror of space?’ ‘What had me bound up has
been vanquished,’ the soul replied, ‘and what had me hedged about
has been undone. Desire has lost its grip on me, and my ignorance has
died. I was released from this world as an eternal one, and as a type
from the type have I been freed from the fleeting fetters of oblivion.
From this time and forevermore, throughout the season and the
fullness of the age, I will rest in silence.’”
And after saying all this, Mary fell silent, for it was up to this point
that the Savior had spoken to her. But Andrew complained to the
brothers, saying, “You can say what you like about the things she just
said, but I for one do not believe that the Savior said all that. Come
on, what do you suppose? For these things seem vastly different from
his thinking, (and) these teachings certainly contain some strange
ideas!” And Peter seconded, speaking out against these things. He
asked them all with regard to the Savior, “Has he really disclosed all of
these things secretly to a woman without speaking them openly to us?
Are we supposed to turn around and start listening to the likes of her?
Does he honestly prefer her to us?”
And through her tears, Mary questioned Peter, “What are you
thinking, brother Peter? Do you imagine that I have conjured all of
this up out of my own heart, or that I am telling lies about the Savior?”
Levi cut in, saying to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hottempered; ever inclining toward anger and constantly giving way to it.
And even now that is exactly what you are doing, questioning her as
though you were her enemy. Are you now going to attack this woman
as if she were one of the adversaries? If the Savior thought her to be
worthy, then who are you to dismiss her? For he knew her fully and
loved her devotedly, and it is because the Savior knows her so well that
he loves her more than he does us. Let us therefore be ashamed and
clothe ourselves in our ideal humanity. Let us all be on our way and
preach the gospel as the Savior has commanded, not laying down any
rules or laws beyond those which he laid down for us.” And after
hearing this, they went and started to publish and to preach.
JESUS TEACHES ABOUT PAUL
(EpAp 31-33)
Jerusalem? Mount of Olives?
“Now behold, you will meet up with a man named Saul, which will
afterward be changed to ‘Paul.’ He is a Jew, circumcised as the law
directs. With fear and trembling will he hear my voice from out of
heaven, and his eyes will be made dark. Now do for him as I did for
you; make a cross of spittle upon him with your hands. And as soon as
you deliver him over to others, this man’s eyes will be opened up.
Then he will be for the praise of God, my heavenly Father. He will
become mighty among the Gentiles; and many, when they hear the
way that he preaches and instructs, will delight and be saved. Then he
will be despised and delivered into the hand of his enemy. He will
testify before mortal and perishable rulers. And on him will come the
completion of my testimony, for because he started out by persecuting
and despising me, he will be converted to me and thereby will he
preach and teach. He is to be among my elect, a chosen vessel and a
wall that does not fail. The last of the last will then go out and preach
to the gentiles according to the perfect will of my Father.”
And he spoke this to them in no uncertain terms: “Even as you have
come to learn from the Scriptures that your ancestors the prophets
spoke of me, and which are fulfilled in me, so also will you be their
leaders. And even as it befits you, every word that I have spoken to
you and all that you have written of me--how I am the Father’s Word
and how the Father is within me--that you must also be to that man.
Teach him, having him call to mind what the Scriptures have said, and
how they are fulfilled in me. Then he will be for the deliverance of the Gentiles.”
And we asked him, “Master, do we share the same hope of
inheritance with them?” And he responded, “Are the fingers on the
hand alike? Are the ears of corn in the field alike? Do the fruit trees
all bring forth the same fruit? Do they not all produce according to
their natures?” And we asked him, “Lord, are you speaking to us again
in parables?” “Do not feel bad,” he answered us. “For truly do I say to
you that you are my friends and brothers in the heavenly kingdom of
my Father, and He is pleased with this arrangement. Most assuredly I
say to you that I will also offer this hope to all who will come to believe
through your teaching.”
And once again we questioned him, “Lord, when will we come to meet that man, and when will we go to your Father, our Lord and
God?” And he answered us, “That man will go forth from the land of
Cilicia to Damascus in Syria in order to tear apart the Church, which
you must yourselves establish. At that time I will speak through you,
and he will quickly come around. This man’s faith will indeed be
strong, that he might fulfill the word of the prophet that says, ‘Behold,
out of the land of Syria I will begin the call of a New Jerusalem, and I
will subdue and capture Zion,’ and ‘The one who is without children
and barren will bear fruit and be called “daughter” by my Father. I,
however, will call her my bride.’ Then I will turn that man aside, that
he might never reach that place and carry out his evil plans, and
through him will my Father’s glory be completed. Behold, I will speak
to him from out of heaven after I have gone to be with my Father, and
it will be to him as I have spoken it to you.”
(EpAp 31-33)
Jerusalem? Mount of Olives?
“Now behold, you will meet up with a man named Saul, which will
afterward be changed to ‘Paul.’ He is a Jew, circumcised as the law
directs. With fear and trembling will he hear my voice from out of
heaven, and his eyes will be made dark. Now do for him as I did for
you; make a cross of spittle upon him with your hands. And as soon as
you deliver him over to others, this man’s eyes will be opened up.
Then he will be for the praise of God, my heavenly Father. He will
become mighty among the Gentiles; and many, when they hear the
way that he preaches and instructs, will delight and be saved. Then he
will be despised and delivered into the hand of his enemy. He will
testify before mortal and perishable rulers. And on him will come the
completion of my testimony, for because he started out by persecuting
and despising me, he will be converted to me and thereby will he
preach and teach. He is to be among my elect, a chosen vessel and a
wall that does not fail. The last of the last will then go out and preach
to the gentiles according to the perfect will of my Father.”
And he spoke this to them in no uncertain terms: “Even as you have
come to learn from the Scriptures that your ancestors the prophets
spoke of me, and which are fulfilled in me, so also will you be their
leaders. And even as it befits you, every word that I have spoken to
you and all that you have written of me--how I am the Father’s Word
and how the Father is within me--that you must also be to that man.
Teach him, having him call to mind what the Scriptures have said, and
how they are fulfilled in me. Then he will be for the deliverance of the Gentiles.”
And we asked him, “Master, do we share the same hope of
inheritance with them?” And he responded, “Are the fingers on the
hand alike? Are the ears of corn in the field alike? Do the fruit trees
all bring forth the same fruit? Do they not all produce according to
their natures?” And we asked him, “Lord, are you speaking to us again
in parables?” “Do not feel bad,” he answered us. “For truly do I say to
you that you are my friends and brothers in the heavenly kingdom of
my Father, and He is pleased with this arrangement. Most assuredly I
say to you that I will also offer this hope to all who will come to believe
through your teaching.”
And once again we questioned him, “Lord, when will we come to meet that man, and when will we go to your Father, our Lord and
God?” And he answered us, “That man will go forth from the land of
Cilicia to Damascus in Syria in order to tear apart the Church, which
you must yourselves establish. At that time I will speak through you,
and he will quickly come around. This man’s faith will indeed be
strong, that he might fulfill the word of the prophet that says, ‘Behold,
out of the land of Syria I will begin the call of a New Jerusalem, and I
will subdue and capture Zion,’ and ‘The one who is without children
and barren will bear fruit and be called “daughter” by my Father. I,
however, will call her my bride.’ Then I will turn that man aside, that
he might never reach that place and carry out his evil plans, and
through him will my Father’s glory be completed. Behold, I will speak
to him from out of heaven after I have gone to be with my Father, and
it will be to him as I have spoken it to you.”
INTRODUCTION TO THE APOCALYPSE OF PETER
(ApPt 1a)
Mount of Olives, Bethany, Outside of Jerusalem
{The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection of the Dead,
which Christ revealed to Peter. (It was for not keeping the
commandment of God their creator that they all perished in their
sins.) And Peter pondered it carefully, that he might unlock the
mystery bound up in the Son of the Merciful God, who delights in
mercy.}
(ApPt 1a)
Mount of Olives, Bethany, Outside of Jerusalem
{The Second Coming of Christ and the Resurrection of the Dead,
which Christ revealed to Peter. (It was for not keeping the
commandment of God their creator that they all perished in their
sins.) And Peter pondered it carefully, that he might unlock the
mystery bound up in the Son of the Merciful God, who delights in
mercy.}
HIS DISCIPLES ASK IF THE TIME OF HIS COMING IS AT HAND
(Luke 24:50a; Acts 1:6-8; ApPt 1b; EpAp 34a)
Mount of Olives
Then he took them out as far as Bethany, and as he sat upon the
Mount of Olives his disciples all came up to him. So when they were
once again together there, they asked him, “Lord, are you going to
restore the kingdom of Israel at this time?” And he responded, “To
you it has not been granted to know the times or the seasons, which
the Father has fixed according to His own authority. But you will be
given power after the Holy Spirit has come to you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, and from Samaria to the farthest
reaches of the earth.” And once again we said to him, “Lord, how
profound are the things you have disclosed and preached. You have
made things known to us that have never yet been spoken, and you
have comforted us and shown yourself gracious to us in all regards.
For you have shown us all these things after your resurrection so that
we might receive salvation. Even so, you only revealed to us that signs
and wonders would take place in the heavens and on the earth. Teach us enough about them to recognize them.” And each of us begged and
pleaded with him, saying, “Reveal to us the signs of your return, along
with those of the end of the world, so that we might know when it will
come and thereby make a record of it, for we must teach it to those
who are coming after us--those to whom we are to preach the word of
your gospel, and whom we are to install in your Church. That way,
when they come to hear, they will pay special attention to it and
thereby mark the time of your coming.” And our Lord affirmed to us,
“I will teach you not only all that will befall you, but also what will
come of those who will accept your instruction. See that no man leads
you astray, causing you to become doubters, thereby serving other
‘gods.’ Many will come bearing my name and claiming, ‘I am the
Christ!’ Don’t you believe them. Do not even draw near to them, for
the coming of God’s Son will not in any way be seen except as the
lightning that flashes from the east and lights up the west.
In all my glory will I come,
On the clouds of heaven
411
And with a great multitude.
In all my glory will I come,
With my cross passing before my face.
In all my glory will I come,
Shining seven times brighter than the sun,
With all of my saints, all of my angels.
At that time, my Father will place a crown upon my head, that I might
pass judgment on the living and the dead, and reward them all for
what they have done.”
(Luke 24:50a; Acts 1:6-8; ApPt 1b; EpAp 34a)
Mount of Olives
Then he took them out as far as Bethany, and as he sat upon the
Mount of Olives his disciples all came up to him. So when they were
once again together there, they asked him, “Lord, are you going to
restore the kingdom of Israel at this time?” And he responded, “To
you it has not been granted to know the times or the seasons, which
the Father has fixed according to His own authority. But you will be
given power after the Holy Spirit has come to you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, and from Samaria to the farthest
reaches of the earth.” And once again we said to him, “Lord, how
profound are the things you have disclosed and preached. You have
made things known to us that have never yet been spoken, and you
have comforted us and shown yourself gracious to us in all regards.
For you have shown us all these things after your resurrection so that
we might receive salvation. Even so, you only revealed to us that signs
and wonders would take place in the heavens and on the earth. Teach us enough about them to recognize them.” And each of us begged and
pleaded with him, saying, “Reveal to us the signs of your return, along
with those of the end of the world, so that we might know when it will
come and thereby make a record of it, for we must teach it to those
who are coming after us--those to whom we are to preach the word of
your gospel, and whom we are to install in your Church. That way,
when they come to hear, they will pay special attention to it and
thereby mark the time of your coming.” And our Lord affirmed to us,
“I will teach you not only all that will befall you, but also what will
come of those who will accept your instruction. See that no man leads
you astray, causing you to become doubters, thereby serving other
‘gods.’ Many will come bearing my name and claiming, ‘I am the
Christ!’ Don’t you believe them. Do not even draw near to them, for
the coming of God’s Son will not in any way be seen except as the
lightning that flashes from the east and lights up the west.
In all my glory will I come,
On the clouds of heaven
411
And with a great multitude.
In all my glory will I come,
With my cross passing before my face.
In all my glory will I come,
Shining seven times brighter than the sun,
With all of my saints, all of my angels.
At that time, my Father will place a crown upon my head, that I might
pass judgment on the living and the dead, and reward them all for
what they have done.”
THE FIG TREE
(ApPt 2a; SbOr 2:154-186)
Mount of Olives
“Now take the fig tree as a sign: as soon as its branches grow out
and its shoots burst forth, the end of the world will be near at hand.”
And I, Peter, said to him, “Explain the parable of the fig tree to me.
How can we make sense of this, since the fig tree is forever putting
forth its shoots, and each year yields its owner fruits. What then is this
parable of the fig tree supposed to mean. None of us understands it.”
And the Lord answered me, “Do you not see that the fig tree
represents the house of Israel? It is just like the man who planted a fig
tree in his garden that bore him no fruit. Now for several years he
went out to see if it ever brought any fruit forth. Now when he saw
that it did not, he said to his gardener: ‘Dig this fig tree out by the
roots, that it might not make useless our ground.’ And to God he
replied, ‘We, your servants, would like to clear it, dig into the
surrounding earth and water it. If at that time it bears you no fruit, we
will not hesitate to pull it up out of the orchard, even by its roots, and
plant another in its stead.’ Now, have you understood how this fig tree
represents the house of Israel? For truly do I say to you, in the last
days, after its twigs have sprouted, false prophets will come along and
raise the hopes of everyone, saying: ‘I am the Christ, and now I am in
the world!’ When, however, this sign appears throughout the earth:
children are delivered with gray temples from their birth, calamities
befall all men, mass starvation breaks out, epidemics and warfare
arise, at the changing of times, with expressions of grief, and an excess of tears, a great many children among the nations will sadly, and with
piteous wails, devour their parents. They will lay cloaks over their
corpses and bury them beneath the earth, the mother of all nations, which will have been polluted by blood and dust. What miserable and
frightful sinners are those of the final generation, who understand not
that when women no longer give birth, the harvest of persuasive men
has come. When deceivers come to speak on earth--even in the place
of prophets--the gathering will be close at hand. And when Israel
comes to see the evil they’ve done, they who sinned greatly by
crucifying the true Christ will turn away and follow them instead,
repudiating the one whom our ancestors praised. Beliar will likewise
come and perform many signs before mankind, but this charlatan is
not the Christ. And with his dagger will he murder the many martyrs
who are to reject him. Then will burst forth the branches of the fig
tree, which is to say, the house of Israel. Many will be slain by him,
and they will therefore become martyrs. Truly in those days there will
be confusion of holy, chosen and faithful men. These will be
plundered, along with the Jews. Upon these will fall a terrible wrath
when a people from among the ten tribes, which the offshoot of the
Assyrians had destroyed, will come from the east to seek out the Jews.
