tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36235937034345358532024-03-14T00:07:57.239-07:00The Lost Gospels of JesusModern English translations of ancient Gospel manuscripts that portray the lost teachings of Jesus, including the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of the Savior, and others.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-69891804429816831482017-06-16T22:00:00.008-07:002021-04-11T14:05:27.900-07:00Table of Contents (Lost Gospels of Jesus)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T798-ModHgE/YF-YaAbdn9I/AAAAAAAABcU/Eml6yXNt88c3eOVpJsyuzhgyCkEdOtvXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s201/lost%2Bgospels%2Bcover%2Bcentered%2B133x201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T798-ModHgE/YF-YaAbdn9I/AAAAAAAABcU/Eml6yXNt88c3eOVpJsyuzhgyCkEdOtvXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/lost%2Bgospels%2Bcover%2Bcentered%2B133x201.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In addition to the Canon Gospels which utilize the ancient Codex Sinaiticus along with other ancient sources, the Lost Gospels of Jesus contains the oldest known lost Gospel manuscripts found buried in the Middle East and elsewhere in antiquity. These translations provide a fresh perspective of the teachings of Jesus from scriptural sources in plain English. See the introduction for more information on these translations.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/06/introduction-lost-gospels.html">Introduction to the Lost Gospels of Jesus</a></b></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/gospel-of-matthew.html"><b>Gospel of Matthew</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/gospel-of-mark.html"><b>Gospel of Mark </b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/gospel-of-luke.html"><b>Gospel of Luke</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/gospel-of-john.html"><b>Gospel of John</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/02/gospel-of-thomas.html"><b>Gospel of Thomas</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/02/gospel-of-mary.html"><b>Gospel of Mary</b></a></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/05/the-gospel-of-philip.html">Gospel of Philip</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/05/gospel-of-peter.html">Gospel of Peter (Fragment)</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/08/the-gospel-of-truth.html">Gospel of Truth</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/gospel-of-james.html">Gospel of James</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/02/secret-gospel-of-james-apocryphon-of.html">Secret Gospel of James</a></b></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/gospel-of-James-the-grieving.html"><b>Gospel of James the Grieving</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/03/the-letter-of-peter-to-philip.html"><b>Letter of Peter to Philip</b></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/03/the-wisdom-of-jesus-anointed-of-god.html"><b>The Wisdom of Jesus</b></a></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/05/the-book-of-thomas-contender.html">Book of Thomas the Contender</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/07/the-acts-of-peter-and-twelve-messengers.html">The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Messengers</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/epistles-of-john.html">Epistles of John</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/06/didache-teaching.html">Didache: The Teaching</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/12/dialogue-of-the-savior.html">Dialogue of the Savior</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/the-unknown-gospel.html">The Unknown Gospel</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/gospel-of-ebionites.html">Gospel of the Ebionites</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/03/authoritative-teaching.html">The Authoritative Teaching</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/05/the-treatise-on-resurrection.html">The Treatise on Resurrection</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/06/the-revelation-of-peter.html">The Revelation of Peter</a></b></li>
</ul></div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-83431907816787292842017-06-16T20:00:00.021-07:002023-09-24T15:55:19.373-07:00Introduction to The Lost Gospels of Jesus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Humble
prayers and respects are offered to Lord Jesus and to those who have sincerely
passed on his Gospels.<br/><br/>
This
project was not undertaken lightly. Nor was it embarked upon without guidance.
Rather, it is only by the grace of Lord Jesus and his followers that this
project was made possible.<br/><br/>
The
reader will find in this text a number of manuscripts that should have been
part of the Gospels through the centuries. Instead, they were burned or
otherwise destroyed. Fortunate for us, a single copy of each made it through
time, having been buried by some smart people nearly two thousand years ago.
These are the Lost Gospels of Jesus.<br/><br/>
The
reader will also find, in the case of those Gospels that did get canonized,
that these English translations are substantially different from those found in
most of the institutional sectarian Bibles that circulate today.<br/><br/>
One
reason for this, as we will discuss further, is that most of the translations
of the Gospels – and the assembly and translation of the Biblical texts in
general – have been corrupted by centuries of institutional manipulation.<br/><br/>
For this
reason, we also include fresh translations of these ancient texts in the Lost
Gospels. When they are translated without sectarian influence or institutional
politics, the texts portray teachings of Jesus that have been lost among many
translations.<br/><br/>
There
are many reasons for some of Jesus' teachings being lost in translation. These
include physical manipulation in the form of addition and change at the hands
of sectarian scribes. They also include the enforcement of a particular
interpretation of Jesus’ life and Teachings by those institutions that sought
primacy and dominance over the regions and populations later described as the
Holy Roman Empire.<br/><br/>
Prior to
this institutional manipulation, the Teachings of Jesus had been passed on from
Jesus' direct followers orally. Then some recorded these oral recollections in
the form of the early Gospels of Jesus.<br/><br/>
The
Gospels were originally individual manuscripts – each parchment or papyrus
scrolls, some hand-bound or stitched together. These were passed on and
distributed primarily as individual documents for at least 250 years in early
Christianity.<br/><br/>
As
predicted by Jesus, between the year 66 and 120 CE, the Jewish-Roman Wars
reigned terror over the region and people of Judea.
The Romans decimated much of Judean society during this period. Jerusalem was
sacked and burned. Many followers of Jesus – considered Jews by the Romans –
were slaughtered during this period. Some early Christians escaped to the
mountains as Jesus had instructed them. Some were already living in the
mountains.<br/><br/>
Historical
analysis has concluded that the first versions of the Gospels were written during
the middle to late First Century and the early Second Century. Many of the
early manuscripts were destroyed during this period as a result of the
Jewish-Roman Wars, as villages, towns, and libraries were systematically burnt.
The Romans considered Jewish and early Christian teachings as threats to the
Roman pantheon.<br/><br/>
According
to most historians, there is little evidence to believe that the four canonized
Gospels were written by those whose names they are ascribed to. The exception
to this may be the Gospel of John – considered by many historians to be the
earliest of the four Gospels despite it being the fourth book in the New
Testament.<br/><br/>
The
oldest remnant of the Book of John has been carbon-dated at between 160 CE and
200 CE. This, however, does not indicate when the Gospel was first written.
This was likely one of many copies made of the Gospel. Historians believe that
the Book of John was written between 50 and 100 CE. The other three canonical
Gospels may have been pieced together from other early manuscripts.<br/><br/>
The
evidence shows that the earliest Gospels were written in Greek, Hebrew,
Aramaic, or Coptic, depending upon their location and author. The earliest
manuscripts were copied multiple times and translated from one language to
another. So remnants of the Gospels found in modern times are not the
originals. Evidence from the earliest manuscripts illustrates that not only
have they been translated from language to language, but as they were copied
and translated, they were also changed – with interpretative text being added,
changed or deleted altogether.<br/><br/>
Furthermore,
the earlier copies of the Gospel manuscripts became the subject of ransacking
and burning over the years, even after the Jewish-Roman Wars. The persecution
of early Christian and Jewish people by the Romans continued for centuries. As
a result, much was lost, including the earliest manuscripts of the First and
Second Centuries.<br/><br/>
Historians
have estimated that the Gospels of John and Matthew were among at least 50
different Gospels that described the life and/or Teachings of Jesus. What
remained in the Fourth Century when the Canon was selected were texts that
somehow escaped destruction by war, fire and persecution.<br/><br/>
There is
good evidence indicating the four Gospels were also selected for political
reasons: They were the least controversial and most conservative of the many
circulating manuscripts describing Jesus. They were also those accepted by more
Romans, and by those churches that followed Paul.<br/><br/>
The
appointed leaders of these institutions also had a tendency to jostle for power
in their respective region. Many also labeled other teachers – who didn't
struggle for power – as heretics. Inclusive of these are referred to today as
the Johannines, Essenes, and the Gnostics. <br/><br/>
Yet
interestingly, many scholars have tied these "heretics" to the
early followers of Jesus referred to as the Nazarenes and the Ebionites. <br/><br/>
Many of
these early followers of Jesus were eventually dismissed as heretics. We should
note the irony, as Jesus was also considered a heretic by the Temple
institution of his time.<br/><br/>
By the
Fourth Century, the regional Christian assemblies had garnered enough political
power to gain the attention of the Roman state. In 313, the Christian faith was
legalized by the Roman Emperor. Within the next two decades, Roman Emperor
Constantine delineated these early assemblies using the First Council of Nicaea
of 325. By 380, the Nicene version of Christianity became the official Roman
state religion by edict from Roman Emperor Theodosius I, ushering what
eventually became known as the Roman Catholic Church.<br/><br/>
With the
Councils of Nicaea came a negotiated interpretation of Jesus and his teachings,
initially orchestrated by Constantine and Eusebius. This effort resulted in an
assembly of Bishops that defined Jesus and his position with respect to
God: Now called The Nicene Creed.<br/><br/>
It has
been argued by some that the four Gospels were the primary early Gospels
describing Jesus' life. These suggest that others, such as the so-called
Apocrypha and Gnostic texts, came later and were thus not considered Gospels in
the days of the early Church fathers. This claim is based on a supposition that
the writings of early Church fathers cited the four Gospels but didn't cite the
other Gospels.<br/><br/>
Such a
hypothesis – that the four Gospels were the only early trusted Gospels – has
many weaknesses.<br/><br/>
It is
untrue that early Church fathers only cited the four Gospels. For example, we
find that early Church fathers, including Jerome, Origen Adamantius, Clement of
Alexandria, Eusebius, and Epiphanius, cited other lost Gospels that were not
included in the Canon. These included the Gospel of Peter, the Gospel of the
Ebionites, the Gospel of the Hebrews, the Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of
the Nazarenes among others.<br/><br/>
Secondly,
a hypothesis that the four Gospels were either the most accurate or
historically trustworthy Gospels is also suspect. An examination of these four
reveals significant differences with regard to specific events and the people
of those events. Such differences are comparable to those found among the other
Gospels.<br/><br/>
There is
also significant controversy regarding the similarity between Matthew, Mark and
Luke. This <i>Synoptic Problem</i> underscores
the uncanny similarity of the description of events between these three
Gospels. In many cases, the very words are identical, bringing into question
their independent authenticity. <br/><br/>
There
are many theories about this issue. Some historians believe that these may be
linked to a single unknown Gospel. Some suggest that Mark was the original and
Matthew and Luke were copied from Mark. Others say that a “Source Q” is the
primary manuscript.<br/><br/>
There is
some evidence that the Gospel of Thomas may be at least in part the source
document for these three, as it appears to predate those three Gospels,
was not included in the Canon, and documents most of the teachings of the three
Gospels without much of the narrative. Furthermore, it is interesting that the
narrative elements of these three Gospels – which the Gospel of Thomas did not
contain – have significant differences.<br/><br/>
The
Gospel of John is dramatically different from Matthew, Mark and Luke. The
events and teachings in John portray significant differences from these three,
though there are also some similarities. At the bare minimum, the Gospel of
John does check the box of independent authority.<br/><br/>
Nonetheless,
we find many manuscripts and documents cited elsewhere to be missing. For
example, many of the Gospels mentioned above as cited by early Church fathers
have become conspicuously lost or remnants were later found remotely buried.<br/><br/>
The same
goes for some of the writings of the early Church fathers. For example,
Origen's vast works – over 6,000 texts – have gone missing. Origen was one of
the most respected theologians of his time (2nd-3rd Century) and was considered
an early father of Christianity and was a peer of Clement of Alexandria. Origen
had thousands of students and wrote profusely. Yet today we find practically
none of his writings exist. Where did they go? And where did all the other
Gospels mentioned above go?<br/><br/>
Over the
past century, we have had several major archeological finds – of buried
manuscripts and Gospels. These include the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi
library. They include dozens of texts that would never have been known to exist
if it wasn't for their being buried and hidden away.<br/><br/>
Why were
these buried and hidden away? Why weren't they preserved as part of the
historical record?<br/><br/>
Despite
their early reference, some have argued that these texts were never to be
considered early enough for the Biblical Canon. Yet the Dead Sea Scrolls – and
the Qumran community they arose from – were
existing as early as 300 BCE.<br/><br/>
As for
the so-called Gnostic Gospels – the Nag Hammadi library – carbon-dating
suggests they were written in the Second or Third Centuries. Further, their
Greek-Coptic formatting suggests most of them were copied from earlier Greek
manuscripts. This means these writings were first recorded much earlier than
the carbon datings of these manuscripts suggest.<br/><br/>
Yet some
still insist these texts were not written early enough to be considered for the
Canon. But we find among these Nag Hammadi documents the Gospel of Thomas and
others that were cited by early Church fathers. This is evidence that the Nag
Hammadi library does contain early Gospels that were considered as canon by
early Church fathers before the Roman state descended upon these early
assemblies and their teachers. Why would the rest of the Nag Hammadi library
necessarily be different?<br/><br/>
To this
we add that there were numerous groups and individuals condemned as heretics by
the Roman Church. For example, the Essenes and the Gnostics were considered
heretics. Indeed, many of the Gospels among the Gnostic library (Nag Hammadi)
and the Essene library (Dead Sea Scrolls) were not included in the Canon. They
were not included in the Roman-approved Canon. And because the Roman government
marshalled a one-institution strategy, this Canon quickly became the official
Canon that became the Bible.<br/><br/>
It should
be understood that the word “Gnostic” is derived from the Greek word “gnosis” –
which means “knowledge.” This means that “Gnostic” is describing those who were
more interested in gaining “knowledge” – and less interested in political
power.<br/><br/>
All of
this indicates that many of the Gospels circulating in the pre-Canon period
were decimated in the coming centuries. Libraries were burnt and those who kept
them were burnt at the stake or worse. Any manuscripts not acceptable by the
Roman Church were systematically destroyed over the ten centuries.<br/><br/>
During
the first 1,000 years of Roman dominance over the Church, those who believed
any other interpretation or believed that other Gospels existed were imprisoned
or burned at the stake. And any texts they held sacred were burned and removed
from the record.<br/><br/>
Here,
for example, is the statement by the Roman Church condemning the works and
teachings of some of the earliest Christian fathers:<br/><br/>
<i>“If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius,
Apollinaris, Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their impious writings,
as also all other heretics already condemned and anathematized by the Holy
Catholic and Apostolic Church, and by the aforesaid four Holy Synods and if
anyone does not equally anathematize all those who have held and hold or who in
their impiety persist in holding to the end the same opinion as those heretics
just mentioned: let him be anathema.” (Anathema 553)</i><br/><br/>
Note
that <i>anathema</i> means to be
banned. It means to be banned as a heretic and dismissed from the Church. A
person who was banned as a heretic would also often be whisked to jail or
burned at the stake. This includes being caught in possession of a text written
by someone who was banned.<br/><br/>
Those
early texts that in any way contradicted the doctrine of the Roman Church were
purposely destroyed. Entire libraries were burnt along with the buildings that
held them. Practically every Gospel and every text written by any early theologian,
father, or scholar that did not support the doctrine accepted by the Roman Church
were purposefully destroyed during the more than 1,000 years of control over
the Church by what became the Holy Roman Empire.<br/><br/>
The Bible as we know it today has emerged
from this period. And those Gospels that were destroyed during this period were
left out of the public record and religious discourse of the last 500 years.<br/><br/>
Yes,
there were hundreds of Gospel manuscripts circulating in the ancient world during
the Third Century prior to the First Council of Nicaea. <br/><br/>
Then in
the early Fourth Century, some of these Gospels were assembled with existing
Jewish texts and translated into Latin. <br/><br/>
The
process was begun by the Roman Emperor Constantine and his hand-picked
historian, Eusebius Pamphili.<br/><br/>
Once the
list of manuscripts was selected – by Eusebius under order from Emperor
Constantine – an official collection, now called the Canon, was formed. This
official collection of manuscripts became the foundation for the first Latin Bible.
Some figure this collection was assembled using parts of the Greek Septuagint
along with selected manuscripts regarding Jesus and his early followers.<br/><br/>
But it
is now thought that both the <i>Sinaiticus</i> (Greek)
Bible and the <i>Vaticanus</i> (Latin)
Bible – also called <i>Vetus Latina</i> –resulted
from the work of Eusebius. The Vaticanus Bible is also considered to be the
foundation for the <i>Vulgate,</i> the
authorized Bible of the early Roman Church put together by Jerome in 382.<br/><br/>
The
essential task of Eusebius was to translate those selected Greek and Hebrew
texts into Latin for the Vaticanus. Why? Because Latin was the official
language of the Roman Empire.<br/><br/>
This
translation was not performed by Eusebius, though he was proficient in Greek
and Latin. The translations were made by professional scribes employed by
Constantine and Eusebius.<br/><br/>
This
Latin version – withheld from public scrutiny for over a thousand years by the
Roman government and its proxy Church – formed the foundation for an ongoing
misinterpretation and misunderstanding of Jesus' life and Teachings over the
next 800 years.<br/><br/>
The
reasons for this are complex but may be boiled down to two influences. The
first influence was the political force of the Roman
empire. The Roman empire enforced the rules of engagement of the
Roman Church – the sanctioned Christian institution of the Roman
Empire. Any other Christian institution was banned by the Romans.
And owning any text other than the Vulgate would result in the document being
burned and the person being imprisoned, burned at the stake, or hanged.<br/><br/>
As the
centuries passed, this forced indoctrination of the Roman
Empire and its satellites led to a common acceptance of a single
interpretation of Jesus’ life and Teachings aforementioned: The Nicene Creed
interpretation, from the Council of Nicaea organized by the Roman Emperor
Constantine in the early Fourth Century. <br/><br/>
Some ten
centuries later, when early Biblical translations into English and German and
French were consummated, even while those translators were persecuted, these translations
still upheld the Nicene interpretation due to a lack of alternative source
documents.<br/><br/>
Yes, the
Nicene Creed was enforced through violence and then institutional mindset over
a period of 1,000 years, leaving differing perspectives and uncanonized Gospels
lost.<br/><br/>
Curiously,
the Bible Canon of Eusebius and Constantine included not only the four selected
Gospel manuscripts we know today. It also contained the various epistles and
letters of Paul. <br/><br/>
Paul's
inclusion is quite curious, as Paul was not a direct disciple of Jesus like Thomas,
John and James. Rather, Paul had been a Roman spy who was persecuting Jesus'
followers on behalf of Rome.
Then suddenly after Jesus’ departure, Paul claimed to have had a vision of
Jesus, though he stated that he only heard Jesus and did not see him.<br/><br/>
Within a
short time, Paul began preaching his own interpretation of Jesus' life and
teachings, despite never having directly studied under Jesus or heard his
teachings. Paul was taught a philosophy that significantly departed from
the teachings of James and Peter who closely adhered to Jesus' teachings in
their sermons.<br/><br/>
Paul
essentially created his own doctrine (often called the <i>Pauline doctrine</i>) and argued in public
against the teachings of James and Peter. Contrasting the years that James,
Peter and Jesus' other disciples spent following and studying under Jesus, Paul
almost immediately began preaching his doctrine to the masses and collecting
followers in the regions around Rome.<br/><br/>
Paul's
new interpretation of Jesus' life and teachings gained instant appeal among
many Romans and Greeks. Paul's teachings did not require the internal work and
change of heart and lifestyle that Jesus' teachings had demanded. Paul's
teachings were easier to follow, as they were centered around joining the Church
and proclaiming that Jesus died for our sins.<br/><br/>
While
this is not a criticism of Paul, it is curious that the doctrine and interpretation
of Jesus' life and teachings the Roman state embraced was largely the Pauline
doctrine. The Pauline doctrine was very popular among Romans, and this was
clearly embraced by the Council of Nicaea. Paul’s doctrine was also embraced by Eusebius
as he included many of Paul's letters in the initial Bible Canon. <br/><br/>
The
rationale of including so many of Paul's letters yet abandoning many
authoritative manuscripts documenting Jesus' teachings is unknown. But it does
tell us what the Roman state accomplished with the inclusion of certain
manuscripts and the exclusion of others. It tells us that the
Roman-state-sponsored religion embraced the Pauline-Niceen interpretation of
the life and teachings of Jesus.<br/><br/>
Yet the
Canon also included selected manuscripts from early Jewish Teachers – namely
from the Tanakh, the core of which was the five books of the <i>Torah</i>. What was the purpose of including
these?<br/><br/>
Again,
the rationale is not obvious. We do know that the Romans struggled with how to
dominate the Judean region and Judaism. Especially after having been in a 50-year-plus
war with the Judean region. <br/><br/>
But it
is interesting that the connection between the <i>Old Testament</i> and the <i>New
Testament</i> influenced by the Pauline-Niceen doctrine is that the purpose of
many of the Prophets was to predict Jesus' arrival and subsequent persecution.
Is this an interpretative conclusion of a historical one?<br/><br/>
This
assembly of selected manuscripts into one Canon eventually became known as the <i>Bible</i> – a term derived from the
Greek <i>ta biblia</i>, meaning ‘little
papyrus books.’<br/><br/>
In
simple terms, the Bible is not a book or a single manuscript: It is a
collection of separately written manuscripts that were compiled, interpreted
and translated by agents of the Roman state.<br/><br/>
This is
dramatically illustrated by order of Emperor Constantine to Eusebius to collect
selected manuscripts and translate into Latin. This new Bible – commissioned by
Constantine
upon the newly bishoped Eusebius – was to be transcribed and translated by
scribes hired just following the acceptance of the Nicene Creed at the Council
of Nicaea. <br/><br/>
This is
evidenced by Constantine’s letter to Eusebius. Here is an excerpt:<br/><br/>
<i>“I have thought it expedient to instruct your prudence to order fifty
copies of the sacred Scriptures, the provision and use of which you know to be
most needful for the instruction of the Church, to be written on prepared
parchment in a legible manner, and in a convenient, portable form, by
professional transcribers thoroughly practiced in their art. The catholicus of
the diocese has also received instructions by letter from our Clemency to be
careful to furnish all things necessary for the preparation of such copies; and
it will be for you to take special care that they be completed with as little
delay as possible. You have authority also, in virtue of this letter, to use
two of the public carriages for their conveyance, by which arrangement the
copies when fairly written will most easily be forwarded for my personal
inspection; and one of the deacons of your church may be intrusted with this
service, who, on his arrival here, shall experience my liberality.” (NPNF2-01,
Eusebius, Church History, Life of Constantine, Orationin Praise of Constantine)</i><br/><br/>
Key
elements of this letter <i>include “professional
transcribers,” “my personal inspection,” </i>and the orchestration of
Constantine’s involvement in the assembly of the Bible. In other words, the
texts were assembled by appointed transcribers who were paid for their efforts.<br/><br/>
We must
point out that such a paid-for endeavor, ordered by a political state emperor, is
diametrically opposed to the central tenets of Jesus' teachings. Jesus had
asked his disciples to not even bring a purse when they went out to preach.<br/><br/>
Also, we
find this paid-for Bible was subject to Constantine’s inspection and ultimate
approval. We find significant irony in that an emperor known to have persecuted
and gruesomely slaughtered many, whole ruled an empire that was directly involved
in the persecution of Jesus, was now personally authorizing and approving the
first Latin Bible.<br/><br/>
We also
find evidence that Eusebius sought to promote his own personal interpretations
within the texts of the Bible. Eusebius had many distinctive opinions, some of
which were part of the mainstream Pauline-Nicene thinking and some of which
were not. The 5th-century Christian historian, Socrates Scholasticus,
documented that Eusebius’ writings had <i>“rhetorical
finish”</i> and were written for the <i>“praises of the Emperor”</i> and not the <i>“accurate statement of facts.”</i><br/><br/>
In other
words, the evidence indicates that the assembly, translation and transcription
of the first Latin Bible lacked the seriousness of unbiased scholarship
expected for such a work. It apparently accompanied significant political
strategy and ambition on the part of Eusebius and Constantine.<br/><br/>
We can
add to this that there were continual wranglings and political intrigue amongst
the various bishops that attended the Nicaea Synods, which determined through a
political process the Nicene Creed. So again we find the most fundamental
interpretion of Jesus and God accepted as fundamental to church institutions
was the subject of largely a political process.<br/><br/>
The
background on this affair is that in 325 CE Constantine appointed hundreds of
religious leaders with strong followings throughout the then-Christian world,
and organized a committee called the Council of Nicaea. The purpose was to
orchestrate a single doctrine to manage the Christian world under the Roman
Empire.<br/><br/>
Constantine
knew that organizing such a diverse group of sects was going to be difficult.
