Epistle of the Apostles

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

The book that Jesus Christ revealed to his disciples, and how Jesus Christ revealed the book for the sake of the company of the apostles, the disciples of Jesus Christ, the book for all. Simon and Cerinthus, the false apostles, concerning whom it was written, so that no one may attach himself to them; for there is in them a cunning with which they bring people to destruction. (The book has been written) so that you may be steadfast, not waver, not be thrown into confusion, and not turn away from the word of the gospel that you have heard. As we have heard it, kept it in memory, and written it down for the whole world, we commend to you our sons and daughters in joy, in the name of God the Father, the Ruler of the world, and of Jesus Christ. May grace be multiplied upon you.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

(We,) John, Thomas, Peter, Andrew, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Nathanael, Judas the Zealot, and Cephas, we have written to the churches of the east and west, of the north and south, proclaiming and imparting to you what concerns our Lord Jesus Christ: as we have written, how we heard and touched him after he had risen from the dead, and how he revealed to us things great, astonishing, and real.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

This we know: our Lord and our Redeemer is Jesus Christ, God, the Son of God, who was sent by God, the Ruler of the whole world, the Maker and Creator, who is called by every name, who stands high above all the powers, the Lord of lords and King of kings, the Mighty One of the mighty, the Heavenly One, who is enthroned above the cherubim and seraphim and sits at the right hand of the throne of the Father; who by his word commanded the heavens to be, created the earth and what is in it, and set bounds for the sea so that it should not pass over them; who made the deeps and the springs, so that they might flow trickling over the earth; who founded day and night, sun and moon, and the stars in the heaven; who separated light and darkness, called hell into being, and in a moment orders the rain in winter, mist and hail and ice, and the days in their seasons; who shakes the earth and makes it firm again; who created man after his image and likeness, and spoke with the fathers of old and the prophets in parables and in truth; of whom the apostles preached and whom the disciples touched. God the Lord, the Son of God: we believe that he is the Word made flesh, carried in the body of Mary, the holy virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by fleshly desire but by the will of God; wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem and made manifest, brought up and grown to maturity, as we saw.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

This our Lord Jesus Christ did, who had been sent to school by Joseph and Mary his mother. And when the one who was teaching him said to him, "Say Alpha," he answered and said, "You tell me first what Beta is." This thing that happened is true and real.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

After that there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and they invited him with his mother and his brothers; and he changed water into wine. He called the dead back to life, and commanded the lame to walk; he stretched out the hand of the man whose hand was withered; and the woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years touched the hem of his garment and was healed in the same hour. And while we were pondering and marvelling at the miracle he had done, he said, "Who touched me?" We said, "The throng of people has touched you, Lord." But he answered and said to us, "I perceive that a power has gone out from me." At that hour the woman came before him, answered him, and said, "Lord, I touched you." And he answered and said to her, "Go, your faith has healed you." After that he made the deaf hear and the blind see; from those tormented by spirits he drove out the demons that plagued them, and he cleansed the lepers. The spirit dwelling in a man, whose name was Legion, cried out to Jesus and said, "Before the time of our destruction has come, you have come to drive us out." But the Lord Jesus rebuked him and said, "Go out of this man without doing him harm." And he went into the swine and drowned them in the water, and they were choked. After that he once went upon the sea, and the winds were blowing; and he rebuked them, and the waves of the sea became calm. And when we his disciples had no money, we asked him, "What shall we do about the tax collector?" And he answered and said to us, "Let one of you cast the hook into the deep and bring up a fish, and he will find a denarius inside it; give that to the tax collector for me and for you." Then, when we had no bread but only five loaves and two fish, he commanded the people to sit down, and their number was five thousand besides children and women. We set pieces of bread before them, and they ate and were satisfied, and there was still some left over, and we carried away twelve full baskets of pieces, asking one another and saying, "What do these five loaves mean?" They are a figure of our faith concerning the great Christendom, that is, in the Father, the Ruler of the whole world, and in Jesus Christ our Redeemer, in the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, in the holy church, and in the forgiveness of sins.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

This our Lord and Redeemer revealed to us and taught us. And we do as he did, so that you … .

