20th-Century Discoveries of New Testament Apocrypha

Manuscripts

20th-Century Discoveries of New Testament Apocrypha

Manuscripts

Oxyrhynchus, Egypt (1897–1903)

Oxyrhynchus, Egypt (1897–1903)

Known in the Dynastic period as Per-medjed, Oxyrhynchus rose to prominence under Egypt’s Hellenistic and Roman rulers.

It was a prosperous regional capital, reckoned the third city of Egypt, and home town of the sophist Athenaeus.

In later antiquity it was famous for its many churches and monasteries.

Archeological excavations on the site of an ancient library there eventually recovered over 5000 fragments of ancient Greek texts once present in the library

Known in the Dynastic period as Per-medjed, Oxyrhynchus rose to prominence under Egypt’s Hellenistic and Roman rulers.

It was a prosperous regional capital, reckoned the third city of Egypt, and home town of the sophist Athenaeus.

In later antiquity it was famous for its many churches and monasteries.

Archeological excavations on the site of an ancient library there eventually recovered over 5000 fragments of ancient Greek texts once present in the library

Nag Hammadi, Egypt (1945)Nag Hammadi, Egypt (1945)

The Nag Hammadi Library was discovered at the foot of the cliffs called Jabal al-Tarif, near the hamlet Hamrah Dum.

Not far away from the site there lie remnants of Christian monasteries founded by St. Pachomius (A.D. 292–346).

The Nag Hammadi Library was discovered at the foot of the cliffs called Jabal al-Tarif, near the hamlet Hamrah Dum.

Not far away from the site there lie remnants of Christian monasteries founded by St. Pachomius (A.D. 292–346).

I.(The Jung Codex)I.(The Jung Codex)

1. The Prayer of the Apostle Paul2. The Apocryphon of James3. The Gospel of Truth (1st copy)4. The Treatise on the Resurrection5. The Tripartite Tractate

1. The Prayer of the Apostle Paul2. The Apocryphon of James3. The Gospel of Truth (1st copy)4. The Treatise on the Resurrection5. The Tripartite Tractate

II.II.

1. The Apocryphon of John (1st copy -- long version)

2. The Gospel of Thomas3. The Gospel of Philip4. The Hypostasis of the Archons5. On the Origin of the World (1st copy)6. The Exegesis on the Soul7. The Book of Thomas the Contender

1. The Apocryphon of John (1st copy -- long version)

2. The Gospel of Thomas3. The Gospel of Philip4. The Hypostasis of the Archons5. On the Origin of the World (1st copy)6. The Exegesis on the Soul7. The Book of Thomas the Contender

III.III.

1. The Apocryphon of John (2nd copy -- translation 1 of short version)

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (1st copy -- translation 1)

3. Eugnostos the Blessed (1st copy)4. The Sophia of Jesus Christ (1st copy)5. The Dialogue of the Saviour

1. The Apocryphon of John (2nd copy -- translation 1 of short version)

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (1st copy -- translation 1)

3. Eugnostos the Blessed (1st copy)4. The Sophia of Jesus Christ (1st copy)5. The Dialogue of the Saviour

IV.IV.

1. The Apocryphon of John (3rd copy -- long version. Copy of same Coptic translation as II.1)

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (2nd copy-- translation 2)

1. The Apocryphon of John (3rd copy -- long version. Copy of same Coptic translation as II.1)

2. The Gospel of the Egyptians (2nd copy-- translation 2)

V.V.

1. Eugnostos the Blessed (2nd copy)2. The Apocalypse of Paul3. The (First) Apocalypse of James4. The (Second) Apocalypse of James5. The Apocalypse of Adam

1. Eugnostos the Blessed (2nd copy)2. The Apocalypse of Paul3. The (First) Apocalypse of James4. The (Second) Apocalypse of James5. The Apocalypse of Adam

VI.VI.

1. The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles2. The Thunder: Perfect Mind3. Authoritative Teaching4. The Concept of Our Great Power5. Plato, Republic 588a-589b6. The Discourse on the Eight and Ninth7. The Prayer of Thanksgiving7a. Scribal Note8. Asclepius 21-29

1. The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles2. The Thunder: Perfect Mind3. Authoritative Teaching4. The Concept of Our Great Power5. Plato, Republic 588a-589b6. The Discourse on the Eight and Ninth7. The Prayer of Thanksgiving7a. Scribal Note8. Asclepius 21-29

VII.VII.

1. The Paraphrase of Shem2. The Second Treatise of the Great Seth3. Apocalypse of Peter4. The Teachings of Silvanus5. The Three Steles of Seth

1. The Paraphrase of Shem2. The Second Treatise of the Great Seth3. Apocalypse of Peter4. The Teachings of Silvanus5. The Three Steles of Seth

VIII.VIII.

1. Zostrianos2. The Letter of Peter to Philip

1. Zostrianos2. The Letter of Peter to Philip

IX–X.IX–X.

IX.1. Melchizedek2. The Thought of Norea3. The Testimony of Truth

X. Marsanes

IX.1. Melchizedek2. The Thought of Norea3. The Testimony of Truth

X. Marsanes

XI.XI.

1. The Interpretation of Knowledge2. A Valentinian Exposition:

2a. On the Anointing2b. On BaptismA2c. On BaptismB2d. On the EucharistA2e. On the EucharistB3. Allogenes

4. Hypsiphrone

1. The Interpretation of Knowledge2. A Valentinian Exposition:

2a. On the Anointing2b. On BaptismA2c. On BaptismB2d. On the EucharistA2e. On the EucharistB3. Allogenes

4. Hypsiphrone

XII. (Mostly burned)XII. (Mostly burned)

1. The Sentences of Sextus (10 pages only of about 39 originally).

2. The Gospel of Truth (2nd copy)3. Fragments

1. The Sentences of Sextus (10 pages only of about 39 originally).

2. The Gospel of Truth (2nd copy)3. Fragments

XIII.XIII.

1. Trimorphic Protennoia2. On the Origin of the World (2nd copy)

This 'codex' consists of only 8 leaves, removed from some volume in antiquity and tucked inside the front cover of codex VI. Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 (BG), Early 5th century

1. The Gospel of Mary2. The Apocryphon of John (4th copy -- translation 2 of short

version)3. The Sophia of Jesus Christ (2nd copy)4. The Acts of Peter

1. Trimorphic Protennoia2. On the Origin of the World (2nd copy)

This 'codex' consists of only 8 leaves, removed from some volume in antiquity and tucked inside the front cover of codex VI. Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 (BG), Early 5th century

1. The Gospel of Mary2. The Apocryphon of John (4th copy -- translation 2 of short

version)3. The Sophia of Jesus Christ (2nd copy)4. The Acts of Peter

Related Discoveries: The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947ff)

Related Discoveries: The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947ff)

The Dead Sea is located in Israel and Jordan, about 15 mi. E of Jerusalem

The site eventually produced thousands of scroll fragments from eleven caves

An additional discovery was the Qumran ruin, a complex of structures located on a barren terrace between the cliffs where the caves are found and the Dead Sea.

The scrolls and the Qumran ruin date from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

The scrolls are older than any other surviving biblical manuscripts by almost 1,000 years

The Dead Sea is located in Israel and Jordan, about 15 mi. E of Jerusalem

The site eventually produced thousands of scroll fragments from eleven caves

An additional discovery was the Qumran ruin, a complex of structures located on a barren terrace between the cliffs where the caves are found and the Dead Sea.

The scrolls and the Qumran ruin date from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E.

The scrolls are older than any other surviving biblical manuscripts by almost 1,000 years