The Opening Words of the Living Gospel
A fragment of a writing ascribed to Mani, in Sogdian and Persian
1 The most Beloved Son, the Savior Jesus, the head of all these gifts, Who is a refuge for the holy and a blessing for the wise, is exalted. May he be praised!
2 The Maiden of Light, the chief of all wisdom, is exalted. May she be praised!
3 The Holy Religion, by the power of the Father, by the blessing of the Mother and by the wisdom of the Son, is exalted. May it be praised!
4 Well-being and blessing to the sons of goodness and to the speakers and hearers of the true Word! Praise and honor to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and to the holy recollection!
5 He (Mani) teaches the word of the Living Gospel for Eye and Ear, and he preaches the fruit of righteousness.
6 I, Mani, the Apostle of Jesus the Friend, by the will of the Father, the true God, of Him, by whom I have become . . .
7 Everything that is and everything that was and will be is by His Power. The blessed ones will receive this message, the wise ones understand it, the strong ones will take on the wisdom of the wise . . .
2 The Maiden of Light, the chief of all wisdom, is exalted. May she be praised!
3 The Holy Religion, by the power of the Father, by the blessing of the Mother and by the wisdom of the Son, is exalted. May it be praised!
4 Well-being and blessing to the sons of goodness and to the speakers and hearers of the true Word! Praise and honor to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and to the holy recollection!
5 He (Mani) teaches the word of the Living Gospel for Eye and Ear, and he preaches the fruit of righteousness.
6 I, Mani, the Apostle of Jesus the Friend, by the will of the Father, the true God, of Him, by whom I have become . . .
7 Everything that is and everything that was and will be is by His Power. The blessed ones will receive this message, the wise ones understand it, the strong ones will take on the wisdom of the wise . . .
The Hymns of Bardaisan
1 Thou fountain of joy whose gate by commandment opens wide to the Mother; which Beings divine have measured and founded, which Father and Mother in their union have sown, which their steps have made fruitful.
2 Let her who comes after thee to me be a daughter a sister to thee.
3 When at length shall it be ours to look on thy banquet, to see the young maiden, the daughter thou sett’st on thy knee and caressest?"
4 My God and my Head hast thou left me alone?"
2 Let her who comes after thee to me be a daughter a sister to thee.
3 When at length shall it be ours to look on thy banquet, to see the young maiden, the daughter thou sett’st on thy knee and caressest?"
4 My God and my Head hast thou left me alone?"
Possible Fragment from the Gospel of Basilides
He appeared on earth as a man and performed miracles. Thus he himself did not suffer. Rather, a certain Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry his cross for him. It was he who was ignorantly and erroneously crucified, being transfigured by him, so that he might be thought to be Jesus. Moreover, Jesus assumed the form of Simon, and stood by laughing at them.
The Gospel of Thomas Fragments from Oxyrhynchus
Prologue and Saying 1 (pOxy 654.1-5)
These are the hidden sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Judas who is also Thomas recorded. And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."
Saying 2 (pOxy. 654.5-9)
Jesus said, "Let the one seeking not stop seeking until he finds. And when he finds he will marvel, and marveling he will reign, and reigning he will rest.”
Saying 3 (pOxy. 654.9-21)
Jesus said, "If those pulling you say to you, 'Look, the kingdom is in the sky,' the birds of the sky will go before you. Or if they say that it is beneath the ground, the fish of the sea will go in, preceding you. And the kingdom of God is within you and outside you. Whoever knows himself will find this and when you know yourselves you will know that you are children of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you are in poverty and you are the poverty."
Saying 4 (pOxy. 654.21-27)
Jesus said, "A person old in days will not hesitate to ask a child seven days old about his place in life and he will live. For many of the first will be last and many of the last will be first and they will become one."
Saying 5 (pOxy. 654.27-31)
Jesus said, "Know what is in front of your face and what has been hidden from you will be revealed to you. For there is nothing hidden that will not be made clear and nothing buried that will not be raised."
Saying 6 (pOxy. 654.32-40)
His disciples questioned him and said, "How should we fast and how should we pray, and how should we do charitable deeds and what food law should we observe?"
Jesus said, "Do not lie and that which you hate, do not do because everything is evident before the truth. For there is nothing hidden that will not be made clear."
Jesus said, "Do not lie and that which you hate, do not do because everything is evident before the truth. For there is nothing hidden that will not be made clear."
Saying 7 (pOxy. 654.40-42)
Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man."
Saying 26 (pOxy. 1.1-4)
Jesus said, "You see the mote in your brother's eye, but you do not see the beam in your own eye. Cast the beam out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to cast out the speck that is in your brother’s eye."
Saying 27 (pOxy. 1.4-11)
Jesus said, "If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom of God. And if you do not keep the sabbath a sabbath, you will not see the father."
Saying 28 (pOxy. 1.11-21)
Jesus said, "I stood in the midst of the world and in the flesh I appeared to them. I found everyone drunk and none thirsty among them. My soul worries about the children of humanity because they are blind in their hearts and they do not see."
Saying 29 (pOxy. 1.22)
Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how he dwells in this poverty."
Saying 30 + 77b (pOxy. 1.23-30)
Jesus said, "Where there are three they are without God. And where there is only one, I say, I am with him. Lift the stone and there you will find me. Split the wood and I am there."
Saying 31 (pOxy. 1.30-35)
Jesus said, "A prophet is not acceptable in his homeland. Nor does a physican perform healings for those who know him."
Saying 32 (pOxy. 1.36-41)
Jesus said, "A city that has been built and established on the summit of a high mountain can neither fall nor be hidden."
Saying 33 (pOxy. 1.41-42)
Jesus said, “What you hear in your one ear preach from your housetops For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lamp-stand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light."
Saying 36 (pOxy. 655i.1-17)
Jesus said, "Do not worry from early until late nor from evening until morning. Worry neither for your food, what you will eat, nor for your clothes, what you will wear. You are much greater than the lilies which neither card nor spin. When you have no clothing, what do you wear? Who can add to your time of life? He it is who will give you your clothing."
Saying 37 (pOxy. 655i.17-23)
His disciples said to him, "When will you be visible to us? And when will we see you?"
He said, "When you undress and are not ashamed."
He said, "When you undress and are not ashamed."
Saying 39 (pOxy. 655ii.11-23)
Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the scribes took the keys of knowledge. They hid them. They did not go in, nor did they allow those trying to go in to do so. You, however, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves."
APOCRYPHAL WRITING
THE AGRAPHA - THE SCATTERED WORDS OF JESUS
The Agrapha, The Scattered Words Of Jesus (Comparable to the Gospel of Thomas)
An agraphon is a saying of the Lord that was not written down. It is a somewhat unfortunate term, since obviously the saying was written down at some point, else how could we know about it? What is actually meant by the term is that the saying was not written down in the canonical gospels. Also included in this list are several that are attributed, not to the Lord himself, but to some unknown scripture; these sayings make the list for their similarity to other dominical sayings, and for the fact that sometimes Christian authors attributed straightforward canonical sayings of the Lord to scripture rather than to the Lord himself (refer to 1 Timothy 5.18, for instance, as apparently referencing Luke 10.7 or something very much like it). http://www.textexcavation.com/agrapha.html
Jesus said: I am he concerning
whom Moses prophesied, saying,
“A prophet shall the Lord our
God raise unto you of your
brethren, like unto me: Hear him
in all things; and whosoever will
not hear that prophet shall die.”...
… “The Lord
said: I come to
gather all nations
and tongues.”
Jesus said, “I am the
gate of life; he who
entereth through
me, entereth into
life.”