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

Cerinthus and Simon have come to travel through the world. They are the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in reality lead astray those who believe in the true word and in the deed, that is, in Jesus Christ. So take heed and beware of them; for pain and filth and death will be the end of destruction and of judgment.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

We have therefore not held back from the true witness concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, and concerning what our Lord did, as we saw it, and how he always explained our thoughts to us … .

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

We bear witness, and this we know, that he was crucified in the days of Pontius Pilate and of Archelaus the prince; that he was crucified between the two robbers, and together with them he was taken down from the wood of the cross; and he was buried in a place whose name was Kranion. Thither three women went, Sarrha, Martha, and Mary, and took ointment with them to pour on the body of Christ, weeping and mourning over what had happened. But when they came near the tomb, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb; they opened the entrance and did not find his body.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

As they were lamenting and weeping, the Lord appeared to them and said to them: "Do not weep; it is I whom you seek. Let one of you go now to your brothers and say to them: Come, our Master has risen from the dead." Mary came to us and told us. But we said to her, "What have we to do with you, O woman? Can one who has died and been buried live again?" And we did not believe her, that our Redeemer had risen from the dead. Then she went back to our Lord and said to him, "None of them would believe me concerning your resurrection." And he said to her, "Let another of you go to tell them." And Sarrha came and brought us the same news, but we accused her of lying. And she went back to our Lord and told him, as Mary had.

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

Then the Lord said to Mary and her sisters, "Let us go to them." And he came and found us sitting veiled. But we doubted and did not believe. He appeared to us like a ghost, and we did not believe that it was he. Yet it was he. And he said to us: "Come, and do not be afraid. I am your Master, whom you, Peter, denied three times before the cock crowed; and now do you deny me again?" And we went to him, pondering and doubting whether it was he. But he said to us: "Why do you doubt, and what are you saying? Do you not know that it is I who spoke to you of my body, my death, and my resurrection? But so that you may know that it is I, put your hand, Peter, into the nail-marks of my hands; and you, Thomas, into my side; and you, Andrew, see whether my foot touches the earth and whether a footprint remains. For it has been written in the prophet: The appearance of a ghost leaves no footprint on the earth."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

So we touched him (and convinced ourselves) that he had truly risen in the flesh. Then we fell on our faces before him, worshipped him, and asked his pardon because we had not believed him. Then our Lord and Redeemer said to us: "Rise, and I will reveal to you what is on earth and above the heavens, and concerning your resurrection in the kingdom of heaven, for whose sake my Father sent me, so that I may lead up you and those who believe in me."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

This, then, is what he revealed to us, as he imparted it to us: "When I came from the Father of all and passed through the heavens, clothed in the wisdom of the Father and wrapped in his power, I was in the heavens; and I passed by the angels and archangels in their likeness, and was as one of them among the powers, dominions, and princes. I passed through them, possessing the measure of the wisdom of the Father who sent me. And the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel followed me as far as the fifth firmament of heaven, while I appeared to them as one of them. Such power was given me by the Father. Then I made the archangels tremble by my voice, so that they should go to the altar of the Father and serve the Father in their manner until I return to him. So I acted according to the manner of his wisdom; for I was in all things with them, so that, when I had fulfilled the merciful will of the Father and the glory of the one who sent me, I might return to him."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"Do you know that the angel Gabriel came and brought the message to Mary?" And we said, "Yes, Lord." But he answered and said to us: "Do you not remember that I told you once that to the angels I became like an angel?" And we said to him, "Yes, O Lord." And he said to us: "At that time I appeared to the virgin Mary in the form of the archangel Gabriel and spoke with her; her heart received me, she believed and laughed. Then I, the Word, went into her and became flesh. So I was my own messenger, and in the form of an angel I did this. That is how I was accustomed to act. Then I went back to my Father."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But you, keep the memorial of my death, that is, the Passover. Then one of you who stand before me will be thrown into prison for my name's sake; and he will grieve and lament bitterly, because while you are celebrating the Passover he will be in prison and will not share the feast with you. And I will send my power in the form of my angel, and the door of the prison will open, and he will come to you to keep the night watch with you and to rest. And when the cock crows and you have completed my agape and my memorial, they will take him away again and bring him back to prison for a testimony, until he goes free and continues to preach as I have commanded you." And we said to him: "O Lord, did you not yourself complete the cup of the Passover? Is it necessary that we complete it again?" He answered us: "Yes, until I come back from the Father with my wounds."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

