Read Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament Online
Authors: [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman
Tags: #Biblical Reference, #Bible Study Guides, #Bibles, #Other Translations, #Apocryphal books (New Testament), #New Testament, #Christianity, #Religion, #Biblical Commentary, #Biblical Studies, #General, #History
you [are] in the body, do not let matter
28
[ . . . 12ע lines untranslatable . . . ]
rule over you!
12
Rise, let us go hence;
on the mountain.
29
We became as spirfor my betrayer is at hand.
itual bodies. Our eyes opened wide in
13
“And you will all flee and fall away
every direction. The whole place was rebecause of me.
14
You will all flee and vealed before us.
30
We [saw] the heav[leave me] alone;
15
yet I am not alone, ens, and they [opened] up one after anfor my Father is with me.
16
I and my other.
31
The guardians of the gates were
Father are one and the same.
17
For it is
alarmed.
32
The angels were afraid and
2Charles W. Hedrick and Paul A. Mirecki,
Gospel
of
the
Savior:
A
New
Ancient
Gospel
(Santa Rosa: Polebridge, 1999); Stephen Emmel, “The Recently Published
Gospel
of
the
Savior
(“Unbekanntes Berliner Evangelium”): Righting the Order of Pages and Events,”
Harvard
Theological
Review
95
(2002) 45–72.
54
NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
[fled] this [way] and that, thinking [that]
some other [ . . . ] people who [ . . . ]
they would all be destroyed.
33
We saw
if [ . . . ] Israel [ . . . 3ע lines untranslatour Savior having penetrated all the heavable . . . ].”
ens, [his] feet [placed firmly on] the
50
[ . . . 4ע lines untranslatable . . . so
[mountain with us, his head penetrating
that] salvation [might come] to the entire
the seventh] heaven.
34
[ . . . 8 lines un-
world.”
translatable . . . ] . . . all the heavens.
51
[Then] again the Son threw himself
35
Then before us, the apostles, this
down at his Father’s feet, [saying],
world became as darkness.
36
We be
52
“[O my father . . . 5 lines untranslatacame as [those] among the [immortal]
ble . . . ] to die with joy and pour out my
aeons, with our [eyes penetrating all] the
blood for the human race.
53
But I weep
heavens, clothed with the [power of] our
greatly on account of my beloved ones,
apostleship, and we saw our Savior when
[Abraham] and Isaac [and] Jacob, [behe had reached the [seventh] heaven.
cause on the] day of judgment [they will]
stand, [whereas] I will sit upon [my]
throne and pass [judgment] on the world,
Verses
37–44:
In
the
Father’s
54
[while they] say to me, ‘[ . . . 8 lines
throne
room
untranslatable . . . ] the glory that was
given to me [on] earth.
55
O my [father,
37
[ . . . 7 lines untranslatable . . . ] the
if it be possible, let this cup] pass from
[heavens] were alarmed.
38
[The angels]
me!”
and the archangels [bowed down] on
56
[The Father replied] to him for [the]
[their faces.
39
The] cherubim [ . . . ] . . .
second time,
57
“[O my] son, you do not
[ . . . ].
40
[The . . . ] put down their
[ . . . 28 lines untranslatable . . . ].”
[ . . . ]s.
41
The [ . . . ]s that [ . . . the cur
58
The Son [replied] for the [third]
tain (?) sang.
42
The elders, seated] on
time,
59
“O [my father], if [ . . . ]
[their thrones], cast [their] crowns [down]
[ . . . 32ע lines untranslatable . . . ].”
before the Father’s [throne].
43
All [the
60
[ . . . 32ע lines untranslatable . . . ]
saints brought a] robe.
44
[ . . . ] when
[ . . . ] [ . . . 29 lines untranslatable . . . ]
[ . . . ] Son [ . . . 4ע lines untranslathe [ . . . ] complete [the service until . . . ]
able . . . ].
to them.
