The Second Apocalypse of James.
translated by Charles W.Hedrick
This is the discourse that James the just spoke in Jerusalem,
which Mareim, one of the priests wrote. He had told it to Theuda,
the father of the Just One, since he was a relative of his. He
said, "Hasten, Come with Mary, your wife and your relatives
[...] therefore [...] of this [...] to [him, he will] understand.
For behold, a multitude are disturbed over his [...], and they
are greatly angry [at him....] and they pray [...]. For [he would]
often say these words and others also." "He used to
speak these words while the multitude of people were seated.
But (on this occasion) he entered and did sit down in the
place, as was his custom. Rather he sat above the fifth flight
of the steps, [which] is (highly) esteemed, while all our people.
[...] the words [...]." "[...]. I am he who received
revelation from the Pleroma (of) Imperishability. (I am) he who
was first summoned by him who is great, and who obeyed the [Lord]
- he who passed [through] the [worlds...] he who [...he who]
stripped [himself and] went about naked, he who was found in
a perishable (state), though he was about to be brought up into
imperishability. - This Lord who is present [came] as a son who
sees, and as a brother [was he sought]. He will come to [...]
produced him because [...] and he unites [...] make him free
[...] in [...] he who came [to...]. "Now again am I rich
in knowledge [and] I have a unique [understanding], which was
produced only from above and the [...] comes from a [...]. I
am the [...] whom I knew. That which was revealed to me was hidden
from everyone and shall only be revealed through him. These two
who see I <...> (and) they have already proclaimed through
these [words]: "He shall be judged with the [unrighteous]".
He who lived [without] blasphemy died by means of [blasphemy].
He who was cast out they [...]. """ [...the] flesh
[and] it is by knowledge that I shall come forth from the [flesh].
I am surely dying, but it is in life that I shall come forth
[in...] judge [...I do] not bring blame against the servants
of his [...]. I hasten to make them free and want to take them
above him who wants to rule over them. If they are helped, I
am the brother in secret , who prayed to the Father [until he...]
in [...] reign [...imperishability ...] first in [...].
I [am the] first [son] I who was begotten. - He will
destroy the dominion of [them] all. - I am the beloved. I
am the righteous one. I am the son of [the Father]. I
speak even as [I] heard. I commandI even as I [received]
the order. I show you (pl.) even as I have [found].
Behold, I speak in order that I may come forth. Pay attention
in order that you may see me!<"br> "If I I have
come into existence, who then am I? For I did come as I
am, nor would I have appeared as I am. For I used to exist for
a brief period of time [. . .]." "'Once when I was
sitting Ideliberating, [he] opened [the] door. That one whom
you hated and persecuted came in to me. He said to me, "Hail,
my brother; my brother, hail." As I raised my [face] to
stare at him, (my) mother said to me, "Do not be frightened,
my son, because he saicl 'My brother' to you , For you (pl.)
were nourished with this same milk. Because of this he calls
me "My mother". For he is not a stranger to us. He
is your [step-brother...]." "'"[. . .] these words
[. . .] great [. . .] I shall [find] them, and [they shall come]
I forth. [However], I am the stranger, and they have no knowledge
of me in [their] thoughts, for they know me in [this place].
But it was fitting that others know through you. "'"
the one to whom I say: Hear and understand - for a multitude,
when they hear, will be slow witted. But you, understand as I
shall be able to tell you. Your father isnot my father. But my
father has become a father to [you]. "This virgin about
whom you hear - this is how; . . . [...] virgin [...] namely,
the virgin. I [...], how [...] to me for [ ...] to know not as
[. . .] whom I [. . .]. For this one (masc.) [ . . .] to him,
I and this also is profitable for you. Your father, whom you
consider to be [rich], shall grant that you inherit all these
(things) that you see. ''''I proclaim to you to tell you these
(words) that I shall speak. When you hear, therefore, open your
ears and understand and walk (accordingly)! It is because of
you that they pass by, activated by that one who is glorious.
And if they want to make a disturbance and (seize) possession
[...] he began [. . .] not, nor those who are [coming], who were
sent forth [by] him to make this present [creation]. Atter [these
things, when he] is ashamed, he shall be disturbed that his labor,
which is far [from] the aeons, is nothing. And his inheritance
, which he boasted to be great, shall appear small. And his gifts
are not blessings. His promises are evil schemes. For you are
not an (instrument) of his compassion, but it is through you
that he does violence. He wants to do injustice to us, and Wilj
exercise dominion for a time allotted to him. "'"But
I understand and know the Father who has compassion. He was not
given an inheritance that was unlimited, [nor] does (his inheritance)
[have] a (limited)number of days, but it is as [the] eternal
[day . . . ] " it is [. . .] perceive [. . .]. And he used
[. ..] For in fact he is not one (come) from [them], (and) because
of this he [is despised]. Because of this he [boasts], so that
he may not be reproved. For because of this he is superior to
those who are below, for those who are below, those by whom you
were looked down upon. After he imprisioned those from the Father,
he seized them and fashioned them to resemble himself. And it
is with him that they exist. "I saw from the height those
(things) that happened, and I have explained how they happened.
They^ were visited while they were in another form, while I was
watching, [they] came to know as I am through those whom
I know. '''''Now before those (things) [have happened] they will
make a [...]. I know [how] they attempted [to come] down to this
place [that] he might approach [ . . . ] the small children,
[but, I] wish to reveal through you and the [spirit of power],
in order that he might reveal [to those] who are yours. and those
who wish to enter, and who seek to walk in the way that is before
the door, open the good do or through you. And they i follow
you; they enter [and you] escort them inside, and give a reward
to each one who is ready for it.