Then we said to him: "O Lord, great is what you tell us and reveal to us. But with what power and in what form is it appointed for you to come?" And he said to us: "Truly I say to you, I will come as the sun at its rising; so I will shine out sevenfold in glory. Borne on the wings of the clouds in splendour, with my cross going before me, I will come to the earth to judge the living and the dead."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we said to him: "O Lord, after how many years?" He said to us: "When the hundred and fiftieth year is past, in the days of the Passover and Pentecost, the coming of my Father will take place." We said to him: "O Lord, now you tell us, I will come; and yet you have told us repeatedly, He who sent me will come." And he answered us: "I am wholly in the Father, and the Father in me." Then we said to him: "Will you really leave us until your coming? Where shall we find a teacher?" But he answered us and said: "Do you not know that, as I have been here until now, so I was also there with him who sent me?" And we said to him: "O Lord, is it possible that you are here and there?" And he answered us: "I am wholly in the Father, and the Father in me; for I am of his likeness and form, of his power and perfection, and of his light. I am his perfect Word."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

It was after he had been crucified, had died and risen, when the work that was accomplished in the flesh was completed, and he was crucified, and the ascension took place at the end of the days, that he said this: "The wonders, the figures, and the whole fulfilment you will see in me (or: you will see everything exactly), because of the redemption that comes about through me, and as I go to my Father who is in heaven. But now I give you a new commandment, that you love one another and obey one another, so that there may always be peace among you. Love your enemies, and what you do not want done to you, do that to no one else …"

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"And you too, preach this and teach those who believe in me, and preach the kingdom of heaven of my Father, and how my Father gave me authority, so that you may bring near the children of my heavenly Father. Preach, and they shall come to faith, that you … ." And he answered us: "You will see a light that shines brighter than light and is more perfect than perfection. And the Son will be made perfect through the Father, the light, for perfect is the Father, who accomplishes death and resurrection, a perfection more perfect than the perfect. And I am wholly the right hand of the Father, in him who makes perfect." And we twelve said to him: "O Lord, in all things you have become salvation and life to us, and you proclaim to us such a hope!" And he said to us: "Be of good courage and be strong. Truly I say to you, such a rest will be granted you, where there is neither eating nor drinking, neither mourning nor care, neither earthly garment nor perishing. And you will share, not in the earthly creation, but in that of my Father, which does not decay, so that you do not perish. As I am always in my Father, so also are you in me." And we asked him again: "In what form, then? In that of the angels, or perhaps in the flesh?" And he answered us about this and said: "I have put on your flesh, in which I was born, killed, buried, and raised through my heavenly Father, so that what was spoken by the prophet David about my death and resurrection might be fulfilled: O Lord, how many are those who oppress me! Many have risen up against me. Many say to my soul: There is no help for him with his God. … [so that the one who] sent [me may be glorified] by you and by those who believe in me."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

When he had said this to us, we said to him: "O Lord, you have been gracious to us in all things, and have redeemed us and revealed everything to us. But there is one more thing we would ask you, if you permit us." And he answered and said to us: "I know that you listen attentively and long to hear the things you wish to ask me about. Now ask me, keep it in memory, and listen, for it is a pleasure to me to speak with you."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"Truly I say to you: as the Father raised me from the dead, so you too will rise in the flesh, and he will lift you up above the heavens to the place of which I have already spoken to you before, which he who sent me has prepared. For this reason I have accomplished all grace: being unbegotten, I was born of a human being; being without flesh, I put on flesh and grew up like you, who are born in the flesh. And you will rise from the dead in your flesh in the second birth, a garment that will not decay, together with all who hope and believe in him who sent me; for so my Father wills, that I should give to you, and to those whom I please, the hope of the kingdom." Then we said to him: "Great is what you give us to hope for and tell us." And he answered and said: "Believe that everything I tell you will come to pass." We answered and said, "Yes, O Lord." He said to us: "Truly I say to you, I have received all authority from my Father, so that I may bring back into the light those who dwell in darkness, those who are in corruption into incorruption, those who are astray into righteousness, those who are in death into life, and so that those who are in bonds may be set free. For what is impossible with men is possible with the Father. I am the hope of the despairing, the helper of those who have no savior, the wealth of the poor, the health of the sick, and the resurrection of the dead."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