Jesus said, “I am not come to send
peace on earth, but a sword; and
henceforth ye shall see father separated
from son, son from father, husband
from wife, and wife from husband,
mother from daughter, and daughter
from mother, brother from brother,
father-in-law from daughter-in-law,
friend from friend.”
Jesus said, “I came to
put an end to sacrifice,
and unless ye cease from
sacrificing, anger will
not cease from you.”
Jesus said, “Except ye fast
to the world, ye shall in no
wise find the kingdom of
God; and except ye keep
the Sabbath as a Sabbath,
ye shall not see the Father.”
“On the same day, having seen
one working on the Sabbath, he
said to him: O man, if indeed
thou knowest what thou doest,
thou art blessed; but if thou
knowest not, thou art cursed, and
art a transgressor of the law.”
Jesus said, “How long shall I
be with you and speak with
you? I am weary of this
generation. They proved me,
He said, ten times, but these,
twenty times, and ten times
ten.”
Jesus said, “I stood in the midst of
the world, and in the flesh was I
seen of them; and I found all men
drunken, and none found I athirst
among them; and my soul
grieveth over the sons of men,
because they are blind in their
hearts.”
Jesus said, “Excepting a
very few saints and
illustrious ones, men
have thought to atone for
their crimes with a few
pieces of money.”
Jesus said, “Thou
hearest with one
ear, but the other
thou hast closed.”
Jesus said, “He who
is near me is near
the fire; but he who
is far from me is far
from the kingdom.”
Jesus said,
“They who are
with me have not
understood me.”
Jesus said, “Even though ye were
gathered together with me in my
very bosom, yet if ye were not to
keep my commandments, I would
cast you off, and say unto you,
“Depart from me; I know you not
whence ye are, ye workers of
iniquity.”
Jesus said, “But ye
seek to increase
from little, and from
greater to be less.
Jesus said to the
apostles: I have
chosen you before
the world was
made.”
Jesus said:
“There shall be
with me, also, my
twelve servants.”
Jesus said, “I will select
to myself these things.
Very, very excellent are
those whom my Father
who is in heaven hath
given me.”
Jesus said, “Ye have
dismissed the living,
who was before you,
and talk of the
dead.”
Jesus said, “
Ye shall be called by
my name, and ye shall
be the temple of my
Godhead.”
Jesus said, “Blessed
is the man whom his
Lord shall appoint
to the ministry of his
fellow-servants.”
Jesus said, “What ye
preach in word to
the people, that set
before every man in
your works.”
Jesus said, “Thou shalt
keep what thou hast
received, neither adding
thereto nor taking away
therefrom.”
Jesus said, “A share
is allotted to all by
the Father, according
as each person is or
shall be worthy.”
Jesus said, “Be
ye subject unto
kings and
governors.”
Jesus said, “The
labourer is worthy of
his hire, and sufficient
unto him that
laboureth is his food.”
Jesus said, “If any one
doth not work, let not
such an one eat. For
the Lord our God
hateth the slothful.”
“The Lord said unto the apostles:
Should, then, any one of Israel be
willing to repent, so as to believe
upon God through my name, his
sins shall be forgiven him. After
twelve years, go out into the
world, lest anyone say, “We did
not hear.”
“The disciples thus
spake unto Jesus: Thou
art a key to every man,
and the one who
shutteth to every man.”
Jesus said, “How cometh it, that
while so many go about the well,
no one goeth down into it? . . .
Why art thou afraid when thou
hast gone so far on the way?
Thou art mistaken; for I lack
neither courage nor weapons.”
Jesus said, “He that
wondereth shall reign;
and he that reigneth
shall rest. Look with
wonder at that which is
before you.”
Jesus said, “A prophet is
not acceptable in his own
country, neither doth a
physician work cures
upon them that know
him.”
Jesus said, “But
where the pains are,
thither hasteneth the
physician.”
Jesus said, “I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. For the heavenly
Father desireth rather the
repentance than the
punishment of the sinner.”
“Zaccheus, according to others, Matthias,
chief of the tax-collectors, when he heard
how the Lord wished to come to him,
said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods
I give to the poor; and if I have taken
from any man by false accusation, I
restore him fourfold.” Of him said the
Lord: “The son of man came today and
found that which was lost.”
Jesus said,
“Behold, I will
make the last
like the first.”
Jesus said, “My friend, I
do thee no wrong; thou
hast received thine own
in thy lifetime, take now
what is thine, and
depart.”
Jesus said, “For
the Father willeth
that to all should be
given of His gifts.”
Jesus said,
“From above, I
am about to be
crucified.”
Jesus said, “For those
that are sick, I was sick,
and for those that hunger,
I suffered hunger, and for
those that thirst, I
suffered thirst.”
Jesus said, “The
weak through
the strong shall
be saved.”
Jesus said, “Be
saved, thou
and thy soul.”
Jesus said, “Awake,
thou that sleepest,
and arise from the
dead, and Christ
shall give thee light.”
Jesus said, “In
whatsoever I may
find you; in this also
will I judge you.”
Jesus said,
“Such as I may
find thee, I will
judge thee.”
Jesus said, “The Lord
knoweth them that
are His, both those
that are near and
those that are far off.”
Jesus said, “My mystery
is for me and for the sons
of my house. Keep the
mystery for me and for
the sons of my house.”
Jesus said, “For my brethren and
fellow-heirs are those who do the
will of my Father. And call no
man your father upon earth; for
there are many masters upon
earth, but in heaven is the Father
from whom is all the family in
heaven and earth.”
Jesus said, “Our
dwelling place is
in heaven.”
Jesus said, “For
the fashion of
this world
passeth away.”
Jesus said, “The
world shall be
built up through
grace.”
Jesus said, “Buy for
yourselves, O children of
Adam, through these
transitory things, which are
not yours, that which is
yours, and which passeth not
away.”
Jesus said, “Why
marvel ye at the signs?
I give unto you a great
inheritance, which the
whole world hath not.”
Jesus said,
“Show yourselves
tried money-
changers.”
Jesus said, “It is thine, O man,
to prove my words, as silver
and money are proved among
the exchangers. Care for those
things which are necessary for
the body, and be anxious about
nothing further save virtue.”
Jesus said, “Those who
wish to see me, and to
lay hold upon my
kingdom, must receive
me through tribulation
and suffering.”
Jesus said, “Blessed are they
who are persecuted by
righteousness; for they shall be
perfect. And blessed are they
who are persecuted for my sake;
for they shall have a place where
they shall not be persecuted.”
Jesus said, “Watch
ye, praying without
ceasing, to escape
from affliction.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
watchful, circumspect,
and well-instructed,
since the ancient enemy
goeth about attacking
the servants of God.”
Jesus said, “The
tempter is the
wicked one.”
Jesus said,
“Give no pretext
to the evil one.”
Jesus said, “If ye
resist the devil, he
will be conquered,
and flee from you in
disgrace.”
Jesus said, “Blessed is the
man that endureth
temptation; for when he is
tried, he shall receive the
crown of life, which the Lord
hath promised to them that
love Him.”
Jesus said, “A man that
is a reprobate is not
tried by God. A man
who is not tempted is
not approved.”
Jesus said, “He that is
lawless, let him be
lawless still; and he
that is righteous, let
him be righteous still.”
Jesus said, “There is a
shame which leadeth
unto death, and there
is a shame which
leadeth unto life.”
Jesus said, “Ye shall be as
lambs in the midst of wolves.
And Peter answered, and
said unto him, “What, then,
if the wolves shall tear in
pieces the lambs?”…
… Jesus said unto Peter, “The lambs
have no cause, after they are dead, to
fear the wolves; and in like manner,
fear ye not them that kill you, and
can do nothing more unto you; but
fear Him who, after ye are dead,
hath power over both soul and body,
to cast them into hell fire.”
