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This collection of apocryphal texts supersedes the best-selling edition by M.R. James, which was originally published in 1924. Several new texts have come to light since 1924 and the textual base for some of the apocrypha previously translated by James is now more secure, as in several cases there are now recently published critical editions available. Although a modest addition to James's edition was made in 1953, no thorough revision has previously been undertaken. In this volume, J.K. Elliott presents new translations of the texts and has provided each of them with a short introduction and bibliography for readers who wish to pursue further the issues raised in the texts or to consult the critical editions, other translations, or general studies. The translations are in modern English, in contrast to James's deliberate imitation of the language of the Authorized Version. The collection is designed to give readers the most important or famous of the Christian apocrypha and a small sample of gnostic texts. Full translations of the earliest texts are printed, as well as some derivative apocrypha.
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THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT This page intentionally left blank The Apocryphal New Testament A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation J. K. ELLIOTT C L A R E N D O N PRESS • OXFORD This book has been printed digitally and produced in a standard specification in order to ensure its continuing availability OXJORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dares Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan South Korea Poland Portugal Singapore Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © The Oxford University Press 1993 The moral rights of the author have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) Reprinted 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover And you must impose this same condition on any acquirer ISBN 0-19-826182-9 Contents Preface General Bibliography Lists of Apocryphal Works ix xvi xxiii I. A P O C R Y P H A L GOSPELS Lost Gospels 1. Jewish-Christian Gospels: Introduction (a) The Gospel according to the Hebrews (b) The Gospel of the Nazaraeans (c) The Gospel of the Ebionites 2. The Gospel of the Egyptians 3. The Traditions of Matthias 4. The Preaching of Peter (Kerygma Petrou) 5. Other Lost Gospels Agrapha Fragments of Gospels on Papyrus 1. Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 840 2. Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1081 3. Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1224 4. Papyrus Cairensis 10735 5. Papyrus Egerton 2 6. The Strasbourg Fragment 7. Papyrus Berolinensis 11710 8. The Fayyum Fragment