After these things will the Gentiles perish. From this day forward, the
faithful and elect among the Hebrews will rule over very powerful
men, subjecting them as in times of old, for their strength has not been
lost. The Most High, Who dwells in the heavens and rules over all will
then send sleep over mankind, causing all of their eyes to close. How
blessed are the servants that the master will find awake at the time of
his coming, for they have remained awake throughout the age,
watching with sleepless eyes in expectation. For though he should
come at dawn, or dusk, or at midday, he will most assuredly come, and
you will find it all as I have said. It will come about with the passage of
time, for the coming generation, when at midday all of the stars will appear from the heaven of stars, in the presence of the two great
luminaries.
(ApPt 2a; SbOr 2:154-186)
Mount of Olives
“Now take the fig tree as a sign: as soon as its branches grow out
and its shoots burst forth, the end of the world will be near at hand.”
And I, Peter, said to him, “Explain the parable of the fig tree to me.
How can we make sense of this, since the fig tree is forever putting
forth its shoots, and each year yields its owner fruits. What then is this
parable of the fig tree supposed to mean. None of us understands it.”
And the Lord answered me, “Do you not see that the fig tree
represents the house of Israel? It is just like the man who planted a fig
tree in his garden that bore him no fruit. Now for several years he
went out to see if it ever brought any fruit forth. Now when he saw
that it did not, he said to his gardener: ‘Dig this fig tree out by the
roots, that it might not make useless our ground.’ And to God he
replied, ‘We, your servants, would like to clear it, dig into the
surrounding earth and water it. If at that time it bears you no fruit, we
will not hesitate to pull it up out of the orchard, even by its roots, and
plant another in its stead.’ Now, have you understood how this fig tree
represents the house of Israel? For truly do I say to you, in the last
days, after its twigs have sprouted, false prophets will come along and
raise the hopes of everyone, saying: ‘I am the Christ, and now I am in
the world!’ When, however, this sign appears throughout the earth:
children are delivered with gray temples from their birth, calamities
befall all men, mass starvation breaks out, epidemics and warfare
arise, at the changing of times, with expressions of grief, and an excess of tears, a great many children among the nations will sadly, and with
piteous wails, devour their parents. They will lay cloaks over their
corpses and bury them beneath the earth, the mother of all nations, which will have been polluted by blood and dust. What miserable and
frightful sinners are those of the final generation, who understand not
that when women no longer give birth, the harvest of persuasive men
has come. When deceivers come to speak on earth--even in the place
of prophets--the gathering will be close at hand. And when Israel
comes to see the evil they’ve done, they who sinned greatly by
crucifying the true Christ will turn away and follow them instead,
repudiating the one whom our ancestors praised. Beliar will likewise
come and perform many signs before mankind, but this charlatan is
not the Christ. And with his dagger will he murder the many martyrs
who are to reject him. Then will burst forth the branches of the fig
tree, which is to say, the house of Israel. Many will be slain by him,
and they will therefore become martyrs. Truly in those days there will
be confusion of holy, chosen and faithful men. These will be
plundered, along with the Jews. Upon these will fall a terrible wrath
when a people from among the ten tribes, which the offshoot of the
Assyrians had destroyed, will come from the east to seek out the Jews.
After these things will the Gentiles perish. From this day forward, the
faithful and elect among the Hebrews will rule over very powerful
men, subjecting them as in times of old, for their strength has not been
lost. The Most High, Who dwells in the heavens and rules over all will
then send sleep over mankind, causing all of their eyes to close. How
blessed are the servants that the master will find awake at the time of
his coming, for they have remained awake throughout the age,
watching with sleepless eyes in expectation. For though he should
come at dawn, or dusk, or at midday, he will most assuredly come, and
you will find it all as I have said. It will come about with the passage of
time, for the coming generation, when at midday all of the stars will appear from the heaven of stars, in the presence of the two great
luminaries.
COMING OF ENOCH AND ELIJAH
(ApPt 2b, SbOr 2:187-195)
Mount of Olives
“Enoch and Elijah will then be sent in order to instruct them that
this is the deceiver coming into the world, that he might mislead it
through signs and wonders. At that time the Tishbite, advancing a
heavenly chariot at full speed from heaven, will arrive upon the earth
and show forth three signs for the entire world, even as life is fading
away. Woe to as many as are found to be with child on that day, and
as many as are nursing babes, and as many as dwell upon the sea.
Woe indeed to as many as will see that day, for a cloud of darkness will envelop the earth, from east to west and south to north. And so it will
happen that those who are slain by his hand, will be numbered among
the good and faithful martyrs who in their lifetimes have pleased God.
SIGNS OF THE END
(EpAp 34b)
Mount of Olives
“Now there will be some who will hear this man, (Paul,) and come
to believe in me through him. And all of this will come to pass in those
coming years and days.” And again we asked him, “Tell us what will
happen then?” And he answered, “The faithful and the unbelieving
will together see a trumpet in the sky, the showing forth of mighty
stars in broad daylight, a dragon, and wondrous things spanning
heaven and earth; stars going down in flames, great hailstones
burning in a fantastic fire, the heated battle between the sun and
moon, the ceaseless and fearful thunder and lightning, the clapping of
thunder and the shaking of earth. Cities will be laid to waste and men
will perish in their ruin. The rains will fail and a great drought will
follow. There will be a terrible plague accompanied by widespread and
often sudden death to such a degree that those who die will lack a
grave. Children and family members alike will be carried out on a
single bed. And a parent will not turn to face his child, nor will a child
look upon his parent, nor will a man turn toward his neighbor. But
those who are forsaken and left behind will rise up and see the ones
who abandoned them, in that they hauled them out on account of the
plague. All things reflect hatred, affliction and jealousy. They will
take from one and give to another. Now mourn for those who have
ignored this command, for what follows will be even worse!
(ApPt 2b, SbOr 2:187-195)
Mount of Olives
“Enoch and Elijah will then be sent in order to instruct them that
this is the deceiver coming into the world, that he might mislead it
through signs and wonders. At that time the Tishbite, advancing a
heavenly chariot at full speed from heaven, will arrive upon the earth
and show forth three signs for the entire world, even as life is fading
away. Woe to as many as are found to be with child on that day, and
as many as are nursing babes, and as many as dwell upon the sea.
Woe indeed to as many as will see that day, for a cloud of darkness will envelop the earth, from east to west and south to north. And so it will
happen that those who are slain by his hand, will be numbered among
the good and faithful martyrs who in their lifetimes have pleased God.
SIGNS OF THE END
(EpAp 34b)
Mount of Olives
“Now there will be some who will hear this man, (Paul,) and come
to believe in me through him. And all of this will come to pass in those
coming years and days.” And again we asked him, “Tell us what will
happen then?” And he answered, “The faithful and the unbelieving
will together see a trumpet in the sky, the showing forth of mighty
stars in broad daylight, a dragon, and wondrous things spanning
heaven and earth; stars going down in flames, great hailstones
burning in a fantastic fire, the heated battle between the sun and
moon, the ceaseless and fearful thunder and lightning, the clapping of
thunder and the shaking of earth. Cities will be laid to waste and men
will perish in their ruin. The rains will fail and a great drought will
follow. There will be a terrible plague accompanied by widespread and
often sudden death to such a degree that those who die will lack a
grave. Children and family members alike will be carried out on a
single bed. And a parent will not turn to face his child, nor will a child
look upon his parent, nor will a man turn toward his neighbor. But
those who are forsaken and left behind will rise up and see the ones
who abandoned them, in that they hauled them out on account of the
plague. All things reflect hatred, affliction and jealousy. They will
take from one and give to another. Now mourn for those who have
ignored this command, for what follows will be even worse!
MORE PLAGUES, THE COMING OF THE ELECT
(EpAp 35-39)
Mount of Olives
“At that time my Father’s anger will be kindled over the depravity of
mankind. Many are their crimes, you see, and their lives are corrupt--
the horror of their impurity stands against them in so many ways.”
“Oh Lord,” we asked, “what lies in store for those who hope in you?”
And he responded, “How much longer will your hearts be dull? How
truly do I say to you, even as it has been spoken of me and my people
through David the prophet, so will it be for those who come to believe
in me. But deceivers and opponents will there be in the world, those
who slander what is right. And they will live up to the prophecy of
David, who said, ‘How quick are their feet to shed blood and their
tongues to weave deceit; the venom of serpents is under their lips. And I see you as you travel with a thief, and claim your portion with a
fornicator. And to top it all off, you sit there slandering your brother
and setting a trap for the son of your mother. What? Do you think
that I should be like you?’ Notice how God’s prophet has
encompassed all things by his words. And even as I have told you
before, this was so that everything might be fulfilled.”
And again we questioned him, “Lord, will the Gentiles not then ask,
‘Where is this God of theirs?’” And he responded, “This is how the
elect are to be revealed: they will come forth after suffering such an
ordeal.” And we asked him, “Are they to leave this world through the
torment of an affliction?” “They will not,” he said to us, “but if they
should face this trial, it will be as a test of their faith; whether or not
they keep these words of mine in their hearts and obey my commands.
They will rise up and wait but a few days, that He Who sent me might
be glorified, and myself along with Him. All of this I say to you, for He
has sent me here to you. But you must pass it on to Israel, and also to
the Gentiles, that they might likewise hear of it. They will come to
believe in me and have a part in your salvation; and they will escape
the torment of this plague. Now such as despise the pains of death will
be taken away and kept in prison. There they will be tortured like
thieves.” “Lord,” we asked him, “will they be like the unbelievers, and will you punish those who have fled from this plague in a similar
way?” And he said to us, “They have carried out the work of sinners.
And even though they have believed in my name, they have
nonetheless acted like those who do not.” And again we asked him,
“Lord, have those who have escaped thus in store for them no portion
in life?” And he replied, “Whoever has glorified my Father is the very
home of my Father.”
And we bid him, “Lord, show us what will happen after this.” “In
those coming years and days,” said Jesus, “there will be wars upon
wars. The four corners of the world will be shaken, and they will
declare war against one another. Then the clouds will all be stirred,
and will bring about darkness, drought, and the persecution of those
who believe in me, and also the elect. Then contentions, hostilities,
and evil deeds will rise up between them. Some of them will believe in
my name, but will follow after evil--and all they teach will be in vain.
Now men will follow after them and bow to their riches, their
corruption, their drunken debaucheries, and their bribes; and among
them the rule will be to show respect of persons.
“But those who would look upon the face of God, showing no such
regard for the sinful rich, nor fear for those who lead them astray, but who would reprove them instead, are to be crowned in the very
presence of the Father. Those who reproach their neighbors will be
saved as well, for such is the child of wisdom and faith. If, however, he
should not become the child of wisdom, he will hate and persecute his
brother. He will not turn toward his brother (or) his neighbor, but will
despise him and turn against him and cast him out.
“But those who walk in the way of truth and the knowledge of faith
in me, loving me and possessing the knowledge of wisdom and
perseverance for the sake of righteousness ought to exult, for they
have borne up under cruelty, and have walked in poverty, putting up
with those who hate and abuse them. For men despise those who
strive to make themselves poor, and for all that continue to endure.
Great indeed will be their reward. They have been afflicted and made
destitute, for even as they have walked in hunger and thirst, men have
despised them. But they have borne it all for the blessedness of
heaven, so they will spend forever at my side. But curse those who
loathe and despise them; those who walk in haughtiness and boasting,
for these are destined for perdition.”
But we asked him, “Lord, will all of these things truly happen?
Surely it does not become you that we should come upon them
ourselves!” “How then,” asked Jesus, “will the judgment of
righteousness be pronounced on either the upright or the wicked?”
“But Lord,” we said, “on that day, will they not then say to you, ‘When
it came to righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness,
good and evil, you never saw to it <before, but> now you have led
<everyone> into righteousness, having shown them all both light and darkness, good and evil, (and) separated them.’” Then he said, “At
that time I will say to them, ‘Adam was given the chance to decide
which of the two that he preferred. And he placed his hand upon the
light, choosing it and forsaking the darkness, casting it away from him
(and) rejecting it. And everyone else has this ability to believe in the
light and the life, which is my Father Who sent me. And so everyone
who has faith and carries out the labors of life will live, existing within
both (the light and the life.) But if he refuses to acknowledge the
light’s existence and performs the works of darkness instead, then he
can say nothing in his own defense. He will not even be able to lift his
eyes to look on me, the Son of God.’ And I will say to him, ‘You found
just what you were looking for, and have received that for which you
have asked. Oh, man, upon what grounds do you seek to convict me?
Why do you condemn us? Why do you fail to understand us? Why did
you abandon and disown both myself and my kingdom? You were denying me even as you were acknowledging me. Why do you even
now continue to proclaim and yet deny me? Now look and see; does
not every man have the power to choose either to believe (and) live or
else to die? Whoever has kept my commands and held to them will
henceforth be a Son of Light, even a Son of the heavenly Father. I
came down from heaven for the sake of those who keep and do my
commandments; (but) on account of those who twist my words. I am
that Word. I put on the flesh and I labored and I died. I taught that
certain people would be chosen and saved, but that others, who were lost, would be lost forever. They will have to suffer eternal torment
and devastation, being scourged alive by fire, in their spirit, in their
flesh, and in their soul.”
(EpAp 35-39)
Mount of Olives
“At that time my Father’s anger will be kindled over the depravity of
mankind. Many are their crimes, you see, and their lives are corrupt--
the horror of their impurity stands against them in so many ways.”
“Oh Lord,” we asked, “what lies in store for those who hope in you?”
And he responded, “How much longer will your hearts be dull? How
truly do I say to you, even as it has been spoken of me and my people
through David the prophet, so will it be for those who come to believe
in me. But deceivers and opponents will there be in the world, those
who slander what is right. And they will live up to the prophecy of
David, who said, ‘How quick are their feet to shed blood and their
tongues to weave deceit; the venom of serpents is under their lips. And I see you as you travel with a thief, and claim your portion with a
fornicator. And to top it all off, you sit there slandering your brother
and setting a trap for the son of your mother. What? Do you think
that I should be like you?’ Notice how God’s prophet has
encompassed all things by his words. And even as I have told you
before, this was so that everything might be fulfilled.”
And again we questioned him, “Lord, will the Gentiles not then ask,
‘Where is this God of theirs?’” And he responded, “This is how the
elect are to be revealed: they will come forth after suffering such an
ordeal.” And we asked him, “Are they to leave this world through the
torment of an affliction?” “They will not,” he said to us, “but if they
should face this trial, it will be as a test of their faith; whether or not
they keep these words of mine in their hearts and obey my commands.
They will rise up and wait but a few days, that He Who sent me might
be glorified, and myself along with Him. All of this I say to you, for He
has sent me here to you. But you must pass it on to Israel, and also to
the Gentiles, that they might likewise hear of it. They will come to
believe in me and have a part in your salvation; and they will escape
the torment of this plague. Now such as despise the pains of death will
be taken away and kept in prison. There they will be tortured like
thieves.” “Lord,” we asked him, “will they be like the unbelievers, and will you punish those who have fled from this plague in a similar
way?” And he said to us, “They have carried out the work of sinners.