Jesus said,
“Pray ye, and
faint not.”
Jesus said, “Ask great
things, and the small
shall be added unto you;
and ask heavenly things,
and the earthly shall be
added unto you.”
Jesus said, “If ye keep not
that which is small, who will
give you that which is great?
For I say unto you, that he
that is faithful in very little
is faithful also in much.”
Jesus said, “Let
my name be
hallowed in
your hearts.”
Jesus said, “First must the one
who prayeth, who offereth his
prayer, well consider his gift to
see whether there be any spot
found in it; and then shall he
offer it, that his offering
remain not upon the earth.”
Jesus said, “Let
the Holy Spirit
come upon us
and cleanse us.”
Jesus said, “Those
who walk in the
Spirit of God are
the sons of God.”
Jesus said, “Grieve not
the Holy Spirit which is
in you, and extinguish
not the light which
shineth within you.”
Jesus said, “Just now,
my mother, the Holy
Spirit, took me by one of
my hairs, and bare me
away to the great
mountain Tabor.”
Jesus said, “The
spirit that dwelleth
in us lusteth to envy;
but He giveth more
grace.”
Jesus said, “God
resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace
unto the humble.”
Jesus said, “The Lord
said to Peter: Verily
thine eye shall never be
closed in eternity for
the light of this world.”
Jesus said, “Doubt not,
that ye sink not into the
world, as Simon when
he doubted and began
to sink into the sea.”
Jesus said, “He that
ploweth, should plow in
hope; and he that
thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope.”
Jesus said, “Cultivate
faith and hope through
which is begotten the
love of God and of man,
that gaineth everlasting
life.”
Jesus said, “Charity
covereth a multitude of
sins. Love beareth all
things, is long-
suffering in all things.”
Jesus said, “He to
whom more is
forgiven, loveth more;
and he to whom less is
forgiven, loveth little.”
Jesus said, “Be ye merciful,
that ye may obtain mercy.
Forgive, that it may be
forgiven to you. As ye do, so
shall it be done unto you. As
ye give, so shall it be given
unto you…
...As ye judge, so shall ye be
judged. As ye are kind, so
shall kindness be shown unto
you. With what measure ye
mete, with the same it shall
be measured unto you.”
Jesus said, “Good things
must needs come, but blessed
is he through whom they
come. Likewise, evil things
also shall come, but woe to
him through whom they
come.”
Jesus said, “Men
must give an account
of every good word
which they shall not
speak.”
Jesus said, “No one
shall be called good
who mixeth evil
with the good.”
Jesus said, “He
keepeth the good
which he hath, and
increaseth more and
more.”
Jesus said, “Gall
doth not mix
well with
honey.”
Jesus said, “If
concupiscence or malice
shall ascend into the
heart of man, it shall be
taken for the deed
itself.”
Jesus said, “Let thy
works shine, and,
behold, a man and his
works are before His
face. For, behold God
and His works.”
Jesus said, “A city
built upon the top of a
high hill, and
stablished, can neither
fall nor be hid.”
Jesus said, “All things
whatsoever ye would not
that a man should do unto
you, do ye not unto another.
And what thou hatest, thou
shalt not do unto another.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
angry, and sin not;
let not the sun go
down upon your
wrath.”
Jesus said, “Anger
destroyeth even the
prudent. Render not evil
for evil, or railing for
railing, or blow for blow,
or cursing for cursing.”
Jesus said, “Pray for
your enemies, and
blessed are those who
mourn on account of the
destruction of the
unbelievers.”
Jesus said, “Amongst
the greatest
offenders is he who
woundeth the spirit
of his brother.”
Jesus said, “Never
be joyful except
when ye shall look
upon your brother
in love.”
Jesus said, “As one
of you seeth himself
in the water or in a
glass, so see ye me in
you.”
Jesus said,
“Having seen thy
brother, thou hast
seen thy God.”
Jesus said, “I am thou, and thou,
I. And wheresoever thou art,
there am I also; and I am in all
scattered. And whence thou wilt,
thou canst gather me together;
but when thou gatherest me
together, thou gatherest thyself
together.”
Jesus said, “Where one
is, there am I also. And
where two are, there
also will I be, and
when we are three.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
joined unto the saints,
because they that are
joined unto them
shall be sanctified.”
Jesus said, “He that
seeketh me shall find me in
children after the seventh
year. For there, to become
hidden in the fourteenth
year, I am manifested.”
Jesus said, “The
just shall fall
seven times and
shall rise again.”
Jesus said, “If thy
brother sin against thee
by a word, and giveth
thee reparation, thou
shalt seven times in a
day accept him.”…
…Then said Simon his disciple to
him, “Seven times?” The Lord
answered, and said unto him:
“Yea, I say unto thee, until
seventy times seven. For even in
the prophets, after they were
anointed with the Holy Spirit,
there is found a word of sin.”
Jesus said, “If the neighbour of an
elect man sin, the elect man hath
sinned. For had he conducted
himself as the word prescribed,
his neighbor also would have been
filled with such reverence for the
life he led as not to sin.”
Jesus said, “Whatsoever brother
liveth in the manner of the
aliens, and alloweth things like
unto their deeds, refrain from
being in his company, which,
unless thou doest, thou also wilt
be a partaker with him.”
Jesus said, “It is
good to give
rather than to
receive.”
Jesus said, “Let
thine alms sweat in
thy hands, until thou
know to whom thou
shouldest give.”
Jesus said, “Accept
not anything from
any man, and
possess not anything
in this world.”
Jesus said, “Woe unto those
who have, and in hypocrisy
receive, or who, being
themselves able to help, receive
from others. For each one shall
give an account to the Lord
God at the day of judgment.”
Another rich man said to him, “Master,
what good thing shall I do to live?” He
said unto him: “Fulfil the law and the
prophets. He answered him, “I have
fulfilled them.” He said unto him: “Go,
sell all that thou hast, and distribute to
the poor, and come follow me.” But the
rich man began to scratch his head, and
it pleased him not…
…And the Lord said unto him: “How
sayest thou, “I have fulfilled the law
and the prophets,” since it is written in
the law, “Thou shall love thy neighbour
as thyself,” and lo, many of thy
brethren sons of Abraham, are clothed
in filth, dying of hunger, an thy house is
full of many goods, and nothing at all
goeth out of it to them”…
…And he turned, and said to
Simon disciple, who was
sitting by him: Simon, son of
Jonas, it is easier for a camel
to enter the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus said unto Cephas: “What thinkest
thou, Simon? The kings of the earth, from
whom do they receive custom and tribute?
From their sons, or from strangers?”
Simon said unto him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said unto him: “Children, then, are
free?” Simon said unto him, “Yea.” Jesus
said unto him: “Give thou also unto them,
like the stranger.”
Jesus said, “Woe unto
those who do anything
through their own
presumption, and not
through God.”
Jesus said, “Woe
unto those who join
together their
offences as with a
long rope.”
Jesus said, “These
are they that stretch
the warps and
weave nothing.”
Jesus said, “A man had three
servants; one who consumed his
substance with harlots and flute-
players; another who increased it;
and another who hid the talent.
Afterwards, one was accepted, one
was blamed alone, and another
was shut up in prison.”
“Christ bade men to abandon and
disregard curious questions, which
cause much strife, and not to waste
their thoughts upon things which
have been removed far from their
knowledge; but as much as possible
to seek the Lord of the universe with
the whole mind and spirit.”
Christ said:
“Wisdom killeth
her own
children.”