In order to do this right, he had to create the appearance of legitimacy. He
had to create an organizational structure that would allow the Romans to
orchestrate their control over the region. <br/><br/>
As a
result, the control exerted over the Christian world by the Roman government
was by no means accomplished through the Teachings of Jesus as one might
imagine. Rather, the Roman state instituted and maintained their authority over
the Christian institution by force. <br/><br/>
Over the
centuries, the Roman church institution came to not only dominate religious
thought in Europe and the Middle East: It was able to control decision-making
among many governments following the fall of the official Roman Empire and the
rise of the Holy Roman Empire.<br/><br/>
This was
an issue of control and authority. If the Romans were in charge of the only
valid religion, they could by virtue of controlling the religious institution,
control the people and their governments. It was a brilliant yet manipulative
strategy that continued for centuries.<br/><br/>
This
strategy was neither a new one for an emperor or government nor was it foreign
to many of most of those bishops brought together to form the Council of
Nicaea. As experienced historically among many feudal regions, rulers often
gained power through their alliances with religious teachers – and often
incorrectly attributed later as religious leaders themselves.<br/><br/>
Contrasting
these were Prophets and devoted Teachers who focused not upon political
authority, but upon the authority of the Supreme Being. This is why so many
devoted teachers have been rejected by the state-sponsored institutions of
their times.<br/><br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">After the early Canon manuscripts were selected, translated
into Latin and assembled into the Bible, the Roman Empire and its surrogate
Church systematically burned and destroyed any library that included books
outside of those selected for the Bible or otherwise approved by Church officials.
A few were quarantined within the Vatican library in Rome; most others were
burnt, never to be found.<br/><br/>
The
Church also systematically squelched any alternative interpretations of Genesis
and the creation, such as those that were taught amongst the Gnostics for
centuries. The Gnostics were driven out of existence. Their villages were
burnt, their teachers were murdered, and their libraries of manuscripts were
destroyed. This activity – of forcibly removing ‘heretics’ for their
alternative interpretations of Scripture – continued, as mentioned, for over a
thousand years among the Roman Church and its proxies.<br/><br/>
Adding
to this 'cleansing:' For centuries, the Vulgate was the only Bible allowed to
be read, and only the priests and Church officials had access to it. The rest
of the people in the regions controlled by the Roman Church and its surrogates
did not have access to scripture. They could only hear the Vulgate through the
priests, who also controlled its interpretation. This was the status quo for
centuries until parts of the Vulgate were (illegally according to the Church)
translated into English and other languages.<br/><br/>
As a
result, the Vulgate Bible and its interpretation came to dominate Christian
belief by the force of the Roman government, and eventually became the
fundamental doctrine of practically every Christian sect that has sprung up in
the centuries since.<br/><br/>
This
influence also affected the first complete English Bible – translated from the
Latin Bible. The Wycliffe Bible came into being during the 14th Century –
nearly a thousand years after Jerome's Vulgate.<br/><br/>
John
Wycliffe, the English Bible’s translator, was immediately declared a heretic by
the Roman Church. By the command of the Church and its Pope Martin V, his
Biblical translations were ordered to be burnt, and his then-dead body exhumed,
burnt, and his ashes thrown into a river.<br/><br/>
This
‘scorched earth’ policy of virtually eliminating any and all alternative
translations or interpretations of the Scriptures outside of those approved by
the Church and Roman Empire also created a single dominant interpretation of
the Biblical Scriptures – a de facto indoctrination – throughout the Christian
world. This brainwashing of over 14 centuries has not gone away: Rather, it has
continued over the centuries as the undercurrent of nearly every Christian sect.<br/><br/>
This
undercurrent – the remnant of 14 centuries of indoctrination – has been
maintained into modern times through institutional peer pressure.<br/><br/>
Historical
power grabs over religion are not new. Prior to the Roman-state Church’s power
grab on Biblical translation and interpretation, we find ecclesiastical
Rabbinical transcription, translation, and interpretation of the five books of
the Torah driven by an eerily similar pact between governmental and
religious institutions. This was directly criticized by Jesus, as evidenced in
the Gospels.<br/><br/>
Like the
Roman state's domination over Christianity, Judean emperors in the centuries
leading to Jesus’ birth commandeered the theretofore orally communicated תורה
שבכתב (<i>Torah Shebe’al Peh</i> –
“Torah that is spoken”), and oversaw its transcription into a written form, to
be called <i>Torah Shebichtav</i> תורה
שבעל פה (“Torah that is written”).<br/><br/>
The Torah –
a word meaning “the Teaching” – was originally passed down orally from
generation to generation within a lineage of Jewish Teachers that included
Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, Eli, Samuel, David, Solomon, Job, Jeremiah,
Isaiah, Ezekiel and others.<br/><br/>
The
principle characteristic of this lineage was that each Teacher would pass on
the oral Teachings of the Torah to their followers, and those who were
empowered ("anointed") passed it on to their followers. This oral
tradition also meant that the lessons of the Torah also accompanied the
translation and interpretation of the Jewish Priest – who pledged devotion to
the Supreme Being.<br/><br/>
We can
see this tradition clearly as we examine the relationships between Abraham and
Melchizedek, Joshua and Moses, Samuel and Eli, and others within the texts of
the Bible.<br/><br/>
This
teaching tradition became subject to territorialism and politics as
the Torah was transcribed from <i>Torah Shebe’al Peh</i> to <i>Torah
Shebichtav</i> and interpreted over the centuries.<br/><br/>
The
question then becomes: who organized and oversaw this process of compilation?<br/><br/>
The 7th
Century BCE appears to be the period many historians believe the Torah began
its institutional journey into what is now Judaism. We find that this century
was rife with warfare between feuding empires of Rome, Assyria, Judah, Egypt
and surrounding regions. Struggles for land and territory were rampant, and the
quest to commandeer Scripture was not only a political necessity – it was an
issue of survival for any government that wanted to command and control the
pre-Christ Judeans.<br/><br/>
Many
point to the reign of Josiah, the King of Judah between 641 and 609 BCE. Josiah
is understood to be born in Jerusalem and thought to be part of the House of
David. He was King Amon’s son. Amon’s father, Manasseh is known for turning
away from the worship of the Supreme Being and creating a temple of idols.<br/><br/>
Josiah
was devoted to Yahweh, however. He ordered the Jewish temple of Solomon to be
rebuilt using taxes. During the construction, it is said that the builders
discovered a buried scroll describing Moses’ “Book of the law,” accepted by
most historians to have been put together by Jewish priests intent on
centralizing power under King Josiah. Thus, we find a critical piece of early
transcriptions having political ambition: Claiming the right of heritage for
certain lands to the house of Abraham, Moses, David, and then Josiah.<br/><br/>
This
provided a necessary foundation for the political backdrop of those times. King
Josiah and his successors were gripped with struggles over territory and
population by the likes of the Egyptians, Babylonians and the Syrians –
ultimately responsible for Josiah’s demise.<br/><br/>
In the
centuries that followed, these territorial struggles continued, and the
formation of the Torah gained additional substance with the writings of Ezra in
the Fifth Century BCE. After the rebuilding of Jerusalem under the Persian
ruler Artaxerxes, Ezra led a formation of a separated assembly of Israelites
committed to following Moses’ law.<br/><br/>
The
successive assemblies following Ezra took a drastic ecclesiastical turn over
the next centuries, as priestly struggles merged with political struggles for
territorial rights. And the rule of the assemblies became increasingly
political.<br/><br/>
The
Torah was thus altered over the next five centuries, as the Israelite high
priests formed a rigid ecclesiastical order over their assemblies. The rule of
law became tantamount and the five books of the Torah were interpreted as a set
of laws combined with a genealogy of the Israelite people.<br/><br/>
Meanwhile,
the commandments of Moses to love God with all our hearts took a back seat to
the execution of rigid rituals.<br/><br/>
The
necessity of a succession of rulers through this period produced political
alliances between Jewish priests and the various kings of Judea. This drove the
recognition of the Israelite assembly as a separate race of people and allowed
the high priests to become ex-facto governors.<br/><br/>
This
succession of Jewish high priests became increasingly politicized over the
centuries, as evidenced by the Teachings of Jesus. Jesus’ Teachings identified
the two primary orders among the Jewish temples – the Sadducees and the
Pharisees – as focused upon retaining their politically oriented positions of
“teachers of the law” rather than the passing of the original Teachings of the
Prophets.<br/><br/>
In the
Gospels we find that Jesus vehemently criticized these two groups as misleading
the people and abandoning the original precepts of the Teachings of the Torah –
which he emphasized were grounded upon the <i>“first and foremost commandment”</i> to love God.<br/><br/>
This
Teaching, we find from Biblical texts, had been passed through a teaching
lineage that included John the Baptist and Zachariah, John’s Teacher, and
traced back through the centuries to Abraham and Melchizedek.<br/><br/>
Out of
the thousands of scriptural manuscripts passed down for centuries by early
Jewish and Christian Teachers, we find only a few politically-selected
manuscripts in today's Bible. What happened to the rest? Certainly, there is no
opportunity to recover the thousands of ancient manuscripts from the ashes of
the fires lit by the Roman-state institutions.<br/><br/>
But we
do have proof that these manuscripts did exist. These come in the form of
finding some of these ancient parchments buried. Hundreds of texts have now
been uncovered – including some included in the Canon along with many that were
not.<br/><br/>
We also
find clear evidence that some of the texts that made it into the Latin Bible
were manipulated with respect to their translation and inclusion. Yes,
inclusion: This means that some text was removed and some text was added.<br/><br/>
This is
ironic since the last verse of the Book of Revelation warns not to remove or
add to the text. The strategic position of the Book of Revelation was smartly
arranged as the last book of the Bible though it was not the last manuscript
written.<br/><br/>
The
position of the Book of Revelation gives the reader the impression that nothing
can thenceforth be added or taken away from the <i>entire Bible</i> – though the Bible itself was selectively <i>compiled and altered by Eusebius and scribes</i>.<br/><br/>
Furthermore, the writer of this last verse – presumably
John – could not have been referring to the later-compiled Bible: He was referring solely to that particular
manuscript. The manuscript's placement as last in the Bible was a clerical
manipulation.<br/><br/>
The
Roman manipulation of Scripture has been confirmed over the past few centuries
as other Scripture texts have surfaced. These include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the
Greek Septuagint, the Arabic Peshitta, and the Nag Hammadi manuscripts. One
tattered Gospel text – the Gospel of Peter
– was found buried with an Egyptian monk and was uncovered in 1887<br/><br/>
The Septuagint arose through the translation of the
Rabbinical texts originally put together by Origen (who was later rejected as heretical by the Church), but its
current form has been altered through the centuries. The Peshitta, which also
contained some manuscripts alternative to the Bible, to some degree escaped
destruction by the Romans – although it is not clear to what degree or at what
stage.<br/><br/>
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi
manuscripts were uncovered in the desert within the past century. These texts
reveal many Scriptural manuscripts excluded from the Canon by the Romans. <br />
<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">Translation Notes</h3>
For the four Gospels, the Biblical text used for
the translation of the Gospels was the original Greek texts as correlated with the Codex Sinaiticus – the oldest known Greek Gospel
texts. The translation work utilized various lexicons and sources to offer
translations that come without political or monetary influences. Rather, the
emphasis was upon capturing the literal statements of the Gospel into modern
English.<br/><br/>
In
addition to the four standard Gospels, selected Gospels discovered in recent
years have been added to this work. Most of these are from the Nag Hammadi
library, discovered in Northern Egypt in 1945. The texts were carbon-dated and
found to be from the First through the Second Centuries CE. These texts,
written primarily in Greek, Coptic Greek and Hebrew, are thought to be the
remaining texts of followers referred to as Gnostics, Essenes, Johannines,
Nazarenes and/or Ebionites.<br/><br/>
Such an
interpretation of these ancient texts is unfortunate. For we find upon close
inspection of the manuscripts, that these texts provide clarity of some of the
Teachings of Jesus. We thus find in these texts – amongst Teachings that mirror
those in the four Gospels – new Teachings that later institutions attempted to
erase from the historical record.<br/><br/>
We also
find clarity among these buried Gospels about Jesus’ Teachings regarding
resurrection, the soul or spirit versus the physical body, the spiritual realm
and the citizens of the spiritual realm. Indeed, we find Jesus gave
significantly more information about his teachings.<br/><br/>
For ease
of understanding and consistency, key phrases and terms used in these texts are
matched to the key phrases and terms of the Canon Gospels–as referenced with
footnotes and Endnotes throughout the Canon Gospels.<br/><br/>
Indeed,
as also referenced throughout, the earliest manuscripts of the four Canon
Gospels reveal many verses and sections that later transcribers and translators
added to the earlier versions of these Scriptures. We find numerous instances
where words supposedly stated by Jesus were added, while other statements were
manipulated or deleted. In some instances, these additions came in the form of
an entire verse – often incorrectly attributed to Jesus as quotes.<br/><br/>
To the
degree possible, most of these additions or manipulations have been removed
from this translation work. Most are marked with footnotes. In some cases, the
added portions are quoted in the footnotes, while in others they are not.<br/><br/>
It
should be noted that verse numbers were added to the Gospels much later. They
were not part of the original manuscripts. This would logically mean that the
added verses came during or after the initial verse numbering – since the
additions are sometimes entire verses.<br/><br/>
It
should also be noted that this translation often departs from the common
institutional paraphrasing utilized by translations by organized sectarian
institutions described in the Introduction. This was not intentional. Rather,
the intention is to offer the clearest and truest English language within the
context and the situation prevailing at the time when Jesus walked the earth.<br/><br/>
Examples
of this include out-of-context translations of the Greek words υἱός (huios) and
πατήρ (patēr). Among sectarian versions we find these translated literally
without a valid context to “son” and “father” despite in some verses, to
“subject” or “people” or “master” – but only when “son” or “father” could not
possibly fit. The unfettered insistence upon "son" and
"father" has created serious misunderstandings regarding Jesus'
teachings about the Supreme Being.<br/><br/>
Certainly,
a literal translation is appropriate when these two words discuss the case of a
physical son and father: A male physical body born from the semen of a male
physical body, respectively.<br/><br/>
Yet
outside of this restricted sense, we find that the Greek and Hebrew languages –
as does English and many other languages – refer to other, more sublime
relationships with these very same words. For example, we find that the ancient
Greek language utilized these words considerably within a learning context,
describing nonfamilial relationships between a teacher (πατήρ (patēr)) and a
student or dedicated follower (υἱός (huios)).<br/><br/>
Indeed,
as discussed in the End Notes (linked text for the web), this latter
word has also been utilized with respect to someone who is not only a dedicated
follower, but a representative of whom is being followed.<br/><br/>
With
regard to ‘Father,” we also find that as the original words spoken by Jesus and
those around him – utilizing a combination of Aramaic and Hebrew – were
transliterated into Greek conceptualism.<br/><br/>
When the
word πατήρ (patēr) is traced back to the certain roots of Jesus within the
Teachings of the Prophets, we find the Hebrew word, יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah) –
referring to our Creator and LORD, the Supreme Being.<br/><br/>
To
propose through translation that Jesus spoke of a different Creator – with a
new name, “Father” – is short-sighted. As we see clear evidence by Jesus’ many
quotes of the Prophets such as Moses, David, Isaiah and others, we can conclude
that Jesus was not introducing a new God or a new Name of God: He was carrying
on the Teachings of those Prophets who taught before him, and describing the
Supreme Being who was also worshiped by those Prophets.<br/><br/>
This is
evidenced by the fact that Jesus often taught within the synagogue or on temple
grounds – and many of his Teachings quoted these Prophets. In addition, we find
Jesus was often called “rabbi” or <i>“rabboni”</i>
– both titles being given to a teacher that professed the Teachings of the
Prophets.<br/><br/>
These
points confirm that Jesus also utilized the same references for the Supreme
Being – those of Yahweh – Creator – LORD – God. (See Endnotes for more
specifics.)<br/><br/>
To
conclude that Jesus departed from the terminology utilized by the Prophets
before him is to attempt to separate the Teachings of Jesus from the Teachings
of the Prophets. This is despite the many quotes of the Prophets that Jesus
included in his Teachings.<br/><br/>
Instead,
we find the Roman Latin versions of the Bible appear to weaken Jesus’ roots in
the Teachings of the Prophets, with dialogue that makes it appear as though the
Teachings of the Prophets were simply intended to predict Jesus’ arrival and
persecution.<br/><br/>
This
translation work seeks to offer a more clear and pure translation of Jesus’
Teachings to his followers. This translation is derived from original texts as
possible, within the true historical and religious context of the times, in an
attempt to portray an accurate record of Jesus’ Teachings as narrated by his
early followers.<br/><br/>
It
should be added that no political leaning towards any sectarian thesis was
utilized or attempted in this translation. The author has no allegiances to any
sectarian institution or political organization.<br/><br/>
This
text contains numbered footnotes and linked endnotes throughout to offer
explanations for some of the key translations of critical words and phrases.
These are typically linked in the first instance in each chapter. Beyond the
first usage, it is assumed the reader can refer back to its earlier use. Usages
noted in the earlier parts of the text are assumed without noting later in the
text.<br/><br/>
This
text contains numbered footnotes and linked endnotes throughout to offer
explanations for some of the key translations of critical words and phrases.
