Read Online Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament by [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman
Tags: Religión, General, History, Christianity, Biblical Reference, Bible Study Guides, Bibles, Other Translations, Apocryphal books (New Testament), New Testament, Biblical Commentary, Biblical Studies
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leaves. They are saddened by his departure, but Mary consoles them and urges them to reflect on what he has said. She is then asked by Peter to tell them what Jesus had told her directly. In the second part, she proceeds to describe the vision that she had been granted. Unfortunately, four pages are lost from the manuscript, and so we know only the beginning and end of her description. But it appears that the vision involved a conversation she had with Jesus, who described how the human soul could ascend past the four ruling powers of the world in order to find its eternal rest. This description of the fate of the soul is related to salvation narratives found in other Gnostic texts.
The Gospel continues with two of the apostles—Andrew and Peter—challenging Mary’s vision and her claim to have experienced it; it ends, though, with Levi pointing out that she was Jesus’ favorite, and urging them to go forth to preach the gospel as he commanded. They are said to do so, and there the Gospel ends.
Translation of George MacRae and R McL. Wilson, in James Robinson, The Nag Hammadi Library in English, 3rd ed. (Leiden: Brill, 1988) 524–27; used with permission.
35
36
NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
[ . . . ] (pp. 1–6 missing) will matter
Then Mary stood up, greeted them all,
then be [destroyed] or not?” The Savior
and said to her brethren, “Do not weep
said, “All natures, all formations, all creaand do not grieve nor be irresolute, for tures exist in and with one another and
his grace will be entirely with you and
they will be resolved again into their own
will protect you. But rather let us praise
roots. For the nature of matter is resolved
his greatness, for he has prepared us and
into the (roots) of its nature alone. He
made us into men.” When Mary said this,
who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
she turned their hearts to the Good, and
Peter said to him, “Since you have
they began to discuss the words of the
explained everything to us, tell us this
[Savior].
also: What is the sin of the world?” The
Peter said to Mary, “Sister, we know
Savior said, “There is no sin, but it is you
that the Savior loved you more than the
who make sin when you do the things
rest of women. Tell us the words of the
that are like the nature of adultery, which
Savior which you remember—which you
is called ‘sin.’ That is why the Good came
know (but) we do not, nor have we heard
into your midst, to the (essence) of every
them.” Mary answered and said, “What
nature, in order to restore it to its root.”
is hidden from you I will proclaim to
Then he continued and said, “That is why
you.” And she began to speak to them
you [become sick] and die, for [ . . . ] of
these words: “I,” she said, “I saw the Lord
the one who [ . . . He who] understands,
in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw
let him understand. [Matter gave birth to]
you today in a vision.’ He answered and
a passion that has no equal, which prosaid to me, ‘Blessed are you, that you did ceeded from (something) contrary to nanot waver at the sight of me. For where ture. Then there arose a disturbance in
the mind is, there is the treasure.’ I said
the whole body. That is why I said to
to him, ‘Lord, now does he who sees the
you, ‘Be of good courage,’ and if you are
vision see it �through� the soul �or�
discouraged (be) encouraged in the presthrough the spirit?’ The Savior answered ence of the different forms of nature. He
and said. ‘He does not see through the
who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
soul nor through the spirit, but the mind
When the blessed one had said this, he
which [is] between the two—that is
greeted them all, saying, “Peace be with
[what] sees the vision and it is [ . . . ].’
you. Receive my peace to yourselves.
(pp. 11–14 missing)
Beware that no one lead you astray, say
“[ . . . ] it. And desire that, ‘I did not
ing, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo
The Gospel continues with two of the apostles—Andrew and Peter—challenging Mary’s vision and her claim to have experienced it; it ends, though, with Levi pointing out that she was Jesus’ favorite, and urging them to go forth to preach the gospel as he commanded. They are said to do so, and there the Gospel ends.
Translation of George MacRae and R McL. Wilson, in James Robinson, The Nag Hammadi Library in English, 3rd ed. (Leiden: Brill, 1988) 524–27; used with permission.
35
36
NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
[ . . . ] (pp. 1–6 missing) will matter
Then Mary stood up, greeted them all,
then be [destroyed] or not?” The Savior
and said to her brethren, “Do not weep
said, “All natures, all formations, all creaand do not grieve nor be irresolute, for tures exist in and with one another and
his grace will be entirely with you and
they will be resolved again into their own
will protect you. But rather let us praise
roots. For the nature of matter is resolved
his greatness, for he has prepared us and
into the (roots) of its nature alone. He
made us into men.” When Mary said this,
who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
she turned their hearts to the Good, and
Peter said to him, “Since you have
they began to discuss the words of the
explained everything to us, tell us this
[Savior].
also: What is the sin of the world?” The
Peter said to Mary, “Sister, we know
Savior said, “There is no sin, but it is you
that the Savior loved you more than the
who make sin when you do the things
rest of women. Tell us the words of the
that are like the nature of adultery, which
Savior which you remember—which you
is called ‘sin.’ That is why the Good came
know (but) we do not, nor have we heard
into your midst, to the (essence) of every
them.” Mary answered and said, “What
nature, in order to restore it to its root.”
is hidden from you I will proclaim to
Then he continued and said, “That is why
you.” And she began to speak to them
you [become sick] and die, for [ . . . ] of
these words: “I,” she said, “I saw the Lord
the one who [ . . . He who] understands,
in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw
let him understand. [Matter gave birth to]
you today in a vision.’ He answered and
a passion that has no equal, which prosaid to me, ‘Blessed are you, that you did ceeded from (something) contrary to nanot waver at the sight of me. For where ture. Then there arose a disturbance in
the mind is, there is the treasure.’ I said
the whole body. That is why I said to
to him, ‘Lord, now does he who sees the
you, ‘Be of good courage,’ and if you are
vision see it �through� the soul �or�
discouraged (be) encouraged in the presthrough the spirit?’ The Savior answered ence of the different forms of nature. He
and said. ‘He does not see through the
who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
soul nor through the spirit, but the mind
When the blessed one had said this, he
which [is] between the two—that is
greeted them all, saying, “Peace be with
[what] sees the vision and it is [ . . . ].’
you. Receive my peace to yourselves.
(pp. 11–14 missing)
Beware that no one lead you astray, say
“[ . . . ] it. And desire that, ‘I did not
ing, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo
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