When he had said this to us, we said to him: "O Lord, is it true that the flesh will be judged together with the soul and the spirit, and that one half will rest in the kingdom of heaven while the other half will be punished, alive, for ever?" And he said to us: "How long will you go on asking and brooding?"

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

We said to him again: "O Lord, this is necessary. For you have commanded us to preach, proclaim, and teach, so that, having heard it exactly from you, we may become good messengers and teach them to believe in you. That is why we are questioning you."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

He answered and said: "Truly I say to you, the body of every man will rise alive together with a soul and spirit." And we said to him: "Can what has decayed and been scattered live? We ask, not because we deny it, but because we truly believe that as you say, so it was and so it will be." He answered us in anger: "O you of little faith, how long will you not believe, but keep questioning and searching? You want to understand without pain. Keep my commandments and do what I tell you, putting no one to shame and bringing no one to disgrace; and without respect of persons, serve on the narrow, straight, and strait way. And in this my Father will have all his joy in you."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

We said to him again: "O Lord, see, we are troubling you with our many questions." He answered us: "I know that you ask me in faith and with your whole heart, and I rejoice in you. Truly I say to you, I am glad, and my Father will rejoice in me, that you inquire and ask in this way without being ashamed; it gives me joy, and to you it brings life." When he had said this to us, we were glad, for we had spoken in humility; and we said to him again: "O our Lord, in all things you have been gracious to us and given us life, for you have answered everything we asked you." Then he asked us: "Is it the flesh or the spirit that perishes?" And we said to him, "The flesh." He answered: "What has perished will rise, and what is sick will be healed, so that my Father may be praised in it. As he has done to me, so I too will do to you and to all who believe in me."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"Truly I say to you: the flesh will rise alive together with the soul, so that they may make confession and be judged with righteousness according to the deeds they have done, whether good or evil, so that there may be a selection and an example for those who have believed and have kept the commandment of my Father who sent me. Then the righteous judgment will take place, for so my Father wills. And he has said to me: My Son, on the day of judgment do not be ashamed before the rich, and do not spare the poor, but deliver each one to eternal judgment according to his sins. But to those who have loved me and love me and have kept my commandments I will grant rest and life in the kingdom of my heavenly Father. Now see what authority he has graciously granted and given me, so that I may do what I intend and what … ."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"For this reason I went down and spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, your fathers, the prophets, that they should bring the rest from below into heaven; and I offered them the right hand, the baptism of life, and remission and forgiveness of all evil, as to you, so also from now on to all who will believe in me. But whoever believes in me and, in spite of his faith, does not keep my commandment in my name, to him it will be of no use at all. In vain has he chosen what seemed excellent to him. His end is destined for destruction, punishment, and great woe, for he has transgressed my commandment."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But to you I have granted to be children of light to the Lord, and pure from every evil and from every power of punishment; and so I will also do to those who believe in me through you. As I have told you and promised, he who believes in me will be freed from prison, loosed from his bonds, and saved from the spears and from the terrible burning of fire." And we said to him: "O Lord, in all things you have given us joy and promised us rest. In faithfulness and truth you proclaimed it to our fathers and prophets, and so also to us and to everyone." And he answered us: "Truly I say to you: you, and all who believe or will one day believe in him who sent me, I will lift up into heaven, to the place that the Father has prepared for the chosen and the most elect, so that he may give them the rest he has promised and eternal life."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But those who transgress my commandment, teach something else, take away from it or add to it, work for their own exaltation, and lead astray those who believe in me in simplicity, … ." And we said to him: "O Lord, will there then be another teaching, and mischief?" He answered us: "The wicked will be revealed, just as the good and those who do what is right. And then a just judgment will come upon them according to their deeds, according to what they have done, and they will be cast into destruction." And we said to him: "Blessed are we, who see you and hear you proclaiming this to us, and whose eyes look upon so many wonders that you have done." And he answered and said to us: "But more blessed still will be those who have not seen me and yet believe in me; for they will be called children of the kingdom and the most perfect, and to them I will be eternal life in the kingdom of my Father." And we said to him again: "O Lord, how can one believe that you will leave us, as you yourself say: a time and an hour will come when you must go to your Father?"

