"The writings of Scripture were shaped and hammered out in the blacksmith shop of real life " (Lace)

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1 HOW THE BIBLE CAME TO US: ITS WRITING, USE, AND AUTHORITY LUTHER SEMINARY, LAY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY MARCH 19 APRIL 16 James L. Boyce SESSION 4: APRIL 9 WHICH WRITINGS SHALL WE USE? COLLECTION, ACCEPTANCE, AUTHORITY "The writings of Scripture were shaped and hammered out in the blacksmith shop of real life " (Lace) The writings grew out of the heart of a living, witnessing, suffering, worshipping community of ordinary people. In the same way, it was out of the actual needs and circumstances of people that there sprang the final decision about which books were to be treated as authoritative, that is, recognized by the Church as a whole as carrying weight. What Shall We Read? Aspects of Collection - Selection Preservation (Canon) Gradual process of collection/ selection By first century CE: Law, Prophets, Writings 1. Christians take over this list 2. Intertestamental literature (Apocrypha)? Resulted from use and needs of the community - what is authoritative Informal - in general no committee or council made a decision Not all accept the same lists Arrangement thematic or formal, not chronological Two tendencies reflected: 1. Expansion - versus those who tried to restrict the message and witness 2. Limitation - versus those who endangered the faithful witness of the gospel Key: preservation of the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ (cf. Eusebius) o Used by all the churches o Witnesses to gospel of Jesus Christ o Connection to the Apostles (apostolic) Summary implications: Bible at every point is the product of the community of faith - the collected record of believers' witness Bible is not God, but the word of God, one way that God addresses us within history Thus must be understood within and among that community of faith In its variety of experience that community open to a variety of understandings of what God is doing Two terms - two perspectives: Scripture Bible People of the Word We read as ones called into being by the Word of God Session 4: Suggested Reading Craig Koester, A Beginner s Guide to Reading the Bible, Chap. 5; pp David Lose, Making Sense of Scripture, chaps. 1 & 3, pp , Lutheran Study Bible; Introduction to the Bible, pp J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 1

2 The Apocrypha: A special case (see list) Approx. 15 books traditionally included between OT and NT history, romantic tales, additions to canonical books Written ca B.C.E in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Apocrypha o hidden o heretical Jewish Use: Post 70 C.E. (Jamnia 90), excluded (not Hebrew, Christian use) Christian Use divided o Tradition / Canonical use (Augustine, Vulgate, Rome, Trent 1546) o Non-canonical in view of Hebrew scriptures (Jerome, Wycliffe 1382, Martin Luther : not scripture but useful for reading/edification ) KJV (1611) soon began to omit 1827: British and Foreign Bible Society/ American Bible Society exclude from printed editions Roman Catholic: deutero-canonical Protestants: none accept as canonical Anglican: instructive and edifying (39 Articles) Calvin: explicitly rejected (Westminster Confession) Excluded Works: Old Testament Related (see list and Early Jewish Writings: URL Jewish origin but outside the OT Canon and Apocrypha Written between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek o Expansions of the Old Testament o Apocalypses (special revelatory visions of the future) o Legendary histories o Collections of Psalms/Prayers/Odes o Wisdom Literature Excluded Works: New Testament Related (see list and URL Christian origin outside the NT canon Written post NT (post 100 C.E.) in Greek, Coptic, Syriac Some trivial, some theatrical, some almost embarrassing Amplifying/ embroidering canonical writings or special sectarian revelations Highlighting doctrines: e.g. virgin birth, physical resurrection, second coming, future state, the torments of the damned Legendary amplification of stories of big names from past (e.g. birth of Mary and upbringing in temple (Acts of Thomas) 1. Gospels o Expansion of stories of gospels (Gospel of Hebrews, Gospel of Egyptians) o Infancy gospels (Protevangelium of James, Gospel of Thomas) o Passion gospels (Gospel of Peter 1884, Acts of Pilate, Gospel of Bartholomew [questions posed to Jesus after resurrection]) 2. Acts o Acts of John, Paul, Peter, Andrew, Thomas, etc o Flashy romances ending in passion o Grossly legendary stories such as Acts of Andrew and Paul 3. Letters 4. Apocalypses o e.g. tours of heaven and hell personally conducted by apostles (Apocalypse of Paul) Resources: New Testament Apocrypha. ed. E. Hennecke and W. Schneemelder. 2 vols.; Bart Ehrman, Lost Christianities; Apocrypha in Interpreter s Dictionary of the Bible J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 2