61
[ . . . 27 lines untranslatable . . . ]
Verses
45–61:
The
Savior
prays
three
times
to
his
Father
Verses
62–72:
The
Savior
converses
with
his
disciples
(after
the
vision)
45
[ . . . 4ע lines untranslatable . . .
why] are you weeping and [distressed],
62
[The Savior] said to us, “No lot
such that [the] entire angelic host [is
surpasses your own, nor is there any
alarmed]?”
glory more exalted than [your own.
46
[And] he replied [in this] manner,
63
. . . 31 lines untranslatable . . . ] [ . . .
“[ . . . 5 lines untranslatable . . . ] [ . . . ]
31 lines untranslatable . . . ]
64
O entirety
. . . [ . . . ]
47
I am [greatly distressed
[ . . . 2 lines untranslatable . . . ]
65
O
. . . ] kill[ . . . ] at the hands of the [peo[ . . . 19 lines untranslatable . . . ] cross ple of] Israel.
48
O my [father], if it be
[ . . . 5 lines untranslatable . . . ] three
[possible], let this [cup] pass from me!
[days I will] take you[ . . . ] with me and
49
Let [me] be [ . . . ] at the hands of
and show you [the] things you desire [to]
THE GOSPEL OF THE SAVIOR
55
see.
66
So [do not be alarmed] when
83
“I [am the spring of water . . .”—
[you] see [me]!”
“Amen!”]
67
We said to him, “Lord, in what form
84
“[I am . . . ] and you have no
will you reveal yourself to us, or in what
[other].”—“Amen!”
kind of body will you come? Tell us!”
85
“I am fighting [for] you. You too,
68
John responded and said, “Lord, when
wage war!”—“Amen!”
you are ready to reveal yourself to us, do
86
“I am being sent. I in turn want to
not reveal yourself to us in all your glory,
send you.”—“Amen!”
but change your glory into [some other]
87
“[ . . . ], O [ . . . ] you [ . . . I] want
glory so that [we might be able to bear] it,
to [bring] you joy [for] the world. [But
lest we see [you and] despair from [fear]!”
grieve] for [the] world instead, just as if
69
[The Savior replied], “[Rid] youryou had not entered it!”—“Amen!”
selves [of] this [fear] that [you] are afraid
88
“Do not weep from now on, but
of, so that you might see and believe!
rejoice instead!”—“Amen!”
70
But do not touch me until I ascend to
89
“I have overcome the world. And
[my Father and your Father], to [my God
you, do not let the world overcome
and] your God, to my Lord and your
you!”—“Amen!”
Lord!
71
If someone [comes close] to
90
“I have become free [from (?)] the
me, he [will get burned. I] am [the] blazworld. You too, [become] free from ing [fire. Whoever is close] to [me] is
[it]!”—“Amen!”
close to [the fire]. Whoever is far from
91
“[I will be] given [vinegar and gall]
me is far from life.
72
So now gather
to drink. But [you], acquire life and [rest
[unto] me, O my holy members, [ . . . 6
for yourselves]!”—“Amen!”
lines untranslatable . . . ].”
92
“I will be [pierced] with a spear [in
my] side.
93
He who saw it, let him bear
witness—and his testimony is true!”—
Verses
73–109:
An
amen
responsory
“Amen!”
between
the
Savior
and
his
disciples
94
“[ . . . 6 lines untranslatable . . . ].”
—“[Amen]!”
73
[He] said to us, “I am among you
95
“Whoever has [ . . . ] me, I [for my
[as] a child.”
part] will make him [ . . . ] with me.”—
74
He said, “Amen!”
“Amen!”
75
“A little while I am among you.”
96
“Whoever does not [partake] of my
76
[ . . . ] responded, “Amen!”
body [and] my blood is a stranger to
77
“[Those who] �want� [to set (?)
me.”—“Amen!”
the world] against me [are] plotting
97
“[ . . . 8 lines untranslatable . . . ]
against me because I am a stranger to it.
you [ . . . ].”—“[Amen]!”