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

He answered and said to us: "Go and preach to the twelve tribes of Israel and to the Gentiles, and to Israel and the land of Israel, in the east and west, the north and south; and many will believe in me, the Son of God." And we said to him: "O Lord, who will believe us, who will listen to us, and how shall we be able to do and teach and tell of wonders, signs, and mighty works, as you did?" He answered and said to us: "Go, preach and teach the coming of my Father and of his grace. As my Father did with me, so I too will do with you, for I am with you; and I will give you my peace, my spirit, and my power; it will be granted to you, so that people may believe. And to them too this power will be given and handed on as an inheritance, so that they may give it to the nations."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"And behold, you will meet a man whose name is Saul, which means Paul. He is a Jew, circumcised according to the law. And he will hear my voice from heaven with terror, fear, and trembling. And his eyes will be blinded, and they will be overshadowed by your hand with the sign of the cross. Do everything for him … [so that he may] praise the Lord, my Father in heaven. He will gain power among the people, and will preach and teach; and many, hearing him, will be filled with delight and be saved. But after that they will turn against him and deliver him into the hands of his enemies, and he will make confession before mortal kings; and his end will be that he confesses me, after having persecuted me. He will preach and teach and dwell with the chosen ones, a chosen vessel and a wall that does not fall; the last of the last will become a preacher to the nations, perfect through the will of my Father. As you too have learned from the Scripture that your fathers the prophets spoke of me, and that it has truly been fulfilled in me." And he said to us: "So you too become guides to them, and tell them everything that I have told you and that you have written about me: that I am the Word of the Father and the Father is in me. So you shall be to that man too, as is fitting for you. Teach and remind him of what has been spoken in the Scripture concerning me and has been fulfilled, and afterwards he will be for the salvation of the nations."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we asked him: "O Master, is there one and the same hope of the inheritance for us and for them?" He answered and replied to us: "Are the fingers of the hand alike, or the ears of grain in the field? Or do fruit trees bear the same fruit? Does not each bear fruit according to its nature?" And we said to him: "O Lord, will you speak to us in parables again?" Then he said to us: "Do not lament. Truly I say to you, you are my brothers, my companions in the kingdom of heaven with my Father, for so it has pleased him. Truly I say to you, to those too whom you teach and who then believe in me I will give that hope."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we asked him again: "When shall we meet that man, and when will you go to your Father and our God and Lord?" He answered and said to us: "That man will come out of the land of Cilicia to Damascus in Syria, to uproot the church that it is appointed for you to create. It is I who speak through you; and he will come quickly. And he will become strong in that faith, so that the word of the prophet may be fulfilled, which says: Behold, from Syria I will begin to call together a new Jerusalem, and Zion I will subdue for myself, and it will be taken; and the place that is childless will be called the son and daughter of my Father, and my bride. For so it has pleased him who sent me. But that man I will turn away, so that he does not carry out his evil plan, and through him the praise of my Father will be accomplished. After I have gone away and am with my Father, I will speak to him from heaven, and everything will happen as I told you before concerning him."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we said to him again: "O Lord, you have spoken so many great things to us and revealed to us what had never been said, and in all things you have given us rest and been gracious to us. After your resurrection you revealed everything to us, so that we may truly be saved. But you told us only that wonders and strange apparitions will take place in heaven and on earth before the end of the world comes. Teach us now how we may recognize it." And he answered us: "I will teach you, not only what will happen to you, but also to those whom you will teach and who will believe, and also to those who hear that man and believe in me. In those years and days it will happen." And we said to him again: "O Lord, what then will happen?" And he said to us: "Then believers and unbelievers will see a trumpet in heaven, a vision of great stars that become visible by day, wondrous apparitions in heaven reaching down to the earth, stars falling upon the earth like fire, and a great and mighty hail of fire; the sun and the moon fighting with one another; a constant rolling and roaring of thunders and lightnings, thunder and earthquake; cities falling down, and people perishing in their ruin; a constant drought for lack of rain, a terrible plague and great mortality, severe and untimely, so that the dying will lack burial, and brothers and kinsfolk will have to be carried out on a single bier. Kinsman will pay no heed to kinsman, nor a man to his neighbour. But those who were cast out will rise and look upon those who cast them out, carrying them away. For the plague will be full of hatred, pain, and envy. They will take from this one and give to that one. And afterwards it will be worse still than before."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"Then my Father will be angry at the wickedness of men, for their transgressions are many … believe in me. But those who become deceivers in the world and enemies of righteousness, in them the prophecy of David will be fulfilled, who said: Their feet are swift to shed blood, their tongue brings forth blasphemy, and under their lips is the poison of serpents. I see you running about with thieves, and your portion is with harlots; further, you sit reviling your brother, and you set stumbling blocks before your mother's son. What do you think, that I shall become like you? See now how the prophet of God has spoken of everything, so that all that he foretold may be fulfilled."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And again we said to him: "O Lord, will the nations not say, Where is their God?" And he answered and said to us: "By this the elect will be known, that they come out after being afflicted by such pains." We said: "Will their departure from the world be through a plague that causes them pain?" He answered us: "No; but if they suffer such pains, it will be a test for them, whether they have faith, and whether they remember these my words and fulfil my commandments. These will rise, and their existence will last only a short time, so that he who sent me may be glorified, and I with him. For he has sent me to you so that I may tell you this, and you may impart it to Israel and the nations, and they may hear it and they too be saved, believe in me, and escape the woe of destruction. But whoever comes out of the destruction of death will be seized and held in the prison house in torments like those of a thief." And we said to him: "O Lord, will the believers then be like the unbelievers …, and will you punish those who have escaped the plague?" And he said to us: "If, believing in my name, they act like sinners, they have acted as if they did not believe at all." And we said to him again: "O Lord, have those to whom such a lot has fallen no life?" He answered and said to us: "Whoever has done the praise of my Father is the resting place of my Father."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