And even though they have believed in my name, they have
nonetheless acted like those who do not.” And again we asked him,
“Lord, have those who have escaped thus in store for them no portion
in life?” And he replied, “Whoever has glorified my Father is the very
home of my Father.”
And we bid him, “Lord, show us what will happen after this.” “In
those coming years and days,” said Jesus, “there will be wars upon
wars. The four corners of the world will be shaken, and they will
declare war against one another. Then the clouds will all be stirred,
and will bring about darkness, drought, and the persecution of those
who believe in me, and also the elect. Then contentions, hostilities,
and evil deeds will rise up between them. Some of them will believe in
my name, but will follow after evil--and all they teach will be in vain.
Now men will follow after them and bow to their riches, their
corruption, their drunken debaucheries, and their bribes; and among
them the rule will be to show respect of persons.
“But those who would look upon the face of God, showing no such
regard for the sinful rich, nor fear for those who lead them astray, but who would reprove them instead, are to be crowned in the very
presence of the Father. Those who reproach their neighbors will be
saved as well, for such is the child of wisdom and faith. If, however, he
should not become the child of wisdom, he will hate and persecute his
brother. He will not turn toward his brother (or) his neighbor, but will
despise him and turn against him and cast him out.
“But those who walk in the way of truth and the knowledge of faith
in me, loving me and possessing the knowledge of wisdom and
perseverance for the sake of righteousness ought to exult, for they
have borne up under cruelty, and have walked in poverty, putting up
with those who hate and abuse them. For men despise those who
strive to make themselves poor, and for all that continue to endure.
Great indeed will be their reward. They have been afflicted and made
destitute, for even as they have walked in hunger and thirst, men have
despised them. But they have borne it all for the blessedness of
heaven, so they will spend forever at my side. But curse those who
loathe and despise them; those who walk in haughtiness and boasting,
for these are destined for perdition.”
But we asked him, “Lord, will all of these things truly happen?
Surely it does not become you that we should come upon them
ourselves!” “How then,” asked Jesus, “will the judgment of
righteousness be pronounced on either the upright or the wicked?”
“But Lord,” we said, “on that day, will they not then say to you, ‘When
it came to righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness,
good and evil, you never saw to it <before, but> now you have led
<everyone> into righteousness, having shown them all both light and darkness, good and evil, (and) separated them.’” Then he said, “At
that time I will say to them, ‘Adam was given the chance to decide
which of the two that he preferred. And he placed his hand upon the
light, choosing it and forsaking the darkness, casting it away from him
(and) rejecting it. And everyone else has this ability to believe in the
light and the life, which is my Father Who sent me. And so everyone
who has faith and carries out the labors of life will live, existing within
both (the light and the life.) But if he refuses to acknowledge the
light’s existence and performs the works of darkness instead, then he
can say nothing in his own defense. He will not even be able to lift his
eyes to look on me, the Son of God.’ And I will say to him, ‘You found
just what you were looking for, and have received that for which you
have asked. Oh, man, upon what grounds do you seek to convict me?
Why do you condemn us? Why do you fail to understand us? Why did
you abandon and disown both myself and my kingdom? You were denying me even as you were acknowledging me. Why do you even
now continue to proclaim and yet deny me? Now look and see; does
not every man have the power to choose either to believe (and) live or
else to die? Whoever has kept my commands and held to them will
henceforth be a Son of Light, even a Son of the heavenly Father. I
came down from heaven for the sake of those who keep and do my
commandments; (but) on account of those who twist my words. I am
that Word. I put on the flesh and I labored and I died. I taught that
certain people would be chosen and saved, but that others, who were lost, would be lost forever. They will have to suffer eternal torment
and devastation, being scourged alive by fire, in their spirit, in their
flesh, and in their soul.”
THE SPIRITS AT THE JUDGMENT
(ApPt 3)
Mount of Olives
And in his right hand he showed me, (Peter,) the souls of men, and
in the palm thereof, the figure of what will come to pass on the last day
concerning the upright and how they are to be severed from among
the wicked; how the righteous of heart are going to fare, and how the
workers of evil will be rooted out forevermore. We saw the sinners
weeping and mourning in bitter anguish to such an extent that all who
looked were moved to tears, the righteous, the angels, as well as all the
sinners. And I asked him, “Lord, allow me to say something about
these sinners: They would have been better off had they not been
born.” And the Savior responded, “Oh, Peter, why would you suppose that it would have been better for them had they never been born?
Truly you are resisting God. You could never have more compassion
for His image than He does. You see, He made them all and brought
them forth, when they did not even exist before. And my heart is
heavy because you have seen what will befall the sinners in the final
days; but I will show you by what works they have sinned against the
Most High.
(ApPt 3)
Mount of Olives
And in his right hand he showed me, (Peter,) the souls of men, and
in the palm thereof, the figure of what will come to pass on the last day
concerning the upright and how they are to be severed from among
the wicked; how the righteous of heart are going to fare, and how the
workers of evil will be rooted out forevermore. We saw the sinners
weeping and mourning in bitter anguish to such an extent that all who
looked were moved to tears, the righteous, the angels, as well as all the
sinners. And I asked him, “Lord, allow me to say something about
these sinners: They would have been better off had they not been
born.” And the Savior responded, “Oh, Peter, why would you suppose that it would have been better for them had they never been born?
Truly you are resisting God. You could never have more compassion
for His image than He does. You see, He made them all and brought
them forth, when they did not even exist before. And my heart is
heavy because you have seen what will befall the sinners in the final
days; but I will show you by what works they have sinned against the
Most High.
JUDGMENT DAY
(ApPt 4a; SbOr 2:214-220)
Mount of Olives
“Now have a look at what these will suffer in the closing days, when
the day of God begins. On the day that God renders His judgment, the
sons of men will all be assembled from east to west before my Father
Who lives forever. Then He will issue the command, and hell will
open up its bars of steel and surrender those who are detained within.
Then the undying angels of the immortal God, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, who know the evil deeds of all mankind, will lead
the souls of all out of the gloomy darkness over to their judgment, to
the bar of the great and immortal God. And since it is His will that all men should appear, all of the animals and birds will receive orders to
give back all of the flesh that they have consumed. Because all things
belong to God, nothing ever perishes for Him, nor is anything
impossible to Him. (For at the behest of God, all things come to pass
on the day of decision, the day of judgment, as took place when He
made the world and gave orders to everything that is therein.) There
is but One Who is everlasting, the Universal Ruler Himself, who will
judge all of mankind. Even so will it come about in the final days, for
all things are possible with God. (Also, in Scripture He says: “Son of
Man, prophesy to all these bones, ‘Bones, join together with bones,
then on with your joints, tendons, nerves, flesh, skin and hair.’”)
Then, when God issues the command, Uriel will supply them with
their soul and spirit. (God, you see, has put him over the resurrection
of the dead when the day of decision comes.)
(ApPt 4a; SbOr 2:214-220)
Mount of Olives
“Now have a look at what these will suffer in the closing days, when
the day of God begins. On the day that God renders His judgment, the
sons of men will all be assembled from east to west before my Father
Who lives forever. Then He will issue the command, and hell will
open up its bars of steel and surrender those who are detained within.
Then the undying angels of the immortal God, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, who know the evil deeds of all mankind, will lead
the souls of all out of the gloomy darkness over to their judgment, to
the bar of the great and immortal God. And since it is His will that all men should appear, all of the animals and birds will receive orders to
give back all of the flesh that they have consumed. Because all things
belong to God, nothing ever perishes for Him, nor is anything
impossible to Him. (For at the behest of God, all things come to pass
on the day of decision, the day of judgment, as took place when He
made the world and gave orders to everything that is therein.) There
is but One Who is everlasting, the Universal Ruler Himself, who will
judge all of mankind. Even so will it come about in the final days, for
all things are possible with God. (Also, in Scripture He says: “Son of
Man, prophesy to all these bones, ‘Bones, join together with bones,
then on with your joints, tendons, nerves, flesh, skin and hair.’”)
Then, when God issues the command, Uriel will supply them with
their soul and spirit. (God, you see, has put him over the resurrection
of the dead when the day of decision comes.)
THE GRAINS OF WHEAT
(ApPt 4b; Macarius Magnes, Apocritica 4.6.16)
Mount of Olives
“Now consider the grains of wheat which are cast to the ground and
reflect thereon. Men cast them to the earth as something dried-up and
without a soul, yet they live again and bear their fruit. The earth gives
them back as received by pledge. Now this that dies and is sown in the
earth in the form of a seed represents mankind. And it will stir again
and have its life restored--(even) those who will be judged. So with
how much greater certainty will God raise up on the day of decision all
of those who trust in Him, and who are chosen by Him, and are those
for whom He has made the world. And the earth will truly give this
back to God on the day of decision, for both it and the heaven which
encompasses it are to face judgment alongside them.
(ApPt 4b; Macarius Magnes, Apocritica 4.6.16)
Mount of Olives
“Now consider the grains of wheat which are cast to the ground and
reflect thereon. Men cast them to the earth as something dried-up and
without a soul, yet they live again and bear their fruit. The earth gives
them back as received by pledge. Now this that dies and is sown in the
earth in the form of a seed represents mankind. And it will stir again
and have its life restored--(even) those who will be judged. So with
how much greater certainty will God raise up on the day of decision all
of those who trust in Him, and who are chosen by Him, and are those
for whom He has made the world. And the earth will truly give this
back to God on the day of decision, for both it and the heaven which
encompasses it are to face judgment alongside them.
A FIGURE OF THE RAISING
OF MANKIND AND OF JUDGMENT
(SbOr 2:221-251)
Mount of Olives
At that time, the Heavenly One will give the dead both breath and
voice, and bones will be fastened together with all manner of
connections; flesh and sinews, veins and skin upon the flesh, as well as
each and every hair that was formerly thereon. On a single day will
human bodies reconnect and resurrect in a heavenly way, and breathing will commence. Then that mighty angel, Uriel, will
demolish the massive bolts of rigid steel. He will throw open wide the
gates of hell--which are not forged of metal--and lead all the sorrowful
beings away to their judgment, most particularly those of the
primordial phantoms, the Titans, and the Giants which were destroyed
by the deluge. Those also whom the waves overtook in the sea, along
with as many animals and reptiles and birds as were ever devoured,
even these will He call before His judgment seat. Moreover, He will
also gather and set before it all of those who were destroyed in the
flames of the flesh-consuming fire, when Sabaoth Adonai, who
thunders from on high, puts an end to fate, raises up the dead, and
takes His seat on His heavenly throne, and establishes a mighty pillar.
Christ, who is himself imperishable, will come in glory upon a cloud to
the One Who lives eternally, in the presence of his holy angels. He will
take his seat to the right hand of the Great One, to preside over the
trial of life, both of the pious and the impious. And Moses, that great
friend of the Most High will come as well, himself having donned the
flesh. The righteous Abraham will likewise return in the flesh,
together with Isaac and Jacob, as will Joshua, Daniel, Elijah,
Habakkuk, Jonah, and all who were ever slain by the Jews. All of the
Hebrews after Jeremiah will He devastate in judgment before Him
there, that they might receive and render whatever retribution is
appropriate for whatever anyone ever did during their earthly
existence.
OF MANKIND AND OF JUDGMENT
(SbOr 2:221-251)
Mount of Olives
At that time, the Heavenly One will give the dead both breath and
voice, and bones will be fastened together with all manner of
connections; flesh and sinews, veins and skin upon the flesh, as well as
each and every hair that was formerly thereon. On a single day will
human bodies reconnect and resurrect in a heavenly way, and breathing will commence. Then that mighty angel, Uriel, will
demolish the massive bolts of rigid steel. He will throw open wide the
gates of hell--which are not forged of metal--and lead all the sorrowful
beings away to their judgment, most particularly those of the
primordial phantoms, the Titans, and the Giants which were destroyed
by the deluge. Those also whom the waves overtook in the sea, along
with as many animals and reptiles and birds as were ever devoured,
even these will He call before His judgment seat. Moreover, He will
also gather and set before it all of those who were destroyed in the
flames of the flesh-consuming fire, when Sabaoth Adonai, who
thunders from on high, puts an end to fate, raises up the dead, and
takes His seat on His heavenly throne, and establishes a mighty pillar.
Christ, who is himself imperishable, will come in glory upon a cloud to
the One Who lives eternally, in the presence of his holy angels. He will
take his seat to the right hand of the Great One, to preside over the
trial of life, both of the pious and the impious. And Moses, that great
friend of the Most High will come as well, himself having donned the
flesh. The righteous Abraham will likewise return in the flesh,
together with Isaac and Jacob, as will Joshua, Daniel, Elijah,
Habakkuk, Jonah, and all who were ever slain by the Jews. All of the
Hebrews after Jeremiah will He devastate in judgment before Him
there, that they might receive and render whatever retribution is
appropriate for whatever anyone ever did during their earthly
existence.
THE CALAMITIES, DESTRUCTION BY FIRE
(ApPt 5-6a, cf. Macarius Magnes, Apocritica 4.7;
SbOr 2:196-213; 2Pet 3:10b-12)
Mount of Olives
“Now these are the things that will come to pass on Judgment Day
to those who have fallen away from their faith in God and have instead
carried out wickedness. A great torrent of scorching fire will proceed
from heaven. Flaming rivers will be let loose, darkness and obscurity
will arise and envelop the earth, the waters will then transform,
changing into fiery embers. All that lies within them will blaze and the
sea itself will turn to flame. Under the heaven an unquenchable fire
will rage, flowing on account of the judgment of wrath, which will
consume every place in every land, the fathomless ocean and
shimmering sea, all of the lakes, rivers, and springs, and all of
merciless Hades as well, together with the vault of heaven. The flames
of fire will burn the stars and the heavenly powers. The heavenly
lights will likewise collide with one another into a desolate form, and the stars will fall from heaven and into the sea. All of mankind will
gnash their teeth in a blazing stream; fire and brimstone will flash
across a flaming plain, and ashes will come to blanket all things. The
earthly elements will all be left bare, be they either land, or sea, or air,
or light, or the heavenly vault; even all of the days and nights. The
countless birds that filled the sky will no longer be, and aquatic
creatures no longer swim in the deep; ships filled with cargo will
voyage no more on the seas, nor will the plough be pulled by the
beasts, and the breeze no longer blow through the trees. All things will
at once fuse into one, then diffuse into thin air. The heaven will be
rolled up like a scroll and the stars will melt and fall like leaves from a
vine, or those of the fig tree, and be as though they never were. The
strongholds of heaven, for their lack of water, will cease to exist and be
as though they never were. The lightning bolts of heaven, who by their
charms will panic the world, will exist no more. And the spirits of the
corpses will grow to resemble them; being set ablaze at God’s
command. On that day the skies will pass away with a whoosh, the
elements will flame out of existence, and the earth and everything in it
will be brought to judgment. Then, when the entire created order has
come undone, those in the east will flee to the west, (and those in the
west) will flee to the east; those in the south will flee to the north,
while those in the north will flee to the south. But the wrath of the
fearsome flames will overtake them everywhere. It will drive them on
and deliver them up to the judgment of wrath in streams of
unquenchable fire. For it flows and flames with fire, and after its
seething waves have broken forth, there will be much grinding of teeth
among the children of men. Now since creation itself comes apart like this, think about how you ought to act, what godly and focused lives
you should be living! Look forward to the coming of the Day of God.
