Résumé
Résumé de The Second Apocalypse of James
À qui s’adresse-t-il ?
For readers curious about early Christian diversity, the Nag Hammadi library, or the figure of James, and anyone who enjoys short ancient texts about hidden knowledge and revelation.
De quoi parle ce livre ?
The Second Apocalypse of James is a short early Christian text about James, called the brother of the Lord and later known as James the Just, a leader of the church in Jerusalem. It survives in Coptic, a late form of the Egyptian language, in a book found near Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945. Scholars think it was first written in Greek, probably in the second century.
The word apocalypse means an unveiling of hidden things. Here the unveiling comes through speech. James receives teaching from the risen Lord and then passes it on to others. In the next few minutes you will hear where the text was found, how it is arranged, what it teaches about James, and why it stands outside most Bibles. First, the book in which it survives.
Dans ce résumé
- 1A text that surfaced in Egypt in 1945Free
- 2One text in the Nag Hammadi library
- 3James, the Lord, and the hidden teaching
- 4Why it stands outside most Bibles
Point clé 1 sur 4
A text that surfaced in Egypt in 1945
In December 1945 a peasant named Muhammad Ali alSamman opens a sealed jar near Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt. Inside are books. They belong to the Nag Hammadi library, and they hold more than fifty texts, most of them unknown for centuries. The Second Apocalypse of James is one of them.
The books are written in Coptic, the everyday language of Christian Egypt. Scholars generally agree that the Coptic is a translation of Greek originals. The Greek composition is usually placed in the second century.
The dialogue reaches modern readers through Greek, Coptic, and English, and the introduction notes that meaning can be lost along the way. Readers should expect language that is sometimes dense or obscure.
That’s 1 of 4 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Questions about The Second Apocalypse of James
What is the Second Apocalypse of James about?
It is an early Christian text in which James, the brother of the Lord, receives teaching from Jesus and then speaks in Jerusalem. It deals with hidden knowledge, the nature of the Lord, and James's suffering.
Where was the Second Apocalypse of James found?
The text is in Coptic, translated from an earlier Greek original.
Is the Second Apocalypse of James in the Bible?
No. Churches did not accept it into the New Testament. It was not seen as the work of James, and its teaching differed from what many church leaders held. There is no evidence of a single act of suppression.
Who wrote the Second Apocalypse of James and when?
The author is unknown. Scholars usually place the Greek original in the second century, though dates vary. James is the central figure, but he is not thought to be the writer.
What is the difference between the First and Second Apocalypse of James?
They are two separate texts in Codex V, both centred on James. The introduction presents them as a pair, while the Second gives more attention to James teaching in Jerusalem and his fate.