Then we said to him: "O Lord, teach us what will happen afterwards." And he answered us: "In those years and days war upon war will break out; the four ends of the earth will be shaken and will make war on one another. After that there will be upheavals of the clouds, darkness, and drought, and persecutions against those who believe in me and against the elect. After that will come doubt and strife and evil deeds against one another. And there will be some who believe in my name and yet follow evil and spread vain teaching. And people will follow them and be subject to their riches, their depravity, their drunkenness, and their bribery; and there will be respect of persons among them."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But those who wish to see the face of God, who do not regard the person of rich sinners and are not ashamed before the people who lead them astray, but will convict them, they will be crowned before the Father. So too those will be saved who rebuke their neighbour, for they are sons of wisdom and of faith. But if they have not become children of wisdom, whoever hates his brother, drives him away, and pays no heed to him, God will despise and reject him. But those who walk in righteousness, in knowledge, and in faith in me, and possess wisdom, understanding, and patience for righteousness' sake, who, though they are despised, strive after poverty and endure patiently: great is their reward. Those who are mocked, tormented, and persecuted, who are stripped, against whom men are proud, who are hungry and thirsty, and because they were patient: blessed will they be in the heavens, and they will be with me for ever. But woe to those who hated and scorned them; their end is destined for destruction."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we asked him: "O Lord, will this happen to all?" He answered us: "How? Will a just judgment come upon sinners and the righteous alike?" We said to him: "Will they not say to you on that day: You led both righteousness and sin, and you divided darkness and light, evil and good?" And he said: "Adam was given the power to choose from them what he wished, and he chose the light, stretched out his hands and took it, and left the darkness and withdrew from it. So every man has the power to believe in the light, that is, in the life of the Father who sent me. And whoever has believed in me will gain life, if he has done the work of the light. But if he has not believed that it has become light, and remains in darkness, he can neither bring anything forward in his defence nor lift up his face and look upon the Son, who I am. And I will say to him: You sought and found, asked and received, what you have nevertheless not obtained. Why have you estranged yourself from my kingdom? You believed in me, and you denied me! See now, each one has the power to live and to believe; and whoever fulfils and keeps my commandments will be a son of the light, that is, of my Father, and so also those who follow and fulfil them. For this reason I came down from heaven: I, the Word, became flesh and received death, teaching and correcting, so that these may be saved, but those perish for ever, being punished in fire in body and spirit."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we said to him: "O Lord, truly we grieve on their account." And he said to us: "You do rightly; for so the righteous mourn over sinners, and pray and entreat God and beseech him." And we said to him: "Is there, then, no one who entreats you, O Lord?" And he answered us: "Yes, and I hear the prayer of the righteous on their behalf." We said to him: "O Lord, you have taught us everything and given us life and grace; we will go on preaching it to those to whom it is fitting. But will a reward come to us from you?"