78
So behold! Now I [am grieving] on
98
“[ . . . 5 lines untranslatable . . . ]
account of the [sins] of the world.
cross.”—“Amen!”
79
[But I am rejoicing] on [your] account,
99
“I [will hasten to] you.”—“Amen!”
because [you have . . . ] well in [the
100
“A [dispensation . . . 8 lines unworld].
80
So become acquainted with translatable . . . ]
cross
[ . . . ].”—
[yourselves], that you might prof
“Amen!”
it me, and I will rejoice over your work!”
101
“[For] those on the [right will]
81
“I am the king.”—“Amen!”
take shelter [under you, apart from] those
82
“I [am] the [son] of the king.”—
on the [left,
102
O] cross, [ . . . 5 lines
[“Amen!”]
untranslatable . . . ],
103
O cross, [ . . . ]
56
NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
you [ . . . ] height . . . [ . . . ] for this is
will [fill you] with my wealth.
112
[A
your desire.
104
O cross, do not be
little while], O cross, and what is lacking
afraid!
105
I am rich. I will fill you with
will become complete, and what is
my wealth.
106
[I] will mount you, O
stunted will become full.
113
A little
cross. [I] will be [hung] upon you [ . . . ]
while, O cross, and what has [fallen] will
. . . [ . . .”—“Amen!”]
rise.
114
[A little while], O [cross], and
107
“[ . . . 6 lines untranslatable . . . ].
the entire fullness will become complete.
108
[Do not] weep, O [cross], but rather
115
[ . . . 6 lines untranslatable . . . ] they
[rejoice] and recognize [your] Lord as he
have been waiting for you, one [laughing]
[is coming toward] you,
109
that he is
and rejoicing, another weeping, [mourn[gentle] and [lowly]!”—“Amen!”
ing], and feeling remorse.
116
[Precede]
me, O cross! I [in turn] will precede you.
Verses
110–119:
The
Savior
addresses
117
[You and] I, O [cross, we are . . .
the
cross
(for
a
second
time)
118
We are . . . 10 lines untranslatable. . . .
119
. . . , O] cross, [truly],
110
[The] second [ . . . 3 lines untranswhoever is far from [you] is far [from]
latable . . . ] but
111
[I am] rich. I
[me].”
The Infancy Gospel
of Thomas
Early Christians were naturally curious to learn the details of Jesus’ life. As stories circulated about the inspired teachings and miraculous deeds of Jesus’ public ministry, some Christians began to speculate on what he said and did before it began. Only a couple of incidents involving Jesus prior to his baptism are found in the New Testament Gospels: the narratives of his birth and infancy in Matthew and Luke and the account, unique to Luke, of his pilgrimage to the Jerusalem Temple as a twelve-year old (Luke 2:41–52). Other stories of Jesus as a youth, however, were soon in circulation.
Behind many of these legends lay a fundamental question: if Jesus was a miracle-working Son of God as an adult, what was he like as a child?
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, not to be confused with the Coptic Gospel of Thomas discovered near Nag Hammadi Egypt, is one of the earliest accounts of these legends. The book was allegedly written by
“Thomas, the Israelite.” It is not clear whether the author intended his readers to recognize him as Judas Thomas, thought by some early Christians to have been Jesus’ own brother. If he did, then his accounts of Jesus as a youth, needless to say, would have been based on an impeccable authority.
The narrative begins with Jesus as a five-year old boy and relates a number of incidents, most of them miraculous, that betray a streak of the mischievous in Joseph and Mary’s precocious son. Here are anecdotes of Jesus at play with his childhood companions (sometimes harming them with his divine power, sometimes healing them), in confrontation with his elders (usually bettering them), at school with his teachers (revealing their ignorance), and in the workshop with his father (miraculously correcting his mistakes). For modern readers it is difficult to decide whether such stories were meant as serious accounts of Jesus’ early life or simply as speculative and entertaining stories of the youthful Son of God.