Work diligently to hasten its arrival, for in that day the heavens will be
set ablaze until they all disintegrate, and the elements will melt away
in the flames.
Then everyone will see my coming as I arrive on an everlasting
shining cloud, in the presence of the angels of God who will sit with
me on my glorious throne, to the right hand of my Heavenly Father.
He will place a crown upon my head. Every nation will weep for itself-
-even as they watch it unfold. And He will order them to enter into the
river of fire even as they are confronted with their wicked deeds. Each
one will be paid back in line with his own works. The elect ones, on
the other hand, who have done well will draw near to me and not
witness the spectacle of death by the all-consuming fire.
(ApPt 5-6a, cf. Macarius Magnes, Apocritica 4.7;
SbOr 2:196-213; 2Pet 3:10b-12)
Mount of Olives
“Now these are the things that will come to pass on Judgment Day
to those who have fallen away from their faith in God and have instead
carried out wickedness. A great torrent of scorching fire will proceed
from heaven. Flaming rivers will be let loose, darkness and obscurity
will arise and envelop the earth, the waters will then transform,
changing into fiery embers. All that lies within them will blaze and the
sea itself will turn to flame. Under the heaven an unquenchable fire
will rage, flowing on account of the judgment of wrath, which will
consume every place in every land, the fathomless ocean and
shimmering sea, all of the lakes, rivers, and springs, and all of
merciless Hades as well, together with the vault of heaven. The flames
of fire will burn the stars and the heavenly powers. The heavenly
lights will likewise collide with one another into a desolate form, and the stars will fall from heaven and into the sea. All of mankind will
gnash their teeth in a blazing stream; fire and brimstone will flash
across a flaming plain, and ashes will come to blanket all things. The
earthly elements will all be left bare, be they either land, or sea, or air,
or light, or the heavenly vault; even all of the days and nights. The
countless birds that filled the sky will no longer be, and aquatic
creatures no longer swim in the deep; ships filled with cargo will
voyage no more on the seas, nor will the plough be pulled by the
beasts, and the breeze no longer blow through the trees. All things will
at once fuse into one, then diffuse into thin air. The heaven will be
rolled up like a scroll and the stars will melt and fall like leaves from a
vine, or those of the fig tree, and be as though they never were. The
strongholds of heaven, for their lack of water, will cease to exist and be
as though they never were. The lightning bolts of heaven, who by their
charms will panic the world, will exist no more. And the spirits of the
corpses will grow to resemble them; being set ablaze at God’s
command. On that day the skies will pass away with a whoosh, the
elements will flame out of existence, and the earth and everything in it
will be brought to judgment. Then, when the entire created order has
come undone, those in the east will flee to the west, (and those in the
west) will flee to the east; those in the south will flee to the north,
while those in the north will flee to the south. But the wrath of the
fearsome flames will overtake them everywhere. It will drive them on
and deliver them up to the judgment of wrath in streams of
unquenchable fire. For it flows and flames with fire, and after its
seething waves have broken forth, there will be much grinding of teeth
among the children of men. Now since creation itself comes apart like this, think about how you ought to act, what godly and focused lives
you should be living! Look forward to the coming of the Day of God.
Work diligently to hasten its arrival, for in that day the heavens will be
set ablaze until they all disintegrate, and the elements will melt away
in the flames.
Then everyone will see my coming as I arrive on an everlasting
shining cloud, in the presence of the angels of God who will sit with
me on my glorious throne, to the right hand of my Heavenly Father.
He will place a crown upon my head. Every nation will weep for itself-
-even as they watch it unfold. And He will order them to enter into the
river of fire even as they are confronted with their wicked deeds. Each
one will be paid back in line with his own works. The elect ones, on
the other hand, who have done well will draw near to me and not
witness the spectacle of death by the all-consuming fire.
THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED
(ApPt 6b-7a; SbOr 2:252-282)
Mount of Olives
“But as for the evil creatures, the sinners and the hypocrites, they
will come to stand in the dark abyss that never ends. The fire is their
punishment. The angels will then bring forward their sins and
prepare a place for them where they will each be punished forever in
accordance with their crime. Uriel, the angel of God, will then bring
forward the souls of those who sinned prior to the flood, who live in all
manner of idols--in molten images, objects of desire, and paintings,
together with those who live on the tops of hills, within the stones and
beside the road--all the things that men call ‘gods.’ Then they all will
pass through the fiery river of undying flame. These will then be
burned in everlasting fire together with their idols. The righteous ones
will all be saved, but the wicked will be destroyed for good, including
those who have carried out atrocities or murders, as will their
accomplices. Liars, too, will likewise perish, as will crafty thieves and
destroyers of homes; the parasites, the adulterers, the slanderers, the
violent, the lawless, and the idolatrous, who have abandoned the great
and abiding God and become blasphemers, plundering the devout,
breaking the faith, and slaughtering the righteous. Also, as many elders and respected deacons as craftily, shamelessly, and
hypocritically judged with respect and, trusting in deceitful
statements, have dealt unjustly with other people. More destructive
than any leopard or wolf, these are assuredly the most depraved. Also,
as many as are extremely arrogant, or employ usury, gathering interest
upon interest for their own households, who by so doing harm
orphans or widows. Even those who give to orphans or widows from
what derives from such evils, as also those who reproach others when
they give to them of their own labors. Also, as many as neglected their
parents in their old age, not giving them anything back at all, refusing
to care for them in turn. Moreover, as many as disobeyed or spoke
back to their parents, and all who went back on their solemn pledges,
and such servants as turned against their masters. Also, those who
polluted the flesh through lewdness, and all who secretly engaged in
intercourse, undoing the girdle of virginity, and as many as smote
what they had in the womb, casting forth their children contrary to the
law. And after they have been destroyed, together with their homes,
they will afterward be punished forever. Men and women will then
come to whatever place befits them best.”
(ApPt 6b-7a; SbOr 2:252-282)
Mount of Olives
“But as for the evil creatures, the sinners and the hypocrites, they
will come to stand in the dark abyss that never ends. The fire is their
punishment. The angels will then bring forward their sins and
prepare a place for them where they will each be punished forever in
accordance with their crime. Uriel, the angel of God, will then bring
forward the souls of those who sinned prior to the flood, who live in all
manner of idols--in molten images, objects of desire, and paintings,
together with those who live on the tops of hills, within the stones and
beside the road--all the things that men call ‘gods.’ Then they all will
pass through the fiery river of undying flame. These will then be
burned in everlasting fire together with their idols. The righteous ones
will all be saved, but the wicked will be destroyed for good, including
those who have carried out atrocities or murders, as will their
accomplices. Liars, too, will likewise perish, as will crafty thieves and
destroyers of homes; the parasites, the adulterers, the slanderers, the
violent, the lawless, and the idolatrous, who have abandoned the great
and abiding God and become blasphemers, plundering the devout,
breaking the faith, and slaughtering the righteous. Also, as many elders and respected deacons as craftily, shamelessly, and
hypocritically judged with respect and, trusting in deceitful
statements, have dealt unjustly with other people. More destructive
than any leopard or wolf, these are assuredly the most depraved. Also,
as many as are extremely arrogant, or employ usury, gathering interest
upon interest for their own households, who by so doing harm
orphans or widows. Even those who give to orphans or widows from
what derives from such evils, as also those who reproach others when
they give to them of their own labors. Also, as many as neglected their
parents in their old age, not giving them anything back at all, refusing
to care for them in turn. Moreover, as many as disobeyed or spoke
back to their parents, and all who went back on their solemn pledges,
and such servants as turned against their masters. Also, those who
polluted the flesh through lewdness, and all who secretly engaged in
intercourse, undoing the girdle of virginity, and as many as smote
what they had in the womb, casting forth their children contrary to the
law. And after they have been destroyed, together with their homes,
they will afterward be punished forever. Men and women will then
come to whatever place befits them best.”
THE BLASPHEMERS
(ApPt 7b/21,22 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And I, (Peter,) saw a dismal place, even the place of punishment.
Now those who were being punished there were clad in a manner
befitting the place. They all wore dark clothing, as did their angels of
punishment. Now there were some there who were hanging by their
tongues. These were the ones who blasphemed the way of
righteousness. Beneath them lie spread out an unquenchable flaming
fire that tormented them.
(ApPt 7b/21,22 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And I, (Peter,) saw a dismal place, even the place of punishment.
Now those who were being punished there were clad in a manner
befitting the place. They all wore dark clothing, as did their angels of
punishment. Now there were some there who were hanging by their
tongues. These were the ones who blasphemed the way of
righteousness. Beneath them lie spread out an unquenchable flaming
fire that tormented them.
THOSE WHO FORSOOK RIGHTEOUSNESS
(ApPt 7c/23 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And behold, there was this other place with a giant pit (and) a lake
that was filled with burning mire. Certain men who had forsaken
righteousness were bound up there, and tormenting angels were
stationed over them, visiting them and stoking the fire of their
punishment.
(ApPt 7c/23 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And behold, there was this other place with a giant pit (and) a lake
that was filled with burning mire. Certain men who had forsaken
righteousness were bound up there, and tormenting angels were
stationed over them, visiting them and stoking the fire of their
punishment.
WANTON WOMEN AND MEN
(ApPt 7d/24 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Again, there were these two women hanging over the seething mire
from their necks and hair who were being thrown into the pit. These
were the ones who adorned themselves (and) braided their hair, not
for the sake of comeliness, but in order to invite fornication, that they
might lead the souls of men down to destruction. The men who had
slept with them and defiled themselves through adultery, were
hanging by their feet (and) loins in that flaming place. Their heads were all stuck in the mire, and they cried aloud to one another, ‘We did
not know, (nor did we) believe that we would end up in this place of
eternal anguish!’
(ApPt 7d/24 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Again, there were these two women hanging over the seething mire
from their necks and hair who were being thrown into the pit. These
were the ones who adorned themselves (and) braided their hair, not
for the sake of comeliness, but in order to invite fornication, that they
might lead the souls of men down to destruction. The men who had
slept with them and defiled themselves through adultery, were
hanging by their feet (and) loins in that flaming place. Their heads were all stuck in the mire, and they cried aloud to one another, ‘We did
not know, (nor did we) believe that we would end up in this place of
eternal anguish!’
THE MURDERERS AND THEIR ACCOMPLICES
(ApPt 7e/25a Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And I, (Peter,) saw the murderers and their accomplices thrown
into a fiery crevasse--a place that was crawling with reptiles (and)
venomous creatures--where myriad worms, like inky clouds,
oppressed them all. And in that torment they writhed without rest.
(ApPt 7e/25a Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And I, (Peter,) saw the murderers and their accomplices thrown
into a fiery crevasse--a place that was crawling with reptiles (and)
venomous creatures--where myriad worms, like inky clouds,
oppressed them all. And in that torment they writhed without rest.
THE SLAIN BEHOLD THEIR KILLERS
(ApPt 7f/25b Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Then the angel Ezrael will bring forward the souls of their victims. And after that, these all stood by and witnessed the suffering of those
who had murdered them. And the murderers confessed, ‘Oh God, how
truly righteous is Your judgment. For truly we have heard that we
would come to this place of everlasting judgment, but we did not
believe it.’
(ApPt 7f/25b Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Then the angel Ezrael will bring forward the souls of their victims. And after that, these all stood by and witnessed the suffering of those
who had murdered them. And the murderers confessed, ‘Oh God, how
truly righteous is Your judgment. For truly we have heard that we
would come to this place of everlasting judgment, but we did not
believe it.’
THOSE WHO ABORT THEIR CHILDREN
(ApPt 8a/26 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And near to this flaming place I saw another gorge. Here flowed in
426
judgment all kinds of horrifying filth from all manner of sources--the
excrement and bodily discharge of the tormented--and there it pooled
into a lake. And there were women sitting there engulfed by it up to
their throats, suffering a most painful punishment. These were the
ones who conceived children out of wedlock and then went on to have
abortions, destroying the work that God had made.
(ApPt 8a/26 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And near to this flaming place I saw another gorge. Here flowed in
426
judgment all kinds of horrifying filth from all manner of sources--the
excrement and bodily discharge of the tormented--and there it pooled
into a lake. And there were women sitting there engulfed by it up to
their throats, suffering a most painful punishment. These were the
ones who conceived children out of wedlock and then went on to have
abortions, destroying the work that God had made.
THE ABORTED
(ApPt 8b)
Mount of Olives
“And across from them there was this place where great numbers of
the aborted sat weeping. Both sides live and cry to God. Lightnings
flash from these children and pierce the eyes of those who fornicated
and brought about their destruction.
“Above these other men and women stand naked, and their children stand across from them in a heavenly place. There they groan, and
confidently summon their parents before the judgment seat of Christ
and cry aloud to God for what these have done, ‘These were the ones
who disregarded, set at nought, and did not keep to Your word. They
murdered us, cursing the angel who fashioned us and hung us up.
They kept from us the light that You have appointed for all.’” (So it
has been passed down and received in the Scriptures that are inspired
by God.)
“Milk flowed from the breasts of the mother, which then congealed
and gave a stench. From it issued tiny flesh-eating monsters, which
scurried all over them, turning against them and tormenting them
forevermore along with their husbands, since they overthrew the
command of God and murdered their children.” (This teaches that
punishment comes as a result of sinning.) “These children, who have
been exposed by their parents, are then assigned to the angel
Temelouchos, who rears them there and nurtures them, causing them
to be like one who has been faithful for a hundred years.” (Peter in his
Apocalypse says that these will receive the better lot, for after receiving this knowledge, they hope to attain to a better existence, as if
they had already gone through the suffering they would have
undergone had they been allowed to live out a physical existence. The others, by contrast, will be offered salvation as those who have been
wronged and who have experienced mercy. They will receive as a
reward an existence that is without anguish.) “But those who killed
them are to endure an everlasting torment, for even thus is the will of God.
(ApPt 8b)
Mount of Olives
“And across from them there was this place where great numbers of
the aborted sat weeping. Both sides live and cry to God. Lightnings
flash from these children and pierce the eyes of those who fornicated
and brought about their destruction.
“Above these other men and women stand naked, and their children stand across from them in a heavenly place. There they groan, and
confidently summon their parents before the judgment seat of Christ
and cry aloud to God for what these have done, ‘These were the ones
who disregarded, set at nought, and did not keep to Your word. They
murdered us, cursing the angel who fashioned us and hung us up.