These are typically linked in the first instance in each chapter. Beyond the
first usage, it is assumed the reader can refer back to an earlier use. Usages
noted in the initial Canon texts are assumed in later texts without noting.<br/><br/>
The
serious reader should find a rather surprising awakening to the Teachings of
Jesus. The translation reveals refreshingly practical yet sublime wisdom spoken
by Jesus to his students. One that can reach the depths of the heart.<br/><br/>
This
publication may be updated from time to time when grammatical or translation
errors are found. Error notification is always welcome.<br/><br/>
Thank you for taking
the time to study these Scriptures. </p>
<p class="intro"> </p> <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2015/07/gospel-of-matthew-chapter-one.html">Gospel of Matthew</a></h4><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-74440909630276867052017-06-16T15:13:00.002-07:002021-04-10T16:00:49.834-07:00The Revelation of Peter (Apocalypse of Peter)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bRGntkTHxs/WURUvWeGq0I/AAAAAAAAA4w/zVy5_r2SiLUbvB806M-FcNg174uvqikfACLcBGAs/s1600/Nag%2BHammadi%2BCodex%2BVII%2BPage%2B84.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nag Hammadi Codex VII Pages 84 and 45" border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="246" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_bRGntkTHxs/WURUvWeGq0I/AAAAAAAAA4w/zVy5_r2SiLUbvB806M-FcNg174uvqikfACLcBGAs/s1600/Nag%2BHammadi%2BCodex%2BVII%2BPage%2B84.jpg" title="Revelation of Peter Nag Hammadi Codex VII" /></a><br />
<i>The Revelation of Peter is a Lost Gospel Nag Hammadi Scripture text (Codex VII) also entitled by some as the Apocalypse of Peter. It is considered a lost gospel because it was only found in 1945 in the desert near Nag Hammadi, Egypt. This differs from a different text also entitled Apocalypse of Peter that was found in Upper Egypt in 1886. <br />
<br />
The Revelation of Peter contains a direct conversation between Jesus and Peter. This lost Gospel text is thought to have been written in the late 1st Century or early 2nd Century, as were many other Nag Hammadi texts. Below is an English translation.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Revelation of Peter</h3><br />
1. It was three hundred years after the completion of the covenant of the tenth column. The Savior sat in the temple, being completely fulfilled with the eternal nature of the Supreme Being.<br />
<br />
2. He told me, “Peter, blessed are those who serve the LORD, for they are greater than the heavens. Through me, He revealed life to those who live here.<br />
<br />
3. “Then I advised those who have a strong foundation to hear my teachings regarding the difference between devotion and the negligence of scripture.<br />
<br />
4. “This arises from the pinnacle of teachings that maintain the Absolute Truth.<br />
<br />
5. “Those people were enlightened by the kindness of one who was hunted down by the institutions. But they didn’t find him, nor was he mentioned among any of the lineages of prophets.<br />
<br />
6. “He then appeared among the like-minded people as the Servant of Humanity, greatly exalted in the heavens.<br />
<br />
7. “Yet you, Peter, have become perfect on account of your relationship with me – the one who chose you. For as indicated by your name, I have formed a foundation for the vestige of whom I called to knowledge.<br />
<br />
8. “Therefore, be strong until the semblance of devotion [text missing] by the one who initially called you. He called you to come to know Him in a practical way. Because the persecution happened to the flesh of his hands and feet. And the crowning by those of the material world against the radiance of his being, which they delivered for the reward of honor, as he admonished you three times that night.”<br />
<br />
9. Then as he said this, I saw the priests and the people running towards us with stones, as if they would kill us. I feared we were going to die.<br />
<br />
10. Then he told me, “Peter, I have said to you many times that they are blind, and have no guidance.<br />
<br />
11. “If you want to understand their blindness, cover your eyes with your hands and robe, and tell me what you see.”<br />
<br />
12. Yet when I had done this, I didn’t see anything. I said, “No one can see this way.”<br />
<br />
13. Then he told me, “Do it again.”<br />
<br />
14. Then within me came reverence with joy, because I saw a new light greater than the daylight. The light then descended upon the Savior.<br />
<br />
15. Then I told him what I saw. He instructed me again, “Put your hands to your ears and hear what the priests and the people are saying.”<br />
<br />
16. Then I heard the priests as they sat with the scribes. The crowd began shouting loudly.<br />
<br />
17. After he heard me say these things, he told me, “Perk your ears and listen to what they are saying.”<br />
<br />
18. Then I listened again, “They are praising you outwardly.”<br />
<br />
19. Then after I said this, the Savior said, “I have told you they are blind and deaf.<br />
<br />
20. “Now listen to what I am saying to you privately, and remember it. Don’t tell this to the people of this society. For in this society they will blaspheme you due to their being in ignorance. Yet if they were aware, they would glorify you.<br />
<br />
21. “For there are many who accept our teachings from the beginning. Then they will turn from the error of their ways by doing the will of the LORD because they want to please Him.<br />
<br />
22. “Then in His wisdom, He will reveal them to be the servants of the Teaching.<br />
<br />
23. “Yet those who become entwined with them will become their captives because they do not see. Then the innocent pure person will be turned over to the merchant of death and the sanctuary of those who glorify the anointed of a future restoration. And they will glorify those who propagate lies, and they will chase you.<br />
<br />
24. “Then they will attach themselves to the account of a dead man in hopes of becoming purified.<br />
<br />
25. “Yet they will become overwhelmingly polluted. They will fall on account of their misdeeds into the embrace of a wicked cheating man with a stifling dogma. And they will follow without scripture.<br />
<br />
26. “For some of them will denounce the Truth and put forth a wicked teaching. Then they will say wicked things about each other.<br />
<br />
27. “Some will be accounted for by those who take refuge in the rulers – of a man and naked woman of many forms and varieties of suffering.<br />
<br />
28. “And those who speak about these things will inquire about dreams. Then if they say a dream came from the wicked to accommodate their misdeeds, they will receive affliction instead of virtue.<br />
<br />
29. “For wickedness cannot produce good fruit. Because what is produced is like its source. Not every soul is of the truth nor of immortality.<br />
<br />
30. “For every soul in this society has, in our perspective, been ordained to die because it is enslaved eternally, as such a soul was created to serve its own desires. These souls are destined for the eternal destruction from which they have come. They love the material creatures that arose with them.<br />
<br />
31. “Yet Peter, the immortal souls are not like them. But certainly, until the time of death comes, the immortal will resemble the mortal. Yet it won’t reveal its immortal nature, being focused upon immortality, and with faith, wanting to reject these things.”<br />
<br />
32. “Because a wise person knows that one can’t harvest figs from thorn bushes, nor grapes from thistles. A thing will always remain in the state from which it comes. Something in an abominable state will become destructive for the soul – resulting in death.<br />
<br />
33. “Yet one who takes shelter in the Eternal One who is the Source of Life and the Tree of Immortality will become like that.<br />
<br />
34. “Thus, everything that exists won’t dissolve into something that doesn’t exist. For the deaf and the blind will join their own kind.<br />
<br />
35. “The others can depart from wicked words and secrets that mislead. Those who do not know the secrets will speak of what they don’t know. Yet they will brag that the secret of Truth is solely theirs.<br />
<br />
36. “Then in their arrogance, they will embrace pride, pledging their enviousness of the immortal soul. For every authority, principality and ruler over many lifetimes seeks to join them within the dimension of the material world.<br />
<br />
37. “As such, those who don’t will be forgotten by those that do. This is so they might glorify the demigods who are not saved and have forgotten who they are. Nor have they been guided on the path in hopes they will become immortal.<br />
<br />
38. “For if the immortal soul is guided by speculative thought, they will immediately be accompanied by those who mislead others.<br />
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39. “Many others who oppose Truth, being messengers of wrongdoing, establish their misdeeds and rules against my pure contemplations. As if they can only see from a single understanding, that devotion and wickedness originate with the same thing.<br />
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40. “They conduct business with my Teaching. For they will create harsh consequences.<br />
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41. “A generation of immortal souls will come and go in vain, until my appearance. For they will surely remain with them.<br />
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42. “Because I have forgiven them of the transgressions into which they have fallen due to their adversaries. And I have restored them from their slavery in order to give them freedom.<br />
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43. “Some will follow by imitating the remains on the account of the dead man Hermes, the confidant of wickedness, so that the illumination that exists won’t be trusted by those who are humble.<br />
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44. “Those of this kind will be laborers who will be cast into the depths of darkness, away from the servants of illumination. For they will neither enter nor will they permit the deliverance of those who enter.<br />
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45. “There are still others who believe they will achieve perfect wisdom regarding the assembly of spiritual fellowship between those with a bond of worship. Through these, the eternal bonds are revealed.<br />
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46. “This will also reflect in the appearance of a sorority, whose members oppress their brothers as they say, ‘This will bring God’s mercy, since deliverance is achieved through this.’ They do not know the consequences of their rejoicing as they watched the humble ones being imprisoned.<br />
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47. “Then there are others who are outside of our fold who call themselves bishops and deacons – as if they received authority from God – yet they bow down before the mandate of the leaders. These people are barren conduits.”<br />
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48. Then I said, “I fear that because of what you have told me, certainly the humble are, in our perspective, fakes. After all, there are many who will mislead many others around them and ruin them as they do themselves. Yet when they speak in your name they are believed.”<br />
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49. The Savior replied, “For a specified period determined by the proportion of their misdeeds, the humble will be ruled over. But once their misdeeds have been concluded, the eternal soul of immortal knowledge will be renewed and they will rule over those who ruled them.<br />
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50. “He will pull out the root of their wrongdoing and will repudiate it in order that it will be exposed for all of its arrogance. These ones will never change, Peter.<br />
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51. “Therefore, come on and let us continue to fulfill what pleases the trustworthy LORD. Just consider that those who bring injustice will only humiliate themselves. They can’t touch me.<br />
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52. “Peter, you will remain in their midst. But though you are apprehensive, don’t be afraid. They have lost their knowledge because the Unseen One is against them.”<br />
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53. When he finished saying this, I thought I saw him being arrested by them. Then I said, “What am I seeing, Master? Is this you whom they are seizing, and are you holding on to me? And who is the one laughing joyfully up on the tree? Is this someone else whose feet and hands they hammer?”<br />
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54. The Savior replied, “The one you saw up on the tree, happy and laughing, is the living Jesus. But the one whose hands and feet they drive nails into is his fleshy component – a surrogate becoming humiliated, which became manifest in his likeness. Now look at him and see me.”<br />
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55. Then when I looked, I said, “Master, no one is watching. Let’s get out of here.”<br />
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56. Yet he replied to me, “I told you to forget about them, because they are blind, and as you see, they don’t realize what they are saying. For they have humiliated the subject of their own fame instead of my servant.”<br />
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57. Then I saw someone approaching us who looked like the one who was laughing on the tree. He was imbued with the Holy Spirit and the Savior. Then there appeared a great, transcendent light around them together with a legion of unseen transcendent angels who blessed them. Then I looked at him, and he who glorifies was revealed.<br />
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58. Then he told me, “Stay strong, for to you has been given the knowledge of these mysteries, seen through revelation: About the one whom they crucified, the intimate one; about the abode of the wicked, and the vessel of stone they dwell in; about Elohim; about the tree – which are within the scripture.<br />
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59. “Yet one who stands with Him is the living Savior, intimately His – whom they arrested but was set free – who remains happy as he sees those who assaulted him are divided among themselves.<br />
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60. “He is laughing at their lack of understanding, knowing they were born blind.<br />
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61. “That which has the capacity to suffer must remain, because the body is the surrogate. Yet it is my spiritual body that was set free. I am the wise spirit full of illumination. The One you saw approaching is the Complete Wisdom, which is linked with the perfect illumination of my Holy Spirit.<br />
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62. “You will present this understanding you have perceived to another people in a different lifetime. Because there is no glory to a person who is not eternal, but only those who were selected from that which is eternal, after showing they accept the One who gives in abundance.<br />
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63. “This is why I said, ‘Every person who receives will be given more, and they will receive in abundance. But the one who doesn’t receive – that is, a person of this world who is effectively dead, being derived from the planting of the seed and becoming born, who, if a person from the immortal realm appears, they think they own him – it will be taken away from them and given to the one who does.<br />
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64. Therefore, be of courage and don’t be afraid. For I will be with you so that none of your enemies will prevail over you. May peace be upon you – Be strong!”<br />
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65. After he spoke these words, I returned to my senses.<br />
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The Revelation of Peter<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-86208783462731620182017-05-26T14:56:00.000-07:002020-06-22T16:23:24.995-07:00The Treatise on Resurrection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>This ancient lost Gospel text was found among the Nag Hammadi manuscripts buried in Egypt over 1,600 years ago. This manuscript has also been titled, "The Letter to Rheginus." It is considered to have been written in the early Second Century by an early follower of Jesus. This translation is from Nag Hammadi Codex I, Pages 47-50.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4d-2EdtgFgg/WSieLloR9pI/AAAAAAAAA3E/dVCf80SYC2UeFLdc4JMxcb_AfIMG0lhHwCLcB/s1600/Codex%2BI%2Bpage_46%2Btreatise%2Bon%2Bresurrection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Papyrus Nag Hammadi Codex I Treatise on Resurrection " border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4d-2EdtgFgg/WSieLloR9pI/AAAAAAAAA3E/dVCf80SYC2UeFLdc4JMxcb_AfIMG0lhHwCLcB/s1600/Codex%2BI%2Bpage_46%2Btreatise%2Bon%2Bresurrection.jpg" title="Codex I Page 46 Treatise on Resurrection" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nag Hammadi Codex I Treatise on Resurrection </td></tr>
</tbody></table>To listen:<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TdbJQGkI2DI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Treatise on Resurrection</h3><br />
1. My son Rheginos, there are some who want to learn a great deal. This is their goal as they try to answer unanswered questions. Should they accomplish this, they often think highly of themselves.<br />
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2. Yet I understand they have not relied upon the doctrine of Truth. Rather, they rely upon themselves. Our reliance is received from our Savior, our Master the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]. We received this as we understood the Truth and took shelter within it.<br />
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3. Since you have asked nicely about the meaning of resurrection, I am writing you about this. Know surely that many do not believe it, and only a few will find it. So let’s discuss this matter.<br />
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4. How did the Master teach things while within the body, after he revealed himself to be the Representative of God? He lived in that place you dwell, teaching about the natural law – which I would call dying.<br />
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5. Rheginos, the Representative of God was the Servant of Humanity. He embraced both, possessing humanity and divinity. This enabled him to eliminate death by virtue of being God’s representative, as well as restore our spiritual nature as the Servant of Humanity.<br />
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6. This is due to his originating from the seed of Truth from above, prior to this material dimension becoming manifested with all its rulers and demigods.<br />
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7. I understand that I present this clarification with challenging terminology, but there is nothing challenging about the doctrine of Truth. For this clarification is meant to not leave anything hidden, but to reveal everything openly regarding reality: The elimination of wickedness and the revelation of the anointed. Thus is the revealing of Truth and spirit, and the Grace of Truth.<br />
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8. The Savior consumed death. You may not be aware of this, for he put aside the temporary world. He transformed himself into an eternal spirit-person and raised himself up. He had consumed the seen via the unseen, and showed us the path to our immortality.<br />
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9. Just as the disciple stated about him: <i>We suffered with him, and rose with him, and we went to heaven with him.</i><br />
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10. Since we are manifested within this world, we wear the worldly covering. Should we radiate from Him, we will be embraced by Him until our sunset – that is our death in this life. We are taken to heaven by Him, like sunbeams restrained by nothing. Such is the spiritual resurrection, which consumes the mind just as it does the body.<br />
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11. Yet someone who does not believe this will not be persuaded. Because, my son, one’s rise after the time of death belongs in the realm of faith – not in the realm of debate.<br />
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12. Among all the philosophers of the world there may be one who believes. And he, at least, will rise. But we must not let the worldly philosopher who speculates from himself affect our faith. For we have understood the Servant of Humanity and we believe that he rose from the dead body. It is of him we say that he eliminated death, and those who trust him are blessed.<br />
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13. The thoughts of the saved and the souls of those who know Him will never die. Thus we choose salvation and renewal because we have been allowed not to fall for the folly of those who do not know. Instead, we are guided into the wisdom by those who know the Truth.<br />
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14. Certainly, the Truth that is held fast cannot be, nor ever has been lost. This is the strength of the spiritual realm. What disengaged and became material is tiny. But great is He who envelops everything. He exists without becoming manifest.<br />
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15. So, my son Rheginos – never question the reality of resurrection. For you are not the body – you only received the body when you entered this world.<br />
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16. Why will you not receive a body when you rise up to the spiritual realm? Because what produces life within the body is greater than the body. Is this not yours – which exists on your account? Doesn’t what is yours live within? What is it that you are missing when you are within this world? It is that which you have been learning about.<br />
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17. After the birth of the body comes old age, while you are being cloaked. Your absence is for your benefit, because if you leave, you won’t give up that which is superior. What is worse is restricted, yet within it lies mercy.<br />
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18. Thus nothing discharges us from this world – only through the Absolute do we become saved. Our received redemption is infinite. We can think of it as it is, and understand it as it is.<br />
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19. Yet by their questioning about this, some think that one who is saved is only saved when they leave their body. But there is no doubt about this [missing text]. Indeed, the material parts of them, which die, will not be saved. Only the living element that exists within them will rise.<br />
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20. So what is the resurrection then? It is the eternal enlightenment of those who have risen. If you recall reading in the Scriptures that Elijah and Moses appeared together, you can understand that resurrection is not an illusion. It is not illusion, but it is reality.<br />
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21. Certainly it is more accurate to say the world is an illusion. This contrasts with the resurrection that takes place through our Master the Savior, Jesus the Anointed of God.<br />
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22. Yet I am telling you now that those who live will die. How else can they live within illusion? The wealthy are empty and the leaders are corrupt. Everything is temporary. The world is an illusion.<br />
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23. Certainly I am being critical. Yet the resurrection doesn’t have these characteristics. Because it is the Truth that remains firm. It is the revealing of reality, the metamorphosis of nature, and the permutation to the beginning.<br />
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24. For immortality descends upon the mortal. The radiance floods the darkness, consuming it. And the spiritual realm fills up the emptiness. These are the signs and appearances of the resurrection. It is He who brings goodness.<br />
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25. Do not ponder with speculation, Oh Rheginos. Nor conform to living in the body for the sake of uniformity. Rather, depart from the rife and the shackles, and then you can achieve the resurrection.<br />
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26. For if one knows that his mortal component will die, even if he has spent many years within this body, he may be considered risen already.<br />
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27. Once you have achieved the resurrection yet continue as if you will die, despite knowing that the body dies, then should I be patient with you?<br />
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28. It is necessary for one to practice in different ways in order to be released from matter, so that he doesn’t fall into wrongdoing, but sees himself embracing his original nature.<br />
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29. I have received these things by the mercy of my Master, Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]. I have taught this to you and your brothers and sisters – my children. I have considered them, yet I have not left out anything that could strengthen you.<br />
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30. However, if anything in this written discourse confounds you, just ask and I will clarify it. At the same time, don’t hesitate to share this with anyone around you when it can be helpful.<br />
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31. There are many who seek what I have written you about. To these I say, peace and mercy be upon them.<br />
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32. My greetings to you and those who care for you – with love, your brother.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/06/the-revelation-of-peter.html">Revelation of Peter</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-47813047766337305792017-03-18T15:19:00.001-07:002020-06-22T16:23:51.940-07:00The Authoritative Teaching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><i>The Authoritative Teaching is a Nag Hammadi lost Gospel (Codex VI) found buried in Egypt in 1945. It was likely written in the first or second century AD. The discourse reflects early Christian teachings eventually banned by the Romans following the creation of the Roman Catholic sect. This text also includes some parables utilized by Jesus in his teachings. The Authoritative Teaching also explains the origin of the entity Jesus often referred to as the "soul."</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_F8bYju4WHw/WM2wE0BgYaI/AAAAAAAAAtE/4vxfZK9KVuAGHW25pmqckS1TAdgN263agCLcB/s1600/Nag%2BHammadi%2BCodex%2BVI%2Bpage%2B27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_F8bYju4WHw/WM2wE0BgYaI/AAAAAAAAAtE/4vxfZK9KVuAGHW25pmqckS1TAdgN263agCLcB/s320/Nag%2BHammadi%2BCodex%2BVI%2Bpage%2B27.jpg" title="Nag Hammadi Codex VI page 27" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Authoritative Teaching</h3>1. [missing text] from the spiritual realm [missing text] through Him [missing text] everyone is manifest [missing text] the shrouded realms [missing text] are manifested prior to the manifestation of the unseen, mysterious universes.<br />
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2. The imperceptible soul of virtue was manifested from these. She was a companion, family member and fellow spirit of the community.<br />
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3. Whether fallen or within the spiritual realm, she is neither separated from them. Yet they see her, and she sees them through the unseen teachings.<br />
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4. Her Lord secretly provided the teachings to her, as one would feed the mouth with food. Like a medicine, He applied it to her eyes to help her see with her mind.<br />
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5. This allowed her to perceive her community and her heritage, so that she might remain on that branch from which she was manifest, in order to receive her inheritance and denounce materialism.<br />
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6. [missing text] He dwelled [missing text] having [missing text] dedicated followers. These followers [missing text] those who were truly born from Him call the servants of their Lord their companions.<br />
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7. But when the spiritual soul was cast within the physical body, she became a companion of lust, hatred and enviousness, and the materialistic mind.<br />
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8. Thus the physical body manifested through lust, and lust manifested from materialism. It is for this reason that the soul became their companion.<br />
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9. But they are outcasts, having no authority coming from the Creator. Their inheritance comes only from their mother.<br />
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10. Thus, when the soul desires to gain from the outcasts, what is received from the outcasts become pride, passion, sensual pleasures, hatred, enviousness, vanity and nonsense.<br />
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11. After allegations of [missing text] impropriety, He banned her and sent her to the den of iniquity. Because [missing text] her debauchery, she abandoned modesty, and now she faces life and death. Of these two, everyone makes their own choices.<br />
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12. One might then descend into alcoholism and depravity. For drink is the depraver. Because pleasure and attractive rewards deceive her, she forgets her Creator and family members.<br />
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13. After leaving behind knowledge, she falls into animal life. For a senseless person lives as an animal, not understanding what is appropriate.<br />
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14. Yet regardless, the gentle follower will joyfully inherit from the Creator, and the Creator rejoices over such a follower because He is honored on their behalf by the multitudes.<br />
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15. The follower seeks to multiply those things that have been given. Because the outcasts [missing text] combine through the [missing text].<br />
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16. For when thoughts of lust enter a pure person, that person becomes contaminated. Then their greed can’t be moderated.<br />
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17. When chaff is mixed with wheat, the chaff is not contaminated – the wheat is. When they are blended together, no one will buy this wheat because it is contaminated.<br />
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18. Yet they will still plead to give them the chaff. As they see the wheat blended into it, they will cast it out with the rest of the chaff. Then they will toss it out with all the rest of the chaff, mixing chaff with everything else.<br />
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19. But a pure seed is kept in storehouses that are secure. We have spoken about all these things.<br />
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20. The Creator alone lived prior to anything becoming manifest. This was before the universes were created and before the material world was manifest.<br />
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21. And before the manifestation of the demigods and their authority. [missing text] manifest [missing text] and [missing text]. Thus, nothing existed without His intention.<br />
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22. The Creator wished to reveal his opulence and His glory. So He created a great competition within this material universe.<br />
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23. He manifested the competitors, and arranged for the competitors to appear in the world and then lose those things that appeared, and despise those things by developing superior imperceptive wisdom allowing an escape to the Living One.<br />
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24. Regarding those who compete with us as adversaries: Through our wisdom we become the victors over their ignorance, since we already know the Unfathomable One who created us.<br />
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25. In this world we have nothing except the authority manifest to us by the universe, This includes those for which materialistic death occurs, revolving around individual [missing text] materialism.<br />
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26. We have indeed been troubled by the material world, although we are not interested in them blaming us. We ignore them as they blaspheme us. When they point their blame at us, we see them but do not speak.<br />
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27. For while they endeavor in their occupations, we are met with hunger, thirst and gaining refuge – that place where our actions and consciousness seek – not hanging onto the temporary things, but withdrawing from them.<br />
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28. Our hearts are fixed upon things that exist, though we are afflicted, weak, sore. Yet hiding within us is great power.<br />
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29. Our soul is afflicted because she resides within a house of destitution. Materialism smacks her eyes, wanting to blind her.<br />
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30. So she seeks the doctrine and like a medicine, applies it to her eyes to cast away [missing text] thinking with [missing text] blindness within [missing text]. Once she is again in ignorance, it is totally dark and materialistic.<br />
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31. Then the soul [missing text] the doctrine hourly, like medicine, applying it to her eyes so she can see. Then her radiance can overshadow the malicious forces she struggles with, and she can blind them with her light, overwhelm them with her presence, and make them stumble from restlessness. She might act potently with her rod, authority and scepter.<br />