3 Books of the Apocrypha 1 & 2 Esdras Tobit Judith Additions to Esther Wisdom of Solomon Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach (Sirach) Baruch Letter of Jeremiah Prayer of Azariah & the Three Young Men Susanna Bel and the Dragon Prayer of Manasseh 1, 2, 3, 4 Maccabees Psalm 151, 330 Excluded Books: Old Testament Related Apocalypse of Abraham Apocalypse of Adam Testament of Adam Life of Adam and Eve Ahiqar Letter of Aristeas Aristeas the Exegete Aristobulus Artapanus 2,3,4 Baruch Cleodemus Malchus Damascus Document Apocalypse of Daniel More Psalms of David Demetrius the Chronographer Eldad and Modad Apocalypse of Elijah 1, 2, 3 Enoch Eupolemus Pseudo-Eupolemus Aprocryphon of Ezekiel Ezekiel the Tragedian 4 Ezra Greek Apocalypse of Ezra Questions of Ezra Revelation of Ezra Vision of Ezra Fragments of Pseudo-Greek Poets Apocryphon of Genesis Pseudo-Hecataeus Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah Ladder of Jacob Prayer of Jacob Jannes and Jambres Paralipomena of Jeremiah Testament of Job Joseph and Asenath History of Joseph Prayer of Joseph Jubilees Syriac Menander Assumption of Moses Testament of Moses Book of the Mysteries Orphica Philo the Epic Poet Pseudo-Philo Pseudo-Phocylides Lives of the Prophets History of the Rechabites Apocalypse of Sedrach Treatise of Shem Sibylline Oracles Odes of Solomon Psalms of Solomon Testament of Solomon Theodotus Testaments of the Three Patriarchs Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs War Scroll Apocalypse of Zephaniah Excluded Works: New Testament Related Gospels Gospel of Apelles Memoirs of the Apostles Arabic Infancy Gospel Armenian Infancy Gospel Assumption of the Virgin Gospel of Bardesanes Gospel of Bartholomew Book of Resurrection of Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle Gospel of Basilides Gospel of Cerinthus Christ s Descent into Hell Gospel of the Ebionites Gospel the Egyptians Gospel of the Four Heavenly Regions Gospel of the Hebrews Apocryphon of James Protevangelium of James 2 Books of Jehu Apocryphon of John History of Joseph the Carpenter Gospel of Judas Latin Infancy Gospel Gospel of Mani Gospel of Marcion Secret Gospel of Mark Gospel of the Birth of Mary Gospel of Mary Questions of Mary Gospel of Matthias Gospel of the Nazarenes Gospel of Perfection Gospel of Peter Gospel of Philip Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew Gospel of the Seventy Dialog of the Savior Gospel of Thomas Book of Thomas the Contender Infancy Story of Thomas Gospel of Truth Gospel of the Twelve Apostles Manichaean Gospel of the Twelve Apostles Gospel of the Twelve Wisdom of Jesus Christ Acts Apostolic History of Abdias Acts of Andrew Fragmentary Story of Andrew Acts of Andrew and Matthias Acts of Andrew and Paul Acts of Barnabas Pseudo-Clementine Homilies Ascents of James Acts of James the Great Acts of John Acts of John by Prochorus Martyrdom of Matthew Acts of Paul Passion of Paul Acts of Peter Passion of Peter Preaching of Peter Slavonic Acts of Peter Acts of Peter and Andrew Acts of Peter and Paul Passion of Peter and Paul Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles Acts of Philip Acts of Pilate Life of John by Serapion Acts of Thaddaeus Acts of Thomas Acts of Twelve Apostles Letters Letters of Christ and Abgarus Letter of the Apostles 3 Corinthians Letter of Eugnostos Letter of Peter to James Contestatio of James Apocryphon of James Letter to the Laodiceans Letter of Lentulus Letters of Paul and Seneca Letter of Peter to Philip Apocryphal Letter of Titus Apocalypses Apocalypse of Dositheus Apocalypse of James Apocalypse of Messos Apocalypse of Paul Coptic Apocalypse of Paul Apocalypse of Peter Coptic Apocalypse of Peter Apocalypse of Stephen Apocalypse of Thomas Apocalypse of the Virgin Apocalypse of Zostrianus Other Agrapha Apostolic Constitutions & Canons Melkon Oxyrhynchus Sayings of Jesus Teachings of Silvanus Pistis Sophia J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 3

4 Excluded Works: Selected Examples Old Testament Related Sirach (ca. 180 B.C. /trans. 132) (Apocrypha)? 17:1 The Lord created human beings out of earth, and makes them return to it again. 2 He gave them a fixed number of days, but granted them authority over everything on the earth. 3 He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image. 4 He put the fear of them in all living beings, and gave them dominion over beasts and birds. 5 6 Discretion and tongue and eyes, ears and a mind for thinking he gave them. 7 He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil. 8 He put the fear of him into their hearts to show them the majesty of his works. 9 to proclaim the grandeur of his works. 10 And they will praise his holy name, 11 He bestowed knowledge upon them, and allotted to them the law of life. 12 He established with them an eternal covenant, and revealed to them his decrees. 