They kept from us the light that You have appointed for all.’” (So it
has been passed down and received in the Scriptures that are inspired
by God.)
“Milk flowed from the breasts of the mother, which then congealed
and gave a stench. From it issued tiny flesh-eating monsters, which
scurried all over them, turning against them and tormenting them
forevermore along with their husbands, since they overthrew the
command of God and murdered their children.” (This teaches that
punishment comes as a result of sinning.) “These children, who have
been exposed by their parents, are then assigned to the angel
Temelouchos, who rears them there and nurtures them, causing them
to be like one who has been faithful for a hundred years.” (Peter in his
Apocalypse says that these will receive the better lot, for after receiving this knowledge, they hope to attain to a better existence, as if
they had already gone through the suffering they would have
undergone had they been allowed to live out a physical existence. The others, by contrast, will be offered salvation as those who have been
wronged and who have experienced mercy. They will receive as a
reward an existence that is without anguish.) “But those who killed
them are to endure an everlasting torment, for even thus is the will of God.
THE PERSECUTORS AND BETRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
(ApPt 9a/27 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And other men and women stood there in flames stretching
halfway up their bodies. Then Ezrael, the angel of wrath, brought
forward their half-blazing bodies, and tossed them into the hell of
mankind, a black place where there exist all manner of punishments.
There they were afflicted by evil (and) wrathful spirits, while neversleeping
worms gnawed tirelessly at their guts. These were those who
persecuted and betrayed my righteous ones.
(ApPt 9a/27 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And other men and women stood there in flames stretching
halfway up their bodies. Then Ezrael, the angel of wrath, brought
forward their half-blazing bodies, and tossed them into the hell of
mankind, a black place where there exist all manner of punishments.
There they were afflicted by evil (and) wrathful spirits, while neversleeping
worms gnawed tirelessly at their guts. These were those who
persecuted and betrayed my righteous ones.
THOSE WHO DOUBT AND BLASPHEME GOD’S WAY OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS
(ApPt 9b/28 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Not far from those who lived like this were other men and women
who gnawed at their tongues (and) bit through their lips. There they
were being tortured and poked in the eyes with red hot irons. These
were the ones who questioned and insulted my way of righteousness.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
(ApPt 9b/28 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“Not far from those who lived like this were other men and women
who gnawed at their tongues (and) bit through their lips. There they
were being tortured and poked in the eyes with red hot irons. These
were the ones who questioned and insulted my way of righteousness.
THE LIARS WHO KILLED THE MARTYRS
(ApPt 9c/29 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And across the way from these there were yet other men and women
whose actions were carried out through deception. These all had their
lips sliced off, and were biting through their tongues. Fire passed into
their mouths and entered their guts. These were the false witnesses
who through their lies caused the martyrs to be slain.
(ApPt 9c/29 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And across the way from these there were yet other men and women
whose actions were carried out through deception. These all had their
lips sliced off, and were biting through their tongues. Fire passed into
their mouths and entered their guts. These were the false witnesses
who through their lies caused the martyrs to be slain.
THOSE WHO TRUSTED IN THEIR RICHES
(ApPt 9d/30 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And near to that spot there was a place where a pillar of fire stood
situated over glowing stones that were sharper than any sword or spit.
And men and women dressed in rags and filthy clothes are tossed on them, where they writhe in agony, that they might endure the eternal
torture of judgment. And in that place there were the rich, who
trusted in their wealth. They showed the widows, the orphans and
their mothers no mercy, but have instead despised (both) these (and)
the commandment of God, in whose sight <they are precious.>
(ApPt 9d/30 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And near to that spot there was a place where a pillar of fire stood
situated over glowing stones that were sharper than any sword or spit.
And men and women dressed in rags and filthy clothes are tossed on them, where they writhe in agony, that they might endure the eternal
torture of judgment. And in that place there were the rich, who
trusted in their wealth. They showed the widows, the orphans and
their mothers no mercy, but have instead despised (both) these (and)
the commandment of God, in whose sight <they are precious.>
USERERS
(ApPt 10a/31 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And not far from there was this giant lake that was choked with
filth; discharge, blood, and simmering mire. And they were standing
there up to their knees in the place where they toss down men and
women who lent money and demanded a high rate of interest.
(ApPt 10a/31 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And not far from there was this giant lake that was choked with
filth; discharge, blood, and simmering mire. And they were standing
there up to their knees in the place where they toss down men and
women who lent money and demanded a high rate of interest.
CULTISTS
(ApPt 10b/32 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And other men and women flung themselves from the heights
down a steep slope. And when they reached the bottom their
torturers, the demons, would drive these idol worshippers to their
wit’s end. They forced them back to the precipice, where they are
again pushed off, and once again fall down from there. And they do
this endlessly, (and are) tormented forever like this without respite.
These are the ones who out of devotion to some ‘apostle’ have allowed
themselves to be cut, and have defiled their bodies by acting as a
woman with a man, and the women with them there are they who
have behaved toward one another as a man with a woman.
(ApPt 10b/32 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And other men and women flung themselves from the heights
down a steep slope. And when they reached the bottom their
torturers, the demons, would drive these idol worshippers to their
wit’s end. They forced them back to the precipice, where they are
again pushed off, and once again fall down from there. And they do
this endlessly, (and are) tormented forever like this without respite.
These are the ones who out of devotion to some ‘apostle’ have allowed
themselves to be cut, and have defiled their bodies by acting as a
woman with a man, and the women with them there are they who
have behaved toward one another as a man with a woman.
THE IDOL WORSHIPPERS
(ApPt 10c/33 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And beyond these people, over by the precipice, <there were yet
others.> And beneath them Ezrael readies a great fire; a place
consumed by a blazing inferno, full of all manner of gold and silver
idols, things that looked like cats and lions, reptiles and beasts; works that were fashioned by the hands of men. And the men and women who had formed images in the place of God are to remain there in their fiery chains. And because of this, their error, these will stand scourging themselves in eternal punishment before the deceitful images, and such is their judgment. Now beside these stood men and women who were holding glowing rods, and they were beating each other without rest.
(ApPt 10c/33 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And beyond these people, over by the precipice, <there were yet
others.> And beneath them Ezrael readies a great fire; a place
consumed by a blazing inferno, full of all manner of gold and silver
idols, things that looked like cats and lions, reptiles and beasts; works that were fashioned by the hands of men. And the men and women who had formed images in the place of God are to remain there in their fiery chains. And because of this, their error, these will stand scourging themselves in eternal punishment before the deceitful images, and such is their judgment. Now beside these stood men and women who were holding glowing rods, and they were beating each other without rest.
THOSE WHO FORSOOK THE WAY OF GOD
(ApPt 10d/34 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And close at hand were still other men and women who were being
roasted and turned in the fire, baking away in the flame of judgment
and its perpetual torment. These are the ones who have utterly
renounced the way of God and taken instead to following devils.
(ApPt 10d/34 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And close at hand were still other men and women who were being
roasted and turned in the fire, baking away in the flame of judgment
and its perpetual torment. These are the ones who have utterly
renounced the way of God and taken instead to following devils.
THOSE WHO DISHONOR THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER
(ApPt 11a)
Mount of Olives
“And there was this other very high position. In that place there is a
furnace and a brazier, where a great fire blazes. And from one end
comes a fiery flame. The men and women who take a false step go
tumbling down to that place of fear. And once again, as the fire that is
readied for them flows, they climb back up only to fall back down and
resume their tumbling. And they will be punished this way
forevermore. These are the ones who have failed to honor their father
and mother, but have intentionally withdrawn from them. And in this
way they are punished forever.
(ApPt 11a)
Mount of Olives
“And there was this other very high position. In that place there is a
furnace and a brazier, where a great fire blazes. And from one end
comes a fiery flame. The men and women who take a false step go
tumbling down to that place of fear. And once again, as the fire that is
readied for them flows, they climb back up only to fall back down and
resume their tumbling. And they will be punished this way
forevermore. These are the ones who have failed to honor their father
and mother, but have intentionally withdrawn from them. And in this
way they are punished forever.
THOSE WHO DISOBEY THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR ELDERS
(ApPt 11b)
Mount of Olives
“Ezrael the angel then brings children and young women over to
show them the ones being punished there. Their painful punishment
will be to be hung up for flesh-eating birds to peck. These are the ones
who trust in their sins, disobey their parents’ commands, do not follow
the teachings of their forebears, nor do they respect their elders.
(ApPt 11b)
Mount of Olives
“Ezrael the angel then brings children and young women over to
show them the ones being punished there. Their painful punishment
will be to be hung up for flesh-eating birds to peck. These are the ones
who trust in their sins, disobey their parents’ commands, do not follow
the teachings of their forebears, nor do they respect their elders.
THOSE WHO DID NOT PRESERVE THEIR VIRGINITY
(ApPt 11c)
Mount of Olives
“Next to these were young women who were clothed only in
darkness. Their punishment will be intense and their flesh will be
ripped to shreds. These were those who kept not their virginity until
they were given in marriage, and they will feel these torments the
whole time they are suffering them.
(ApPt 11c)
Mount of Olives
“Next to these were young women who were clothed only in
darkness. Their punishment will be intense and their flesh will be
ripped to shreds. These were those who kept not their virginity until
they were given in marriage, and they will feel these torments the
whole time they are suffering them.
DISOBEDIENT SERVANTS
(ApPt 11d)
Mount of Olives
“Again, there were these other men who constantly gnawed at their
tongues and were being tortured in eternal flames. These were the
servants who disobeyed their masters. And this will be their judgment forever.
(ApPt 11d)
Mount of Olives
“Again, there were these other men who constantly gnawed at their
tongues and were being tortured in eternal flames. These were the
servants who disobeyed their masters. And this will be their judgment forever.
SELF-RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITES
(ApPt 12a)
Mount of Olives
“Now not far from this place of anguish, there were men and
women who were dressed in white who could neither see nor speak.
These were tightly packed together and dropped on coals of
inextinguishable fire. These are the ones who make charitable
donations and boast, ‘We are righteous in the eyes of God,’ though
they have never yet labored for righteousness.
THE FIERY STREAM OF JUDGMENT
(ApPt 12b; SbOr 2:283-312)
Mount of Olives
“Then Ezrael, the angel of God, allows them to come forth from this
fire only to pronounce their final judgment against them. This then
becomes their final sentence. And a fiery stream is unleashed on the
condemned and they are carried to the midst thereof, and Uriel places
them down there.” (Now this river of fire symbolizes that closed door
by which the ungodly are to be kept out of the kingdom, as Daniel has
written, as has Peter in his Apocalypse. “That party of foolish ones will
rise up and find the door shut,” refers to the blazing river that lies
before them.) “Also there exist fiery wheels which, through their
revolutions hold these men and women in suspension. These people
will be brought by God’s wrath near to the pillar around which an
unquenchable fiery river swirls, as will the sorcerers and the
sorceresses who are there with them. Now the ones who blaze in the
pit are the sorcerers and the sorceresses. And concerning their
judgments, these flaming wheels are numberless. Now these are to be suddenly and severely beaten with fiery whips from above by the
angels of the eternal God, and bound below with chains of fire and
unbreakable bonds. Then, in that darkness of night, they will be
hurled before dread beasts of the underworld, where the darkness is
indeed profound. But when the angels have inflicted numerous
punishments on all of those who were wicked of heart, a flaming
maelstrom from the mighty river will afterward close in on them. (For
they were wholly consumed by evil deeds.) To and fro will these all
howl, off in the distance, suffering a most lamentable fate. Fathers
and newborn children, mothers and infants weeping at their breast.
They will never want for tears, nor will their lengthy cries be heard as
they wail most wretchedly here and there, but in obscurity will they
shout below in dark and dank Tartarus. In ungodly places and blazing
fire will they pay thrice over for the evil they have done. All of these
will clench their teeth and wither away from thirst and endless cruelty.
(ApPt 12a)
Mount of Olives
“Now not far from this place of anguish, there were men and
women who were dressed in white who could neither see nor speak.
These were tightly packed together and dropped on coals of
inextinguishable fire. These are the ones who make charitable
donations and boast, ‘We are righteous in the eyes of God,’ though
they have never yet labored for righteousness.
THE FIERY STREAM OF JUDGMENT
(ApPt 12b; SbOr 2:283-312)
Mount of Olives
“Then Ezrael, the angel of God, allows them to come forth from this
fire only to pronounce their final judgment against them. This then
becomes their final sentence. And a fiery stream is unleashed on the
condemned and they are carried to the midst thereof, and Uriel places
them down there.” (Now this river of fire symbolizes that closed door
by which the ungodly are to be kept out of the kingdom, as Daniel has
written, as has Peter in his Apocalypse. “That party of foolish ones will
rise up and find the door shut,” refers to the blazing river that lies
before them.) “Also there exist fiery wheels which, through their
revolutions hold these men and women in suspension. These people
will be brought by God’s wrath near to the pillar around which an
unquenchable fiery river swirls, as will the sorcerers and the
sorceresses who are there with them. Now the ones who blaze in the
pit are the sorcerers and the sorceresses. And concerning their
judgments, these flaming wheels are numberless. Now these are to be suddenly and severely beaten with fiery whips from above by the
angels of the eternal God, and bound below with chains of fire and
unbreakable bonds. Then, in that darkness of night, they will be
hurled before dread beasts of the underworld, where the darkness is
indeed profound. But when the angels have inflicted numerous
punishments on all of those who were wicked of heart, a flaming
maelstrom from the mighty river will afterward close in on them. (For
they were wholly consumed by evil deeds.) To and fro will these all
howl, off in the distance, suffering a most lamentable fate. Fathers
and newborn children, mothers and infants weeping at their breast.
They will never want for tears, nor will their lengthy cries be heard as
they wail most wretchedly here and there, but in obscurity will they
shout below in dark and dank Tartarus. In ungodly places and blazing
fire will they pay thrice over for the evil they have done. All of these
will clench their teeth and wither away from thirst and endless cruelty.
They will all cry out for death, but it will elude them, for neither death
nor dark of night will afford them any respite. They will forever cry
out in vain to God, the Ruler of Heaven, but He will conspicuously
turn His face from them, for He gave seven age-days to an everstraying
mankind, that they might repent through the intercession of
the Holy Virgin.
nor dark of night will afford them any respite. They will forever cry
out in vain to God, the Ruler of Heaven, but He will conspicuously
turn His face from them, for He gave seven age-days to an everstraying
mankind, that they might repent through the intercession of
the Holy Virgin.