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And he said to us: "Go and preach, and become good messengers and servants." And we said to him: "O Lord, you are our Father!" He answered: "Are all fathers, all servants, all masters?" Then we said to him: "O Lord, was it not you who said, Call no one on earth father and master, for one is your Father and your teacher, he who is in heaven? Now you tell us that we, like you, are to become fathers to many children, and teachers and apostles." And he answered and said to us: "You have spoken rightly. Truly I say to you: all who have listened to you and believed in me will receive the light of the cross that is in my hand, and through me you will become fathers and teachers."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we said to him: "O Lord, how can these three be in one?" And he answered and said to us: "Truly, truly I say to you: you will be called fathers, because with love and mercy you have revealed to them the things of the kingdom of heaven, and because they will receive from my hand the baptism of life and the forgiveness of sins. And you will be called teachers, because you have handed on my word to them without grief, and have rebuked them, and they have turned back in the things for which you rebuked them. And I will say to you: You were not ashamed before their riches and showed no partiality, but you followed the commandment of the Father and fulfilled it. And a reward will come to you from my heavenly Father, and to them forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and a share in the kingdom." And we said to him: "O Lord, if they had a thousand mouths, they would not be able to praise you worthily." He answered and said to us: "I say this to you so that you may do as I have done to you."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"And be like the wise virgins, who lit their lamps and did not slumber, and with their lamps went to meet the Lord, the bridegroom, and went in with him into the bridegroom's chamber. But the foolish ones, as they are called, could not keep awake, but fell asleep." And we said to him: "O Lord, who are the wise, and who are the foolish?" He said to us: "The wise are five, whom the prophet calls daughters of God, and whose names are heard." But we were sad and lamented over those who had been shut out. Then he said to us: "The five wise are faith, love, joy, peace, and hope. Those among the believers who possess these will become guides to those who believe in me and in him who sent me. I am the bridegroom, the Lord. They received me, went in with me into the bridegroom's house, reclined at table with the bridegroom, and rejoiced. But the five foolish ones slumbered; and when they woke, they came to the bridegroom's house and knocked at the door, for it had been shut. And they wept because they had been shut out." And we asked him: "O Lord, did not their sisters, the wise ones who were in the chamber, open to them, and did they not grieve for them?" He answered us: "Yes, they grieved and were anxious for them, and entreated the bridegroom, but could obtain nothing for them." We said to him: "O Lord, when will their sisters come in?" He answered us: "Those who are shut out are shut out." Then we said to him: "O Lord, is this then settled? Who, then, are these foolish ones?" He answered us: "Listen: understanding, knowledge, obedience, patience, and mercy. These have slept among those who believed and confessed me but did not fulfil my commandments."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But because of those who have slept, they will remain outside the kingdom and the fold of the shepherd. And whoever remains outside the fold, the wolf will devour. And though he has heard the teaching, he will die in many sufferings; endurance and patience will not be granted him; and though he is cruelly tormented, torn to pieces, and consumed by long and bitter agony, he will not be able to obtain a quick death."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