Jesus said,
“Wisdom
sendeth forth her
own children.”
Jesus said, “God
made the heaven
and the earth and all
things which are
therein.”
Jesus said, “The soul is altogether
impenetrable and hard to make
out. For it abideth not always in
the same form or shape, or in one
condition, so that any one might
express it by a type, or might lay
hold upon its essence.”
The Lord revealed unto Philip what
the soul must say when it ascendeth
to heaven, and what it must answer to
each of the powers above. Namely, “I
have known myself, and have
gathered myself together everywhere,
and have not begotten children for
the prince of this world, …
…but have extirpated his roots, and
have gathered together the scattered
members, and know who thou art.
For I am one of those above.” And if
it so speaketh, it is absolved. But if it
is convicted that it hath borne a son,
it is kept below, until it can take its
children up and draw them to itself.”
Salome said, “Until when shall death have
dominion?” He said: “As long as ye
women bring forth. For I came to destroy
the works of the woman, namely, of lust;
of the works, namely, of birth and of
destruction.” And she said, “I did well,
then, in not bringing forth.” The Lord
answered, saying: “Eat every herb, but of
that which hath bitterness, eat not….
…And Salome, inquiring concerning
when the things in regard to which he
spake should be known, and when his
kingdom should come, the Lord said:
When ye shall trample underfoot the
garment of modesty . . . when the two
shall be one, and that which is without as
that which is within, and the male with
the female neither male nor female.”
Jesus said, “If ye do not make what is
on the right to be left, and the left
right, and what is above to be below,
and what is before to be behind, ye
shall not perceive the kingdom of God.
If ye do not make your low things
high, and your crooked things
straight, ye shall not enter into my
kingdom.”
Jesus said, “Let not the one
who is married put away his
wife, and he who is
unmarried, let him not marry.
Let him who for the sake of
chastity hath agreed not to
marry, remain unmarried.”
Jesus said, “Let
the women be
subject unto their
own husbands.”
Jesus said, “The
son and
daughter shall
inherit alike.”
Jesus said, “Even if a
woman doth all that is
right, and yet once
committeth the sin of
adultery, she must be
punished.”
Jesus said, “Keep
the flesh holy and
the seal unspotted,
that ye may receive
eternal life.”
Jesus said, “Preserve ye the flesh,
that ye may become partakers of
the spirit. The flesh must be
contended with, be evil entreated,
and its unbridled lust in no way
be yielded to; but the soul must be
made to grow through faith and
knowledge.”
Jesus said, “Should any one for this
reason kiss a woman a second time,
because she pleased him, he committeth
sin. Men must therefore act thus with
extreme caution in the kiss of peace,
(or rather the salutation), as knowing
that, if per chance it should be sullied by
thought, it would place them out of the
pale of eternal life.”
Jesus said, “If any one
shall leave all things for
my name’s sake, at the
second coming he shall
inherit everlasting life.”
Jesus said, “Many shall come in
my name, clothed outwardly in
sheep s clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. And
there shall be schisms and
heresies. Many false Christs and
false apostles shall arise and shall
deceive many of the faithful.”
Jesus said, “They are false Christs
and false teachers, who have
blasphemed the Spirit of grace, and
done despite to the gift they had
from Him, after the grace of
baptism, to whom forgiveness shall
not be granted, neither in this world
nor in that which is to come.”
Jesus said, “A false prophet must
first come from some deceiver;
and then in like manner, after the
removal of the holy place, the true
Gospel must be secretly sent
abroad for the rectification of the
heresies that shall be. …
… And then, toward the end, shall
appear the world-deceiver as Son of
God, and shall do signs and wonders;
and the earth shall be delivered into his
hands, and he shall do iniquitous things
which have never yet come to pass since
the beginning; and after this, the
eternal light having sprung up, all the
things of darkness must disappear.”
Jesus said, “Behold, I
come as a thief. Blessed
is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments,
lest he walk naked, and
they see his shame.”
Jesus said,
“What I say
unto one of you,
I say unto all.”
Jesus said, “Then shall the wicked go
away into everlasting punishment,
but the righteous shall go into life
eternal, to inherit those things which
eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man,
such things as God hath prepared for
them that love Him.”
Jesus said, “Good
things are prepared
which the angels
desire to look into.”
Jesus said, “Often
did I desire to hear
one of these words,
and I had not one to
tell me.”
Jesus said, “The days will come in which vines
shall grow, having each ten thousand branches,
and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in
each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in every
one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on
every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes,
and every grape when pressed will give five and
twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of
the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another
shall cry out, “I am a better cluster, take me;
bless the Lord through me.”...
… In like manner, a grain of wheat shall
produce ten thousand ears, and every ear
shall have ten thousand grains, and every
grain shall yield ten pounds of clear, pure,
fine flour; and apples, and seeds, and grass
shall produce in similar proportions; and all
animals, feeding then only on the productions
of the earth, shall be come peaceable and
harmonious, and be in perfect subjection to
man. ...
… And Judas the traitor, not believing,
and asking, “How shall such growths be
accomplished by the Lord?” the Lord said:
They shall see who shall come to them.
These, then, are the times mentioned by
the prophet Isaiah, “And the wolf also shall
dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall
lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the
young lion, and the fatling together, and a
little child shall lead them.”
Jesus said, “By way
of reproach, he said
to Jerusalem: Sodom
is justified of thee.”
Jesus said, “O
Father, let their
temple be
desolate.”
Jesus said, “The Gentiles are
justified more than ye. Many
shall come from the east, and
from the west, the north, and
the south, and shall recline on
the bosoms of Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob.”
Jesus said, “Prophesying concerning the
temple, he said: See ye these buildings?
Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be
left here one stone upon another which
shall not be taken away; and this
generation shall not pass until the
destruction begin. For they shall come
and shall sit here, and shall besiege it,
and shall slay your children here.”
Jesus said, “I will
cleanse the house of
my kingdom from
every stumbling
block.”
Jesus said, “Whoso reedeemeth
souls from idols, he shall be great
in my kingdom. Of the hire of an
harlot hath she gathered them,
and to the hire of an harlot shall
they return; from filth it came, to
the place of filth shall it go.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
valiant in war, and fight
with the ancient enemy,
and ye shall receive the
everlasting kingdom.”
Jesus said, “Neither did he
sin at all, nor his parents,
but that the power of God
might be made manifest
through him in healing the
sins of ignorance.”
Jesus said, “To his
chosen, he saith: Go
ye out of the house
of my Father.”
Jesus said, “Let
us resist all
iniquity and hold
it in hatred.”
“The Saviour
himself testified that
Solomon was wiser
than all who came
before.”
Jesus said,
“Few things are
needful, or just
one.”
Jesus said, “Blessed
is he who also fasts
for this, that he
might feed the
poor.”
Jesus said, “Honour
the demons, not that
ye may be assisted by
them, but that they
may not injure you.”
Jesus said, “The
Father begat me, he
said, and I came forth
from the Father, and
am here.”
whom Moses prophesied, saying,
“A prophet shall the Lord our
God raise unto you of your
brethren, like unto me: Hear him
in all things; and whosoever will
not hear that prophet shall die.”...
… “The Lord
said: I come to
gather all nations
and tongues.”
Jesus said, “I am the
gate of life; he who
entereth through
me, entereth into
life.”
Jesus said, “I am not come to send
peace on earth, but a sword; and
henceforth ye shall see father separated
from son, son from father, husband
from wife, and wife from husband,
mother from daughter, and daughter
from mother, brother from brother,
father-in-law from daughter-in-law,
friend from friend.”