THE RIGHTEOUS BEHOLD THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED
(ApPt 13)
Mount of Olives
“The angels then brought forward in their arms my chosen and my
righteous ones, who have been made perfect in all righteousness,
wearing eternal life as their garment. They will see vengeance carried
out on those who despised them even as they undergo His punishment. All of them will receive an everlasting torment that is in
line with their own actions. And those who suffer will cry as one,
‘Show us some compassion, for now we know what God’s judgment is,
even though He warned us all before and we never listened.’ And
Tartarouchos the angel will come and inflict even greater torments on
them, saying, ‘Are you repenting now, when there is no time to
repent? Nothing more is left of your lives!’ But at that time they will
all confess, ‘Righteous is the judgment of God! All of us have heard it
now, and can perceive that His judgment is just, being that our
punishment is in line with our crimes.’”
(ApPt 13)
Mount of Olives
“The angels then brought forward in their arms my chosen and my
righteous ones, who have been made perfect in all righteousness,
wearing eternal life as their garment. They will see vengeance carried
out on those who despised them even as they undergo His punishment. All of them will receive an everlasting torment that is in
line with their own actions. And those who suffer will cry as one,
‘Show us some compassion, for now we know what God’s judgment is,
even though He warned us all before and we never listened.’ And
Tartarouchos the angel will come and inflict even greater torments on
them, saying, ‘Are you repenting now, when there is no time to
repent? Nothing more is left of your lives!’ But at that time they will
all confess, ‘Righteous is the judgment of God! All of us have heard it
now, and can perceive that His judgment is just, being that our
punishment is in line with our crimes.’”
THE APOSTLES’ CONCERN FOR THE SINNERS
(EpAp 40-42)
Mount of Olives
“Oh Lord,” we said, “how tormented we are on their account!”
“That is good,” the lord replied, “for the righteous also show concern
for the sinners--praying and appealing to God my Father, and
pleading with Him.” And once again we said to him, “Oh Lord, does
no one supplicate you? How is it that no one fears you?” But he
answered us, “Indeed I will hearken to the prayers that the righteous
make on their behalf.” And when he revealed this to us, we answered
him, “Oh Lord, through all that you have said to us, you have truly
inspired us, and in showing us mercy have delivered us, that we might
preach it to whom it is right, to those who are worthy, and indeed we
will. But will we have our reward with you?” But he simply said to us,
“Go out and start preaching, and you will become good ministers and
servants.” “But Lord,” we said, “you are even as a father to us. You
will be the one to preach through us!” At that point he questioned us,
“Is everyone a father, then? Is everyone a servant? Is everyone a teacher? Do not all of you become fathers or teachers.” And at that we
said to him, “Lord, did you not say to us, ‘Do not speak of anyone on
this earth as your “father” or your “master,” for your Heavenly Father
is your Father and your Master.’ Now why are you telling us, ‘Like me,
you are to become fathers to many children, and bring forth teachers
and servants.’” And he answered us, “What you have said is indeed
the truth. For I say to you that everyone who has come to believe in
me by listening to you; through you will he receive from me baptism
and the light of the seal that is in my hand. It is through me that you
will become fathers and teachers as well as servants.”
But we asked him, “Lord, how can we be each of these three? How
can it be that the three should be one?” “How truly do I say to you,” he
expounded, “you will be called fathers first of all, because from your
heart and out of your compassion, you have revealed to them the
teachings of the kingdom of heaven. Secondly, you will be called
servants because it is through you that these will receive the baptism
of life and by my hand the forgiveness of sins. And you will be referred
to as teachers because ungrudgingly have you disclosed my word to
them. Without distress have you cautioned them and your rebuke has
caused them to repent. You have not feared their riches nor respected
their persons, but instead have kept my Father’s command and
brought it to completion. And great is your reward with my Heavenly
Father, for they will have their sins forgiven them and they will live an
eternal life, receiving a share in the kingdom of heaven.” “Oh Lord,”
we said, “if all of us (and) each of them had ten thousand tongues with
which to speak, we could not adequately thank you for promising such things to us!” And he responded, “Now what I have done for you, I
say, go and do for others too.”
(EpAp 40-42)
Mount of Olives
“Oh Lord,” we said, “how tormented we are on their account!”
“That is good,” the lord replied, “for the righteous also show concern
for the sinners--praying and appealing to God my Father, and
pleading with Him.” And once again we said to him, “Oh Lord, does
no one supplicate you? How is it that no one fears you?” But he
answered us, “Indeed I will hearken to the prayers that the righteous
make on their behalf.” And when he revealed this to us, we answered
him, “Oh Lord, through all that you have said to us, you have truly
inspired us, and in showing us mercy have delivered us, that we might
preach it to whom it is right, to those who are worthy, and indeed we
will. But will we have our reward with you?” But he simply said to us,
“Go out and start preaching, and you will become good ministers and
servants.” “But Lord,” we said, “you are even as a father to us. You
will be the one to preach through us!” At that point he questioned us,
“Is everyone a father, then? Is everyone a servant? Is everyone a teacher? Do not all of you become fathers or teachers.” And at that we
said to him, “Lord, did you not say to us, ‘Do not speak of anyone on
this earth as your “father” or your “master,” for your Heavenly Father
is your Father and your Master.’ Now why are you telling us, ‘Like me,
you are to become fathers to many children, and bring forth teachers
and servants.’” And he answered us, “What you have said is indeed
the truth. For I say to you that everyone who has come to believe in
me by listening to you; through you will he receive from me baptism
and the light of the seal that is in my hand. It is through me that you
will become fathers and teachers as well as servants.”
But we asked him, “Lord, how can we be each of these three? How
can it be that the three should be one?” “How truly do I say to you,” he
expounded, “you will be called fathers first of all, because from your
heart and out of your compassion, you have revealed to them the
teachings of the kingdom of heaven. Secondly, you will be called
servants because it is through you that these will receive the baptism
of life and by my hand the forgiveness of sins. And you will be referred
to as teachers because ungrudgingly have you disclosed my word to
them. Without distress have you cautioned them and your rebuke has
caused them to repent. You have not feared their riches nor respected
their persons, but instead have kept my Father’s command and
brought it to completion. And great is your reward with my Heavenly
Father, for they will have their sins forgiven them and they will live an
eternal life, receiving a share in the kingdom of heaven.” “Oh Lord,”
we said, “if all of us (and) each of them had ten thousand tongues with
which to speak, we could not adequately thank you for promising such things to us!” And he responded, “Now what I have done for you, I
say, go and do for others too.”
THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH VIRGINS
(EpAp 43-45)
Mount of Olives
“Then you will be even as the wise virgins who lit the flame and
then kept watch; who did not sleep, but went with their lamps to meet
their Lord, the bridegroom, and have entered into the bridal chamber
with him. But the foolish ones who spoke with them all fell asleep and
proved themselves unable to.” And we asked him, “Lord, who are the
wise and who are the foolish?” And he answered us, “With regard to
what the prophet has said, the five wise and the five foolish are
children--for they are the daughters of God. Now allow mankind to
hear their names.” But we were downcast and anxious, weeping for
the sake of those who had fallen asleep (and) been shut out. And he revealed to us, “The five who are wise are Faith, Love, Grace, Peace
and Hope. Whenever those who believe in me come into possession of
these, they will become guides to others who believe in me and in Him
Who sent me. I am both the Lord and the bridegroom, whom they
have accepted. They have gone with me into the bridegroom’s house
and have laid down with me in my bridal chamber and rejoiced. But
the five foolish ones slept, and when they woke up they came to the
bridegroom’s house and knocked at the door, for by then it had been
shut tight. Then all of them wept and mourned because the doors had
been secured and they were not being opened to them.” But we
questioned him, “Lord, what about their wise sisters who are there in
the bridegroom’s home? Did they simply sit inside and not open it for
them? Did they not feel sorry for them or beg the bridegroom to open
up to them?” “Of course they are sad and anxious for them,” he said.
“Even so, no matter how they plead with the groom, it avails them
nothing, for they cannot afford any grace to these others.” “Oh Lord,”
we asked, “When will the day come for them to be let in for their
sister’s sake?” And he responded, “Whoever is shut out remains shut
out.” And we said to him, “We have understood this word of yours, oh
Lord, (but) is this truly binding? Who then are these foolish ones?”
“Listen up,” he said to them, “these are their names; Wisdom,
Knowledge, Obedience, Perseverance and Mercy. These have lied
dormant in those who have believed in me and acknowledged me. But
since those who slept failed to keep my commandments, they are to
remain outside of the kingdom and fold of the shepherd and his sheep-
-and whoever remains outside the sheepfold gets eaten by wolves.
And even though he hears, he will nonetheless be judged--and for this reason suffer death. He will undergo much suffering, misery, and
hardship. Rest will elude him and he will be unable to persevere. And
though his suffering is acute and he is cut to shreds, torn (and)
tortured by his prolonged and painful punishment, his will truly be a
slow (and) agonizing death.” And we said to him, “Lord, how well you
have revealed all things to us.” And he responded, “Do you
understand these words of mine?” “Yes, Lord,” we all affirmed. “It is
through these (first) five that they hope to gain access to your
kingdom, and through the five who are shut out that they are to
remain outside. Even so, oh Lord and bridegroom, because of those
who fell asleep, those who kept watch and got to be with you will never
rejoice.” And at that he said to us, “They will rejoice in that they have
gone in with the Lord and bridegroom, but those who slept are their sisters, so they will indeed be grieved on their account. Now God the
Father does have ten daughters.” “Oh Lord,” we said, “how truly it
befits your greatness that you should shower grace on these, their
sisters.” And he responded, “This was not your own idea, but that of
Him Who sent me here, and I agree with Him!”
(EpAp 43-45)
Mount of Olives
“Then you will be even as the wise virgins who lit the flame and
then kept watch; who did not sleep, but went with their lamps to meet
their Lord, the bridegroom, and have entered into the bridal chamber
with him. But the foolish ones who spoke with them all fell asleep and
proved themselves unable to.” And we asked him, “Lord, who are the
wise and who are the foolish?” And he answered us, “With regard to
what the prophet has said, the five wise and the five foolish are
children--for they are the daughters of God. Now allow mankind to
hear their names.” But we were downcast and anxious, weeping for
the sake of those who had fallen asleep (and) been shut out. And he revealed to us, “The five who are wise are Faith, Love, Grace, Peace
and Hope. Whenever those who believe in me come into possession of
these, they will become guides to others who believe in me and in Him
Who sent me. I am both the Lord and the bridegroom, whom they
have accepted. They have gone with me into the bridegroom’s house
and have laid down with me in my bridal chamber and rejoiced. But
the five foolish ones slept, and when they woke up they came to the
bridegroom’s house and knocked at the door, for by then it had been
shut tight. Then all of them wept and mourned because the doors had
been secured and they were not being opened to them.” But we
questioned him, “Lord, what about their wise sisters who are there in
the bridegroom’s home? Did they simply sit inside and not open it for
them? Did they not feel sorry for them or beg the bridegroom to open
up to them?” “Of course they are sad and anxious for them,” he said.
“Even so, no matter how they plead with the groom, it avails them
nothing, for they cannot afford any grace to these others.” “Oh Lord,”
we asked, “When will the day come for them to be let in for their
sister’s sake?” And he responded, “Whoever is shut out remains shut
out.” And we said to him, “We have understood this word of yours, oh
Lord, (but) is this truly binding? Who then are these foolish ones?”
“Listen up,” he said to them, “these are their names; Wisdom,
Knowledge, Obedience, Perseverance and Mercy. These have lied
dormant in those who have believed in me and acknowledged me. But
since those who slept failed to keep my commandments, they are to
remain outside of the kingdom and fold of the shepherd and his sheep-
-and whoever remains outside the sheepfold gets eaten by wolves.
And even though he hears, he will nonetheless be judged--and for this reason suffer death. He will undergo much suffering, misery, and
hardship. Rest will elude him and he will be unable to persevere. And
though his suffering is acute and he is cut to shreds, torn (and)
tortured by his prolonged and painful punishment, his will truly be a
slow (and) agonizing death.” And we said to him, “Lord, how well you
have revealed all things to us.” And he responded, “Do you
understand these words of mine?” “Yes, Lord,” we all affirmed. “It is
through these (first) five that they hope to gain access to your
kingdom, and through the five who are shut out that they are to
remain outside. Even so, oh Lord and bridegroom, because of those
who fell asleep, those who kept watch and got to be with you will never
rejoice.” And at that he said to us, “They will rejoice in that they have
gone in with the Lord and bridegroom, but those who slept are their sisters, so they will indeed be grieved on their account. Now God the
Father does have ten daughters.” “Oh Lord,” we said, “how truly it
befits your greatness that you should shower grace on these, their
sisters.” And he responded, “This was not your own idea, but that of
Him Who sent me here, and I agree with Him!”
THE SINNERS RELEASED FROM HADES
(ApPt 14a; SbOr 2:313-338; Jude 22,23)
Mount of Olives
“But as for their counterparts, those who are interested in justice
and righteous deeds, holiness and truly upright thinking, angels will
raise them from the burning stream and deliver them unto the light--
even to the carefree realm, wherein lies the path of immortality of the
Almighty God and the three springs: of wine, of honey, and of milk.
Then the world will belong the same to all, with no walls or fences to
divide them. It will then, of its own, bring forth fruit in a much greater
abundance. People will live their lives as one, and wealth will be
distributed evenly. In that place there will be no ‘rich’ or ‘poor,’
neither despot, nor any slave. There will, moreover, exist at that time
neither the common nor the eminent; neither sovereign nor head of
state, for all will be on the same level with one another. It will no
longer be said that ‘night has fallen’ or that ‘something will happen
tomorrow’ or that ‘something happened yesterday,’ nor will there be
days at all to think about. Neither will there be any spring or summer,
buying or selling, dusk or dawn, for He will make it all as one long day.
To all of these, His righteous ones, the eternal God Who governs all,
will grant them something further still: When they ask Him to rescue
mankind from the unquenchable fire and perpetual grinding of teeth,
He will give them what they long for, and this is definite. I will then
deliver out of torment whomsoever my righteous and elect ones
should ask of me.” (Be compassionate to those who doubt, but others
you must drag from the fire, despising even the garment that is tainted by the flesh.) “(And) if anyone should cry to me in their affliction, I
will grant them to God. Behold, He will Himself pluck them from the
undying fire and set them in another place, even into another eternal
realm where they will live forever with the immortal ones. Then I will
give my righteous and elect ones the precious baptism and the
salvation for which they have pleaded with me, there in that deep and
abiding Acherusian lake, where He has the broad waves, (and) which
is referred to by men as the Elysian field; and all of this for the sake of
His own. And their portion will be with my righteous ones, who will
be adorned with flowers; and I will go <to them> and rejoice with them. Then I will travel on to my eternal realm exulting with the
patriarchs and my elect. I will fulfill the promises that my Heavenly
Father and I have made to them. The Gentiles also will I cause to
enter my eternal realm. My Father and I will reveal all that I have
promised to give to them in all of its eternity.”
