Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament (14 page)

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.