Jesus said, “I came to
put an end to sacrifice,
and unless ye cease from
sacrificing, anger will
not cease from you.”
Jesus said, “Except ye fast
to the world, ye shall in no
wise find the kingdom of
God; and except ye keep
the Sabbath as a Sabbath,
ye shall not see the Father.”
“On the same day, having seen
one working on the Sabbath, he
said to him: O man, if indeed
thou knowest what thou doest,
thou art blessed; but if thou
knowest not, thou art cursed, and
art a transgressor of the law.”
Jesus said, “How long shall I
be with you and speak with
you? I am weary of this
generation. They proved me,
He said, ten times, but these,
twenty times, and ten times
ten.”
Jesus said, “I stood in the midst of
the world, and in the flesh was I
seen of them; and I found all men
drunken, and none found I athirst
among them; and my soul
grieveth over the sons of men,
because they are blind in their
hearts.”
Jesus said, “Excepting a
very few saints and
illustrious ones, men
have thought to atone for
their crimes with a few
pieces of money.”
Jesus said, “Thou
hearest with one
ear, but the other
thou hast closed.”
Jesus said, “He who
is near me is near
the fire; but he who
is far from me is far
from the kingdom.”
Jesus said,
“They who are
with me have not
understood me.”
Jesus said, “Even though ye were
gathered together with me in my
very bosom, yet if ye were not to
keep my commandments, I would
cast you off, and say unto you,
“Depart from me; I know you not
whence ye are, ye workers of
iniquity.”
Jesus said, “But ye
seek to increase
from little, and from
greater to be less.
Jesus said to the
apostles: I have
chosen you before
the world was
made.”
Jesus said:
“There shall be
with me, also, my
twelve servants.”
Jesus said, “I will select
to myself these things.
Very, very excellent are
those whom my Father
who is in heaven hath
given me.”
Jesus said, “Ye have
dismissed the living,
who was before you,
and talk of the
dead.”
Jesus said, “
Ye shall be called by
my name, and ye shall
be the temple of my
Godhead.”
Jesus said, “Blessed
is the man whom his
Lord shall appoint
to the ministry of his
fellow-servants.”
Jesus said, “What ye
preach in word to
the people, that set
before every man in
your works.”
Jesus said, “Thou shalt
keep what thou hast
received, neither adding
thereto nor taking away
therefrom.”
Jesus said, “A share
is allotted to all by
the Father, according
as each person is or
shall be worthy.”
Jesus said, “Be
ye subject unto
kings and
governors.”
Jesus said, “The
labourer is worthy of
his hire, and sufficient
unto him that
laboureth is his food.”
Jesus said, “If any one
doth not work, let not
such an one eat. For
the Lord our God
hateth the slothful.”
“The Lord said unto the apostles:
Should, then, any one of Israel be
willing to repent, so as to believe
upon God through my name, his
sins shall be forgiven him. After
twelve years, go out into the
world, lest anyone say, “We did
not hear.”
“The disciples thus
spake unto Jesus: Thou
art a key to every man,
and the one who
shutteth to every man.”
Jesus said, “How cometh it, that
while so many go about the well,
no one goeth down into it? . . .
Why art thou afraid when thou
hast gone so far on the way?
Thou art mistaken; for I lack
neither courage nor weapons.”
Jesus said, “He that
wondereth shall reign;
and he that reigneth
shall rest. Look with
wonder at that which is
before you.”
Jesus said, “A prophet is
not acceptable in his own
country, neither doth a
physician work cures
upon them that know
him.”
Jesus said, “But
where the pains are,
thither hasteneth the
physician.”
Jesus said, “I came not to call
the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. For the heavenly
Father desireth rather the
repentance than the
punishment of the sinner.”
“Zaccheus, according to others, Matthias,
chief of the tax-collectors, when he heard
how the Lord wished to come to him,
said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods
I give to the poor; and if I have taken
from any man by false accusation, I
restore him fourfold.” Of him said the
Lord: “The son of man came today and
found that which was lost.”
Jesus said,
“Behold, I will
make the last
like the first.”
Jesus said, “My friend, I
do thee no wrong; thou
hast received thine own
in thy lifetime, take now
what is thine, and
depart.”
Jesus said, “For
the Father willeth
that to all should be
given of His gifts.”
Jesus said,
“From above, I
am about to be
crucified.”
Jesus said, “For those
that are sick, I was sick,
and for those that hunger,
I suffered hunger, and for
those that thirst, I
suffered thirst.”
Jesus said, “The
weak through
the strong shall
be saved.”
Jesus said, “Be
saved, thou
and thy soul.”
Jesus said, “Awake,
thou that sleepest,
and arise from the
dead, and Christ
shall give thee light.”
Jesus said, “In
whatsoever I may
find you; in this also
will I judge you.”
Jesus said,
“Such as I may
find thee, I will
judge thee.”
Jesus said, “The Lord
knoweth them that
are His, both those
that are near and
those that are far off.”
Jesus said, “My mystery
is for me and for the sons
of my house. Keep the
mystery for me and for
the sons of my house.”
Jesus said, “For my brethren and
fellow-heirs are those who do the
will of my Father. And call no
man your father upon earth; for
there are many masters upon
earth, but in heaven is the Father
from whom is all the family in
heaven and earth.”
Jesus said, “Our
dwelling place is
in heaven.”
Jesus said, “For
the fashion of
this world
passeth away.”
Jesus said, “The
world shall be
built up through
grace.”
Jesus said, “Buy for
yourselves, O children of
Adam, through these
transitory things, which are
not yours, that which is
yours, and which passeth not
away.”
Jesus said, “Why
marvel ye at the signs?
I give unto you a great
inheritance, which the
whole world hath not.”
Jesus said,
“Show yourselves
tried money-
changers.”
Jesus said, “It is thine, O man,
to prove my words, as silver
and money are proved among
the exchangers. Care for those
things which are necessary for
the body, and be anxious about
nothing further save virtue.”
Jesus said, “Those who
wish to see me, and to
lay hold upon my
kingdom, must receive
me through tribulation
and suffering.”
Jesus said, “Blessed are they
who are persecuted by
righteousness; for they shall be
perfect. And blessed are they
who are persecuted for my sake;
for they shall have a place where
they shall not be persecuted.”
Jesus said, “Watch
ye, praying without
ceasing, to escape
from affliction.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
watchful, circumspect,
and well-instructed,
since the ancient enemy
goeth about attacking
the servants of God.”
Jesus said, “The
tempter is the
wicked one.”
Jesus said,
“Give no pretext
to the evil one.”
Jesus said, “If ye
resist the devil, he
will be conquered,
and flee from you in
disgrace.”
Jesus said, “Blessed is the
man that endureth
temptation; for when he is
tried, he shall receive the
crown of life, which the Lord
hath promised to them that
love Him.”
Jesus said, “A man that
is a reprobate is not
tried by God. A man
who is not tempted is
not approved.”
Jesus said, “He that is
lawless, let him be
lawless still; and he
that is righteous, let
him be righteous still.”
Jesus said, “There is a
shame which leadeth
unto death, and there
is a shame which
leadeth unto life.”
Jesus said, “Ye shall be as
lambs in the midst of wolves.
And Peter answered, and
said unto him, “What, then,
if the wolves shall tear in
pieces the lambs?”…
… Jesus said unto Peter, “The lambs
have no cause, after they are dead, to
fear the wolves; and in like manner,
fear ye not them that kill you, and
can do nothing more unto you; but
fear Him who, after ye are dead,
hath power over both soul and body,
to cast them into hell fire.”
Jesus said,
“Pray ye, and
faint not.”