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32. She flees to her place of treasure, within her mind, as her adversaries watch with disappointment. Her compartment seems secure, since nothing has appeared to capture her.<br />
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33. Neither has she taken a stranger into her place. For many who surround her battle her day and night – taking no rest at any time due to the shackles of their desires.<br />
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34. It is for this reason that we don’t sleep or forget the unseen nets laid out waiting to be caught in.<br />
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35. For if we are caught in a single net, it will draw us down into its mouth, while the water rises above us and washes over our face.<br />
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36. Then we will be drawn down into the dragnet and be caught within it, due to the high waters that flow over us downward from above, drowning our hearts within the dirty mud.<br />
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37. And we won’t be able to escape from them, because flesh-eaters will grab us and swallow us, enjoying themselves like fishermen casting hooks into the water.<br />
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38. For he casts different types of food in the water because each fish has its own food. After sniffing it and pursuing the scent, he bites.<br />
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39. But the hook hidden within the bait snatches him and jerks him up forcefully from the deep waters. Catching that fish within the deep waters cannot be done except through the guise of the bait on the hook.<br />
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40. It is like this fish that we live in this material world. The adversary watches us and lies in wait like the fisherman, wanting to seize us, to enjoy swallowing us.<br />
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41. Thus he manifests different foods before our eyes – the things of this material world. He wants to have us desire one of them and have a little taste, so he can ensnare us with his hidden poison and take us from freedom into slavery.<br />
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42. For when he ever catches us with a single food, this will make us desire the rest. Lastly, these things turn into the food of death.<br />
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43. These are the kinds of foods the adversary uses to lie in wait for us:<br />
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44. First he sends a little pain into your heart, causing heartache about a trivial thing. Then he ensnares you with his poison.<br />
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45. After this come the desires of the body, bringing pride and with it, the love of money, self-centeredness, enviousness of others, pretentiousness, and the worst of these, ignorance and laziness.<br />
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46. All these things are appealingly prepared by the adversary and dispersed through the body.<br />
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47. These intend to draw the soul’s mind toward one of them and overcome her just as the hook – to pull her forcefully into ignorance.<br />
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48. This deludes her until she embraces evil and brings forth the fruits of materialism, and acts with wretchedness in the pursuit of a myriad of desires and self-centeredness, being seduced by the pleasures of the body.<br />
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49. Yet the soul who has tasted these things may realize these attractive passions are fleeting. She has learned about wickedness.<br />
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50. But she escaped them and had a change of heart. Subsequently, she comes to despise that existence because it is fleeting.<br />
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51. Then she searches for the foods that will bring her life, leaving behind those illusory foods.<br />
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52. Then she learns about her illumination as she removes this material world from herself.<br />
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53. Meanwhile, her true form clothes her from within, her matrimonial clothing is placed upon her with the beauty of the spirit, rather than the pride of the flesh.<br />
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54. Then she learns about the depth of her existence and becomes part of her fold, as her shepherd stands in the doorway.<br />
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55. In return for the shame and scorn she received in the material world, she receives ten thousand times the mercy and joy.<br />
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56. She left the body to those who gave it to her, and they were ashamed.<br />
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57. Meanwhile, the merchants of the body sat down and cried, for they could not render business with that body. Nor could they find any stock outside of it.<br />
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58. They had worked hard to shape the body of this soul, intending to eliminate the unseen soul.<br />
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59. As a result, they were ashamed of their efforts. They suffered, losing the one for whom they had worked.<br />
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60. They did not realize that she has an invisible spiritual body. They thought, ‘We are her shepherd who provides for her.’<br />
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61. Yet they didn’t realize she knew another path – one that is hidden from them. This is what the true shepherd had taught her through knowledge.<br />
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62. But these ignorant ones do not seek God. They also don’t seek their home – their place of refuge.<br />
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63. Instead, they live like animals. Their wickedness exceeds the pagans.<br />
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64. First of all, they don’t seek God. Their hard hearts drag them down into their ruthlessness.<br />
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65. Indeed, if they discover a person seeking salvation, their hard heart begins to work on that person.<br />
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66. And if the person doesn’t stop their search, they ruthlessly murder him and think they have done the right thing.<br />
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67. Certainly they are followers of the adversary. Because even pagans will be charitable.<br />
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68. And ultimately they know God exists in the spiritual realm – ruling over the idols they worship. They just haven’t heard the teachings so they could seek His path.<br />
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69. Therefore, the irrational person hears the call but ignores the place they are being called to.<br />
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70. That person does not ask when hearing the teaching: ‘Where is the temple within which I should worship and practice my faith?<br />
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71. Due to his irrationality, this person is actually worse than a pagan. Because the pagans understand the path to their stone temple – which will be destroyed.<br />
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72. They worship the idol their hearts are set on because they have faith.<br />
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73. But the irrational person, to whom the teachings have taught, ‘Seek and investigate the paths you should take, because there is nothing better than this.’<br />
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74. In the end, what makes the heart hard impacts the spirit, together with the power of ignorance and the wickedness of wrong-doing.<br />
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75. These do not allow the spirit to rise up, preventing the person from working to understand what there is to learn about trusting in Him.<br />
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76. Yet the rational soul who has worked hard in her search came to know God.<br />
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77. She worked on learning and endured the body’s suffering, her feet worn from following after the teachers as she learned about the Mysterious One.<br />
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78.<br />
She discovered her rising<br />
She took shelter in Him who provides shelter.<br />
She lounged in the temple.<br />
She consumed the feast she had hungered for.<br />
She devoured the eternal food.<br />
She found what she was searching for.<br />
She took refuge from her suffering,<br />
And the light that illuminates her never sets.<br />
As it belongs to the glory<br />
And the power<br />
And the revelation<br />
For ever and ever.<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/05/the-treatise-on-resurrection.html">Treatise on Resurrection</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-4829188013993233812017-01-18T15:33:00.002-08:002020-06-22T16:23:56.073-07:00Gospel of the Ebionites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><i>The Ebionites are considered some of the earliest followers of Jesus, with roots tracing to the early Jewish-Christians called the Nazarenes. The term Ebionite is derived from the Hebrew word אביונים (ebyonim), which means “the poor,” as they maintained a vow of poverty. As referenced by early Church fathers, this Lost Gospel is thought to have been written in the First or Second Century. Excerpts of this lost Gospel have been found among seven fragments as quoted in the writings of Epiphanius. The lost Gospel text indicates that neither John nor Jesus ate meat, and Jesus did not condone animal sacrifice. Please find the English translation of the fragments of the lost Gospel of the Ebionites below:</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gospel of the Ebionites</td></tr>
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<i></i> To Listen:<br />
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<h3>The Gospel of the Ebionites</h3><b>Fragment One</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> 1. During the time of Herod, the Governor of Judea, during the reign of Chief Priest Caiaphas, John appeared and baptized with the immersion for a change of heart at the river Jordan.<br />
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2. He was considered to be in succession from the lineage of Aaron, and was the son of Elizabeth and Zacharias the priest. And everyone traveled out to see him.<br />
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<b>Fragment Two</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> 1. During the time when John was baptizing, the Pharisees approached him and were baptized – along with many from Jerusalem.<br />
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2. He wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a leather belt around his hips. And his food was wild honey prepared with oil cakes, which tasted like manna.<br />
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<b>Fragment Three</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> 1. Many people were baptized, and Jesus also came to be baptized by John. And as he came up from the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove and enter into him.<br />
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2. Then a voice from heaven was heard, “You are my beloved Representative, and I am very pleased with you.”<br />
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3. He continued, “I have given you life on this day.”<br />
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4. Then suddenly a great light began to shine onto that place. Then John saw him and said, “Who are you, Master?”<br />
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5. Then a voice from heaven was heard, “This is my beloved Representative, of whom I am very pleased.”<br />
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6. Then John fell down at his feet and said, “I beg you to baptize me, Master.”<br />
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7. But he would not. He said, “Accept this, because it is appropriate in order for everything to be achieved.”<br />
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<b>Fragment Four</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> 1. Then there was a man named Jesus. He was about thirty years old. He has chosen us.<br />
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2. Then he went to Capernaum and entered the house of Simon Peter.<br />
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3. He opened his mouth and said, “While walking by the sea of Tiberias, I recruited John and James, the sons of Zebedee, and Simon and Andrew and Thaddaeus and Simon Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot; as well as you, Matthew. When you were sitting at the taxation desk, I called and you followed me.<br />
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4. “Accordingly, it is fitting that you will be the twelve messengers that will bear witness unto Judea.”<br />
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<b>Fragment Five</b><br />
<br />
1. “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside.”<br />
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2. “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?”<br />
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3. Then he stretched out his hand towards his disciples and said, “These are my brothers, my mother and sisters – those who do the will of my Creator.”<br />
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<b>Fragment Six</b><br />
<br />
1. “I have come to abolish the sacrifices.<br />
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2. “If you don’t stop sacrificing, the suffering won’t stop weighing upon you.”<br />
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<b>Fragment Seven</b><br />
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1. “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat for the Passover?”<br />
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2. To this, he replied, “I do not want to eat the flesh of this Paschal Lamb with you.”<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/03/authoritative-teaching.html">Authoritative Teaching</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-7982086858618692452017-01-12T15:08:00.002-08:002020-06-22T16:24:01.311-07:00The Unknown Gospel <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<i>This is one of the oldest lost Gospel manuscripts found to date. It is also called the 'Egerton Gospel' due to its being part of the Egerton collection at the British Library. </i><br />
<i>The Gospel parchment has been carbon dated several times, with dates that range from the end of the first century to the mid-second century.</i><br />
<i>The contents of this lost Gospel document describes events documented separately among the four canon Gospels. It also describes an event not included in either of the four Gospels.</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eY4TNi5HgEw/WHgNWp10MtI/AAAAAAAAAos/RfqrqoHJAHgHTfI-CYuNhmf386bJrS4vACEw/s1600/Unknown%2BGospel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Egerton Gospel" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eY4TNi5HgEw/WHgNWp10MtI/AAAAAAAAAos/RfqrqoHJAHgHTfI-CYuNhmf386bJrS4vACEw/s320/Unknown%2BGospel.jpg" title="The Unknown Gospel" width="226" /></a></div><i>The parchment manuscript has been fragmented with age with many areas of missing text. Nevertheless, there is enough text here to put together four clear events along with teachings of Jesus ministry.</i><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Unknown Gospel</h3>1. [text missing] Then Jesus said to the scribes: “Penalize all criminals and thieves, but not me, because a criminal doesn’t know how and what he is doing. Why would he do this?”<br />
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2. Then he turned to the leaders of the people and spoke this teaching: “Examine the Scriptures that you believe give you life. They will bear witness to me. Don’t assume I came to denounce you to my LORD. The one who denounces you is Moses – in whom you have put your faith.”<br />
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3. Then they said: “We know that God spoke to Moses. But regarding you, we don’t know where you come from.”<br />
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4. Jesus replied, telling them, “Now denounce your distrust of those who have been authorized by Him. For if you had trusted Moses, you would have trusted me. Because he wrote your teachers about me [text missing].”<br />
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5. [text missing] and together picked up stones to stone him. Then the leaders put their hands on him to capture him to turn him over to the crowd. But they couldn’t capture him, for the time of his arrest had yet to come. So the Master slipped away from their grasp and departed from them.<br />
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6. Just then a leper came to him and said, “Master Jesus, when I was traveling with lepers and ate together with them at the inn, I also became a leper. Therefore, if you are willing, please cleanse me.”<br />
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7. Then the Master told him, “I am willing – be cleansed.”<br />
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8. Then suddenly the leprosy was gone from him. Then Jesus told him, “Go and show yourself to the priests and make an offering in thanks for your cleansing, as Moses instructed, and stop sinning [text missing]”<br />
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9. They came to him and tested him specifically, and said, “Rabbi Jesus, we know you came from God, because above all, you bear witness to the Prophets. Thus, please tell us – is it right to pay the rulers that which helps them rule? Should we pay them – or not?”<br />
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10. But Jesus perceived their purpose and was offended. He told them, “Why do you address me as teacher with your lips, yet not follow my instructions?<br />
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11. “Isaiah was right when it was spoken through him about you. He said, ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. And in vain will they worship Me, [teaching the doctrines of men] as their precepts.’”<br />
<br />
[much text missing - fragments]<br />
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12. [He asked them,] “… how does a small seed buried in a hidden place become abundant?”<br />
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13. Then as they were confused by the strange question, Jesus walked up to the bank of the River Jordan. He stopped and planted a seed on the shoreline and sprinkled water on it. A plant grew right in front of them and produced fruit with joy.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/gospel-of-ebionites.html">Gospel of the Ebonites</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-34303748459512584602017-01-04T13:58:00.002-08:002021-08-01T13:59:01.610-07:00Gospel of James the Grieving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<i>This ancient lost Gospel manuscript is part of the Nag Hammadi library (Codex V) found in the Egyptian desert. The manuscript is thought to have been originally written in the first or early second century. Other translations of this manuscript have titled it, "First Apocalypse of James." Due to there being no apocalypse contemplated in the text, this translation is aptly named.</i><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Gospel of James the Grieving</h3>1. The Master said to me, “You can see now my deliverance will be fulfilled. I gave you an indication these things would happen, my brother James. Although I call you my brother, you are not actually my brother. Also I have not been ignoring you. So when I give you an instruction, understand it and hear it.<br />
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2. “Nothing existed before Yahweh. He is indescribable and unparalleled. I am also indescribable because I am from Yahweh. I have been described differently, but from Yahweh I have received two names. As for myself, I became manifest before you.<br />
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3. “Since you have asked concerning the subordinate: The subordinate was created, but the subordinate wasn’t first. Yet from her came demigods and authorities. But she didn’t exist when I became manifest, for I was made in the image of Yahweh.<br />
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4. “Yet I have delivered His likeness in order that the followers of Yahweh would know those things that are foreign. Look, I will reveal all these confidential things to you. Because they will be arresting me the day after tomorrow. But my deliverance is almost here.”<br />
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5. James said, “Rabbi, you said, ‘they will capture me.’ But what can I do?”<br />
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6. He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, James. They will also capture you. But you should depart from Jerusalem. Because she always serves a cup of bitterness to the followers of illumination. Within her lives many authorities. But your deliverance will be protected from them.<br />
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7. “In order that you may know who and what types they are, you’ll [missing text]. Then listen. They aren’t [missing text] only authorities [missing text]. The twelve [missing text] below [missing text] authorities [missing text] upon His sage."<br />
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8. James asked, “Rabbi, then are there twelve sages and not seven as the scriptures say?”<br />
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9. The Master replied, “James, those who interpreted this scripture understood little. Nevertheless, I will disclose to you what manifested from the Boundless One. I will indicate to you their number and what has manifested from the Immeasurable One.”<br />
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10. James replied, “Look, Rabbi. I received the number: Seventy-two portions.”<br />
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11. The Master said, “These are the seventy-two universes. They are secondary. They were manifested by the great authorities. They are spread throughout, manifested under the authority of the twelve magistrates. Their lesser strength was manifested for the angels and uncountable keepers.<br />
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12. “However, Yahweh received [missing text] on the basis of [missing text] Yahweh [missing text] are numerous. If you seek to count them you will be unable unless you depart from the blindness of the shackles of the flesh that bind you. Then you will reach Yahweh. Then you’ll no longer be James. Instead, you will be Yahweh’s, and the uncountable will praise His Name.”<br />
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13. “Rabbi, how will I reach Yahweh since all those authorities and keepers oppose me?”<br />
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14. He replied, “The authorities are not opposed to you. Rather, they are opposed to each other. They are opposed to me. And they are opposed to other authorities. Yet their opinions oppose me. They give not [missing text] for me that [missing text] from them [missing text].<br />
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15. “In this place [missing text] suffering, I will [missing text]. He will [missing text] and I won’t blame them. But there will remain inside of me a silent mystery. But as to their hostility, I am humbled.”<br />
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16. James said, “Rabbi, if they are opposed to you, is there no guilt? You have appeared with knowledge so that you can remove their forgetfulness. You have appeared with remembrance, so that might remove their ignorance. Yet I am concerned for you, because you descended into a vast ignorance. Yet you have not been polluted by it, because you descended into a vast oblivion and your remembrance was maintained.<br />
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17. “You walked in dirt and your clothing was not dirtied. You weren’t covered by their filth. You were not snagged. And I wasn’t like them, yet I became clothed by them. Within me there is forgetfulness. But I recall things they do not. Within me there is [missing text] and I am within their [missing text].<br />
<br />
[multiple areas of missing text]<br />
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18. “Yet I fear them, because they are in charge. Because how can I even speak to them? What can I say to escape them?”<br />
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19. The Master replied, “James, I commend your insights and fear. While you may be troubled, be concerned only for your deliverance. Because look, I will complete my duty within this world as foretold from the spiritual realm. And to you will I reveal your deliverance.”<br />
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20. James said, “Rabbi, how will you once again appear again? Once they arrest you and you are met with this fate, you will return to Yahweh.”<br />
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21. The Master replied, “James, once these things take place, I shall disclose all this to you – not just on your behalf, but on behalf of those untrusting people. So they may have trust. For many will gain trust and will have more [missing text]. Yet afterward I will appear to rebuke the institutions.<br />
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22. “And I will show them that the self cannot be arrested. Should they try to arrest the self, they will be overpowered. But for now I depart. Remember what I taught you and allow them to precede you.”<br />
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23. James replied, “Master, I will proceed as you have instructed.”<br />
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24. The Master said goodbye to him and completed what was appropriate.<br />
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25. Once James heard of his suffering, he was grieving. Then they waited for an indication of his appearance. After a few days, he appeared. James was walking up the hill called Gaugelan with his disciples. They listened to him, for they were also grieving. And he [missing text] comforted them, and said, “Here is [missing text] second [missing text].”<br />
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26. Then the people left, but James stayed [missing text] prayer [missing text] as he often did. Then the Master appeared to him. And he stopped praying and embraced him.<br />
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27. He kissed him and said, “Rabbi, I found you! I heard about the suffering you endured and I have been grieving greatly. You know that I was grieving. Due to this, I wish to never see those people again. They should be judged for what they did. For what they did was uncalled for.”<br />
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28. The Master replied, “James, don’t worry about me or these people. I am the self within the body. I didn’t suffer at all, nor was I in distress. So these people have not harmed me.<br />
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29. “But they were present to underscore the institutions that are worthy of destruction. Yet [missing text] the institutions, [missing text] which [missing text] yet once [missing text] by anger [missing text]. The devoted [missing text] becomes His follower. This is why your name is “James the Devoted.<br />
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30. “You understand why you became serious once you saw me. Then you stopped praying. Because you are a devoted man of God, you have embraced me and kissed me. Truly I tell you, you have provoked anger and hostility about you. Yet this is so that others may be revealed.”<br />
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31. Yet James was ashamed. He wept, and was extremely sad. Then the two of them sat down on a rock.<br />
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32. The Master told him, “James – you must be subjected to persecution. But don’t be saddened. Because the flesh is weak. It must receive whatever has been determined for it. Yet as far as you are concerned, don’t be ashamed or fearful.”<br />
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33. The Master stopped. Once James heard this, he wiped away the tears from his eyes and very grievously [missing text] that is [missing text].<br />
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34. The Master told him, “Look, James, I will impart your deliverance to you. When you are arrested, and you undergo persecution, many will attack you and they will take you. More specifically, three tax collectors will take you. They not only demand tax, but they also steal souls.<br />
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35. “When you have come under their control, one of their guards will ask you, ‘Who are you and where do you come from?’ You should tell him, ‘I am a son and I come from the Father.’ He will ask you, ‘What kind of son are you, and to which father do you belong?' You are to tell him, ‘I am from the Eternal Creator – I follow the Eternal One.’<br />
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[multiple areas of missing text]<br />
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36. ‘[missing text] by foreign things?' You should tell him they are not foreign, but they are from the subordinate Achamoth. And she created these as she descended in genealogy from the Eternal One. Thus they are not foreign – they belong to us.<br />
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37. “They certainly belong to us. For she who is their partner comes from the Eternal One. Once they were foreign because the Eternal One did not support her when they were produced.<br />
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38. “When they also ask you, ‘Where will you go?’ You should tell them, ‘I will return to the place I came from.’ And if you tell them these things you shall escape their assaults.<br />
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39. “But once you come upon the three obstacles that steal souls away in that place [missing text] this. You [missing text] a vessel [missing text] greater than [missing text] by the one you [missing text] for [missing text] her foundation.<br />
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40. “You will also be serious, yet I invoke the eternal knowledge from Sophia – who is with the Father – who is the mother of Achamoth. Achamoth has neither a father or husband. Rather, she is a subordinate manifested from a subordinate. She manifested you without a husband, as she was alone. Because she considered herself alone, she ignored that which comes through her mother.<br />
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41. “Yet I call upon her mother, and when they fall into confusion, they will blame their foundation and the nature of their mother. Yet you will rise up to your destiny [missing text] you shall [missing text] the Immortal One.<br />
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42. “A reflection of the twelve messengers and twelve pairs [missing text] Achamoth. This is transmuted as ‘Sophia.’ Then I am who I am – the eternal Sophia will provide redemption for all who are followers of Yahweh. These are things they knew but were concealed inside them. You should conceal them inside you and keep quiet.<br />
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43. “But you shall disclose them to Addai. As soon as you depart, a war will break out within this region. Mourn for those who dwell in Jerusalem then. But allow Addai to understand these things. When he is ten, instruct Addai to sit and write these down. Once he writes these down [missing text] then they are to be given [missing text] he should have [missing text] he is named Levi.<br />
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44. “Then he shall deliver [missing text] teachings [missing text] about what I spoke before [missing text] a woman [missing text] Jerusalem with her [missing text] then with her he fathers two sons. They shall receive these, and the knowledge of he who [missing text] praises.<br />
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45. “Then they shall receive [missing text] through him from his mind. The greater one of them will be the youngest, and these things will stay concealed inside him until he becomes seventeen years of age [missing text] starting [missing text] with them. They will surely follow him because they come from his [missing text] associates. He shall be glorified by them and they shall profess his teachings. Then he shall become a source of [missing text].”<br />
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46. James said, “I am pleased [missing text] and these will [missing text] my soul. But I ask of you one more thing: Who are your seven women disciples? Through these, all women glorify you. I am just surprised that subordinate vessels became strengthened from the vision within them.”<br />
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47. The Master replied, “You [missing text] good [missing text] the spirit of [missing text], the spirit of intelligence, the spirit of guidance of [missing text], the spirit [missing text] the spirit of understanding [missing text] by their fear.<br />
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48. “[missing text] once we came forth through the breathing of God, named Adonai. [missing text] he and [missing text] he was unaware [missing text] when I manifested from Him he understood that I was His follower. He was kind to me, as I was His follower. But before appearing here, these were placed among this generation. And the Prophets [missing text] from the region of heaven.”<br />
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49. James said, “Rabbi, [missing text] I [missing text] everything [missing text] within them notably [missing text].”<br />
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50. The Master replied, “James, I am honoring you [missing text] travel the world [missing text] the teachings as He [missing text] upon [missing text]. Now discard the vessel of suffering. Because there will be some from [missing text] will stand against you. Because you have started to understand what is the beginning and the end of their foundation.<br />