13 Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice. 14 He said to them, "Beware of all evil." And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor. 15 Their ways are always known to him; they will not be hid from his eyes He appointed a ruler for every nation, but Israel is the Lord's own portion All their works are as clear as the sun before him, and his eyes are ever upon their ways. 20 Their iniquities are not hidden from him, and all their sins are before the Lord One's almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord, and he will keep a person's kindness like the apple of his eye. 23 Afterward he will rise up and repay them, and he will bring their recompense on their heads. 24 Yet to those who repent he grants a return, and he encourages those who are losing hope. Bel and the Dragon (Apocrypha)? 1:1 When King Astyages was laid to rest with his ancestors, Cyrus the Persian succeeded to his kingdom. 2 Daniel was a companion of the king, and was the most honored of all his friends. 3 Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel, and every day they provided for it twelve bushels of choice flour and forty sheep and six measures of wine. 4 The king revered it and went every day to worship it. But Daniel worshiped his own God. So the king said to him, "Why do you not worship Bel?" 5 He answered, "Because I do not revere idols made with hands, but the living God, who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all living creatures." 6 The king said to him, "Do you not think that Bel is a living god? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?" 7 And Daniel laughed, and said, "Do not be deceived, O king, for this thing is only clay inside and bronze outside, and it never ate or drank anything." 8 Then the king was angry and called the priests of Bel and said to them, "If you do not tell me who is eating these provisions, you shall die. 9 But if you prove that Bel is eating them, Daniel shall die, because he has spoken blasphemy against Bel." Daniel said to the king, "Let it be done as you have said." 10 Now there were seventy priests of Bel, besides their wives and children. So the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. 11 The priests of Bel said, "See, we are now going outside; you yourself, O king, set out the food and prepare the wine, and shut the door and seal it with your signet. 12 When you return in the morning, if you do not find that Bel has eaten it all, we will die; otherwise Daniel will, who is telling lies about us." 13 They were unconcerned, for beneath the table they had made a hidden entrance, through which they used to go in regularly and consume the provisions. Psalms of Solomon 17 (ca. 63 B.C.)? 23 (21) Behold, O Lord, and raise up unto them their king, the son of David, At the time in the which Thou seest, O God, that he may reign over Israel Thy servant 24 (22) And gird him with strength, that he may shatter unrighteous rulers, 25 And that he may purge Jerusalem from nations that trample (her) down to destruction. (23) Wisely, righteously 26 he shall thrust out sinners from (the) inheritance, He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's vessel. (24) With a rod of iron he shall break in pieces all their substance, 21 He shall destroy the godless nations with the word of his mouth; (25) At his rebuke nations shall flee before him, And he shall reprove sinners for the thoughts of their heart. 28 (26) And he shall gather together a holy people, whom he shall lead in righteousness, And he shall judge the tribes of the people that has been sanctified by the Lord his God. 29 (21) And he shall not suffer unrighteousness to lodge any more in their midst, Nor shall there dwell with them any man that knoweth wickedness, 30 For he shall know them, that they are all sons of their God. (28) And he shail divide them according to their tribes upon the land, 31 And neither sojourner nor alien shall sojourn with them anymore. (29) He shall judge peoples and nations in the wisdom of his righteousness. Selah. 32 (30) And he shall have the heathen nations to serve him under his yoke; And he shall glorify the Lord in a place to be seen of (?) all the earth; 33 And he shall purge Jerusalem, making it holy as of old: 34 (31) So that nations shall come from the ends of the earth to see his glory, Bringing as gifts her sons who had fainted, 35 And to see the glory of the Lord, wherewith God hath glorified her. (32) And he (shall be) a righteous king, taught of God, over them, 36 And there shall be no unrighteousness in his days in their midst, For all shall be holy and their king the anointed of the Lord. 37 (33) For he shall not put his trust in horse and rider and bow, Nor shall he multiply for himself gold and silver for war, Nor shall he gather confidence from (?) a multitude (?) for the day of battle. 