Jesus said, “Ask great
things, and the small
shall be added unto you;
and ask heavenly things,
and the earthly shall be
added unto you.”
Jesus said, “If ye keep not
that which is small, who will
give you that which is great?
For I say unto you, that he
that is faithful in very little
is faithful also in much.”
Jesus said, “Let
my name be
hallowed in
your hearts.”
Jesus said, “First must the one
who prayeth, who offereth his
prayer, well consider his gift to
see whether there be any spot
found in it; and then shall he
offer it, that his offering
remain not upon the earth.”
Jesus said, “Let
the Holy Spirit
come upon us
and cleanse us.”
Jesus said, “Those
who walk in the
Spirit of God are
the sons of God.”
Jesus said, “Grieve not
the Holy Spirit which is
in you, and extinguish
not the light which
shineth within you.”
Jesus said, “Just now,
my mother, the Holy
Spirit, took me by one of
my hairs, and bare me
away to the great
mountain Tabor.”
Jesus said, “The
spirit that dwelleth
in us lusteth to envy;
but He giveth more
grace.”
Jesus said, “God
resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace
unto the humble.”
Jesus said, “The Lord
said to Peter: Verily
thine eye shall never be
closed in eternity for
the light of this world.”
Jesus said, “Doubt not,
that ye sink not into the
world, as Simon when
he doubted and began
to sink into the sea.”
Jesus said, “He that
ploweth, should plow in
hope; and he that
thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope.”
Jesus said, “Cultivate
faith and hope through
which is begotten the
love of God and of man,
that gaineth everlasting
life.”
Jesus said, “Charity
covereth a multitude of
sins. Love beareth all
things, is long-
suffering in all things.”
Jesus said, “He to
whom more is
forgiven, loveth more;
and he to whom less is
forgiven, loveth little.”
Jesus said, “Be ye merciful,
that ye may obtain mercy.
Forgive, that it may be
forgiven to you. As ye do, so
shall it be done unto you. As
ye give, so shall it be given
unto you…
...As ye judge, so shall ye be
judged. As ye are kind, so
shall kindness be shown unto
you. With what measure ye
mete, with the same it shall
be measured unto you.”
Jesus said, “Good things
must needs come, but blessed
is he through whom they
come. Likewise, evil things
also shall come, but woe to
him through whom they
come.”
Jesus said, “Men
must give an account
of every good word
which they shall not
speak.”
Jesus said, “No one
shall be called good
who mixeth evil
with the good.”
Jesus said, “He
keepeth the good
which he hath, and
increaseth more and
more.”
Jesus said, “Gall
doth not mix
well with
honey.”
Jesus said, “If
concupiscence or malice
shall ascend into the
heart of man, it shall be
taken for the deed
itself.”
Jesus said, “Let thy
works shine, and,
behold, a man and his
works are before His
face. For, behold God
and His works.”
Jesus said, “A city
built upon the top of a
high hill, and
stablished, can neither
fall nor be hid.”
Jesus said, “All things
whatsoever ye would not
that a man should do unto
you, do ye not unto another.
And what thou hatest, thou
shalt not do unto another.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
angry, and sin not;
let not the sun go
down upon your
wrath.”
Jesus said, “Anger
destroyeth even the
prudent. Render not evil
for evil, or railing for
railing, or blow for blow,
or cursing for cursing.”
Jesus said, “Pray for
your enemies, and
blessed are those who
mourn on account of the
destruction of the
unbelievers.”
Jesus said, “Amongst
the greatest
offenders is he who
woundeth the spirit
of his brother.”
Jesus said, “Never
be joyful except
when ye shall look
upon your brother
in love.”
Jesus said, “As one
of you seeth himself
in the water or in a
glass, so see ye me in
you.”
Jesus said,
“Having seen thy
brother, thou hast
seen thy God.”
Jesus said, “I am thou, and thou,
I. And wheresoever thou art,
there am I also; and I am in all
scattered. And whence thou wilt,
thou canst gather me together;
but when thou gatherest me
together, thou gatherest thyself
together.”
Jesus said, “Where one
is, there am I also. And
where two are, there
also will I be, and
when we are three.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
joined unto the saints,
because they that are
joined unto them
shall be sanctified.”
Jesus said, “He that
seeketh me shall find me in
children after the seventh
year. For there, to become
hidden in the fourteenth
year, I am manifested.”
Jesus said, “The
just shall fall
seven times and
shall rise again.”
Jesus said, “If thy
brother sin against thee
by a word, and giveth
thee reparation, thou
shalt seven times in a
day accept him.”…
…Then said Simon his disciple to
him, “Seven times?” The Lord
answered, and said unto him:
“Yea, I say unto thee, until
seventy times seven. For even in
the prophets, after they were
anointed with the Holy Spirit,
there is found a word of sin.”
Jesus said, “If the neighbour of an
elect man sin, the elect man hath
sinned. For had he conducted
himself as the word prescribed,
his neighbor also would have been
filled with such reverence for the
life he led as not to sin.”
Jesus said, “Whatsoever brother
liveth in the manner of the
aliens, and alloweth things like
unto their deeds, refrain from
being in his company, which,
unless thou doest, thou also wilt
be a partaker with him.”
Jesus said, “It is
good to give
rather than to
receive.”
Jesus said, “Let
thine alms sweat in
thy hands, until thou
know to whom thou
shouldest give.”
Jesus said, “Accept
not anything from
any man, and
possess not anything
in this world.”
Jesus said, “Woe unto those
who have, and in hypocrisy
receive, or who, being
themselves able to help, receive
from others. For each one shall
give an account to the Lord
God at the day of judgment.”
Another rich man said to him, “Master,
what good thing shall I do to live?” He
said unto him: “Fulfil the law and the
prophets. He answered him, “I have
fulfilled them.” He said unto him: “Go,
sell all that thou hast, and distribute to
the poor, and come follow me.” But the
rich man began to scratch his head, and
it pleased him not…
…And the Lord said unto him: “How
sayest thou, “I have fulfilled the law
and the prophets,” since it is written in
the law, “Thou shall love thy neighbour
as thyself,” and lo, many of thy
brethren sons of Abraham, are clothed
in filth, dying of hunger, an thy house is
full of many goods, and nothing at all
goeth out of it to them”…
…And he turned, and said to
Simon disciple, who was
sitting by him: Simon, son of
Jonas, it is easier for a camel
to enter the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus said unto Cephas: “What thinkest
thou, Simon? The kings of the earth, from
whom do they receive custom and tribute?
From their sons, or from strangers?”
Simon said unto him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said unto him: “Children, then, are
free?” Simon said unto him, “Yea.” Jesus
said unto him: “Give thou also unto them,
like the stranger.”
Jesus said, “Woe unto
those who do anything
through their own
presumption, and not
through God.”
Jesus said, “Woe
unto those who join
together their
offences as with a
long rope.”
Jesus said, “These
are they that stretch
the warps and
weave nothing.”
Jesus said, “A man had three
servants; one who consumed his
substance with harlots and flute-
players; another who increased it;
and another who hid the talent.
Afterwards, one was accepted, one
was blamed alone, and another
was shut up in prison.”
“Christ bade men to abandon and
disregard curious questions, which
cause much strife, and not to waste
their thoughts upon things which
have been removed far from their
knowledge; but as much as possible
to seek the Lord of the universe with
the whole mind and spirit.”
Christ said:
“Wisdom killeth
her own
children.”
Jesus said,
“Wisdom
sendeth forth her
own children.”
Jesus said, “God
made the heaven
and the earth and all
things which are
therein.”
Jesus said, “The soul is altogether
impenetrable and hard to make
out. For it abideth not always in
the same form or shape, or in one
condition, so that any one might
express it by a type, or might lay
hold upon its essence.”