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51. “Step away from disobedience. And be careful, as they are jealous of you. When you teach the doctrine of awareness, entrust the four – Salome, Mary, Martha and Arsinoe [missing text] since he draws some [missing text] to me he is [missing text] devotional offerings and [missing text]. Yet I [missing text] not of this manner, but [missing text] first fruits from the [missing text] on high [missing text] in order that the omniscience of God may be revealed. The mortal as risen to the eternal and the inferior element has accomplished the superior element.”<br />
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52. James said, “Rabbi, then within these three, into these three have their [missing text] been discarded? Because they were repulsed and persecuted [missing text]. Look, [missing text] everything [missing text] from everyone [missing text]. Because you were given [missing text] knowledge. And [missing text] that what is the [missing text] go [missing text] you will discover [missing text]. But I will go out and reveal their trust in you, so they become fulfilled with their praising and deliverance. Thus, this revelation may occur.”<br />
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53. Then he immediately departed and chastised the twelve and discarded their contentment with regards to the path of knowledge [missing text].<br />
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54. [missing text]. Then most of them [missing text] once they understood, the messenger brought in [missing text]. Some others [missing text] said, “[missing text] him from this world. For he is unworthy of living.” Then they became fearful. They got up and said, “We don’t have responsibility for this blood, for an honorable man can die because of dishonor. “<br />
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55. James left in order to [missing text] understand [missing text] because we [missing text] him.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/the-unknown-gospel.html">Unknown Gospel</a></h3></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-56726868953066461892016-12-09T14:29:00.000-08:002023-12-16T18:51:35.358-08:00Dialogue of the Savior<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<i>This ancient lost Gospel text was found among the Nag Hammadi library discovered in the desert of Egypt. The text is thought to have been written in the middle to late First Century. Multiple missing sections of the manuscript are balanced by a significant amount of legible text. </i><br />
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</i> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77haVLzeGac/WHlNqUlEoMI/AAAAAAAAApI/CywdXrcmh5gNOcwDza7dlWzGK-0HaNkKQCLcB/s1600/Dialogue_of_the_Savior.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nag Hammadi manuscript Dialogue of the Savior" border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77haVLzeGac/WHlNqUlEoMI/AAAAAAAAApI/CywdXrcmh5gNOcwDza7dlWzGK-0HaNkKQCLcB/s200/Dialogue_of_the_Savior.jpg" title="Dialogue of the Savior" width="160" /></a></div><i><b><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>The Dialogue of the Savior</b></h3><br />
1. The Savior said to his students, “Brothers, the time has now come for us to forego our labor and seek refuge. Because one who seeks refuge will have eternal sanctuary. I am thus telling you, remain transcendent [multiple sections of missing text]<br />
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2. “[missing text] they accepted the teachings with reverence and fear. The authorities were set up and from this came nothing. But when I appeared, I revealed the path. I taught the chosen and solitary ones about the path – those who have come to know the Creator, having trusted in the Truth and every glorification of the prayer offerings.<br />
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3. “Thus when you offer your prayers, do it like this: ‘Hear us, Creator, just as you heard your intimate servant and accepted him, and provided him refuge from everything [missing text]. You are the Almighty One [missing text]. You are the knowledge and the serenity for the lonely. Please listen to us as you listen to Your chosen. By their offerings to You, they will return. Through their devoted activities, they have saved their souls from the limbs of ignorance in order to live eternally. Amen.’<br />
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4. “I will teach you. When the time of death comes, you will initially be met with darkness. Don’t be afraid and say, ‘Look out, the time has come.’ Rather, when you see…<br />
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5. Truly, fear provides power [missing text]. Thus by being afraid of what is happening to you, it will swallow you up. Because no one among them will release you or show you mercy.<br />
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6. Matthew said, “How [missing text]?”<br />
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7. The Savior said “[missing text] the things inside you [missing text] will remain, you [missing text].”<br />
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8. Judas asked, “Master [missing text] the activities [missing text] these souls, these [missing text] these humble ones, when [missing text] where will they be? [missing text] the spirit [missing text]?”<br />
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9. The Master said, “[missing text] receive them. They will not die. [missing text] they won’t be harmed, because they knew their associates and He who receives them. For Truth seeks the wise and the devoted.”<br />
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10. The Savior said, “The light of the body is the soul. So long as what is within you becomes a priority, then [missing text] your body becomes illuminated. So long as your heart has darkness, the illumination you expect [missing text].<br />
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11. His students asked, “Master, who becomes a seeker and [missing text] reveals?”<br />
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12. The Master told them, “One who seeks [missing text] reveals [missing text].”<br />
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13. Matthew asked, “Master, when I [missing text] and when I begin to talk, who [missing text] and who hears?”<br />
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14. The Master said, “One who speaks also listens, and one who sees also reveals.”<br />
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15. Mary said, “Look, Master. From what can I bear the body when I cry? And from what when I laugh?”<br />
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16. The Master said, “[missing text] cries on behalf of its activities [missing text] remain and the soul laughs [missing text] spirit. If one doesn’t [missing text] darkness, he will be able to see [missing text].<br />
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17. Then all the authorities from above, along with those from below, will [missing text] you. Within that place will be crying and suffering about the results of everything.<br />
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18. Judas said, “Master, teach us about what existed [missing text] prior to heavens and the earth.<br />
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19. The Master said, “There was darkness, and the Spirit was upon the water. And I tell you [missing text].<br />
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20. “Master, teach us where the [missing text] is manifested. And where the pure soul dwells.”<br />
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21. The Master replied, “The fire of the spirit came into existence [missing text] both. Because of this, the [missing text] became manifest and the pure souls became manifest within them [missing text]. If a person focuses his soul upwards, then will he be exalted.”<br />
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22. And Matthew asked him, [multiple sections of missing text]<br />
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23. The Master said, “[multiple sections of missing text] to follow you and all your activities [missing text] your hearts. For just as your hearts [multiple sections of missing text] the ability to surpass the authorities above along with those who are below. [missing text]<br />
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24. I tell you, one who has authority can renounce it and have a change of heart. Then he can [missing text] search, discover and rejoice.”<br />
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25. Judas said, “Look, I see that everything was created [missing text] like marks upon [text missing]. Because of this, they happened like this.”<br />
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26. The Master replied, “When the Creator manifested the universe, He [missing text] water from it and His Wisdom arose from it and it was populated by many [missing text].<br />
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27. It was above the pathway [missing text] envelopes the whole material world [missing text] the pooled water [missing text] existed apart from them. [missing text] the water, like a wall, a barrier of flames surrounds them [missing text] time when numerous things were disconnected from that which is inside. Once the [missing text] became manifest, He saw it [missing text] and told it, “Depart and [missing text] from you so that [missing text] will continue from lifetime to lifetime and generation to generation.”<br />
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28. From Him came manifested a pouring of milk and honey, and olive oil and grape juice with other delicious fruits with exquisite flavors and deep roots – so there was plenty from lifetime to lifetime and generation to generation, and above all [missing text] stood [missing text] His beauty [missing text] and beyond Him came an expansive and powerful illumination [missing text] similar to it, for He [missing text] governs every universe higher and lower. [missing text] came from the burning [missing text] it became spread through the [missing text] higher and lower, every action dependent upon them. He is [missing text] over the spiritual realm above, down through to the material universe below, so all constantly partake in activities.”<br />
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29. When Judas heard this, he laid down prostrated [missing text] and offered glorifications to the LORD.<br />
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30. Mary called on her brothers and asked, “What will you do with those about whom is asked of the student [missing text]?”<br />
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31. The Master replied, “Sister, none can ask about these things unless they have a place for them within their heart [missing text] to approach [missing text] for entering [missing text] to allow them to not resist [missing text] this empty world.”<br />
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32. Matthew said, “Master, I would like to see that dwelling place where there is no wickedness, but rather, there is only pure illumination!”<br />
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33. The Master replied, “Brother Matthew, you won’t be able to see it so long as you are carrying around a physical body.”<br />
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34. Matthew said, “Master, though I won’t be able to see it, please let me understand it.”<br />
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35. The Master replied, “Anyone who gains knowledge of oneself will see it within all the opportunities given to him [missing text] then will arise [missing text] by one's devotion.”<br />
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36. Judas then asked, “Master, please tell me how [missing text] that agitates the motion of the earth.”<br />
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37. The Master picked up a stone with his hand and held it up. He said, “What do I hold here in my hand?”<br />
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38. He replied, “a stone.”<br />
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39. He told them, “What supports the heavens also supports the earth. When Wisdom arises from the Majesty, it proceeds upon what supports the heavens and earth. For the earth does not change course. If it changed course, it would crash. Rather, it doesn’t change course or crash, so that the initial Wisdom would succeed. For it was this that manifested the material universe and occupied them. Then breathed its air and because [missing text] that does not change course, myself [missing text] yourselves, all the servants of humanity.<br />
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40. Because you originate from there, you live within the hearts of those who teach from joy and truth. Though it arises from the body from the Creator and isn’t accepted, it will still [missing text] return to its home.<br />
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41. One who doesn’t know these perfect activities doesn’t know anything. One who doesn’t stand in the darkness will not be able to recognize the light. Should one not understand what fire is, one will become burnt by it. For he doesn’t know the basics about it. If one doesn’t first understand water, he knows nothing. For what use will he have to become baptized?<br />
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42. One who doesn’t know the wind is blowing will get blown away with it. If one doesn’t know about the separate existence of the body, he will die with it. Then how can someone who doesn’t know the Representative know the Creator?<br />
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43. Thus, one who doesn’t know the root of everything will remain ignorant. One who doesn’t know the root of wickedness is no stranger to it. One who knows not how he came will not know how he will go. And he is not a stranger to this material universe that will [missing text] become humbled.”<br />
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44. Next he [missing text] Judas, Matthew and Mary [missing text] the boundary between the spiritual realm and the material world. Then he laid his hand on them. Then they hoped they could [missing text] him.<br />
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45. Judas looked up and saw an extraordinary place above. He also looked down and saw the lowest region below. Judas told Matthew, “Brother, who can ascend to this high place or descend to the bottom of the lowest region? For a there is an enormous fire down there – which is very scary!”<br />
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46. Just then Wisdom appeared from it. During its appearance, he understood how he had descended. Then he said to him, “Why did you descend?”<br />
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47. Then the Servant of Humanity greeted them and told them, “The seed of an authority became impaired. Then he descended to the lowest regions of the material world. And the Almighty remembered him. So He sent Wisdom to it. This delivered him upwards, into His presence, thus the original Wisdom cannot fail.”<br />
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48. And his students were astounded by everything he had told them. And they trusted and accepted them. They concluded that wickedness has no value.<br />
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49. Next, he told his disciples, “Didn’t I tell you that the devoted will return to the illumination just as a voice is heard or lightning flashes?<br />
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50. Then all the disciples glorified him, and asked, “Master, before you appeared here, who was it who glorified you? For all glories exist for you. Who will bless you? For all blessings arise from you.”<br />
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51. As they were standing there, with a flash of lightning, they saw two spirits carrying a single soul with them. Then Wisdom came forth from the Servant of Humanity and said, “Give them their clothing.” Then the humble one became like the great one. They were [missing text] those who accepted them [missing text] each other. Next [missing text] students, whom he had [missing text].<br />
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52. Mary said, “[missing text] see wickedness [missing text] from the first [missing text] one another.<br />
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53. The Lord said, “[missing text] whereupon you see them [missing text] turn tremendous, they [missing text] – yet the great vision is seeing the Eternal Supreme Being.<br />
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54. All then said to him, “Teach us about this.”<br />
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55. He told them, “How do you want to see Him? Through temporary vision or by eternal vision?”<br />
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56. Continuing, he said, “Endeavor to save those that can follow you. Seek them out and teach from within, so as you seek, you come into harmony with everything. For truly I tell you, the living God [missing text] with you [missing text] with Him.<br />
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[multiple sections of missing text - within questions and answers between Jesus and Judas]<br />
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57. Judas said, “Look, the authorities live above us, so they rule over us.”<br />
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58. The Master replied, “It is you that will rule over them. Once you cleanse yourselves of enviousness, you will clothe yourselves in illumination and enter the Sanctuary.”<br />
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59. Judas asked, “How will we receive our clothing?<br />
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60. The Master replied, “Some will receive and others will provide for you. From these you will be clothed. How else will you reach that prized place? The clothing of life is given only to those of humanity who understand the pathway through which he can depart. And this is difficult even for me to reach this.”<br />
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61. Mary said, “This explains the wickedness of each day; the worker being worthy of his food; and the student mirroring his teacher.” She spoke this as a woman who understood everything.<br />
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62. The disciples asked him, “What is perfection and what is delusion?”<br />
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63. He said to them, “You are from perfection, and where you live has the delusion. But surely, His illumination flows down upon me.”<br />
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64. Matthew asked, “Tell me Master, how do the dead die, and how do the living live?”<br />
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65. The Master said, “You are asking me about a proverb [missing text] which the eyes have neither seen, nor have I even heard it apart from you.<br />
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66. “Yet I tell you, when that which gives life to a human departs, he is called 'dead.' And when one who is alive departs that which is dead, what is alive will be called upon.”<br />
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67. Judas asked, “Why should they, for the sake of truth, live and die?”<br />
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68. The Master said, “One who is born of truth does not die. That which is born from a woman dies.”<br />
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69. Mary asked, “Master, tell me why I came to this place – to profit or sacrifice.”<br />
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70. The Master replied, “You are clarifying the bounty of the teacher.”<br />
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71. Mary asked him, “Master, then is there anyplace that is [missing text] or lacks the Truth?”<br />
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72. The Master said, “It is that place where Yahweh is not.”<br />
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73. Mary said, “Master, you are revered and awesome and [missing text] those who don’t know you.”<br />
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74. Matthew asked, “Can we have tranquility at the same time?”<br />
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75. The Master said, “When you abandon the shackles.”<br />
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76. Matthew asked, “How can the humble connect with the great?”<br />
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77. The Master said, “When you abandon the activities that won’t accompany you, then you can have tranquility.”<br />
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78. Mary said, “I would like to know the reality of everything.”<br />
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79. The Master said, “One who seeks life – this is their fortune. For the [missing text] of this universe is [missing text] and its gold and silver are illusory.”<br />
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80. Then his disciples asked him, “What should we do to secure perfect activities?”<br />
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81. The Master told them, “Become prepared to face anything. Blessed is one who finds [missing text] the struggle [missing text] his vision. He did not murder. Nor was he murdered. Rather, he emerged the victor.”<br />
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82. Judas asked, “Master, tell me where the path is begun.”<br />
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83. He replied, “With love and devotion. For if the authorities had just one of these, wickedness would not be present.”<br />
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84. Matthew said, “Master, you teach concerning the complete conclusion, with no anxiety.”<br />
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85. The Master said, “You have heard and understood everything I have said. And you accepted them with trust. If you understand them, they belong to you. If you don’t, then they won’t belong to you.”<br />
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86. They asked him, “What place will we be going to?”<br />
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87. The Master replied, “Stay in that place you can attain.”<br />
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88. Mary then said, “All that has manifested will then be seen.”<br />
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89. The Master replied, “I have said to you that one who sees reveals.”<br />
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90. His twelve disciples asked him, “Teacher, [missing text] tranquility [missing text] tell us [missing text].”<br />
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91. The Master replied, “[missing text] all that I have [missing text] you will [missing text] you [missing text] all things.”<br />
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92. Mary said, “But there is one proverb I tell the Master regarding the secret truth. ‘For this we have stood our ground, and to the universe we are revealed.’<br />
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93. Judas told Matthew: “We wish to know the type of clothing we will wear when we leave the decomposing flesh.”<br />
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94. The Master replied, “The rulers and authorities wear temporary clothing granted only for a time. That clothing will not last. But you, the children of truth, will not clothe yourselves in these temporary garments. Rather, I tell you, you will be blessed as you bear yourselves. For there is no big issue [missing text] outside.”<br />
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95. [missing text] said [missing text] speak, I [missing text].”<br />
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96. The Master replied, “[missing text] your Creator [missing text].”<br />
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97. Mary asked, “What about the mustard seed? Is this about the spiritual realm or about the material world?”<br />
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98. The Master replied, “When the Creator manifested the creation for Himself, there was much more left for the Universal Mother. Thus, there is speaking and action.”<br />
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99. Judas said, “You have taught us from the Heart of Truth. Now how should we pray?”<br />
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100. The Master said, “Pray from the place where there is no womanhood.”<br />
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101. Matthew said, “'Pray from the place where there is no womanhood,' he says to us. This means, condemn the actions of women, not because of the arrangement of birth, but because they will stop giving birth.”<br />
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102. Mary said, “They will never be destroyed.”<br />
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103. The Master said, “Who knows they won’t be destroyed and [missing text].”<br />
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104. Judas told Matthew, “The activities of womanhood will be destroyed [missing text] the authorities will [missing text]. As a result, we will be prepared for them.”<br />
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105. The Master said, “True, for will they see you? Will they see those who accept you? Now look, the pure Wisdom descends from the Creator into the depths – rendering birth without a sound, in a flash of illumination. Can they see this or overcome this?<br />
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106. “Yet this path is truly revealed to you. This even before either the angel or authority has [missing text] Instead, this is connected to the Creator and the Representative, for they are individually united [missing text]. Then you will travel the pathway that you understand. Should the authorities become great, even they will not be able to attain this. Yet listen to me, I tell you it is even difficult for me to attain it.”<br />
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107. Mary asked the Master, “When the activities [missing text] that dissolve an action.”<br />
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108. The Lord said, “True. Because you understand [missing text] if I dissolve [missing text] will one go to that place.”<br />
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109. Judas said, “How is the spirit evident?”<br />
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110. The Master replied, “How is the sword evident?”<br />
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111. Judas said, “How is the illumination evident?”<br />
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112. The Master replied, “[missing text] with it eternally.”<br />
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113. Judas asked, “Who will forgive whose activities? The activities that [missing text] the universe [missing text] who forgives the activities.”<br />
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114. The Master said, “Who [missing text]? It is necessary that one who understands their activities should do what pleases the Creator. Then as for you, endeavor to abandon anger and enviousness from yourselves, and unclothe yourselves from your [missing text] and don’t [missing text]<br />
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[multiple sections of missing text]<br />
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115. [missing text] one will live forever. And I tell you [missing text] in order that you won’t guide your minds and your souls into delusion.”<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2017/01/gospel-of-James-the-grieving.html">Gospel of James the Grieving</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-43717306184674248562016-11-10T15:08:00.000-08:002020-06-22T16:16:21.445-07:00First Epistle of John Chapter One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GbzhoYTvLfE/WHpw2WvJ1BI/AAAAAAAAAqY/F6yE6fwn7EkfqvexiX-EVemMlklojqPswCLcB/s1600/First%2BEpistle%2Bof%2BJohn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GbzhoYTvLfE/WHpw2WvJ1BI/AAAAAAAAAqY/F6yE6fwn7EkfqvexiX-EVemMlklojqPswCLcB/s200/First%2BEpistle%2Bof%2BJohn.JPG" width="166" /></a><br />
1:1 From the start, what we heard, saw with our eyes, and touched with our hands concerning the Wisdom of life:<br />
1:2 And this life became manifest. We have seen, testified and proclaimed to you the everlasting life that has been with the Creator and became manifest to us.<br />
1:3 We are reporting to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too may become friends with us, as we are friends with the Creator and with His Representative, Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ].<br />
1:4 We are writing these things so that you become filled with joy.<br />
1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and report to you: God is radiant; and in Him exists no darkness.<br />
1:6 If we say we are friends with Him and yet we walk in the darkness, we are being deceitful and not dwelling in the Truth.<br />
1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light: We share friendship with each other, then the essence of Jesus, His Representative, purifies us of our transgressions.<br />
1:8 If we claim to be without transgression, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not within us.<br />
1:9 If we admit our transgressions, He is merciful and righteous, and will forgive our transgressions and cleanse us of our wickedness.<br />
1:10 If we claim we have not made transgressions, we deem Him false and His wisdom is not within us.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-75591579390166527652016-11-09T15:10:00.000-08:002020-06-22T16:16:48.674-07:00First Epistle of John Chapter Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-fkbzyhSHI/XebcvqHzfkI/AAAAAAAABOw/VZKrfzR7knEPk09KKH-Z_DsfAJJMdYqggCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sinaticus%2B1%2Bjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Codex Sinaiticus Epistles 1 of John" border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-fkbzyhSHI/XebcvqHzfkI/AAAAAAAABOw/VZKrfzR7knEPk09KKH-Z_DsfAJJMdYqggCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinaticus%2B1%2Bjohn.jpg" title="Codex Sinaiticus 1 John" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Codex Sinaiticus 1 John</td></tr>
</tbody></table>2:1 My humble children, I write these things to you so you will not transgress. But if anybody transgresses, we have the advocate of the Creator, the devoted one, Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ].<br />
2:2 And he provides for the forgiveness of our transgressions, and not just for ours – but for those of the entire universe.<br />
2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we follow his instructions.<br />
2:4 One who says he knows him but doesn’t follow his instructions is being dishonest and the Truth is not with him.<br />
2:5 But those who hold on to his teachings, love of God truly becomes perfected. By this we know we are with him.<br />
2:6 Whoever claims to abide with him should live in the same way he lived.<br />
2:7 Dear friends, I am not writing you with a new instruction, but an old instruction, which you have had from the start: The old instruction is the wisdom that you have heard.<br />
2:8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.<br />
2:9 On the other hand, I write you with a new instruction, which is truthful with him and you since the darkness will pass away and the genuine light is shining.<br />
2:10 One who loves his brother dwells in the light and nothing can cause him to stumble.<br />
2:11 But one who hates his brother dwells and walks in darkness and knows not where he is going because the darkness has blinded him.<br />
2:12 I write to you dear children because your transgressions have been forgiven on account of His Name.<br />
2:13 I write to you, fathers, because you know Him – the Source of everything. I write to you, young men, because you have conquered wickedness.<br />
I have written to you, children, because you know the Creator.<br />
2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him – the Source of everything. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Teachings of God dwell within you, and you have conquered wickedness.<br />
2:15 Don’t love the material world nor the things in the material world. For one who loves the material world, the love for the Creator is not within them.<br />
2:16 For everything in the material world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the life of boastful pride – is not from the Creator but is from the material world.<br />
2:17 The material world passes away along with its desires – but one who does what is pleasing to God lives forever eternally.<br />
2:18 Children, it is late in our lifetimes, and as you have heard, the opposer of God becomes known just as many opposers of God have become known. From this we know that it is late in our lifetimes.<br />
2:19 They arose from us but they were not really of us, because if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they departed so that it would become known that they are not with us.<br />
2:20 But you received the anointing from the Holy One, and you all understand.<br />
2:21 I write you not because you don’t know the Truth – for you know it and because no falsehood is from the Truth.<br />
2:22 A liar is one who denies that Jesus is the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]. This is an opposer of God – one who denies the Creator and the Representative.<br />
2:23 One who denies the Representative doesn’t hold onto the Creator: One who proclaims the Representative holds onto the Creator as well.<br />
2:24 As for you – let what you heard from the start abide with you. If what you heard from the start abides with you, you will also abide with the Representative and in the Creator.<br />
2:25 This is the promise that He made to us – eternal life.<br />
2:26 I have written these things to you about those who try to deceive you.<br />
2:27 For you, the anointing that you received from Him abides with you and you have no need for anyone to instruct you except as His anointing instructs you about everything. This is true and not a falsehood. And just as it teaches you, you abide with Him.<br />