38 (34) The Lord Himself is his king, the hope of him that is mighty through (his) hope in God. All nations (shall be) in fear before him, 39 (35) For he will smite the earth with the word of his mouth forever. 40 He will bless the people of the Lord with wisdom and gladness, 41 (36) And he himself (will be) pure from sin, so that he may rule a great people. He will rebuke rulers, and remove sinners by the might of his word; 42 (37) And (relying) upon his God, throughout his days he will not stumble; For God will make him mighty by means of (His) holy spirit, And wise by means of the spirit of understanding, with strength and righteousness. 43 (38) And the blessing of the Lord (will be) with him: he will be J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 4

5 strong and stumble not; 44 (39) His hope (will be) in the Lord: who then can prevail against him? (40) (He will be) mighty in his works, and strong in the fear of God, 45 (He will be) shepherding the flock of the Lord faithfully and righteously, And will suffer none among them to stumble in their pasture. 46 (41) He will lead them all aright, And there will be no pride among them that any among them should be oppressed. 47 (42) This (will be) the majesty of the king of Israel whom God knoweth; He will raise him up over the house of Israel to correct him. 48 (43) His words (shall be) more refined than costly gold, the choicest; In the assemblies he will judge the peoples, the tribes of the sanctified. 49 His words (shall be) like the words of the holy ones in the midst of sanctified peoples. 50 Blessed be they that shall be in those days, In that they shall see the good fortune of Israel which God shall bring to pass in the gathering together of the tribes. 51 May the Lord hasten His mercy upon Israel! May He deliver us from the uncleanness of unholy enemies! The Lord Himself is our king for ever and ever. Assumption of Moses 10 (lifetime of Jesus) And then His kingdom shall appear throughout all His creation, And then Satan shall be no more, And sorrow shall depart with him. Then the hands of the angel shall be filled Who has been appointed chief, And he shall forthwith avenge them of their enemies. For the Heavenly One will arise from His royal throne, And He will go forth from His holy habitation With indignation and wrath on account of His sons. And the earth shall tremble: to its confines shall it be shaken: And the high mountains shall be made low And the hills shall be shaken and fall. And the horns of the sun shall be broken and he shall be turned into darkness; And the moon shall not give her light, and be turned wholly into blood. And the circle of the stars shall be disturbed. And the sea shall retire into the abyss, And the fountains of waters shall fail, And the rivers shall dry up. For the Most High will arise, the Eternal God alone, And He will appear to punish the Gentiles, And He will destroy all their idols. Then you, O Israel, shall be happy, And you shall mount upon the necks and wings of the eagle, And they shall be ended. And God will exalt you, And He will cause you to approach to the heaven of the stars, In the place of their habitation. And you will look from on high and see your enemies in Ge(henna) And you shall recognize them and rejoice, And you shall give thanks and confess thy Creator. And do you; Joshua (the son of) Nun, keep these words and this book; For from my death [assumption] until His advent there shall be 250 times [= year-weeks = 1750 years]. And this is the course of the times which they shall pursue till they are consummated. And I shall go to sleep with my fathers. Wherefore, Joshua you (son of) Nun, (be strong and) be of good courage; (for) God has chosen (you) to be minister in the same covenant. War Scroll: Dead Sea Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness For thine is the battle, and by the strength of thy hand their corpses were scattered without burial. Goliath the Gittite, a might man of valor, thou didst deliver into the hand of thy servant David, because he trusted in thy great name and not in sword and spear, for thine is the battle; and he subdued the Philistines many times in thy holy name. Moreover by our kings thou didst save us many times, because of thy mercy and not according to our works, in which we acted wickedly, and the evil deeds of our transgressions. Thine is the battle and from thee is power, and it is not ours, nor has our strength or the might of our hands done valiantly, but it is by thy strength and by the power of thy great might; as thou didst make known to us of old saying, A star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall arise out of Israel, and it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth; and he shall go down from Jacob and destroy the remnant of Seir, and the enemy shall be dispossessed, and Israel shall do valiantly. By thy anointed ones, seers of