For you are not the redeemer nor a helper of strangers.
You are an illuminator and a redeemer of those who are
mine, and now of those who are yours. You shall reveal
(to them); you shall bring good among them all. You [they
shall] admire because of every powerful (deed). You are
he whom the heavens bless. You he shall envy, he [who
has] called himself your [lord]. I am the [...] [those
who] are instructed in these (things) with [you]. For
your sake they will be told [these (things)], and will
come to rest. For your sake they will reign, [and
will] become kings .For [your] sake they will have pity
on whomever they pity. For just as you are first having
clothed yourself, you are also the first who will strip himself.
and you shall become las you were before you were stripped."
"'And he kissed my mouth. He took hold of me saying, "My
beloved! Behold, I shall reveal to you those (things) that (neither)
[the] heavens nor their archons have known. Behold, I shall reveal
to you those (things) that he did not know, he who [boasted,
there is no] other except me. Am I not alive? I Because I am
a father, [do] I [not have power] for everything?" Behold,
I shall reveal to you everything, my beloved. [Understand] and
know them [that] you may come forth just as I am. Behold, I [shall]
reveal to you him who [is hidden]. But now, stretch out your
[hand]. Now, take hold of me." [And] then I stretched out
my I hands and I did not find him as I thought (he would be).
But afterward I heard him ''Understand and take hold of me."
Then I understood, and I was afraid. And I was exceedingly joyful.
"'Therefore, I tell you (pl.), judges, you have been judged.
And you did not spare, but you were spared. Be sober and [. .
. ] you did not [know].
He was that one whom he who created the heaven and the
earth and dwelled in it, did not see. He was [this one
who] is the life. He was the light. He was that one who
will come to be.
And again he shall provide [an] end for what has begun
and a beginning for what is about to be ended. He was
the Holy Spirit and the Invisible One, who did descend upon
the earth. He was the virgin, and that which he wishes happens
to him. I saw that he was naked, and there was no garment
clothing him. That which he wills happens to him [...].
"'[Renounce] this difficult way, which is (so) variable,
I [and] walk in accordance with him who desires [that] you become
free men [with] me, after you have passed above every [dominion].
For he will not [Judge] (you) for those (things) that you did,
but will have mercy on you. For (it is) not you that did them,
but it is [your] Lord (that did them). [He was not] a wrathful
one, but he was a kind Father. "But you have judged [yourselves],
and because of this you will remain in their fetters. You have
oppressed yourselves, and you will repent, (but) you will not
profit at all. Behold him who speaks and seek him who is silent.
Know him who came to this place, and understand him who went
forth (from it). I am the Just One, and I do (not) judge. I am
not a master, then, but I am a helper. He was cast out before
he stretched out his hand. I [. . .]. '''[...] and he allows
me to hear. and play your trumpets, your flutes and your harps
[of this house]. The Lord has taken you captive from the Lord,
having closed your ears, that they may not hear the sound of
my word. Yet you [will be able to pay] heed in your hearts, [and]
you will call me "the just one." Therefore, I tell
you: Behold, I gave you your house, which you say that God has
made, - that (house) in which he promised to give you an inheritance
throught it. This (house) I shall doom to destruction and derision
of those who are in ignorance. For behold, those who judge deliberarately
[...] "[On] that day all the [people] and the crowd were
disturbed, and they showed that they had not been persuaded.
And he arose and went forth speaking in this imanner]. And he
entered (again) on the same day and spoke a few hours. And I
was with the priests and revealed nothing1 of the relationship,
since all of them were sayin with one voice, 'come, let us stone
the just one.' and they arose saying, 'Yes, let i us kill this
man, that he may be taken from our midst. For he will be of no
use to us.' 'And they were there and found him standing beside
the columns of the temple beside the mighty corner stone . And
they decided to throw him down from the height, and they cast
him down. And they [...] they [...]. They seized him and [struck]
him as they dragged him upon the ground. They stretched him out,
and placed a stone on his abdomen. They all placed their feet
on him, saying ' You have erred ! ' "Again they raised him
up, since he was alive, and made him dig a hole. They made him
stand in it. After having covered him up his abdomen, they stoned
him in this manner. "And he stretched out his hands and
said this prayer - not that (one) which it is his custom to say:
'My God and my father, who saved me from this dead
hope, who made me alive through a mystery of what he wills,
do not let these days of this world be prolonged for me,
but the day of your (sg.) [light . . .] remains in [...]
salvation. Deliver me from this I [place of] sojourn! Do
not let your grace be left behind in me, but may your grace
become pure! Save me from an evil death! Bring me from
a tomb alive, because your grace - love - is alive in me
to accomplish a work of fullness! Save me from sinful
flesh, beause l trusted in you with all my strength! because
you are the life of the life, save me from a humiliating
enemy! Do not give me into the hand of a judge who is
severe with sin! Forgive me all my debts of the days (of
my life)! Because I am alive in you, your grace is alive
in me. I have renounced everyone, but you I have confessed.
Save me from evil affliction! But now is the [time] and
the hour. O Holy [Spirit], send [me] salvation [ . .
. ] the light [ . . . ] the light [...] in a power [...].
"After he [spoke, he] fell silent [. . .] word [. . . afterward
. .]the discourse [...]."
selection made from James M.Robinson(ed): The Nag Hammadi
Library, revised edition. HarperCollins, San Fransisco 1990.ISBN
0-06066935-7. |