2:28 Now dear children, abide with Him so that when He becomes known we may be bold and unashamed when in His presence.<br />
2:29 If you understand His devotion you know that everyone who also practices devotion is born from Him.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-48663998428834021802016-11-07T15:20:00.000-08:002020-06-22T16:16:55.356-07:00First Epistle of John Chapter Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">3:1 Look how awesome the Creator’s love is for us that we would be considered God’s children – and that we are. For this reason, the world doesn’t understand us – because it doesn’t know Him.<br />
3:2 Dear friends, now we are God’s children, but what we will be has not yet been made known to us - what will become of us. We know that when He becomes known, we will become like Him because we will see Him as He is.<br />
3:3 And all who keep their hope focused upon Him purify themselves according to His purity.<br />
3:4 All who transgress are wrong, as transgression is iniquity.<br />
3:5 You know that he appeared in order to remove transgression and no transgressions occur within him.<br />
3:6 No one who abides with Him transgresses; no one who transgresses sees Him or knows Him.<br />
3:7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you. One who practices devotion is devoted, just as he is devoted.<br />
3:8 One who transgresses is wicked, and the wicked have transgressed from the beginning. The Representative of God appears for this purpose: To subvert the activities of wickedness.<br />
3:9 One who is born of God doesn’t practice wickedness; because His seed lives within him and he cannot transgress because he is born from God.<br />
3:10 From this the children of God and the children of wickedness are obvious. Anyone who doesn’t practice devotion is not of God. Nor is one who doesn’t love his brother.<br />
3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the start: That we should love each other.<br />
3:12 Don’t be like Cain, who was of wickedness and murdered his brother. Why did he murder him? Because his deeds were wicked and his brother's were devoted.<br />
3:13 Don’t be surprised brothers, if the world hates you.<br />
3:14 Know that we have risen from death into life because we love our brothers. One who doesn’t love is dead.<br />
3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a slayer of humanity and know that such a slayer cannot have eternal life dwelling within.<br />
3:16 We can know love by this – that he gave his life for us and we should also give our lives for our brothers.<br />
3:17 But one who has a worldly life and sees his brother in need and closes his heart towards him – how can the love of God dwell within him?<br />
3:18 Dear children, let’s not love with word and tongue: But in deed and truth.<br />
3:19 We know by this that we are of the truth and our hearts seek to please Him.<br />
3:20 However our hearts may condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows everything.<br />
3:21 Dear friends, if our heart doesn’t condemn us, we are trusting in God.<br />
3:22 And whatever we request, we receive from Him because we keep His instructions and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.<br />
3:23 And this is His instruction: That we should believe, in the name of His representative Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ], and love each other as he instructed us.<br />
3:24 One who follows His instructions dwells with Him and He with them. We know from this that He dwells with us through the Spirit whom He has given to us.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-82288344241630813572016-11-06T15:30:00.000-08:002020-06-22T16:17:02.931-07:00First Epistle of John Chapter Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">4:1 Dear friends, don’t believe every spirit – rather, test the spirits to see whether they are of God. For many false prophets have come forth into the world.<br />
4:2 From this you can know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that testifies that Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] appeared in the flesh is of God.<br />
4:3 And any spirit that doesn’t testify about Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of the opposer of God, of which you have heard about and now appears in the world.<br />
4:4 You are of God, dear children – and have overcome them, because greater is He who is with you than he who is of the material world.<br />
4:5 They are of the material world. Thus they speak from the material world and the world listens to them.<br />
4:6 We are of God and one who knows God listens to us. One who is not of God does not listen to us. From this we can understand the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.<br />
4:7 Dear friends, let us love each other. For love is of God and anyone who loves is born of God and understands God.<br />
4:8 One who doesn’t love doesn’t understand God – because God is love.<br />
4:9 From this the love of God became manifest with us: That God sent His confidential Representative into the world – so that because of him we can live.<br />
4:10 This is love: Not that we loved God – but that He loved us and sent His Representative in forgiveness for our transgressions.<br />
4:11 Dear friends, if God so loved us, we should also love each other.<br />
4:12 One may not see God with the eyes; but if we love each other, God lives with us and love is perfected in us.<br />
4:13 From this we understand that we abide with Him and He with us, because He has given us His Spirit.<br />
4:14 We have seen and give witness that the Creator has sent the Representative to save the world.<br />
4:15 Anyone who testifies that Jesus is the Representative of God abides with Him, and he with God.<br />
4:16 We have understood and trusted the love that God has for us. God is love and one who lives in love dwells with God and God dwells with him.<br />
4:17 With this, love is perfected in us, giving us confidence at the time of judgment because, like him, we are in this world.<br />
4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts away fear. For fear involves punishment and one who fears is not perfect in love.<br />
4:19 We love because He loved us first.<br />
4:20 One who says ‘I love God’ but hates his brother is a liar. Because one who doesn’t love his brother whom he sees with the eyes cannot love God whom he doesn’t see with the eyes.<br />
4:21 And we have this instruction from Him – that we should love God and love our brother as well.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/11/second-epistle-of-john-2-john.html">Second Epistle of John</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-27880006571860937842016-11-05T15:40:00.000-07:002020-06-22T16:17:09.418-07:00First Epistle of John Chapter Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">5:1 One who trusts that Jesus is the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] and comes from God; and one who loves the Creator loves what comes from Him.<br />
5:2 From this we know that we love God’s children when we love and follow His instructions.<br />
5:3 For this is loving God: That we follow His instructions and His instructions are not a burden.<br />
5:4 For anyone who comes from God overcomes the material world. This is the victory that overcomes the material world and our faith.<br />
5:5 Who is it who overcomes the material world? One who trusts that Jesus is the Representative of God.<br />
5:6 Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] arrived with the purifying waters of the seat of life. Not only with purifying waters, but with the purifying waters and the seat of life: The Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is Truth.<br />
5:7 Because there are three that testify:<br />
5:8 The Spirit, the purifying waters, and the seat of life – and the three are in harmony.<br />
5:9 We may accept human testimony, but the testimony of God is greater, because the testimony of God is this: He testified about His Representative.<br />
5:10 One who trusts in the Representative of God testifies within himself. One who does not trust God has made Him a liar, because he hasn’t trusted in the testimony that God gave about His Representative.<br />
5:11 And this testimony is that God gave us eternal life – and this life is with His Representative.<br />
5:12 One who receives the Representative has life. One who doesn’t accept the Representative of God doesn’t have life.<br />
5:13 I have written these things to you who trust in the name of the Representative of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.<br />
5:14 This is the trust that we have for Him: That if we ask anything that relates to pleasing Him, He hears us.<br />
5:15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask – we know that we have what we have requested of Him.<br />
5:16 If you see your brother committing a transgression not leading to death, pray to God to give them life. I am not speaking of those transgressions that lead to death.<br />
5:17 All wickedness is transgression, but there are transgressions that don’t lead to death.<br />
5:18 No one arising from God transgresses. Rather, one who comes from God holds onto Him and wickedness doesn’t touch him.<br />
5:19 We know we are with God and that the material world deceives with the power of wickedness.<br />
5:20 And we know the Representative of God Jesus the Anointed [Messiah, Christ] appeared and gave us understanding so that we might know the true God and eternal life.<br />
5:21 Dear children – guard yourselves from false gods.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-10576968892841013712016-11-04T15:51:00.000-07:002020-06-22T16:17:15.993-07:00Second Epistle of John<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yKLkpxMJyM/Xebbpm1WWnI/AAAAAAAABOc/BNxfxbvE0BQicTwJMBJM4BIykVn_VAnPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sinaticus%2B2%2Bjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_yKLkpxMJyM/Xebbpm1WWnI/AAAAAAAABOc/BNxfxbvE0BQicTwJMBJM4BIykVn_VAnPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinaticus%2B2%2Bjohn.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Codex Sinaiticus 2 John</td></tr>
</tbody></table>1:1 The elder to the lady who is chosen by God – and her followers, whom I – and others who know the truth – truly love –<br />
1:2 on behalf of the Truth – which abides within us and will be with us forever.<br />
1:3 We receive grace, mercy and tranquility from God the Creator, and from Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] – the Representative of the Creator in truth and love.<br />
1:4 I was very happy to find some of your followers progressing in the Truth – just as we have been instructed to do from the Creator.<br />
1:5 Now lady, I request of you not as if I was writing to you a new instruction, but one that we have been given from the start: That we love one another.<br />
1:6 And to love is to carry on according to His instructions. This is the instruction that you have heard from the start, and you should carry it out.<br />
1:7 For many deceivers have come forth to the world – they don’t accept that Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] appeared in the flesh. They are deceivers and opposers of God.<br />
1:8 Be careful that you don’t lose what has been worked for – so that you can receive the full reward.<br />
1:9 One who gets ahead of himself and doesn’t maintain the teachings of the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] does not have God. One who maintains the teachings has both the Father and the Representative.<br />
1:10 If someone comes up to you and doesn’t bear these teachings – don’t receive him into your house and don’t welcome them in.<br />
1:11 Because one who welcomes them in participates in their wicked activities.<br />
1:12 While I have many things to write you about, I don’t want to use scroll and ink. Rather, I hope to approach you and speak personally so that your joy can be complete.<br />
1:13 The followers of your sister, chosen by God, send you their greetings.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/11/third-epistle-of-john.html">Third Epistle of John</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-26641056210241051062016-11-03T15:52:00.000-07:002020-06-22T16:17:22.992-07:00Third Epistle of John<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMvVqDTbSmE/XebcFKdMVgI/AAAAAAAABOk/uRxTT8hOxRo_8mUYGsKIJ4BgE67E7WJYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sinaticus%2B3%2Bjohn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="621" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wMvVqDTbSmE/XebcFKdMVgI/AAAAAAAABOk/uRxTT8hOxRo_8mUYGsKIJ4BgE67E7WJYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinaticus%2B3%2Bjohn.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Codex Sinaiticus 3 John</td></tr>
</tbody></table>1:1 The elder, to my dear Gaius, whom I truly love.<br />
1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in all respects and are in good health, just as your soul prospers.<br />
1:3 For I was very happy when our brothers and sisters came and testified about your integrity with reference to how you are following the Truth.<br />
1:4 I feel no greater joy than to hear of my followers following the Truth.<br />
1:5 Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you are doing for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are guests.<br />
1:6 They have reported about your love within the assembly. Please send them off in a way that honors God.<br />
1:7 For they left for the sake of the Name – accepting nothing from the materialists.<br />
1:8 Therefore, we should support such people, so we might be partners in the Truth.<br />
1:9 I wrote something to the assembly but Diotrephes – who seeks to be their leader – doesn’t accept what we say.<br />
1:10 Thus if I come, I will call attention to his actions, which he unjustly accuses us with wicked and unsavory language, together with not accepting the brothers either. And he forbids those who desire to do so and kicks them out of the assembly.<br />
1:11 Dear friend, don’t imitate the wicked, but rather, the devoted. The devoted one is of God. The wicked one has not seen God.<br />
1:12 Demetrius has received good reports from everyone and from we add our report with truth. And you know that our report is true.<br />
1:13 I had many things to write you about but I am not going to write them down with pen and ink for you.<br />
1:14 I hope to see you soon and we will speak personally.<br />
<br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/12/dialogue-of-the-savior.html">Dialogue of the Savior</a></h4></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-6825062148527286772016-09-27T14:41:00.000-07:002019-12-03T14:11:04.692-08:00Gospel of James Chapter One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKOzh9KZZ5A/XebdKO_CVaI/AAAAAAAABO4/GuZuEiHz0_MNzgKCH2Y_svsIgIHcU6CzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/sinaticus%2Bjames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Codex Sinaiticus Gospel of James" border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKOzh9KZZ5A/XebdKO_CVaI/AAAAAAAABO4/GuZuEiHz0_MNzgKCH2Y_svsIgIHcU6CzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/sinaticus%2Bjames.jpg" title="Codex Sinaiticus James" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Codex Sinaiticus James</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
1:1 James, a servant of God and servant of the Master Jesus, Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ], to the twelve nations dispersed abroad: Greetings.<br />
1:2 Proceed joyously, my fellow believers, whenever you face various challenges,<br />
1:3 for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.<br />
1:4 Let perseverance finish its job so that you may become perfected and complete, lacking nothing.<br />
1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, ask God – who gives generously to all without blame – and it will be given to you.<br />
1:6 But you must ask with faith, without any doubt; for those who doubt are like waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.<br />
1:7 For such a person should not expect to receive anything from the LORD – <br />
1:8 Being uncertain and unstable in everything they do.<br />
1:9 Yet the companion of humility will rejoice in his position,<br />
1:10 and the materialist will glory in humiliation as they pass away like the grass flower.<br />
1:11 For the sun rises with a scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls and its beauty is destroyed. Like this, the materialist will fade away even in the midst of their pursuits.<br />
1:12 Blessed is one who perseveres through challenges, for having withstood the tests, that person will receive the wreath of life promised to those who love Him.<br />
1:13 Let no one say, when tempted, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by wickedness, nor does he tempt anyone;<br />
1:14 Rather, each person is tempted when they are carried away and enticed by their own wicked desires.<br />
1:15 Then, once desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.<br />
1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved fellow believers.<br />
1:17 Every good thing and every perfect gift is from above – coming down from the Creator of light, of whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.<br />
1:18 In His pleasure He nurtured us through the Teachings of Truth, so that we might be like first offerings among His creation.<br />
1:19 My beloved fellow believers, take heed that everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger,<br />
1:20 for human anger doesn’t achieve the devotion that pleases God.<br />
1:21 Therefore, put aside all defilement and the wickedness that remains and humbly accept the Teachings given to you, which can save your spirit-person.<br />
1:22 And commit to the practice of the Teachings and not merely listeners who delude themselves.<br />
1:23 For anyone who listens to the Teachings and does not practice them is like one who looks at their face in a mirror – <br />
1:24 and after looking at themselves, leaves and immediately forgets what they look like.<br />
1:25 But one who seeks the perfect instruction that renders liberation and abides by it – not becoming a forgetful listener but a practical doer – will be blessed by what they do.<br />
1:26 Those who think themselves religious yet do not bridle the tongue deceive their own heart: Their religion is worthless.<br />
1:27 Pure and faultless religion that pleases God our Creator means looking after those who in distress have strayed and are bereft of protection – while keeping ourselves from being polluted by the material world.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-27962000226730223832016-09-26T14:45:00.000-07:002017-09-13T18:55:09.208-07:00Gospel of James Chapter Two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">2:1 Fellow believers, don’t withdraw your trust in our glorious Master Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ].<br />
2:2 For should a man come into your presence wearing fine clothing and a golden ring, and a poor man arrives in dirty old clothes,<br />
2:3 and you show special attention to the one wearing fine clothes and tell him, "Here's a good seat for you," yet you say to the poor man, "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet" –<br />
2:4 have you not become prejudiced, having become a judge with wicked intentions?<br />
2:5 Listen, my dear fellow believers: Did God not choose the humble of this world to be full of faith and heirs to the sanctuary which He promised to those who love Him?<br />
2:6 Yet you ignore the humble. Is it not the proud who exploit you and drag you into court?<br />
2:7 Do they not blaspheme the Holy Name of Him you have called upon?<br />
2:8 If however, you fulfill what is holy according to the instruction, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," then you are doing excellently.<br />
2:9 But if you show prejudice, you perpetuate wickedness and by the instruction you will be charged guilty.<br />
2:10 For whoever keeps all the instructions yet stumbles in one way is guilty of breaking all of them.<br />
2:11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder.”<sup>1</sup> If you don’t commit adultery but commit murder, you still become a criminal.<br />
2:12 Therefore say and do like those who will be judged by the instruction that gives freedom.<br />
2:13 For judgment without mercy will be given to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.<br />
2:14 What use is it, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but takes no actions? Can their faith save them?<br />
2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and is in need of their daily food – <br />
2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go with peace – be warmed and satisfied,” yet you don’t give them what they need to keep their body, what use is that?<br />
2:17 Similarly, faith alone – if not supported by action – is dead.<br />
2:18 Yet one might say, "You have faith and I take action." Show me your faith without action and I will show you my faith through my actions.<br />
2:19 You believe there is one God. That is good! Yet even demons believe and tremble.<br />
2:20 But will you recognize, oh foolish one, that faith without action is worthless?<br />
2:21 Was not our master Abraham justified when he was prepared to offer his son Isaac on the Altar?<br />
2:22 You can see that his faith with action worked together and his faith was made perfect by his actions.<br />
2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "and Abraham trusted God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"<sup>2</sup> and he was called the friend of God.<br />
2:24 You see, one is considered righteous by their actions and not by faith alone.<br />
2:25 Similarly, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she received the messengers and sent them out the back way?<br />
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without actions is dead.<br />
<br />
<b>Footnotes:</b><br />
<br />
1. Verse 2:11. Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18.<br />
<br />
2. Verse 2:23. <br />
<i><blockquote>Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to Him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6 NIV)</i></blockquote></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-19467264157299897342016-09-25T14:46:00.000-07:002017-09-13T18:56:10.539-07:00Gospel of James Chapter Three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">3:1 My fellow believers, perhaps many of you will not become teachers, because you know we are judged more strictly.<br />
3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone doesn’t stumble in what he says, he is a person of perfection – indeed, able to guide the entire society.<br />
3:3 Similarly, if we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we will also direct their entire body.<br />
3:4 Or consider the ships. While they are very large and are driven by strong winds, a pilot can steer them to wherever he wants to go by a very small rudder.<br />
3:5 Likewise, the tongue is only a small part of the body, but it can boast exceedingly. This is like a great forest being set on fire by a small spark.<br />
3:6 And the tongue is a fire that sets wickedness in the world among our members, just as it corrupts the entire body. It sets on fire the whole path of one's life, this is the fire set by hell.<br />
3:7 For all species of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea have been and are tamed by humans,<br />
3:8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless wickedness, and filled with deadly poison.<br />
3:9 With it we praise our LORD and Creator, and with it we curse humans, who were made in the likeness of God.<br />
3:10 From the same mouth comes both praise and cursing. My fellow believers, these things should not take place.<br />
3:11 Does a fountain send out from the same hole both fresh and rancid water?<br />
3:12 My fellow believers, can a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.<br />
3:13 Who among you is wise and knowledgeable? Then show it by your devoted activities performed with the humility that arises from wisdom.<br />
3:14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfishness in your heart, don’t be arrogant and contradict the Truth.<br />
3:15 That type of knowledge does not descend from above – rather, its nature is materialistic and wicked.<br />
3:16 Because from envy and selfishness come disorder and all wickedness.<br />
3:17 Yet the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure; then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, merciful – being unwavering good fruits with no hypocrisy.<br />
3:18 And the seed of the fruit of devotion is sown with tranquility by those who create tranquility.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-85896840128534433662016-09-24T14:48:00.000-07:002017-09-13T18:58:20.617-07:00Gospel of James Chapter Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">4:1 What causes quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not arise from the desires that wage war within you?<br />
4:2 You desire what you don’t have, so you kill. You are envious and cannot get what you want, so you fight and argue. You can’t get what you want because you don’t ask.<br />
4:3 Should you ask you don’t receive, it is because you ask with the wrong motives: So that you can apply it towards your pleasures.<br />
4:4 You faithless people: don't you realize that friendship towards the world is hostility towards God? Therefore, one who wants to be a friend of the world ends up being hostile to God.<br />
4:5 Or do you think Scripture speaks with no purpose? That the Spirit He caused to dwell within us has jealous longings?<br />
4:6 Rather, He gives us a greater grace. Therefore, it says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”<sup>1</sup><br />
4:7 Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist wickedness, and it will flee from you.<br />
4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, duplistic ones.<br />
4:9 Be miserable, and mourn and weep. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.<br />
4:10 Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will lift you up.<br />
4:11 Fellow believers, don’t speak against one another. Anyone who speaks against a fellow believer or judges them speaks against the instructions and judges them. When you judge the instructions, you are not keeping them, but sitting in judgment on them.<br />
4:12 There is only one Instructor and Judge – the One who is able to save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?<br />
4:13 Come on now – listen – you who say, "Today or tomorrow we’ll travel to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."<br />
4:14 Yet you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a breath that appears for a little while and then disappears.<br />
4:15 Rather, you should say, “If it is the LORD's will, we will live and do this or that."<br />
4:16 But currently, you boast in your arrogance. All this boasting is wicked.<br />
4:17 Therefore, if anyone knows the good they should do and doesn’t do it, for him it is wicked.<br />
<br />
<b>Footnote:</b><br />
<br />
1. Verse 4:6.<br />
He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. (Proverbs 3:4 NIV)<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-85598500100129345102016-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:002023-12-16T18:19:19.447-08:00Gospel of James Chapter Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">5.1 Come on, materialists! Soon you will weep and lament, for suffering will come.<br />
5:2 Your wealth will rot and your clothing will be eaten by moths.<br />
5:3 Your gold and silver will corrode. That corrosion will bear witness against you and consume your heart like fire. Your treasure will haunt you at the time of death.<br />
5:4 Just consider – the wages you withheld from workers who harvested your fields cry out against you, and that outcry of the farm workers has reached the ears of the LORD Almighty.<br />
5:5 You have lived luxuriously off the land and have led a decadent life. Your hearts have grown fat for the day of slaughter.<br />
5:6 You condemn and murder the devoted one who does not fight you.<br />
5:7 Therefore my fellow believers, be patient for the presence of the LORD. The farmer waits for the special harvest from the land. He patiently waits for after the early and late season rains.<br />
5:8 You too must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the presence of the LORD is readily available.<br />
5:9 Fellow believers, don't complain about each other, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing right in the doorway.<br />
5:10 Fellow believers, show your patience in the face of hardship: Accept the Prophets who spoke in the Name of the LORD.<br />
5:11 Those who endure are blessed. You have heard of the devotion of Job and have seen what resulted from the LORD. The LORD is full of compassion and mercy.<br />
5:12 But above all, my fellow believers, do not make promises by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Rather, your assurance is your assurance and your opposition is your opposition – in order to not succumb to judgment.<br />
5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? They must offer prayers. Is anyone joyful? They must sing praises.<br />
5:14 Is anyone among you in need? They should call on those advanced in devotion who should pray for them and anoint them with oil in the Name of the LORD.<br />
5:15 And the prayer offered with trust will restore the weary. And the LORD will awaken them. And if they have committed offenses, they will be forgiven.<br />
5:16 Therefore, acknowledge your offenses to one another and pray for each other, so that you can be healed. The earnest prayer of a devoted person is very effective.<br />
5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He prayed in earnest that rain would not fall upon the land, and rain did not fall upon the land for three years and six months.<br />
5:18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the land produced food.<br />
5:19 My fellow believers, if anyone wanders from the Truth and someone turns him back: <br />
5:20 Understand that one who turns a sinner from the error of their ways will save that soul from death and procure a pardon for a multitude of sins.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-35837004433762406122016-08-10T14:48:00.002-07:002022-01-16T15:47:26.418-08:00The Gospel of Truth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><i>The Gospel of Truth is a lost Gospel found buried with the ancient Nag Hammadi library. It was found buried in the Egyptian desert in 1945. This lost Gospel is thought to have first been written in the First or Second Century.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c91aWOe4mdU/WHlV8-H-5JI/AAAAAAAAAps/cenrdwEwpMgY0B8uUZuUBqpdJu_OkyvHgCLcB/s1600/Gospel%2Bof%2BTruth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nag Hammadi manuscript the Gospel of Truth" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c91aWOe4mdU/WHlV8-H-5JI/AAAAAAAAAps/cenrdwEwpMgY0B8uUZuUBqpdJu_OkyvHgCLcB/s320/Gospel%2Bof%2BTruth.png" title="Gospel of Truth" width="154" /></a></div><br />
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To Listen:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W1BADsNIC28?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b>The Gospel of Truth</b><br />
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1. The Gospel of Truth is joyous to those who have been given the mercy of knowing the Creator of Truth through the power of the Wisdom that rose from the spiritual realm, and the Savior, who is in the heart and mind of the Creator: Being named for the work he does for the deliverance of those who did not know the Creator. For within the name of the Gospel is the potential of hope – the discovery of those who search for Him.<br />
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2. The creation was inside of Him who is unlimited and inconceivable – and greater than every thought. But ignorance of the Creator produced fear and anxiety. Anxiety enveloped them like a fog, blinding their vision. Thus wickedness became strong and operated foolishly within its own matter, being ignorant of the Truth. From this, the substitute for Truth was born into creation with strength and beauty.<br />
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3. For this was then not a humbling before Him, the Eternal, Inconceivable One. Because it was simply suffering in ignorance and the embodiment of illusion – whereas the eternal Truth is unchangeable, unaffected and perfectly beautiful.<br />
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4. Therefore, do not abide in wickedness, as it has no foundation. It was covered by the fog with respect to the Creator. It was engaged in deeds of forgetfulness and fears, so that these may entice those of the middle and imprison them.<br />
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5. The ignorance of wickedness was not revealed. It did not [missing text] with the Creator. Ignorance does not exist in the Creator, although it exists because of Him. What exists with the Creator is knowledge, revealed in order to destroy ignorance so they might come to know the Creator. If they come to know the Creator, their ignorance will cease to exist.<br />
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6. This is the Gospel of Him – whom they search for – revealed perfectly through the mercies of the Creator – the hidden mystery – by Jesus the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ]. Through him those who were in the darkness of ignorance were enlightened. He enlightened them and showed them the path of the Truth that he taught them.<br />
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7. Because of this, wickedness abhorred him, denied him, persecuted him, and removed him. He was nailed to a tree. He became the means of knowing the Creator.<br />
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8. Consuming this causes no destruction from its acceptance. Rather, those who accept it become happy by discovering it, and discover themselves in the process.<br />
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9. Regarding the unfathomable, unknowable One, the Creator, the Perfect One who made everything – within Him is the creation, and the creation depends upon Him. While He retained the perfection within Himself that he hadn’t given to the creation, the Creator is never envious. Certainly, envy between Himself and His children does not arise, for this dimension had received the perfection [missing text] the Creator.<br />
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10. He maintains their perfection within Himself, bestowing it upon them to return to Him, and as uniquely perfect knowledge.<br />