testimonies, thou hast made known to us the ordering of the battles of thy hands, to fight against our enemies to make the troops of Belial fall, seven nations of vanity, by the poor whom thou hast redeemed with strength and with peace, for marvelous power and a melted heart for a door. Rise, mighty one, bring back thy captives, man of glory! Seize thy plunder, thou who doest valiantly! Lay thy hand on the necks of thy enemies and thy foot on the heaps of the slain; smite the nations, thy adversaries, and let thy sword consume guilty flesh! Fill thy land with glory, thy inheritance with blessing! Let there be an abundance of cattle in thy territories, silver and gold and precious stones in thy palaces. Rejoice greatly, O Zion; appear with glad shouts, O Jerusalem; and exult, all ye cities of Judah! Today is his appointed time to lay low and make fall the prince of the dominion of wickedness; and he will send eternal help to the lot he had redeemed by the power of the angel he has made glorious for rule, Michael, in eternal light, to give light in joy to all Israel, peace and blessing to the lot of God, to exalt among the gods the rule of Michael and the dominion of Israel over all flesh. Righteousness shall rejoice in the high places, and all the sons of his truth shall be joyful in eternal knowledge. And you, sons of his covenant, be strong in the crucible of God until he waves his hand and fills his crucibles with his mysteries that you may stand. J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 5

6 New Testament Related The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations. (The Didache)?? Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before. Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer). But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday). Do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Thine is the power and the glory forever.. Pray this three times each day. Chapter 9. The Eucharist. Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way. First, concerning the cup: We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which You madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory forever.. And concerning the broken bread: We thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You madest known to us through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory forever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Thy kingdom; for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever.. But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs." Gospel of Thomas (Gnostic: 2 nd Century) These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down. 1) And He said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." 2) Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All." 65) He said, "There was a good man who owned a vineyard. He leased it to tenant farmers so that they might work it and he might collect the produce from them. He sent his servant so that the tenants might give him the produce of the vineyard. They seized his servant and beat him, all but killing him. The servant went back and told his master. The master said, 'Perhaps <they> did not recognize <him>.' He sent another servant. The tenants beat this one as well. Then the owner sent his son and said, 'Perhaps they will show respect to my son.' Because the tenants knew that it was he who was the heir to the vineyard, they seized him and killed him. Let him who has ears hear." 66) Jesus said, "Show me the stone which the builders have rejected. That one is the cornerstone." 67) Jesus said, "Whoever believes that the All itself is deficient is (himself) completely deficient." 68) Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted they will find no Place." 69) Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the Father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled." 70) Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you." 71) Jesus said, "I shall destroy [this] house, and no one will be able to rebuild it." 72) [A man said] to Him, "Tell my brothers to divide my father's possessions with me." He said to him, "O man, who has made Me a divider?" He turned to His disciples and said to them, "I am not a divider, am I?" 73) Jesus said, "The harvest is great but the laborers are few. Beseech the Lord, therefore, to send out laborers to the harvest." 74) He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern." 75) Jesus said, "Many are standing at the door, but it is the solitary who will enter the bridal chamber." 76) Jesus said, "The kingdom of the Father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing and enduring treasure where no moth comes near to devour and no worm destroys." 77) Jesus said, "It is I who am the light which is above them all. It is I who am the All. From Me did the All come forth, and unto Me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find Me there." Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew CHAP And having come to a certain cave, and wishing to rest in it, the blessed [8] Mary dismounted from her beast, and sat down with the child Jesus in her bosom. And there were with Joseph three boys, and with Mary a girl, going on the journey along with them. And, lo, suddenly there came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the children saw them, they cried out in great terror. Then Jesus went down from the bosom of His mother, and stood on His feet before the dragons; and they adored Jesus, and thereafter retired. Then was J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 6