The Lord revealed unto Philip what
the soul must say when it ascendeth
to heaven, and what it must answer to
each of the powers above. Namely, “I
have known myself, and have
gathered myself together everywhere,
and have not begotten children for
the prince of this world, …
…but have extirpated his roots, and
have gathered together the scattered
members, and know who thou art.
For I am one of those above.” And if
it so speaketh, it is absolved. But if it
is convicted that it hath borne a son,
it is kept below, until it can take its
children up and draw them to itself.”
Salome said, “Until when shall death have
dominion?” He said: “As long as ye
women bring forth. For I came to destroy
the works of the woman, namely, of lust;
of the works, namely, of birth and of
destruction.” And she said, “I did well,
then, in not bringing forth.” The Lord
answered, saying: “Eat every herb, but of
that which hath bitterness, eat not….
…And Salome, inquiring concerning
when the things in regard to which he
spake should be known, and when his
kingdom should come, the Lord said:
When ye shall trample underfoot the
garment of modesty . . . when the two
shall be one, and that which is without as
that which is within, and the male with
the female neither male nor female.”
Jesus said, “If ye do not make what is
on the right to be left, and the left
right, and what is above to be below,
and what is before to be behind, ye
shall not perceive the kingdom of God.
If ye do not make your low things
high, and your crooked things
straight, ye shall not enter into my
kingdom.”
Jesus said, “Let not the one
who is married put away his
wife, and he who is
unmarried, let him not marry.
Let him who for the sake of
chastity hath agreed not to
marry, remain unmarried.”
Jesus said, “Let
the women be
subject unto their
own husbands.”
Jesus said, “The
son and
daughter shall
inherit alike.”
Jesus said, “Even if a
woman doth all that is
right, and yet once
committeth the sin of
adultery, she must be
punished.”
Jesus said, “Keep
the flesh holy and
the seal unspotted,
that ye may receive
eternal life.”
Jesus said, “Preserve ye the flesh,
that ye may become partakers of
the spirit. The flesh must be
contended with, be evil entreated,
and its unbridled lust in no way
be yielded to; but the soul must be
made to grow through faith and
knowledge.”
Jesus said, “Should any one for this
reason kiss a woman a second time,
because she pleased him, he committeth
sin. Men must therefore act thus with
extreme caution in the kiss of peace,
(or rather the salutation), as knowing
that, if per chance it should be sullied by
thought, it would place them out of the
pale of eternal life.”
Jesus said, “If any one
shall leave all things for
my name’s sake, at the
second coming he shall
inherit everlasting life.”
Jesus said, “Many shall come in
my name, clothed outwardly in
sheep s clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. And
there shall be schisms and
heresies. Many false Christs and
false apostles shall arise and shall
deceive many of the faithful.”
Jesus said, “They are false Christs
and false teachers, who have
blasphemed the Spirit of grace, and
done despite to the gift they had
from Him, after the grace of
baptism, to whom forgiveness shall
not be granted, neither in this world
nor in that which is to come.”
Jesus said, “A false prophet must
first come from some deceiver;
and then in like manner, after the
removal of the holy place, the true
Gospel must be secretly sent
abroad for the rectification of the
heresies that shall be. …
… And then, toward the end, shall
appear the world-deceiver as Son of
God, and shall do signs and wonders;
and the earth shall be delivered into his
hands, and he shall do iniquitous things
which have never yet come to pass since
the beginning; and after this, the
eternal light having sprung up, all the
things of darkness must disappear.”
Jesus said, “Behold, I
come as a thief. Blessed
is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments,
lest he walk naked, and
they see his shame.”
Jesus said,
“What I say
unto one of you,
I say unto all.”
Jesus said, “Then shall the wicked go
away into everlasting punishment,
but the righteous shall go into life
eternal, to inherit those things which
eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor
have entered into the heart of man,
such things as God hath prepared for
them that love Him.”
Jesus said, “Good
things are prepared
which the angels
desire to look into.”
Jesus said, “Often
did I desire to hear
one of these words,
and I had not one to
tell me.”
Jesus said, “The days will come in which vines
shall grow, having each ten thousand branches,
and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in
each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in every
one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on
every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes,
and every grape when pressed will give five and
twenty metretes of wine. And when any one of
the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another
shall cry out, “I am a better cluster, take me;
bless the Lord through me.”...
… In like manner, a grain of wheat shall
produce ten thousand ears, and every ear
shall have ten thousand grains, and every
grain shall yield ten pounds of clear, pure,
fine flour; and apples, and seeds, and grass
shall produce in similar proportions; and all
animals, feeding then only on the productions
of the earth, shall be come peaceable and
harmonious, and be in perfect subjection to
man. ...
… And Judas the traitor, not believing,
and asking, “How shall such growths be
accomplished by the Lord?” the Lord said:
They shall see who shall come to them.
These, then, are the times mentioned by
the prophet Isaiah, “And the wolf also shall
dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall
lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the
young lion, and the fatling together, and a
little child shall lead them.”
Jesus said, “By way
of reproach, he said
to Jerusalem: Sodom
is justified of thee.”
Jesus said, “O
Father, let their
temple be
desolate.”
Jesus said, “The Gentiles are
justified more than ye. Many
shall come from the east, and
from the west, the north, and
the south, and shall recline on
the bosoms of Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob.”
Jesus said, “Prophesying concerning the
temple, he said: See ye these buildings?
Verily, I say unto you, there shall not be
left here one stone upon another which
shall not be taken away; and this
generation shall not pass until the
destruction begin. For they shall come
and shall sit here, and shall besiege it,
and shall slay your children here.”
Jesus said, “I will
cleanse the house of
my kingdom from
every stumbling
block.”
Jesus said, “Whoso reedeemeth
souls from idols, he shall be great
in my kingdom. Of the hire of an
harlot hath she gathered them,
and to the hire of an harlot shall
they return; from filth it came, to
the place of filth shall it go.”
Jesus said, “Be ye
valiant in war, and fight
with the ancient enemy,
and ye shall receive the
everlasting kingdom.”
Jesus said, “Neither did he
sin at all, nor his parents,
but that the power of God
might be made manifest
through him in healing the
sins of ignorance.”
Jesus said, “To his
chosen, he saith: Go
ye out of the house
of my Father.”
Jesus said, “Let
us resist all
iniquity and hold
it in hatred.”
“The Saviour
himself testified that
Solomon was wiser
than all who came
before.”
Jesus said,
“Few things are
needful, or just
one.”
Jesus said, “Blessed
is he who also fasts
for this, that he
might feed the
poor.”
Jesus said, “Honour
the demons, not that
ye may be assisted by
them, but that they
may not injure you.”
Jesus said, “The
Father begat me, he
said, and I came forth
from the Father, and
am here.”
Ancient Homily of Christ's Descent into Hell
This text comes from an ancient sermon, written by an unknown writer, and refers to the part in the Apostle’s Creed where Jesus descends into Hell. According to Church Tradition, after dying on Good Friday Jesus went there in order to preach to the dead, thereby liberating all the holy men and women held captive. This homily recounts Jesus’ interaction with Adam, the second Adam encountering the first.
What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.
Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam’s son.
The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: "My Lord be with you all." And Christ in reply says to Adam: "And with your spirit." And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.
"I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.
"I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.
"For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.
"Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine in-breathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.
"See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.
"I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.
"But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.
“The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”
The Gospel of Gamaliel
Or the Lament of the Virgin
Fragments
. . . The mothers who in these countries have seen the death of their children, when they go to their tomb in order to see the body of those over whom they weep, great consolation and great . . . result for them. As to me I came out to see it . . . with all these . . . hanging on the cross like a robber . . . Lo . . . . . .