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11. He created everything, and within Him is everything – and everything depends upon Him.<br />
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12. As for persons who are ignorant, He wants them to come to know Him and love Him. Then why does the creation have this need of knowledge regarding the Creator?<br />
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13. He became a peaceful and gentle guide. He appeared within schools, speaking the Wisdom as a teacher. Those who were wise in their own estimation approached and tested him. But he confounded them, for they were foolish. They despised him, for they were not actually wise.<br />
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14. Afterwards, humble children approached – to whom belongs the knowledge of the Creator. After being strengthened, they learned of the Creator’s characteristics. They came to know and were known: They glorified, and were glorified. In their hearts became manifested the essential wisdom of life – written from the heart and mind of the Creator, which from before the creation of everything, was unknowable: That which no one was able to receive, as it is left to one who will sacrifice everything for it.<br />
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15. The appearance of that wisdom became manifest among those who trust in salvation. Thus the merciful, faithful Jesus persisted in accepting suffering until receiving that wisdom, for he knew his persecution meant life for others.<br />
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16. Just as the wealth of the deceased householder lay hidden within the will, the creation lies hidden while the Creator of everything was unseen. This is from Him, from whom every universe originates. As a result, Jesus appeared;. He availed that wisdom. He was nailed to a tree. He broadcast the will of the Creator on the stake.<br />
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17. Yes, it is a great teaching. He allowed his body to die, while eternal life clothes him. Having disrobed himself of perishable rags, he dressed in immortality, which no one can possibly remove. After entering the dimension of fears, he passed by those disrobed by ignorance of knowledge and perfection. They proclaimed things of the heart [missing text] guiding those who will accept the teaching.<br />
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18. Yet they who accept the teaching are alive. They are inscribed in the wisdom of the living. They receive instruction regarding themselves – receiving it from the Creator as they return to Him. Since the creation’s perfection is within the Creator, the creation must ascend to Him. As such, one who has knowledge accepts what is given to him and acknowledges them.<br />
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19. For one in ignorance is empty, and what he needs is significant, because he lacks what will make him perfect. Because the perfection of the creation is within the Creator, the creation must ascend to Him. And in order for each to accept what is his, he prepared them in advance to serve those who appeared from Him.<br />
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20. Those who consider themselves first are summoned by Him last. The Creator calls on those who have knowledge. For one without knowledge is ignorant. Indeed, how is one to hear if he is not considered? For one who is ignorant to the end is trapped by forgetfulness, and they will be lost in it Otherwise, how is it these unhappy people are not considered, so that they are not called?<br />
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21. Therefore, one’s knowledge is given from above. He hears if he is summoned. He answers, and he turns to Him who is calling him. Then he ascends to Him. He understands why he is called. With this knowledge, he works to please the One who called him. He wants to be pleasing to Him. He takes shelter. Everyone who is considered returns to Him. One who understands this knows where he comes from and where he is going. He knows as someone who had become drunk, then turned away from his drunkenness, has fixed everything and returned to himself.<br />
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22. He has turned many away from wickedness. He has appeared before them within their places, from which they left on account of the depth of Him who surrounds everything, while no one surrounds Him.<br />
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23. It was a great miracle they were with the Creator but didn’t know Him. They were able to appear by themselves, because they couldn’t understand or know Him within whom they are. Because if one’s will didn’t come from Him – He revealed it by showing the knowledge from which all emanations concur. This is the knowledge of the wisdom of life, revealed to the spiritual ones with the end of his letters, not the vowels nor consonants, or that one reading them might be fooled. But they are letters of Truth, which speak alone for one who knows them. Each letter is complete, like a complete scroll, since they are letters written by bond: The Creator wrote them for the spiritual beings so they may come to know Him.<br />
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24. Since His wisdom determines the Doctrine, and his Teaching expresses it – His knowledge is revealed. Since determination is crowned, His pleasure harmonizes with it. His glory exalts it. His image reveals it. It provides shelter in Him. His love created a body of it. His trustworthiness embraced it. In such a manner, the wisdom of the Creator is extended to everything. The fruit of His heart and the vision of His will. Yet this supports everything, purifying them and returning them to the Creator by the mother Jesus of the eternal sweetness.<br />
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25. The Creator reveals His heart. Yes, His heart is the Holy Spirit – revealing what is hidden. That which is hidden is His representative. Through the Creator’s mercies, the spiritual children know Him and take shelter in Him, and don’t have to work in search of the Creator. They know He provides refuge.<br />
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26. After He completed what was not yet complete, He abandoned matter. This world is the servant of matter. Because that place where there are enviousness and struggles is empty. But the place where there is union is perfect.<br />
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27. Ever since the imperfection came into being due to not knowing the Creator: Once the Creator is known, from that time forward, the imperfection will no longer exist. Just as the ignorance of a person vanishes when one becomes aware, one’s ignorance disappears of itself. Just as darkness vanishes when light appears, so shall ignorance disappear with the perfection.<br />
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28. From that time forward, matter is not critical, as it vanishes with the relationship of union. For with the relationship of union, now those works lay spread through time. Union will perfect the emptiness. Within spiritual union, each of us finds our self. Using knowledge, one will cleanse oneself of duplicity through spiritual union – consuming material contamination within oneself like a fire – just as darkness is consumed by light, and death is consumed by life.<br />
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29. Should these changes occur for each of us, we will see above all that the house is holy and the spiritual union is eternal. This is the manner of some who departed their houses with vessels that were sometimes not so good. These would ruin them, and the householder suffered no loss. Instead, they were glad, for in place of the bad vessels one became full and made perfect.<br />
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30. For this is the determination that has come from above. Judgment is passed on to everyone – it is a drawn sword, double-edged to cut on each side. When wisdom is revealed by the One within the heart of those who speak it, it is not just a sound. Rather, it became a body. The vessels were greatly troubled, for some were empty while others were filled. Some were provided for. Others were poured out. Some had been cleansed, while others were broken. Every region was shaken and disturbed, for they had no foundation or stability. Imperfection was distraught, not knowing what to do. Due to ignorance, it was afflicted with grieving and mourning. When knowledge and its byproducts became available, imperfection was fallen, being empty with nothing within.<br />
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31. The Truth was revealed – its adherents understood it. They welcomed the Creator of Truth with a perfect devotion that binds them to the Creator. For each loves Truth because Truth is the mouth of the Creator. His tongue is the Holy Spirit, who joins them with the Creator. Because everyone who loves the Truth receives the Holy Spirit. One who is bound to the Truth bound to the Creator’s mouth with one’s tongue – for this is the manifestation of the Creation, and his revelation to His spiritual children.<br />
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32. He manifested what was hidden about Himself. He explained it. For who, if not the Creator, is full? Everyone emanates from Him. They know that they arose from Him, just as children arose from an adult man. They understood they had not yet received a material body, nor a material name, each of which is born from the Creator. Once they do receive a material body through His wisdom, even though through Him, they don’t know Him. If He pleases, He manifests by giving one a material body and a material name. He delivers into material existence those who became ignorant of Him who created them.<br />
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33. I am not saying those who have yet to come into the world are nothing. Rather, they are with Him, and will only come to the world when He wishes it – should that time come. Before anything is manifested, He knows what He will create. Yet the fruit not manifest knows nothing, nor acts. As a result, every element is from the Creator who eternally exists and produced it from nothing.<br />
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34. For one without root has no fruit, even though he thinks, ‘I exist.’ Yet by himself, he will perish. Then again, one who never existed will never exist. Why did he want to be self-centered, thinking, ‘I exist like the silhouettes and ghosts of the night?’ When light illuminates a person’s fears, he becomes aware they don’t exist.<br />
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35. Those who do not see Him are ignorant of the Creator – because they do not see Him. Because of fear, confusion, instability, lack of faith, and separation, many illusions come into play with unfulfilled fiction – as if they found themselves slumbering in sleep with nightmares: In either place they are fleeing from; or lacking the power to escape after chasing others; or involved in punching others; or are being punched themselves; or falling from high places; or lifting off into the air without wings. Repeatedly, at times experiencing being murdered, even if no one is even chasing them; or murdering their brothers and being stained with their blood. When those going through these things awaken, they see nothing. They were in the middle of so many disturbing situations, but now they see nothing.<br />
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36. This is how one can cast ignorance – like sleep – not giving it any importance: Nor considering its activities as having a solid foundation. Rather, they leave them behind like a dream in the night. They consider knowing the Creator as daybreak. Each one of them carried this out, as if ignorance is a time when one is asleep. Such is the path – as if one has been awakened. Fortunate is the man who awakens and returns. And blessed is one who has opened the eyes of the blind.<br />
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37. Then the Spirit came to him immediately, raising him up. He reached out His hand to one lying prostrate on the ground. He brought him up to his feet, for he had not been standing. He gave them the means to understand the knowledge of the Creator and the revelation of His representative. For when they saw him and heard from him, He allowed them to taste, smell and touch His beloved representative.<br />
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38. Then he appeared and taught them about the Creator – the Boundless One. He inspired them from his mind – doing His will. Many received this illumination and turned towards Him. Because the materialistic people were foreign, they didn’t see His appearance, and didn’t come to know Him.<br />
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39. Because he came via a body of flesh, nothing blocked his path because his integrity is boundless. Thus he continued to speak new things, speaking about the heart of the Creator – bringing forth the faultless wisdom.<br />
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40. Through his mouth he spoke illumination. From his voice came life. He gave them reason and understanding; mercy and salvation; and the Spirit of strength originating from the boundless sweet Creator.<br />
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41. He caused suffering and violence to cease. For these had caused many who needed mercy to fall away from Him in error and in chains. He powerfully devastated them and chastised them with knowledge. He provided a path for those who fell away and knowledge to those who were ignorant -- a revelation for those who were seeking – and shelter for those who shivered – and purification for those who became defiled.<br />
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42. He is the shepherd who left behind the ninety-nine sheep that had not strayed and went searching for the one that went astray. He rejoiced when he found it. For ninety-nine is a number in the left hand that holds them. But as soon as the one is found, the entire amount is handed over to the right. The right which is lacking the one takes the deficiency from the left side and passes to the right, making the number one hundred. This number represents the Creator, who is present within sound.<br />
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43. Even on the Sabbath did he work hard for those sheep he found fallen into the pit. He gave life to the sheep, bringing them up from the pit, so that you – the representatives of inner knowledge – may know fully what is the Sabbath. It is a day during which it is not fitting for salvation to remain idle – so that you may speak on that day from above: From that which has no night, and from an illumination that does not sink, because it is perfect.<br />
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44. Speak then from the heart, as you are the perfect creation, and within you dwells the light that never fails. Speak the Truth to those who search for it, with the knowledge of those who in error have committed wickedness. Stabilize the feet of those who have stumbled, and stretch out your hands to those who are sick. Feed those who hunger, and give peace to those who are troubled. Lift up those who want to be lifted up, and wake up those who are asleep. For you provide the understanding that carries forth. If the strong does this, they become stronger.<br />
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45. Be wary about yourselves. Don’t be focused on those other matters you have cast from yourselves and dismissed. Don’t return to eat what you have vomited. Don’t be moths, or worms, for you have already cast these off. Don’t become a place for the devil, because you have already destroyed him.<br />
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46. Don’t strengthen your barriers, whose support will collapse. For the criminal will be ill treated – not the devoted one. Because the former commits crimes and harms himself, and the latter does righteous work among people.<br />
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47. But you will do what pleases the Creator because you are from Him. For the Creator is sweet, and what pleases Him is good. He takes care of everything for you so that you might find peace with them. For by the fruits one understands what you are, because the children of the Creator are His essence. For they come from the grace of His face.<br />
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48. Because of this, the Creator loves His essence, and this is manifested in every place. And should it mix with matter, He renders His essence with illumination, and within His refuge He makes it rise in every form, every sound. For no nostrils smell His fragrance. Rather, the spirit has the sense of smell and attracts the fragrance to itself, being immersed in the fragrance of the Creator – so that He provides shelter and returns it to where it came from – from the first fragrance that has since grown cold.<br />
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49. This is essentially mystical in composition, like cold water that has frozen – an earthly thing that isn’t solid. Those who see it think it is earth. But afterward, it will again dissolve. If it is drawn to spirit, it becomes hot. The essences are thus cold from the separation. This is why faith arose – it dissolved the separation and delivered the warm spiritual world of love, so the cold couldn’t occur again. But rather, it brought about the union of the perfect heart.<br />
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50. This wisdom of the Gospel – the discovery of the spiritual realm, for those who long for the salvation that comes from above. When they long to be longing for what they trust in – those who are illuminated with no shadow – then at that time, the spiritual realm begins to appear.<br />
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51. The limitations of matter arose not because of the boundlessness of the Creator – who appears to render the limits of time. Yet no one says that the Incorruptible One would appear in this way. But the extent of the Creator is exponential, and the spirit of error was not existing with Him. It is a matter of falling down – and a matter of again standing upright as one finds Him through one who was sent to bring him back. For this bringing back is called a change of heart.<br />
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52. For this reason, integrity was infused. It pursued those who sinned, so they might have shelter. For forgiveness persists from the illuminated in the imperfection – the wisdom of the spiritual realm. The physician dashes to where there is illness, because of the desire within him. One who has imperfection does not mask it, because one has what the other lacks. So the spiritual realm, which has no imperfection, actually completes the imperfection. This is what one provides from within to complete what he lacks – so that he can receive Grace. For when he was imperfect, he did not have Grace.<br />
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53. That’s why decay exists in the place where there is no Grace. When that which decayed was received, it revealed what was lacking, specifically, the spiritual realm. This is the discovery of the illuminated Truth which arose upon him because it is eternal.<br />
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54. This is why the Anointed of God [Messiah, Christ] was spoken about by them: So those who were troubled might have a change of heart, and he might anoint them with the ointment. This ointment is the mercy of the Creator, who placed mercy on them. But those whom He has anointed are the ones who have become perfect. Because filled vessels are the ones that are usually anointed. Yet when one’s anointing is dissolved, it is emptied.<br />
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55. The reason for imperfection is the essence of its ointment. Because at that time, inspiration draws in the power that comes with it. But for one with no imperfection, no covering is removed, nor is anything emptied, except what may be lacking to be filled again by the Creator.<br />
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56. He is awesome. He knows what is planted, because He planted them in His paradise. You see, His paradise is His peaceful respite. This is the perfection in devotion to the Creator. This is the wisdom of contemplation upon Him.<br />
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57. Each of His words is the work of His single purpose of revealing His wisdom. When they were still deep within His heart, this wisdom first came forth. He revealed them from the intellect that speaks the single Truth in quiet grace. It was called ‘spirit’ since they were within it before becoming manifest. Then it occurred that it was first to come forth – at a time that was pleasing to Him.<br />
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58. Nothing occurs without Him. Nor does anything happen without Him, nor does anything occur outside of the will of the Creator. Rather, His will is unfathomable. His will is His sign, but no one knows this or can judge this in order to take away from it. Rather, whatever He wishes will occur at the very moment He wishes it. Even if what is seen isn’t pleasing to anyone. It is God’s will. For the Creator knows them from their beginning to their end. Because at their end, He will directly examine them. You see, the end is the recognition of He who is hidden. This is the Creator, from whom the beginning came, and to whom all who came from Him will return. As they became manifest for the glorification and joy of His Name.<br />
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59. Now the representative calls out to the Creator. He first gave His Name to the one who came forth from Himself, and He created him as a representative. He gave him His Name, which belonged to Him. To Him belongs everything that exists around the Creator. This is the Name, for he is its representative. Though one can see Him, the Name remains invisible, because it alone is the mystery of the invisible, which arises for ears that are fulfilled by Him. Because indeed, the Creator’s Name does not arise from speaking, but rather, becomes revealed through His representative.<br />
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60. For this reason, the Name is a great thing. Who, then, is able to speak a Name for Him – the Holy Name, except one to whom the Name belongs, and the representatives of the Name, with whom resides the Name of the Creator – who in turn reside themselves within His Name?<br />
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61. The Creator alone generated a Name for Himself, before He created the spiritual realms – so that the Creator’s Name provided guidance as Lord. This is the real Name, secured through His authority and by His Perfect Power. For the Name is neither words nor common names. Rather, it is unseen. He gave a Name to Himself alone since He alone sees Himself and because He alone was able to give Himself a Name. For one who doesn’t exist has no name. For what name could one give him who doesn’t exist?<br />
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62. However, He who exists with His Name, the Creator, also gave a Name to one who knows Him: The representative is his name. He didn’t, therefore, hide it away, but His representative became manifest. He himself also gave a Name for Him. The Name, then, is that of the Creator – just as the representative gave a Name for the Creator. Certainly, how could mercy be accounted for, except through the Creator?<br />
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63. Yet without a doubt, one will say to his brother, ‘Who would give a name to one who existed before himself – as if children didn’t receive a name from those who gave birth to them?’ We should consider this matter carefully: What is the Name? It is the Name of Truth. This is certainly the Name which came from the Creator – for He owns the Name. You see, He didn’t receive the Name on loan, as do others – due to the temporary forms into which each of us was born. Then this is the authoritative Name. He has given it to no one else. Yet He is indescribable, and unnamed until that time when one who is perfect saw and spoke about it.<br />
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64. When it pleased Him that His beloved Name given by His representative – that is, he who came from deep within Him – he spoke about His confidential matters, understanding that the Creator is without wickedness. For that reason, he revealed Him so he could speak about the place from which is His place of respite. And to glorify the spiritual realm, the greatness of His Name, and the sweetness of the Creator.<br />
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65. He will speak about the place each of us came from. And he will hasten to return again to that region where one became established, having received growth and a taste of sustenance from that place. And one’s own place of shelter is His spiritual realm.<br />
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66. Therefore, all emanations of the Creator are spiritual. And all of His emanations have their foundation in one who allows them to develop within himself. He determined their limits. Thus each becomes individually manifest so they can maintain their own thinking – for the place they can extend their thoughts is their foundation, raising them on high, towards the Creator.<br />
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67. As they reach His summit, they are given shelter. And as they approach Him, they are supported, as though to say they have embraced and kissed His face. Yet they don’t become manifest in this manner. Because they themselves are not exalted. Neither do they lack the glory of the Creator, nor do they consider Him insignificant – nor that He is harsh or full of wrath.<br />
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68. Rather, He is absent of wickedness. He is tranquil, sweet, all knowing of everything before it comes into being, and having no need to be instructed.<br />
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69. This is the path for those who receive from above the infinite greatness as they seek Him alone – the One who is always there for them. And they don’t descend into Hades, nor are they envious, nor complaining. Nor are they dead inside. Rather, they are given shelter within His refuge, without struggling or being frustrated in their search for Truth.<br />
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70. Rather, they themselves are the Truth, and the Creator is with them. And they are with the Creator because they are perfect and inseparable from Him who is awesome. They lack nothing in any manner; but they are given shelter and their spirit is refreshed.<br />
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71. And they heed their foundation. They will not lose their soul, but will focus on His foundation. This is where the blessed reside. This is their place.<br />
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72. As for the others, let them know that their places are not suitable for me, after having taken shelter fitting for me and having nothing more to say. But He is the One I shall be with so that I can devote myself always to the Creator of all, and the true brothers – those upon whom the love of the Creator is showered, and with whom there is no deficiency of Him.<br />
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73. Those who manifest in Truth within that pure eternal life and speak of the perfect illumination are filled with the seed of the Creator. This is in his heart and in the spiritual realm – while the spirit praises and glorifies Him within whom it existed – because the Creator is awesome.<br />
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74. And His children are perfect and worthy of His Name, for He is the Creator, and He loves these children.<br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-4018458310618095552016-07-06T16:08:00.001-07:002023-12-10T19:52:36.259-08:00The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Messengers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><i>This ancient lost Gospel was found buried in the Egyptian desert in 1945, near Nag Hammadi (Codex V). It is estimated to have been recorded in the First to Second Century and discusses an appearance by Jesus to Peter and his associates following Jesus' persecution.</i><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Messengers </h3><br />
1. [missing text] which [missing text] purpose followed us [missing text] messengers [...]. We sailed [missing text] of the body. Some had no worries within their hearts. Yet in our hearts, we were unified. We agreed to complete the mission the Master requested of us. So each of us made a pact with each other.<br />
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2. We left for the sea at a particular time as was revealed from the LORD. We found a boat tied up on the shore ready to embark, and we spoke with the seamen on the boat about coming aboard with them. They showed great kindness toward us as provided by the LORD. Then after embarking, we sailed one day and night. After this, a trailing wind rose and we landed on a small island in the middle of the sea.<br />
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3. Then I, Peter, asked people standing on the dock what the name of this village was. One of them answered and said, “The Abode is the name of this village – which is the foundation [missing text] persistence.” Then their chief was on the end of the dock holding a palm branch. After we came ashore with our bags, I walked into the village to inquire about a place to stay.<br />
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4. A man arrived wearing a gold belt with a cloth wrapped around his waist. A shawl cloak covered his chest, shoulders, head and hands.<br />
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5. I gazed at the man, for his form and stature were attractive. I saw four areas of his body – the bottoms of his feet, part of his chest, the palms of his hands and his countenance. As I saw these, I noticed in his left hand a scroll covered similarly as one of my scrolls. In his right hand was a wooden staff. As he spoke slowly, his voice boomed as he called out to the village, “Pearls – pearls!”<br />
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6. Certainly, I figured, he was a man from that village. I greeted him: “My friend and brother.”<br />
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7. He replied to me, saying, “Yes, you are right when you say, ‘My friend and brother.’ What do you seek from me?”<br />
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8. I replied, “I am requesting lodging for myself and my brothers, for we are foreigners.”<br />
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9. He said, “Because of this I have also said, ‘My friend and brother,’ for I am also a foreigner just as you are.”<br />
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10. Then having said this, he called out, “Pearls – pearls!” The wealthy people of the village heard his calling. Some left their hidden cellars, and some watched from their cellars within their houses. Others watched from their top windows. They didn’t see any opportunity from him, because on his back he carried no pouch, nor a bundle inside his cloak. And due to their disdain, they didn’t even acknowledge him. With respect to himself, he didn’t reveal himself to them. They returned to their cellars grumbling, “This man mocks us.”<br />
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11. When the poor people of the village heard his voice, they approached the man selling the pearl. They asked, “Can you please show us the pearl so we may see it with our own eyes? For we are poor. And we don’t have this [missing text] money to pay for it. But show us so we can tell our friends that we saw a pearl with our own eyes.”<br />
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12. He replied and said to them, “If it is possible, come to my village, so I can not just show it to your eyes, but give it to you for free.”<br />
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13. Indeed, the poor people of the village heard this. They said, “Since we are beggars, we certainly know people don’t give pearls to beggars. Typically, money and bread are given in exchange. So out of your kindness, please show us the pearl so we can see it. And we will proudly tell our friends that we saw a pearl with our own eyes – because these are not found among the poor, let alone beggars like us.”<br />
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14. He replied to them, “If you can, come to my village so I can not just show it to you, but will give it to you for free.”<br />
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15. The poor and the beggars gave thanks to the man who gives without return.<br />
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16. The others asked Peter about austerities. Peter replied, explaining what he heard regarding the difficulties of the path. For they are ambassadors of the teaching of austerity.<br />
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17. He asked the man offering the pearls, “Tell me your name and the difficulties of the path to your village because we are foreigners and servants of God. We must equally spread the word of God in every village.”<br />
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18. He replied, saying, “As for my name, it is Lithargoel. This means shining stone of light. As for the path to the village that you asked me about, I will explain: No one can travel that path except someone who has given up everything he has and has daily fasts from time to time. Because there are many thieves and wild animals on that path.<br />
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19. “The dogs of the night will kill those who bring bread on the path. The dogs kill because of the bread. Thieves will kill those who carry expensive clothing from around the world. The wolves kill those who carry water with them because they are thirsty. The tigers eat those who are worried about food and herbs, for the tigers will eat because of the food. If one escapes the tigers, the bulls will kill him for the herbs.”<br />
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20. After he said this, I thought within myself, ‘The path requires great austerities. If only I had the ability to walk on the path of Jesus.’<br />