7 fulfilled that which was said by David the prophet, saying: Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons; ye dragons, and all ye deeps [9] And the young child Jesus, walking before them, commanded them to hurt no man. But Mary and Joseph were very much afraid lest the child should be hurt by the dragons. And Jesus said to them: Do not be afraid, and do not consider me to be a little child; for I am and always have been perfect; and all the beasts of the forest must needs be tame before me. CHAP Lions and panthers adored Him likewise, and accompanied them in the desert. Wherever Joseph and the blessed Mary went, they went before them showing them the way, and bowing their heads; and showing their submission by wagging their tails, they adored Him with great reverence. Now at first, when Mary saw the lions and the panthers, and various kinds of wild beasts, coming about them, she was very much afraid. But the infant Jesus looked into her face with a joyful countenance, and said: Be not afraid, mother; for they come not to do thee harm, but they make haste to serve both thee and me. With these words He drove all fear from her heart. And the lions kept walking with them, and with the oxen, and the asses, and the beasts of burden which carried their baggage, and did not hurt a single one of them, though they kept beside them; but they were tame among the sheep and the rams which they had brought with them from Judaea, and which they had with them. They walked among wolves, and feared nothing; and no one of them was hurt by another. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet: Wolves shall feed with lambs; the lion and the ox shall eat straw together. [10] There were together two oxen drawing a waggon with provision for the journey, and the lions directed them in their path. Infancy Gospel of Thomas VIII. 1 And as the Jews were counselling Zacchaeus, the young child laughed greatly and said: Now let those bear fruit that were barren (Gr. that are thine) and let them see that were blind in heart. I am come from above that I may curse them, and call them to the things that are above, even as he commanded which hath sent me for your sakes. 2 And when the young child ceased speaking, immediately all they were made whole which had come under his curse. And no man after that durst provoke him, lest he should curse him, and he should be maimed. IX. 1 Now after certain days Jesus was playing in the upper story of a certain house, and one of the young children that played with him fell down from the house and died. And the other children when they saw it fled, and Jesus remained alone. 2 And the parents of him that was dead came and accused him that he had cast him down. (And Jesus said: I did not cast him down) but they reviled him still. 3 Then Jesus leaped down from the roof and stood by the body of the child and cried with a loud voice and said: Zeno (for so was his name called), arise and tell me, did I cast thee down? And straightway he arose and said: Nay, Lord, thou didst not cast me down, but didst raise me up. And when they saw it they were amazed: and the parents of the child glorified God for the sign which had come to pass, and worshipped Jesus. X. 1 After a few days, a certain young man was cleaving wood in the neighbourhood (MSS. corner), and the axe fell and cut in sunder the sole of his foot, and losing much blood he was at the point to die. 2 And when there was a tumult and concourse, the young child Jesus also ran thither, and by force passed through the multitude, and took hold upon the foot of the young man that was smitten, and straightway it was healed. And he said unto the young man: Arise now and cleave the wood and remember me. But when the multitude saw what was done they worshipped the young child, saying: Verily the spirit of God dwelleth in this young child. XI. 1 Now when he was six years old, his mother sendeth him to draw water and bear it into the house, and gave him a pitcher: but in the press he struck it against another and the pitcher was broken. 