EXHORTATION TO PREACH
(EpAp 46-50; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria,
Stromateis 3.4.26, 7.13.82)
Mount of Olives
“All of you, venture forth! Teach and preach in a clear and truthful
manner. Stand your ground before all men and don’t defer to anyone.
Show neither any fear of, nor respect for anyone, but most especially
the rich, for they will be found not to have followed my commands, but
to have reveled in their wealth instead.” “Lord,” we asked him, “does
this apply to the rich alone?” And he replied, “If someone should have
but a little substance, and not be wealthy, should he give to the needy
and not deny the poor soul who has nothing, I am telling you that men
will call him a humanitarian. But if that one should stumble under the
burden of the sins he has committed, and should do his neighbor
wrong, then for the sake of the kindness that this person has shown
his neighbor, his neighbor ought to admonish him. Now after his
neighbor has rebuked him and he has repented, he will be saved, and
the one who reproved him will have endless life as his reward. But if a
needy person should see someone who has done some good for him sinning away, and he does not rebuke him (but) encourages him
(instead,) such a one will be severely judged, for one blind man who
leads another will cause them both to fall into a ditch. You see, both
the respected and the one who respects, encouraged and encourager
alike are to be punished with the same punishment.” (For they say
that in the Traditions of Matthias the Apostle it always says, ‘Should
the neighbor of one who is chosen sin, the chosen one has sinned as
well. You see, had he conformed himself to the teaching of the word,
then his neighbor would have been too ashamed of his lifestyle to live
out any life of sin.’ Matthias also taught that we ought not to give
ourselves license to indulge in sensual delights, but that we ought
rather to clash with the flesh and allow the soul to mature through a
faith that is mingled with knowledge.) “And even as the prophet has
spoken, ‘Those whose belly is their god, who encourage a person to
sin, who hold a sinner in regard, justifying the ungodly for some kind
of reward, are accursed--one and all.’ Now do you see how the judgment will be. Recognize that a judgment awaits them. You can be
sure that on that day, I will neither fear the rich, nor will I go easy on
the poor.
“If you are a witness to another’s sin, then just between the two of
you, make plain to him where he is wrong, because if he should listen
to you, then you will have won him over! Nevertheless, if he should
not heed your rebuke, then bring along another one, or even two if it
should come to that. Correct your brother (and) offer him guidance!
But if after all that he still will not listen, then mark him as, and treat
him like a Gentile or a tax-collector.
“Should you hear something about your brother, do not give it any
credit. Do not slander anyone and do not long to hear it from others,
because it stands written: ‘Let not your ear ever hearken to slander.’ If
you have seen something, then denounce it; correct and convert him.”
“Oh Lord,” we said, “you have given us instruction and exhortations in
all things. Even so, Lord, ought there to be dissensions and disputes,
covetousness and turmoil, hatred and anger among the faithful who
believe in the preaching of your name? For you have said, ‘They will
fault a person without taking their character into account.’ Are these not sinning by despising the one who has corrected them?” And he
answered us, “Tell me again why the judgment is coming? Is it not so
that the wheat might make it into the barn and the chaff, into the fire?
<That is how it goes with those> who have this kind of hate. As for the
one who loves me and reproves those who do not carry out my
commandments, he will be despised for it, and will therefore suffer
persecution. Men will despise and ridicule them. And as if that were
not enough, they will also deliberately say what is untrue. A
conspiracy will arise against those who love me. But these will reprove
them, with an eye toward gaining their salvation. But anyone who
points out any of their misdeeds and seeks to correct them and exhort
them will first be hated, then avoided, and ultimately set at nought.
Also anyone seeking to render them any assistance will be kept from
doing so. But with the Father, those who have suffered this are to rank
as martyrs. You see, they were eager to see righteousness carried out,
and were not motivated by some kind of corruptible zeal.” And we
asked him, “Will such a thing take place even in our midst?” And he
answered us, “Do not fear the greater part, but watch for what a few
will do.” “Tell us what you mean,” we asked. And he said, “Another
teaching will arise; a controversy. Now seeking only to glorify
themselves, they will come to put forth worthless doctrine. Now this
will give rise to a fatal error, which will teach even those who believe in me to turn away from my command, and lead them from eternal life.
Damn all those who twist my words and forsake my command for
their own ends, and damn them all who give them a hearing, and all
who reject the life-giving commandment, for they are to share in their
eternal punishment.
EXHORTATION TO PETER
(ApPt 14b/1-3 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And Peter, I have spoken all of this to you, and expounded it,
causing you to understand it. Go west therefore, out to that city that
rules over the west, and to that vineyard to which I will direct you.
<‘Show them> by the hand of my sinless Son that even now his work
<is done, that the children> of destruction might be made holy.’ But
439
you are the one who has been chosen in the hope that I have given
you. Go in peace and spread my gospel throughout the world. Drink
the cup which I have foretold you must drink at the hand of the son of
him who is in Hades, that his destruction might come, and that you
might be made worthy of the promise. When people come to see the
source of my word, which is in fact the hope of life, the whole world
will suddenly be carried off.
“But there will be many false prophets among them. These people
will put forth divergent teachings and doctrines of perdition, and will
thus become the children thereof. After that, God will come to my
faithful ones who hunger and thirst, suffering affliction and the trial of
their souls in this life.”
(ApPt 14a; SbOr 2:313-338; Jude 22,23)
Mount of Olives
“But as for their counterparts, those who are interested in justice
and righteous deeds, holiness and truly upright thinking, angels will
raise them from the burning stream and deliver them unto the light--
even to the carefree realm, wherein lies the path of immortality of the
Almighty God and the three springs: of wine, of honey, and of milk.
Then the world will belong the same to all, with no walls or fences to
divide them. It will then, of its own, bring forth fruit in a much greater
abundance. People will live their lives as one, and wealth will be
distributed evenly. In that place there will be no ‘rich’ or ‘poor,’
neither despot, nor any slave. There will, moreover, exist at that time
neither the common nor the eminent; neither sovereign nor head of
state, for all will be on the same level with one another. It will no
longer be said that ‘night has fallen’ or that ‘something will happen
tomorrow’ or that ‘something happened yesterday,’ nor will there be
days at all to think about. Neither will there be any spring or summer,
buying or selling, dusk or dawn, for He will make it all as one long day.
To all of these, His righteous ones, the eternal God Who governs all,
will grant them something further still: When they ask Him to rescue
mankind from the unquenchable fire and perpetual grinding of teeth,
He will give them what they long for, and this is definite. I will then
deliver out of torment whomsoever my righteous and elect ones
should ask of me.” (Be compassionate to those who doubt, but others
you must drag from the fire, despising even the garment that is tainted by the flesh.) “(And) if anyone should cry to me in their affliction, I
will grant them to God. Behold, He will Himself pluck them from the
undying fire and set them in another place, even into another eternal
realm where they will live forever with the immortal ones. Then I will
give my righteous and elect ones the precious baptism and the
salvation for which they have pleaded with me, there in that deep and
abiding Acherusian lake, where He has the broad waves, (and) which
is referred to by men as the Elysian field; and all of this for the sake of
His own. And their portion will be with my righteous ones, who will
be adorned with flowers; and I will go <to them> and rejoice with them. Then I will travel on to my eternal realm exulting with the
patriarchs and my elect. I will fulfill the promises that my Heavenly
Father and I have made to them. The Gentiles also will I cause to
enter my eternal realm. My Father and I will reveal all that I have
promised to give to them in all of its eternity.”
EXHORTATION TO PREACH
(EpAp 46-50; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria,
Stromateis 3.4.26, 7.13.82)
Mount of Olives
“All of you, venture forth! Teach and preach in a clear and truthful
manner. Stand your ground before all men and don’t defer to anyone.
Show neither any fear of, nor respect for anyone, but most especially
the rich, for they will be found not to have followed my commands, but
to have reveled in their wealth instead.” “Lord,” we asked him, “does
this apply to the rich alone?” And he replied, “If someone should have
but a little substance, and not be wealthy, should he give to the needy
and not deny the poor soul who has nothing, I am telling you that men
will call him a humanitarian. But if that one should stumble under the
burden of the sins he has committed, and should do his neighbor
wrong, then for the sake of the kindness that this person has shown
his neighbor, his neighbor ought to admonish him. Now after his
neighbor has rebuked him and he has repented, he will be saved, and
the one who reproved him will have endless life as his reward. But if a
needy person should see someone who has done some good for him sinning away, and he does not rebuke him (but) encourages him
(instead,) such a one will be severely judged, for one blind man who
leads another will cause them both to fall into a ditch. You see, both
the respected and the one who respects, encouraged and encourager
alike are to be punished with the same punishment.” (For they say
that in the Traditions of Matthias the Apostle it always says, ‘Should
the neighbor of one who is chosen sin, the chosen one has sinned as
well. You see, had he conformed himself to the teaching of the word,
then his neighbor would have been too ashamed of his lifestyle to live
out any life of sin.’ Matthias also taught that we ought not to give
ourselves license to indulge in sensual delights, but that we ought
rather to clash with the flesh and allow the soul to mature through a
faith that is mingled with knowledge.) “And even as the prophet has
spoken, ‘Those whose belly is their god, who encourage a person to
sin, who hold a sinner in regard, justifying the ungodly for some kind
of reward, are accursed--one and all.’ Now do you see how the judgment will be. Recognize that a judgment awaits them. You can be
sure that on that day, I will neither fear the rich, nor will I go easy on
the poor.
“If you are a witness to another’s sin, then just between the two of
you, make plain to him where he is wrong, because if he should listen
to you, then you will have won him over! Nevertheless, if he should
not heed your rebuke, then bring along another one, or even two if it
should come to that. Correct your brother (and) offer him guidance!
But if after all that he still will not listen, then mark him as, and treat
him like a Gentile or a tax-collector.
“Should you hear something about your brother, do not give it any
credit. Do not slander anyone and do not long to hear it from others,
because it stands written: ‘Let not your ear ever hearken to slander.’ If
you have seen something, then denounce it; correct and convert him.”
“Oh Lord,” we said, “you have given us instruction and exhortations in
all things. Even so, Lord, ought there to be dissensions and disputes,
covetousness and turmoil, hatred and anger among the faithful who
believe in the preaching of your name? For you have said, ‘They will
fault a person without taking their character into account.’ Are these not sinning by despising the one who has corrected them?” And he
answered us, “Tell me again why the judgment is coming? Is it not so
that the wheat might make it into the barn and the chaff, into the fire?
<That is how it goes with those> who have this kind of hate. As for the
one who loves me and reproves those who do not carry out my
commandments, he will be despised for it, and will therefore suffer
persecution. Men will despise and ridicule them. And as if that were
not enough, they will also deliberately say what is untrue. A
conspiracy will arise against those who love me. But these will reprove
them, with an eye toward gaining their salvation. But anyone who
points out any of their misdeeds and seeks to correct them and exhort
them will first be hated, then avoided, and ultimately set at nought.
Also anyone seeking to render them any assistance will be kept from
doing so. But with the Father, those who have suffered this are to rank
as martyrs. You see, they were eager to see righteousness carried out,
and were not motivated by some kind of corruptible zeal.” And we
asked him, “Will such a thing take place even in our midst?” And he
answered us, “Do not fear the greater part, but watch for what a few
will do.” “Tell us what you mean,” we asked. And he said, “Another
teaching will arise; a controversy. Now seeking only to glorify
themselves, they will come to put forth worthless doctrine. Now this
will give rise to a fatal error, which will teach even those who believe in me to turn away from my command, and lead them from eternal life.
Damn all those who twist my words and forsake my command for
their own ends, and damn them all who give them a hearing, and all
who reject the life-giving commandment, for they are to share in their
eternal punishment.
EXHORTATION TO PETER
(ApPt 14b/1-3 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And Peter, I have spoken all of this to you, and expounded it,
causing you to understand it. Go west therefore, out to that city that
rules over the west, and to that vineyard to which I will direct you.
<‘Show them> by the hand of my sinless Son that even now his work
<is done, that the children> of destruction might be made holy.’ But
439
you are the one who has been chosen in the hope that I have given
you. Go in peace and spread my gospel throughout the world. Drink
the cup which I have foretold you must drink at the hand of the son of
him who is in Hades, that his destruction might come, and that you
might be made worthy of the promise. When people come to see the
source of my word, which is in fact the hope of life, the whole world
will suddenly be carried off.
“But there will be many false prophets among them. These people
will put forth divergent teachings and doctrines of perdition, and will
thus become the children thereof. After that, God will come to my
faithful ones who hunger and thirst, suffering affliction and the trial of
their souls in this life.”
A VISION OF THE RIGHTEOUS
(Luke 24:50b-51a; Acts 1:9;
ApPt 15-17a,18/4-20 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And my Lord and King Jesus Christ said to me, ‘Let us climb this
holy mount.’ And we, his twelve disciples went up, begging and
pleading with him to reveal to us even one of our righteous brethren
who had departed from this world, that we might have a look at them
and see their form for ourselves, that we through our boldness might
encourage those who should hear us. And at his transfiguration, the
Lord showed (me,) Peter, and also James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, the clothing of the final days, the day of the resurrection.
Now behold, even as we were praying, these two men appeared to us,
standing there before the Lord, but we were not able to look their way
and see their faces, for they beamed forth even more light than the
sun. Their garments were luminous beyond words, and beyond compare, such as has never been seen by any man in this world. The
gentleness thereof no mouth can express, nor can any heart conceive
of the glory of their adornment or the beauty of their faces.
Astonishing and wonderful was their appearance. The greater one, I
would venture to say, shone more in his brilliance than a crystal. And
we were all amazed at the sight of them. Their bodies were even
whiter than snow, and had a redness surpassing any rose. That redness, moreover, was mingled with the whiteness thereof. It is
simply not possible for me to put their beauty into words. They had
curly hair that framed their faces and shoulders in a delightful
manner. And around their foreheads there was a crown of nard--like a
garland woven out of nard blossoms--and beautiful blooms of
different hues, like a rainbow on the water, (or) in the air was [their]
hair; so finely fashioned was their form, and [they] were decked out in
all manner of ornamentation. And when we looked on them in all of
their splendor we marveled in their presence, and we were startled by
their sudden appearance.
“And I went up to our Lord God Jesus Christ and asked, ‘Who are
these, my Lord?’ And he answered me, ‘These are your righteous
brethren, Moses and Elijah, the ones whose form you wished to see.’