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21. He saw the sadness on my face and said to me, “Why are you sad? Indeed, you know of Jesus and you have faith in him. He has great authority to give strength. For I also have faith in the LORD that sent him.”<br />
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22. I asked him, “What is the name of the village you will be going to?”<br />
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23. He replied, “The name of my village is Nine Gates. Let’s praise God as we remember that the tenth is the head.”<br />
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24. After this I departed in peace.<br />
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25. I was about to leave and summon my friends when I noticed crests with great high walls around the outside of the village. I was amazed at the wonderful things I saw. I saw an elderly man sitting down and asked him if the village was really named The Abode. He [missing text] “The Abode [missing text].” Then he said, “You speak the truth, for we abide here because we are determined.”<br />
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26. I replied and said, “Rightly [missing text] has it been named [missing text], for all who persist despite being tested, a precious sanctuary arises from the inhabited abodes, for they persist despite abandonment and storms of difficulties. Thus, the abode of all who endure the burden of His faithful refuge will be inhabited, and will be included in the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.”<br />
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27. Without delay I left to summon my friends to travel to the village that Lithargoel suggested for us. With a bond of trust, we gave up everything as he had asked. We avoided the thieves, for they found no garments to their liking among us. We eluded the wolves, for they found no water on us for which they thirsted. We escaped the tigers, for they found no desire for meat amongst us. They found no meat with us. We escaped the bulls [missing text] they found no herbs amongst us.<br />
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28. Feelings of great joy, peace and tranquility came over us in the mood of our Master. We rested in front of the gate, and we conversed amongst each other – not with regard to the attractions of this world – but we furthered our contemplation of the Truth.<br />
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29. Just as we were discussing the thieves on the path that we avoided, a changed Lithargoel approached us. He appeared to be a physician, with a remedy pouch under his arm, and a young disciple following him carrying a bag full of medicine. We didn’t recognize him.<br />
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30. Peter summoned him and said, “Since we are foreigners, could you please take us to the house of Lithargoel before night time?”<br />
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31. He replied, “With a sincere heart I will show you there. Yet I am surprised that you knew this devoted man. As he doesn’t reveal himself to just anyone, for he is the representative of a great king. Take a little rest here so I can go heal someone and return.” He left quickly and returned.<br />
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32. He called out to Peter and this frightened Peter, because how did he know his name was Peter? Peter answered the Savior, “How do you know me? You called my name.”<br />
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33. Lithargoel replied, “I ask you, who gave you the name Peter?”<br />
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34. He told him, “It was Jesus the Anointed [Messiah, Christ], the representative of the living God. He gave me this name.”<br />
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35. He replied, “It is me, Peter. Recognize me.” He loosened his changed clothing, revealing to us the reality of who he was.<br />
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36. We prostrated ourselves on the ground before him and worshipped him. We were eleven of his disciples. He reached out his hand and pulled us up to stand. We conversed humbly with him. We bowed our heads in worthlessness and asked, “What should we do to please you. Give us the ability to constantly do what pleases you.”<br />
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37. He handed us the medicine bag and pouch held by the young disciple. He instructed us, saying, “Go into the village you left, called The Abode. Continue to persist, teaching on my account everyone who has faith. For I have persisted through austerity on behalf of the faith, and you will be rewarded by me. To the needy of the village give what is needed so they can live, so they will have the best of what I have given – that which I instructed you and gave you for free.”<br />
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38. Peter replied, saying, “Master, you taught us to give up the world and all things within it. We have renounced these to please you. But we are needing food for one day. How will we be able to satisfy the needs you ask us for providing the needy?<br />
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39. The Master answered, “Hey Peter, you should have understood the analogy I have explained to you. Don’t you know that what you teach on my account exceeds all wealth? And the wisdom of God exceeds gold, silver and precious jewels?”<br />
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40. He handed them the bag of medicine, saying, “On my behalf, heal everyone in the village who is ill.”<br />
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41. Peter was hesitant to ask him a second time. He motioned to John, who was beside him: “You talk this time.”<br />
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42. John spoke up, “Master, before we were hesitant to say much. But you are asking us to do this. We haven’t had any training to be physicians. How will we know how to heal bodies as you are instructing?”<br />
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43. He answered, “You have spoken correctly, John, because the physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of the soul, however, heal the heart. Therefore, heal the bodies first, with the true healing abilities, without the medicine of the world – so they will trust in you so that you have the opportunity to heal the illnesses of their heart too.<br />
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44. “However, the wealthy people of the village – those who do not feel the need to even acknowledge me, but who take refuge in their riches and positions – do not even dine in their houses nor associate with them, for their bias will influence you.<br />
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45. “Because many in the assemblies have been partial to the wealthy, and because they are so sinful, they offer the opportunities for others to sin. But judge them fairly, so your preaching is glorious, and His Name may be glorified in the assemblies.”<br />
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46. The disciples replied, saying, “Yes, this truly is fitting to do.”<br />
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47. Then they prostrated themselves on the ground before him and worshiped him. He asked them to stand up and left them in peace. Amen.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="htts://www.gospelsofjesus.com/p/epistles-of-john.html">Epistles of John</a></h4><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-43462336330670863242016-06-16T16:24:00.007-07:002020-06-22T16:18:10.781-07:00Didache: The Teaching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">The Didache is a first-century lost Gospel that has been found in Greek and Coptic in multiple ancient libraries. It is one of the earliest Gospels not included in the Bible Canon. This is quite odd because many of the basic teachings in the Didache are mirrored by Jesus' teachings in the Four Gospels. Find below the English translation of the Didache - which means, </i><i style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"The Teaching:"</i></h2><br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Didache</h2><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Teachings of the Master through the Twelve Messengers</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />
</h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter One</h3>1. There are two paths: One of life and one of death – which are vastly different paths from each other.<br />
2. Indeed, the path of life is this: First, love the God who created you;<br />
3. and secondly, your neighbor as yourself: And whatever you wish won’t happen to you, don’t do to another.<br />
4. Abstain from the carnal desires of the body. If someone strikes you in the right jaw, you should also turn the other towards him and be gracious. If you are sent a mile by someone, return for him two. If someone takes off your coat, also give him your shirt. If someone takes from you what is yours, don’t ask for it back, even if you can.<br />
5. Give to anyone who asks of you. Give, and don’t ask for it back, because the Creator is pleased when we give the gifts we have received from Him. Blessed is one who gives according to this instruction, for he is free of debts – but woe to one who takes. For someone who utilizes what is needed has no obligation, but one who utilizes what is not needed will be responsible for what was used and for what purpose. And in the final accounting, one will not become free until he has paid back the last penny.<br />
6. With regard to this, it is said: ‘Let your pennies sweat in your hands until you know to whom you should give.’<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Two</h3>1. The second instruction of the teaching is:<br />
2. Do not murder, nor commit adultery, nor child molestation, nor illicit sex, nor shall you steal, nor practice witchcraft, nor murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn.<br />
3. Do not covet what is your neighbor’s, nor swear or lie, nor speak wickedness, nor hold a grudge.<br />
4. Don’t be duplicitous or deceitful: Deceit is the entrapment of death.<br />
5. Do not give false or empty promises, but back up what you say with your actions.<br />
6. Don’t be greedy, nor be a thief, nor a pretender, nor nefarious or proud. Don’t make wicked plans against your fellow person.<br />
7. Don’t hate any person – indeed, love those who detest you more than your own self.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Three</h3>1. My child, run from all wickedness and from everything like it.<br />
2. Don’t be quick to anger, because anger leads to violence. Nor be jealous nor cruel – out of which all violence comes.<br />
3. My child, don’t become lusty, as this leads to a craving for illicit sex. Nor speak wickedly, nor with pride, because out of these things adulteries are born.<br />
4. My child, don’t follow omens, because this leads to worshiping false gods. Nor astrologers or numerologists, nor diviners. Don’t be interested to see or hear from them, for out of these things the worship of false gods is born.<br />
5. My child, don’t become a liar, because lying leads to stealing. Nor be greedy, nor arrogant, because out of these, stealing is born.<br />
6. My child, don’t become a complainer, because this leads to blasphemy. Nor be selfish or evil-minded, because out of these blasphemies are born.<br />
7. Rather, be humble, because the humble will inherit paradise.<br />
8. Be patient and merciful and straight-forward, and peaceful and good, and revere the teachings you have heard.<br />
9. Don’t glorify yourself, nor be impudent. Your spirit-person may accompany the exalted – but conduct yourself with virtue and humility.<br />
10. Accept the things that come upon you, because nothing takes place without God.<br />
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Chapter Four</h3>1. My child, remember him who teaches the doctrine of God – and honor him as master, for the LORD is present where ever He is spoken of.<br />
2. Those who seek to please the holy ones each day will take shelter in their teachings.<br />
3. Do not create strife. Rather, make peace among fighters. Judge one's failings with understanding.<br />
4. Don’t be duplicitous, regardless of the situation.<br />
5. Don’t stretch out your hands to receive – rather, withdraw them as you give.<br />
6. For by your hands your errors will be redeemed.<br />
7. Don’t hesitate to give, nor grumble when giving – for you should know what is fair compensation of wages.<br />
8. Don’t turn away those in need. Rather, share everything with your brother. And don’t say those things are yours, for you are partners in what is eternal – even more so with what is temporary.<br />
9. Don’t withhold your embrace from your son or your daughter – but from their youth, teach them to revere God.<br />
10. Don’t bitterly command your servant or maidservant who relies upon the same God – or they may cease their reverence to the God who is over both of you. For He comes not just to call people, but for those the Holy Spirit has prepared.<br />
11. Rather, you are servants subject to your master, God’s representative, with humility and reverence.<br />
12. Detest all pretense and everything that is not pleasing to the LORD.<br />
13. Do not abandon the instructions of the LORD. Rather, guard what has been received, and neither add to them nor take away from them.<br />
14. Confess your offenses before others, and don’t pray with wicked intentions. This is the path of life.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />
Chapter Five</h3>1. The path of death is this: Firstly, it is wickedness and cursed with thoughts of violence, adultery, lust, illicit sex, theft, idol worship, witchcraft, sorcery, robbery, lying, pretense, duplicitous, craftiness, pride, evil, selfishness, greediness, foul-mouthed, jealousy, rudeness, superiority, disrespect;<br />
2. persecutors of the devoted; hating truth; loving lies; not knowing the benefits of virtue; not having associated with devotion nor righteous judgment; not caring for devotion, but only for wickedness; being far from gentleness and patience; loving vanity; pursuing vengeance; not merciful to those in need; not tending to the afflicted; ignoring Him who created them; murdering children; corrupting the creatures of God; turning away the needy; afflicting the oppressed; advocating the wealthy; being lawless judges of the poor; wholly wicked. Withdraw yourselves, children, from all of these.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />
Chapter Six</h3>1. See that no teaching makes you stray from this path, for such teaching is without God.<br />
2. If indeed you can completely take refuge in the LORD you will be perfect. But if you can’t, then do as best as you can.<br />
3. Concerning food: Sustain yourself as you can, but be careful not to eat from what is offered to idols because this is the worship of dead deities.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Seven</h3>1. With regard to baptism, immerse anyone within the water that is living by first saying, ‘Be baptized in the Name of the Creator and the Representative and the Holy Spirit.’<br />
2. But if you don’t have living water, then baptize with some other water. And if you don’t have cold, then use warm.<br />
3. But if you have neither, pour water on the head three times ‘in the Name of the Creator, the Representative and the Holy Spirit.’<br />
4. And before the baptism, the baptizer and he who will be baptized should fast – and anyone else who is able. Then you should request the person who will be baptized to fast a day or two prior.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Eight</h3>1. But don’t fast with the hypocrites. They fast on the second and the fifth Sabbath. You can fast on the fourth and the day before the Sabbath.<br />
2. Nor should you pray like the pretenders, but as requested by the Master in the Gospel of God, thus you should pray:<br />
‘Our Creator in the spiritual realm;<br />
Your Name is holy;<br />
let Your sanctuary avail;<br />
let Your will be done on earth as it is in the spiritual realm;<br />
give us sufficient bread today;<br />
and forgive our debts;<br />
as we forgive our debtors;<br />
and deliver us not into temptation;<br />
but rescue us from wickedness;<br />
for You are the Almighty – may You be glorified forever.’<br />
3. Pray like this three times a day.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />
Chapter Nine</h3>1. With regard to making offerings, make offerings like this:<br />
2. First with regard to the cup:<br />
‘We make this offering to You, our Creator,<br />
over the holy vine of Your servant David,<br />
revealed to us through Your servant Jesus.<br />
May You be glorified forever.’<br />
3. With regard to the broken bread:<br />
‘We offer this to You, our Creator,<br />
over the life and knowledge<br />
revealed to us through Your servant Jesus.<br />
May You be glorified forever.’<br />
4. ‘Just as one who scattered bread crumbs beyond the mountains and then gathered them together, those who call on You will be gathered from the ends of the earth into Your sanctuary, for You are the Almighty – may You be glorified through Jesus the Anointed [Messiah, Christ] forever.’<br />
5. No one should eat nor drink from the offering except those who are immersed in the Name of the LORD: And because of this, the Master said: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs.”<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Ten</h3>1. Yet once satisfied, offer thanks thus:<br />
2. ‘We offer thanks to You, Holy Creator,<br />
for Your Holy Name that dwells within our hearts<br />
and the knowledge and faith and imperishability,<br />
which You revealed to us through Jesus Your Servant.<br />
May You be glorified forever.<br />
3. ‘Almighty LORD, You created everything for Your Name’s sake, and you gave food and drink to humanity to be filled through offerings to You. However, You granted us spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through Jesus Your servant.<br />
4. ‘Above all, we offer our thanks to You, for You are Almighty and may You be glorified forever.<br />
5. ‘Remember, LORD, those who call upon You. Rescue us from all wickedness and make us perfect in Your love. Gathered from the four winds is the holy one who prepares us for Your sanctuary, for You are the Almighty – may You be glorified forever.<br />
6. ‘May Your Grace be revealed, and may the world pass away! All glories to the God of David! May those who are holy be revealed, and if someone isn’t, then let him have a change of heart as the LORD becomes revealed, Amen.’<br />
7. As to the prophets – let us make offerings as they do.<br />
8.[Coptic manuscript only] With regard to the anointing, which is offering:<br />
9.[Coptic manuscript only] ‘We offer our thanks to you, our Holy Creator, over the anointment, that has been made known to us through Your Representative Jesus. May You be glorified forever.’<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Eleven</h3>1. Accept one who appears and teaches you all of these things.<br />
2. If the spiritual teacher perverts the teachings and teaches another doctrine, do not listen to him. But if his teachings enable an increase in devotion and knowledge of the LORD, then accept him as you would accept the LORD.<br />
3. With regard to the messengers and spiritual teachers – according to the Gospel – act accordingly.<br />
4. However, every messenger who approaches you should be received as the Lord.<br />
5. But let him stay for a day or two – but if he stays for three days, he is a false teacher.<br />
6. And when a messenger departs, he should accept nothing except for bread until he rests. If he asks for money instead, he is a false teacher.<br />
7. Don’t judge or examine the spiritual teacher who speaks by the Spirit. For all offenses will be forgiven – but this offense won’t be forgiven.<br />
8. Yet not every person who speaks by the Spirit is a spiritual teacher – only if he acts on behalf of the LORD. The false teacher and the true spiritual teacher will be known by their actions.<br />
9. A spiritual teacher who announces a sacrifice in the Spirit won’t eat from it. Otherwise, he is a false teacher.<br />
10. Any spiritual teacher who teaches the Truth and does not practice what he teaches is a false teacher.<br />
11. Every spiritual teacher who proves to be genuine – ministering from the mysteries of the transcendental assembly: If he does not practice what he teaches he can be judged by you, because he will have his judgment with God – for this is as it was for the spiritual teachers of ancient times.<br />
12. But whoever says by the Spirit, ‘give me money or something else,’ you shouldn’t listen to him. But if he tells you to give on behalf of others in need, then no one should judge him.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Twelve</h3>1. Receive anyone who approaches you calling upon the Name of the LORD– but after examining him you will know him, for you know what is right and wrong.<br />
2. If the one who approaches is transient, help him to the degree you can, but he shouldn’t remain with you more than two or three days if need be.<br />
3. If he wants to stay with you and he has a trade, let him work and eat.<br />
4. If he doesn’t have a trade to your knowledge, care for him, providing that no Christian will live among you idly. But if he is not willing to work, he is using the Anointed [Messiah, Christ]. Beware of such people.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Thirteen</h3>1. Any true spiritual teacher who will live among you deserves food.<br />
2. In the same way, the true spiritual teacher – just as the laborer – deserves food.<br />
3. Therefore, all the fruits born of the press and the threshing, as well as oxen and sheep, should first be offered to the spiritual teachers, because they are your high priests.<br />
4. But if you don’t have a spiritual teacher, then give to the poor.<br />
5. If you make bread, first offer it according to the instruction.<br />
6. Otherwise, when you open a flask of juice or oil, first offer it to the spiritual teachers.<br />
7. Regarding money and clothes – and all of your possessions – first offer these as best you can, according to the instruction.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Fourteen</h3>1. On the LORD’s day of service, come together to break bread and make offerings to the LORD, and confess your offenses to purify your sacrifice.<br />
2. But no one who is in conflict with another should come together until they are reconciled, so your sacrifice will not be offensive.<br />
3. For the LORD says, “In every place and time, make a pure offering to Me, for I am the Great King and My Name is wonderful among the people.”<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Fifteen</h3>1. Therefore, choose for yourselves a spiritual leader and elders who are devoted to the LORD – those who are humble and not lovers of money; honest and authoritative; for they will help you cultivate the teachings of the saints and spiritual teachers.<br />
2. Now don’t despise them, for you should honor them together with the saints and spiritual teachers.<br />
3. And chastise others not with hostility, but rather with the peace as found in the Gospel. And one who doesn’t treat others with respect should not speak to others, nor should you hear from them until they have a change of heart.<br />
4. But your prayers and offerings and every deed you do should be as held in the Gospel of your LORD.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Chapter Sixteen</h3>1. Be careful about your life: Don’t extinguish your lamps, nor loosen your loins. Instead prepare yourselves, for you know not the hour our LORD will appear.<br />
2. But gather often and seek that which benefits your spirit-person, for all your faith has no benefit unless you are found perfect at the time of death.<br />
3. Because as time goes on, false prophets will multiply, and the tempter will convert the sheep into wolves, and love into hate.<br />
4. And because lawlessness increases, hatred for one another will follow, and betrayal. Then the deceiver of the world will appear to be God’s representative, doing wonders and miracles, betraying the world for himself and creating lawlessness like never seen before.<br />
5. Then the human creation will receive a scorching testing, and those who are offenders will perish. But the faithful shall endure, and be saved from the wickedness.<br />
6. Then the signs of Truth will be revealed. The sign is first transmitted from heaven, then the sign of the horn is sounded, and thirdly, the rising from the dead body.<br />
7. But not for everyone – but only for those who call upon the LORD and the Saints devoted to Him.<br />
8. Then the world will see the LORD present on high, within the spiritual realm.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/07/the-acts-of-peter-and-twelve-messengers.html">Acts of Peter and the Twelve Messengers</a></h4><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3623593703434535853.post-68253496587840152902016-05-25T16:18:00.002-07:002020-06-22T16:18:16.473-07:00Gospel of Peter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><i>The following is a fragment of the <b>Gospel according to Peter</b>. This lost Gospel was discovered in 1886 buried in a monk’s grave in a cemetery at Akhmim, Egypt. Other fragments were also found with this, including a portion of what is called the Revelation of Peter and a fragment of the Book of Enoch. It is obvious from the fragmentary nature of the parchments that the following is a small portion of the entire Gospel of Peter, which was also cited by early church fathers in the Second Century.</i><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">The Gospel of Peter</h3><br />
1. [Preceding text of the Gospel missing] yet none of the Judeans – neither Herod nor any of his judges – washed their hands. And because they didn’t want to wash, Pilate stood up.<br />
2. Then the ruler Herod ordered the Master be taken away. He said to them, “Do what I have ordered you to do to him.”<br />
3. There also stood Joseph, who was an associate of Pilate – and the Master. And knowing they were going to crucify him, he approached Pilate, requesting the Master’s body for burial.<br />
4. Pilate sent to Herod a request for the body.<br />
5. Then Herod said, “Brother Pilate, alas, even if no one had requested the body, we would have buried it because of the approaching Sabbath. As it is written in the law, 'Do not allow the sun to set on a body that has died from execution.' Then he delivered the body to them before the feast day of the unleavened bread.<br />
6. Then they took the Master and, circling him, they were pushing him around and saying, “Let’s shove the servant of God since we have control over his freedom.”<br />
7. Then they covered him with a purple robe and sat him down upon the judgment bench, and said, “Judge righteously, leader of Israel.”<br />
8. Then someone brought a wreath of thorns and put it on the head of the Master.<br />
9. And others who stood by spat into his eyes and others smacked him in the face. Others pierced him and some whipped him, saying, “Let’s honor the servant of God with this honor.”<br />
10. Then they took along two criminals and crucified the Master in the middle, between them. Yet he remained silent as though he felt no pain.<br />
11. Then when they set the stake standing, they wrote upon it, “This is the leader of Israel.”<br />
12. Then after they had taken his clothes from him, they divided them up and cast lots for them.<br />
13. Then one of the criminals chastised them and said, “We are suffering this way because of the wicked things that we did, but he – the Savior of humanity – what crime has he done to you?”<br />
14. Then they became angry at him and ordered the criminal’s legs not be broken so that he would die from being tortured.<br />
15. Then the mid-day came and darkness came over all of Judea. They became troubled and anxious because the sun had gone down, because he was still alive and it is written that the sun not set upon a body that died from execution.<br />
16. Then one of them said, “Give him to drink bitter herb with vinegar.” Then after mixing it, they forced him to drink it.<br />
17. Thus they accomplished everything and their sins were completely brought upon their heads.<br />
18. Many of the people walked around with torches because they considered it nighttime and didn’t want to trip and fall.<br />
19. Then the Master called out loudly and said, “O Omniscient – my Omniscient, you have abandoned me.” Then after saying this, he was taken up.<br />
20. Then at the same time, the curtain of the Temple in Jerusalem was torn apart.<br />
21. Then they pulled out the nails from the hands of the Master’s body and set it on the ground. Then the entire ground began to shake and they became greatly afraid.<br />
22. Then the sun began to shine and it was determined that it was the ninth hour.<br />
23. Thus the Jews rejoiced and handed over his body to Joseph so that he would bury it – since he had witnessed the great things that he did.<br />
24. Removing the body of the Master, he washed it and wrapped it in linen and took it to his own tomb within what is called the garden of Joseph.<br />
25. Then the Jews and the elders and chief priests knew the evil they had done. They started to regret, saying, “Cursed be our sinfulness. The judgment and the end of Jerusalem will soon be upon us.”<br />
26. At this time, I was grieving with my associates. We were hurting within our hearts and should have hidden ourselves. For we were being sought as criminals and accused of setting the Temple on fire.<br />
27. We fasted and considered all this and we remained grieving and weeping day and night until the Sabbath.<br />
28. Then the teachers of the law, the Pharisees and the elders met together when they heard that the people were complaining and regretting, saying, “Since these great signs happened when he died, this means he was devoted.”<br />
29. The elders were fearful and approached Pilate and urged him, saying,<br />
30. “Give us soldiers to guard the tomb for three days and keep his followers from getting in and stealing his body, and causing the people to claim that he appeared from the dead and make trouble for us.”<br />
31. So Pilate gave them the Centurion Petronius along with soldiers to guard the tomb. And the elders and scribes accompanied them to the tomb.<br />
32. Then after they rolled a large stone in front, along with the centurions and soldiers, everyone stood there at the tomb entrance.<br />
33. They plastered seven seals upon it and pitched a tent there to keep watch.<br />
34. Then early the next morning, as the Sabbath dawned, a crowd of people came from Jerusalem and neighboring areas to see the tomb that was sealed.<br />
35. Yet during the night, as Sunday dawned, and as the soldiers were keeping watch in pairs, a loud voice descended from the heavens.<br />
36. Then they saw the heavens open and two radiant men descended, and approached the tomb.<br />
37. Then the stone that had been put in front of the entrance rolled away from it and partly opened the entrance. As the tomb was open, the two youthful men went inside.<br />
38. After seeing this, the guards woke up the centurion and elders, as they were all there to keep watch.<br />
39. Then as they were describing what they saw, they saw three men coming out of the tomb – two supporting the other, accompanied by a stake.<br />
40. The heads of the two reached up to the heavens and the head of the one they held by the hand reached above the heavens.<br />
41. Then they heard a voice from heaven say, “Did you preach to those who are sleeping?”<br />
42. From the stake a reply was heard, saying, “Yes.”<br />
43. Then they decided together to go and tell Pilate what had happened.<br />
44. While they were still debating this, the heavens opened again and a man appeared, who descended and went into the tomb.<br />
45. Then all those with the centurion that night, who saw these things happen, left the tomb they were guarding and hurried off to Pilate. There they described everything they saw, being very fearful, saying, “Truly this was the representative of God!”<br />
46. Then Pilate replied, saying, “I am clean of the blood of the representative of God. This was decided by you.”<br />
47. Then everyone requested from him and made him promise to instruct the centurion and the guards not to tell anyone what they saw.<br />
48. They said, “Because it is better for us to be guilty before God for this great wickedness than to fall into the hands of the Judeans and be stoned to death.”<br />
49. So Pilate instructed the centurion and the guards to say nothing.<br />
50. Mary Magdalene, a female disciple of the Master, fearful of the Jews because they were inflamed with anger, had not performed what women often did at the tombs of those they loved who had died. However, early on the day of the Master,<br />
51. she brought her friends and they went to the tomb where his body was laid.<br />
52. They were fearful that the Jews might see, and they said, “Though we were unable to weep and grieve at the time he was crucified, let us now do this at the tomb.<br />
53. “But who will move aside the stone that was put at the entrance for us so we can go in and do those things we ought to do?<br />
54. “Because the stone is large and we are fearful that we might be seen, if we can’t go inside, we can put what we brought in his memory at the entrance. We can weep and grieve until we return to our dwellings.”<br />
55. As they approached, they found the tomb open. Then looking inside, they saw a young man sitting in the middle of the tomb. He had a fair complexion and was dressed in a radiant robe. He said to them:<br />
56. “From where have you come? Who do you seek? Certainly not him who was crucified. He has risen and departed. If you don’t believe it, look in and see the place where his body was laid. He is not there. For he has risen and has departed to where he was sent.<br />
57. Then the women became fearful and ran off.<br />
58. Now it was the last day of the unleavened bread and many had come from the city and were returning<br />
59. to their own homes as the feast had ended. But we, the twelve disciples of the Master, were weeping and grieving. And each who grieved for what happened<br />
60. left for his own dwelling. But I, Simon Peter, and Andrew my brother, took our nets and left to go to sea. And with us was Levi the son of Alphaeus, whom the Master [remaining text of the Gospel missing]<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">Continue on to the <a href="https://www.gospelsofjesus.com/2016/02/secret-gospel-of-james-apocryphon-of.html">Secret Gospel of James</a></h4><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07078229100116402956noreply@blogger.com