2 But Jesus spread out the garment which was upon him and filled it with water and brought it to his mother. And when his mother saw what was done she kissed him; and she kept within herself the mysteries which she saw him do. Gospel of Judas The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before he celebrated Passover. When Jesus appeared on earth, he performed miracles and great wonders for the salvation of humanity. And since some [walked] in the way of righteousness while others walked in their transgressions, the twelve disciples were called. He began to speak with them about the mysteries beyond the world and what would take place at the end. Often he did not appear to his disciples as himself, but he was found among them as a child. One day he was with his disciples in Judea, and he found them gathered together and seated in pious observance. When he [approached] his disciples, [34] gathered together and seated and offering a prayer of thanksgiving over the bread, [he] laughed. The disciples said to [him], Master, why are you laughing at [our] prayer of thanksgiving? We have done what is right. He answered and said to them, I am not laughing at you. <You> are not doing this because of your own will but because it is through this that your god [will be] praised. They said, Master, you are [ ] the son of our god. Jesus said to them, How do you know me? Truly [I] say to you, no generation of the people that are among you will know me. When his disciples heard this, they started getting angry and infuriated and began blaspheming against him in their hearts. When Jesus observed their lack of [understanding, he said] to them, Why has this agitation led you to anger? Your god who is within you and [ ] [35] have provoked you to anger [within] your souls. [Let] any one of you who is [strong enough] among human beings bring out the perfect human and stand before my face. They all said, We have the strength. But their spirits did not dare to stand before [him], except for J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 7

8 Judas Iscariot. He was able to stand before him, but he could not look him in the eyes, and he turned his face away. Judas [said] to him, I know who you are and where you have come from. You are from the immortal realm of Barbelo. And I am not worthy to utter the name of the one who has sent you. Knowing that Judas was reflecting upon something that was exalted, Jesus said to him, Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the kingdom. It is possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. [36] For someone else will replace you, in order that the twelve [disciples] may again come to completion with their god. Judas said to him, When will you tell me these things, and [when] will the great day of light dawn for the generation? But when he said this, Jesus left him. Gospel of Peter [35] But in the night in which the Lord's day dawned, when the soldiers were safeguarding it two by two in every watch, there was a loud voice in heaven; [36] and they saw that the heavens were opened and that two males who had much radiance had come down from there and come near the sepulcher. [37] But that stone which had been thrust against the door, having rolled by itself, went a distance off the side; and the sepulcher opened, and both the young men entered. [38] And so those soldiers, having seen, awakened the centurion and the elders (for they too were present, safeguarding). [39] And while they were relating what they had seen, again they see three males who have come out from the sepulcher, with the two supporting the other one, and a cross following them, [40] and the head of the two reaching unto heaven, but that of the one being led out by a hand by them going beyond the heavens. [41] And they were hearing a voice from the heavens saying, 'Have you made proclamation to the fallen-asleep?' [42] And an obeisance was heard from the cross, 'Yes.' [43] And so those people were seeking a common perspective to go off and make these things clear to Pilate; [44] and while they were still considering it through, there appear again the opened heavens and a certain man having come down and entered into the burial place. [45] Having seen these things, those around the centurion hastened at night before Pilate (having left the sepulcher which they were safeguarding) and described all the things that they indeed had seen, agonizing greatly and saying: 'Truly he was God's Son.' [46] In answer Pilate said: 'I am clean of the blood of the Son of God, but it was to you that this seemed [the thing to do].' [47] Then all, having come forward, were begging and exhorting him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say to no one what they had seen. [48] 'For,' they said, 'it is better for us to owe the debt of the greatest sin in the sight of God than to fall into the hands of the Jewish people and be stoned.' [49] And so Pilate ordered the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing. J. Boyce. How Bible. Session 4. Spring p. 8