Then I asked him, ‘Where then are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the
other holy patriarchs? And what is the nature of that world in which
these who have such glory dwell?’ The Lord then revealed to us this
expansive, otherworldly kind of setting, where all things emanated
light--a paradise in the east chosen for Adam by God. The air in that
place was charged with shimmering sunlight and plants of exquisite
beauty, and was accompanied by the fragrance of perfume--and I saw
there many fruits. This garden, the earth, was bursting with unfading
flowers--redolent of spices and plants that blossom gloriously; never
fading, and bringing forth blessed fruits. The flowers in that land gave
off such a wonderful fragrance that when released from there, it
carried over to where we were. Those who were living in that realm
wore the shining clothes of angels, and their clothing matched the
atmosphere of this, their home. In that region, angels walked among
them. All who lived in that place were as glorious as the others there. And in the blessedness of that expanse, they praised the Lord God with
a common voice. And my Lord and God Jesus Christ asked me, ‘Do
you recognize the congregation of the patriarchs? This is where your
brothers, the high priests and the righteous ones dwell. Those who are
to suffer persecution for the sake of my righteousness are to receive
both honor and glory, and come to enjoy this very repose.’ “And I rejoiced and believed and came to recognize what was written in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ. And I asked him, ‘Lord,
would you have me build three tabernacles here; one for you, one for
Moses, and another for Elijah?’ And in anger he replied, ‘Satan battles
against you and has veiled your understanding, for you are
overwhelmed by the things of this world. Your eyes must be opened,
and your ears unstopped that <you might come to see> a tent that has
not been fashioned by the hands of men, but one which my Father has
made especially for myself and my chosen ones.
[At my] coming, (Jesus said,) [I] will raise up the dead…and cause
my righteous ones to shine even seven times brighter than the sun.
Their crowns I will cause to gleam like crystal, like a rainbow in the
time of rain. Perfumed with nard and beyond all words will be <their
crowns,> fully bejeweled with rubies and the gleaming of shining
emeralds, topazes, precious stones and yellow pearls that shine forth
like the stars of heaven and the rays of the sun--all of them completely
dazzling, and impossible to look upon.’ And we were overjoyed at the
sight.”
And when he had spoken these things to us and ended his discourse
with us, once again he said to us, “Now behold, (recall that I said,)
‘After three days and three hours, He Who sent me will come and take
me with Him.’ The Father has committed the judgment of all things to
the Son. Have you understood my words to you, (Peter)? It is for you,
to know this mystery, but you must not let the sinners know what you
have heard me say, for if you do, they will only sin the more and fall
into even greater transgression. My Father will grant life to all men, giving all this glory to them, as well as the kingdom that never passes.
I come for the sake of those who believe in me. And it is also because
of these who believed in me that upon their request, I will show mercy
to all of mankind.” And even as they looked on, he raised his hands
and blessed them. Just then there was thunder and lightning and
shaking of the earth, (and) a voice from heaven was heard to declare,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I rejoice, and my commandments:
hear him.” (And growing fearful, we completely lost sight of the things
of this life, and all of the things of the flesh as well. And we had no
way of understanding the things about which we had been speaking, both because of the wonders that we had seen on that day, as well as
the way in which he had revealed his second coming to us on that
mountain, together with the kingdom that endures forever.) And even
as he was blessing them, he was taken up from among them and carried into heaven. A bright and enormous white cloud formed
overhead and bore away our Lord, with Moses and Elijah. And [we]
stood there trembling with fright, but we all looked upward and saw
the sky spreading apart. We could see flesh-bearing men approaching
and welcoming our Lord, along with Moses and Elijah. And we heard
the voices of many angels as they rejoiced and proclaimed, “Oh priest,
gather us in your glorious light.” And as they were approaching the
heavenly firmament, we heard him say, “Go in peace!”
And the faces of the angels there surpass even the shining of the
sun, and their crowns are even as the rainbow in the time of rain.
(They are all) perfumed with nard, and their eyes gleam like the
morning star. There are no words to express a beauty like theirs.
Their clothes are not woven, but are white like the fuller’s, even as the
ones that I, (Peter,) saw on the mountain where Moses and Elijah
were.
(Luke 24:50b-51a; Acts 1:9;
ApPt 15-17a,18/4-20 Akhmim)
Mount of Olives
“And my Lord and King Jesus Christ said to me, ‘Let us climb this
holy mount.’ And we, his twelve disciples went up, begging and
pleading with him to reveal to us even one of our righteous brethren
who had departed from this world, that we might have a look at them
and see their form for ourselves, that we through our boldness might
encourage those who should hear us. And at his transfiguration, the
Lord showed (me,) Peter, and also James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, the clothing of the final days, the day of the resurrection.
Now behold, even as we were praying, these two men appeared to us,
standing there before the Lord, but we were not able to look their way
and see their faces, for they beamed forth even more light than the
sun. Their garments were luminous beyond words, and beyond compare, such as has never been seen by any man in this world. The
gentleness thereof no mouth can express, nor can any heart conceive
of the glory of their adornment or the beauty of their faces.
Astonishing and wonderful was their appearance. The greater one, I
would venture to say, shone more in his brilliance than a crystal. And
we were all amazed at the sight of them. Their bodies were even
whiter than snow, and had a redness surpassing any rose. That redness, moreover, was mingled with the whiteness thereof. It is
simply not possible for me to put their beauty into words. They had
curly hair that framed their faces and shoulders in a delightful
manner. And around their foreheads there was a crown of nard--like a
garland woven out of nard blossoms--and beautiful blooms of
different hues, like a rainbow on the water, (or) in the air was [their]
hair; so finely fashioned was their form, and [they] were decked out in
all manner of ornamentation. And when we looked on them in all of
their splendor we marveled in their presence, and we were startled by
their sudden appearance.
“And I went up to our Lord God Jesus Christ and asked, ‘Who are
these, my Lord?’ And he answered me, ‘These are your righteous
brethren, Moses and Elijah, the ones whose form you wished to see.’
Then I asked him, ‘Where then are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the
other holy patriarchs? And what is the nature of that world in which
these who have such glory dwell?’ The Lord then revealed to us this
expansive, otherworldly kind of setting, where all things emanated
light--a paradise in the east chosen for Adam by God. The air in that
place was charged with shimmering sunlight and plants of exquisite
beauty, and was accompanied by the fragrance of perfume--and I saw
there many fruits. This garden, the earth, was bursting with unfading
flowers--redolent of spices and plants that blossom gloriously; never
fading, and bringing forth blessed fruits. The flowers in that land gave
off such a wonderful fragrance that when released from there, it
carried over to where we were. Those who were living in that realm
wore the shining clothes of angels, and their clothing matched the
atmosphere of this, their home. In that region, angels walked among
them. All who lived in that place were as glorious as the others there. And in the blessedness of that expanse, they praised the Lord God with
a common voice. And my Lord and God Jesus Christ asked me, ‘Do
you recognize the congregation of the patriarchs? This is where your
brothers, the high priests and the righteous ones dwell. Those who are
to suffer persecution for the sake of my righteousness are to receive
both honor and glory, and come to enjoy this very repose.’ “And I rejoiced and believed and came to recognize what was written in the book of my Lord Jesus Christ. And I asked him, ‘Lord,
would you have me build three tabernacles here; one for you, one for
Moses, and another for Elijah?’ And in anger he replied, ‘Satan battles
against you and has veiled your understanding, for you are
overwhelmed by the things of this world. Your eyes must be opened,
and your ears unstopped that <you might come to see> a tent that has
not been fashioned by the hands of men, but one which my Father has
made especially for myself and my chosen ones.
[At my] coming, (Jesus said,) [I] will raise up the dead…and cause
my righteous ones to shine even seven times brighter than the sun.
Their crowns I will cause to gleam like crystal, like a rainbow in the
time of rain. Perfumed with nard and beyond all words will be <their
crowns,> fully bejeweled with rubies and the gleaming of shining
emeralds, topazes, precious stones and yellow pearls that shine forth
like the stars of heaven and the rays of the sun--all of them completely
dazzling, and impossible to look upon.’ And we were overjoyed at the
sight.”
And when he had spoken these things to us and ended his discourse
with us, once again he said to us, “Now behold, (recall that I said,)
‘After three days and three hours, He Who sent me will come and take
me with Him.’ The Father has committed the judgment of all things to
the Son. Have you understood my words to you, (Peter)? It is for you,
to know this mystery, but you must not let the sinners know what you
have heard me say, for if you do, they will only sin the more and fall
into even greater transgression. My Father will grant life to all men, giving all this glory to them, as well as the kingdom that never passes.
I come for the sake of those who believe in me. And it is also because
of these who believed in me that upon their request, I will show mercy
to all of mankind.” And even as they looked on, he raised his hands
and blessed them. Just then there was thunder and lightning and
shaking of the earth, (and) a voice from heaven was heard to declare,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I rejoice, and my commandments:
hear him.” (And growing fearful, we completely lost sight of the things
of this life, and all of the things of the flesh as well. And we had no
way of understanding the things about which we had been speaking, both because of the wonders that we had seen on that day, as well as
the way in which he had revealed his second coming to us on that
mountain, together with the kingdom that endures forever.) And even
as he was blessing them, he was taken up from among them and carried into heaven. A bright and enormous white cloud formed
overhead and bore away our Lord, with Moses and Elijah. And [we]
stood there trembling with fright, but we all looked upward and saw
the sky spreading apart. We could see flesh-bearing men approaching
and welcoming our Lord, along with Moses and Elijah. And we heard
the voices of many angels as they rejoiced and proclaimed, “Oh priest,
gather us in your glorious light.” And as they were approaching the
heavenly firmament, we heard him say, “Go in peace!”
And the faces of the angels there surpass even the shining of the
sun, and their crowns are even as the rainbow in the time of rain.
(They are all) perfumed with nard, and their eyes gleam like the
morning star. There are no words to express a beauty like theirs.
Their clothes are not woven, but are white like the fuller’s, even as the
ones that I, (Peter,) saw on the mountain where Moses and Elijah
were.
THE ASCENSION
(Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:51b-53; Acts 1:10-11;
Rev 1:7; ApPt 17b; AsIs 11:3b-33)
Mount of Olives, The Seven Heavens
The Lord sent forth his twelve apostles as he rose into the sky, but
he was not changed into the form of the angels there. Satan himself,
and the angels of that firmament saw him there and worshiped him.
And great was the anguish in that place, as they cried out, “How did
our Lord come down here to our sphere and we not notice his
greatness, seeing in him that he was the King of Glory? Only now do
we recognize that this was the majesty that was on him even from the
sixth heaven.” Then they entered into the second heaven, and he was
not transformed there, but all of the angels, those to the right, those to the left, as well as the throne that was in the midst, worshiped him and
offered him praise, saying, “How did our Lord conceal himself on his
way down and we not see it?” And in like fashion did he rise up into
the third heaven, and after this same pattern did they praise him and
speak. And through the fourth and the fifth heavens, the angels all
spoke in precisely the same manner. There was but one glory, and he
was not changed. And I, (Isaiah,) beheld his entry into the sixth
heaven, that they worshiped him there and offered him praise. Even
so, the praises grew louder in each of the heavens. Then I witnessed
his ascent into the seventh heaven, where all of the righteous and all of
the angels sang his praises. Then I watched him as he took his seat to
the right hand of the Great and Glorious God, Whose glory I told you I
could not so much as look upon. And I saw the angel of the Holy Spirit seated there and to the left. This fulfilled the word of Scripture
that says, “This generation seeks the face of the God of Jacob.” And in
heaven there was great alarm and amazement. The angels all flocked
together to fulfill the Scripture that says, “Oh you princes, open the
gates!” (Then he) vanished from their sight. And even as they were
gazing intently upward, two men in white clothes stood by them and
questioned them, “Oh men of Galilee, why are you standing here
staring up into the heavens? This Jesus, who was taken up from
among you and received again into heaven, will return in the same
manner as you saw him rise up into the sky.” (Behold, he is coming
with clouds, and every eye will look on him, even those who pierced
him; and all the nations of the earth will mourn on his account. Even
so, amen!) Then the heavens, which had been opened, were shut back
up. They worshiped him (and) said a prayer and went back down the
mountainside praising God, Who has the names of the righteous ones
written in the book of life, which is in heaven. And they went joyfully
back into Jerusalem, remaining in the temple, and praising God
ceaselessly.
And after receiving their instructions, they reported to Peter and his
companions. Afterward, Jesus himself put them to work as
ambassadors in charge of spreading the holy and imperishable word of
eternal salvation from one end of the earth to the other. So they went
and preached it everywhere, and the Lord worked with them,
confirming the word with the signs that followed.
(Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:51b-53; Acts 1:10-11;
Rev 1:7; ApPt 17b; AsIs 11:3b-33)
Mount of Olives, The Seven Heavens
The Lord sent forth his twelve apostles as he rose into the sky, but
he was not changed into the form of the angels there. Satan himself,
and the angels of that firmament saw him there and worshiped him.
And great was the anguish in that place, as they cried out, “How did
our Lord come down here to our sphere and we not notice his
greatness, seeing in him that he was the King of Glory? Only now do
we recognize that this was the majesty that was on him even from the
sixth heaven.” Then they entered into the second heaven, and he was
not transformed there, but all of the angels, those to the right, those to the left, as well as the throne that was in the midst, worshiped him and
offered him praise, saying, “How did our Lord conceal himself on his
way down and we not see it?” And in like fashion did he rise up into
the third heaven, and after this same pattern did they praise him and
speak. And through the fourth and the fifth heavens, the angels all
spoke in precisely the same manner. There was but one glory, and he
was not changed. And I, (Isaiah,) beheld his entry into the sixth
heaven, that they worshiped him there and offered him praise. Even
so, the praises grew louder in each of the heavens. Then I witnessed
his ascent into the seventh heaven, where all of the righteous and all of
the angels sang his praises. Then I watched him as he took his seat to
the right hand of the Great and Glorious God, Whose glory I told you I
could not so much as look upon. And I saw the angel of the Holy Spirit seated there and to the left. This fulfilled the word of Scripture
that says, “This generation seeks the face of the God of Jacob.” And in
heaven there was great alarm and amazement. The angels all flocked
together to fulfill the Scripture that says, “Oh you princes, open the
gates!” (Then he) vanished from their sight. And even as they were
gazing intently upward, two men in white clothes stood by them and
questioned them, “Oh men of Galilee, why are you standing here
staring up into the heavens? This Jesus, who was taken up from
among you and received again into heaven, will return in the same
manner as you saw him rise up into the sky.” (Behold, he is coming
with clouds, and every eye will look on him, even those who pierced
him; and all the nations of the earth will mourn on his account. Even
so, amen!) Then the heavens, which had been opened, were shut back
up. They worshiped him (and) said a prayer and went back down the
mountainside praising God, Who has the names of the righteous ones
written in the book of life, which is in heaven. And they went joyfully
back into Jerusalem, remaining in the temple, and praising God
ceaselessly.
And after receiving their instructions, they reported to Peter and his
companions. Afterward, Jesus himself put them to work as
ambassadors in charge of spreading the holy and imperishable word of
eternal salvation from one end of the earth to the other. So they went
and preached it everywhere, and the Lord worked with them,
confirming the word with the signs that followed.
אין תגובות:
הוסף רשומת תגובה