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JAMES, APOCRYPHON OF

(I,2)

The first tractate from Codex I (Jung Codex) of the Nag Hammadi discovery. The untitled text is a revelation dialogue cast in the form of a letter from James to an unknown recipient. The current title has been assigned because of an interior reference to itself as a “secret book” (Ap. Jas. 1.10).

The dialogue begins with a scene set 550 days after the Resurrection in which the Twelve are gathered together recalling the words of Jesus and recording these reminiscences in books. Jesus suddenly appears, takes James and Peter aside, and gives them his teaching.

Among the distinctive elements of this work is an exhortation to martyrdom (4.24–6.20). This section has many stylistic similarities with other discussions of this topic (cf. Origen Ex. Mart.; Tertullian Ad Mart.). What is particularly interesting is this text’s positive assessment of and encouragement to voluntary martyrdom (cf. Tertullian De fuga 9; Clement Misc. 4.4).

Commentators have suggested that the Apocryphon of James should be considered a primary source of the sayings of Jesus since it contains kingdom of heaven similes (7.22-35; 12.22-30), a prophecy (9.24–10.6), and other sayings attributed to Jesus that may reflect the most ancient strata of tradition.

Bibliography. R. Cameron, Sayings Traditions in the Apocryphon of James. HTS 34 (Philadelphia, 1984); F. E. Williams, “The Apocryphon of James: Introduction,” in Nag Hammadi Codex I, ed. H. W. Attridge. NHS 22 (Leiden, 1985), 13-27.

Andrea Lorenzo Molinari

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JAMES, APOCRYPHON OF

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)