She opened her eyes, as they were closed in order not to look towards the earth because of its scandals. And she said to Him with joy: "O Master, my Lord, my God, my Son, you have risen, you have truly risen." But He restrained her and implored her, saying: "O my mother, do not touch me. Wait for a while, because it is the garment which my Father gave me when He raised me up. It is impossible that anything carnal should touch me until I go to heaven."
"This body, however, is the one in which I spent nine months in your womb . . . Know these things, O my mother. This flesh is the one which I received in you. It is the one which rested in my tomb, and it is also the one which rose today and which stands now before you. Examine well my hands and my feet, O Mary, my mother, and know that it is me whom you have nourished. Do not doubt, O my mother, that I am your Son. It is I who delivered you into the hands of John at the time when I was hanging on the cross.
"Now, O my mother, go in haste and tell my brethren and say to them . . . according to His words which I uttered to you, go to Galilee where you will find me. Hasten because it is not possible for me not to go to heaven to my Father."
"Those who have suffered with me on the earth . . . (The rest is missing)."
. . . And (Pilate) called the second (soldier) and said to him: "I know that you are more truthful than all these. Tell me (how many Apostles) took the body of Jesus in the tomb?" And he answered: "Eleven of them came with their disciples, and took it by stealth, and separated themselves only from this one (i.e. Judas?)."
And he summoned the third and said to him: "I esteem your witness more than that of the rest. Who took the body of Jesus inthe tomb?" And he replied to him: "Joseph and Nicodemus and their parents (sic)."
And he summoned the fourth and said to him: "You are the most important one among them, and I let them go all of them. Tell me now (what happened) when they took from your hands the body of Jesus in the tomb?" And he replied to him: "O my lord, we were asleep. We had forgotten ourselves and we were not able to know who took it. Then we rose up and looked for it but did not find it. . . . We have apprised . . ."
. . . Pilate said to the Jews and to the centurion: "These people are lying in this way and their words are contradictory." And he gave orders to secure soldiers until he had gone to the tomb. At that moment he rose up with the heads of the Jews, the Sanhedrin,and the high priests. They found the wrappings placed on the ground without body there. And Pilate said: "O men who hate their own souls, if they had taken the body they would have also taken the wrappings." And they said to him: "Do you not see that they are not his but that they belong to some others?" Pilate remembered then the words of Jesus: "It is imperative that great miracles should take place in my tomb." Pilate hastened then to enter into the tomb. He seized the wrappings of Jesus, which he pressed against his breast and over which he wept. He kissed them with joy as if Jesus were wrapped in them. Then he looked at the centurion who was standing at the door of the tomb and noticed that he had one eye only because they had put out the other in a war which he hid with his hand all the time in order not to see the light.
Then Pilate . . . ". . . The flame of his wrath has come on you." And they acquiesced in this condemnation, saying: "May His blood and His death be on us for ever!"
And Pilate said to the centurion: "O my brother, do not exchange in vain the true life which you have received for the lie and the quiet (sic) of the Jews." This is what he said in the presence of the Jews . . .
Pilate and the centurion went to the well of water of the garden, which was very deep. And I Gamaliel followed them in the crowd. They looked in the well and the Jews cried: "O Pilate . . .
Is this not the body of Jesus who died?" And (Joseph and Nicodemus) said: "O our Lord, the wrappings which you hold are those of Jesus. As to this body it belongs to the robber who was crucified with Jesus . . ." Joseph and Nicodemus placed the wrappings . . .
And Pilate remembered what Jesus had said: "The dead shall rise in my tomb." And thereupon he summoned the heads of the Jews and said to them: "Do you believe that this is the Nazarene?" And they answered: "We believe." And he said: "It is right then to place His body in His tomb, as it is done to all the dead."
She opened her eyes, as they were closed in order not to look towards the earth because of its scandals. And she said to Him with joy: "O Master, my Lord, my God, my Son, you have risen, you have truly risen." But He restrained her and implored her, saying: "O my mother, do not touch me. Wait for a while, because it is the garment which my Father gave me when He raised me up. It is impossible that anything carnal should touch me until I go to heaven."
"This body, however, is the one in which I spent nine months in your womb . . . Know these things, O my mother. This flesh is the one which I received in you. It is the one which rested in my tomb, and it is also the one which rose today and which stands now before you. Examine well my hands and my feet, O Mary, my mother, and know that it is me whom you have nourished. Do not doubt, O my mother, that I am your Son. It is I who delivered you into the hands of John at the time when I was hanging on the cross.
"Now, O my mother, go in haste and tell my brethren and say to them . . . according to His words which I uttered to you, go to Galilee where you will find me. Hasten because it is not possible for me not to go to heaven to my Father."
"Those who have suffered with me on the earth . . . (The rest is missing)."
. . . And (Pilate) called the second (soldier) and said to him: "I know that you are more truthful than all these. Tell me (how many Apostles) took the body of Jesus in the tomb?" And he answered: "Eleven of them came with their disciples, and took it by stealth, and separated themselves only from this one (i.e. Judas?)."
And he summoned the third and said to him: "I esteem your witness more than that of the rest. Who took the body of Jesus inthe tomb?" And he replied to him: "Joseph and Nicodemus and their parents (sic)."
And he summoned the fourth and said to him: "You are the most important one among them, and I let them go all of them. Tell me now (what happened) when they took from your hands the body of Jesus in the tomb?" And he replied to him: "O my lord, we were asleep. We had forgotten ourselves and we were not able to know who took it. Then we rose up and looked for it but did not find it. . . . We have apprised . . ."
. . . Pilate said to the Jews and to the centurion: "These people are lying in this way and their words are contradictory." And he gave orders to secure soldiers until he had gone to the tomb. At that moment he rose up with the heads of the Jews, the Sanhedrin,and the high priests. They found the wrappings placed on the ground without body there. And Pilate said: "O men who hate their own souls, if they had taken the body they would have also taken the wrappings." And they said to him: "Do you not see that they are not his but that they belong to some others?" Pilate remembered then the words of Jesus: "It is imperative that great miracles should take place in my tomb." Pilate hastened then to enter into the tomb. He seized the wrappings of Jesus, which he pressed against his breast and over which he wept. He kissed them with joy as if Jesus were wrapped in them. Then he looked at the centurion who was standing at the door of the tomb and noticed that he had one eye only because they had put out the other in a war which he hid with his hand all the time in order not to see the light.
Then Pilate . . . ". . . The flame of his wrath has come on you." And they acquiesced in this condemnation, saying: "May His blood and His death be on us for ever!"
And Pilate said to the centurion: "O my brother, do not exchange in vain the true life which you have received for the lie and the quiet (sic) of the Jews." This is what he said in the presence of the Jews . . .
Pilate and the centurion went to the well of water of the garden, which was very deep. And I Gamaliel followed them in the crowd. They looked in the well and the Jews cried: "O Pilate . . .
Is this not the body of Jesus who died?" And (Joseph and Nicodemus) said: "O our Lord, the wrappings which you hold are those of Jesus. As to this body it belongs to the robber who was crucified with Jesus . . ." Joseph and Nicodemus placed the wrappings . . .
And Pilate remembered what Jesus had said: "The dead shall rise in my tomb." And thereupon he summoned the heads of the Jews and said to them: "Do you believe that this is the Nazarene?" And they answered: "We believe." And he said: "It is right then to place His body in His tomb, as it is done to all the dead."
Read the complete text at: https://www.scribd.com/doc/27844349/The-gospel-of-Gamaliel