And we said to him: "O Lord, you have revealed everything to us well." He said to us: "Know and understand these words." Then we said to him: "O Lord, there are five to whom it is given to enter your kingdom, and five before whom the gates were shut and who remained outside your kingdom. But those who kept watch and went in with the Lord, the bridegroom, will surely not enjoy gladness because of those who slumbered." And he said to us: "They will rejoice, for they went in with the Lord; and they will grieve for those who slumbered, for they are their sisters; and the daughters of God are these ten." Then we said to him: "O Lord, it befits your glory to show grace to their sisters." Then he answered us: "This is not your affair, but his who sent me, and I agree with him."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But you, go and preach truly and righteously, and teach without respect of persons and without fear of anyone, especially of the rich, in whom it becomes evident that they do not fulfil my commandments and that they revel in their riches." And we said to him: "O Lord, are you speaking to us only of the rich?" He said to us: "Also of him who is not rich: if he gives to one who has nothing, and refuses him nothing, he will be called a benefactor among the people."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"But if someone falls under the burden, namely of the sin that he has committed against the person of his neighbour, then his neighbour shall rebuke him for what he did to his neighbour. If his neighbour has rebuked him and he has turned back, he will be saved, and the one who rebuked him will obtain eternal life. But if anyone sees a man who did him good committing sin, and seeks to please him and does not rebuke him, he will be punished with a great punishment; for if a blind man leads a blind man, both fall into the pit. So too both the flatterer who shows partiality and the one whose person is regarded and who is flattered will both be subject to punishment. As the prophet says: Woe to the flatterers who justify the sinner for a gift, whose belly is their god. You will see such a judgment come upon them. Truly I say to you, on that day I will neither stand in awe of the rich nor have pity on the poor."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"If you see with your own eyes someone sinning, rebuke him between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won him. But if he does not listen to you, reprove your brother with two or three. If even then he does not listen to you, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"If you hear something against your brother, do not believe it; do not slander, and do not love to listen to slander. For so it is written: Do not let your ear hear anything against your brother … and show partiality to those who sin, and hate those who rebuke them." And he answered and said to us: "How, then, will the judgment take place, so that the grain is gathered into the barns and its chaff thrown into the fire?"

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

"Those who hate such things, who love me, and who rebuke those who do not fulfil my commandments, will be hated, persecuted, despised, and mocked. People will say what is not true, on purpose; they will band together against those who love me. But these will rebuke them, so that they may be saved. And those whom they rebuke, chastise, and warn will hate them, push them aside, and despise them, and will keep away from those who wish them well. But those who endure such things will be like the martyrs with the Father, for they were zealous for righteousness, and not with the zeal of corruption." And we asked him: "O Lord, will such things happen among us?" And he answered us: "Do not fear; it will not be in many, but in few." We said to him: "Tell us, then, in what way it will happen." And he said to us: "Another teaching and a confusion will arise; and, seeking their own exaltation, they will put forward a useless teaching. And there will be in it a deadly offence, and they will teach it and turn those who believe in me away from my commandment and remove them from eternal life. But woe to those who falsify this my word and my commandment, and to those who listen to them, who turn away from the life of the teaching and remove themselves from the commandment of life. They will fall, together with them, under the eternal judgment."

Translated by Claude from I. Wajnberg (Ethiopic), C. Schmidt (Coptic)'s German translation (1919) of the Ethiopic and Coptic; neither is shown

When he had said this and ended the conversation with us, he said to us again: "See, on the third day and at the third hour he who sent me will come, so that I may go away with him." And as he was saying this, there was thunder and lightning and an earthquake, and the heavens were torn open, and a bright cloud appeared which bore him up. And there sounded the voices of many angels, rejoicing and praising and saying: "Gather us, O priest, to the light of glory." And when they had drawn near to the firmament, we heard his voice: "Go in peace."