2 Apocryphal Apocalypse of John

2 Apocalypsis Iohannis apocrypha

Standard abbreviation: 2 Apocr. Apoc. John

Other titles: Apocalypse of John Chrysostom

Clavis numbers: ECCA 107; CANT 332

Category: Apocalypses

Compiled by: Janet E. Spittler, University of Virginia ([email protected])

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Spittler, Janet E. “2 Apocryphal Apocalypse of John.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/2-apocryphal-apocalypse-of-john/.

Created October, 2019.

1. SUMMARY

2 Apocr. Apoc. John (in the manuscripts introduced variously as either “a word of teaching” or “a treatise for the benefit of those listening to it”) begins abruptly with John (in some manuscripts identified specifically as “John Chrysostom”) approaching the Lord and asking a series of questions. No information about the context of the conversation (its location in either space or time) is given. Instead, John simply begins to pose a series of questions, most of which are introduced with the phrase “Tell me, Lord.” Most of the answers, in turn, begin with “Listen, Just John.” The first three questions involve sin (chap. 1), the appropriate ritual observance of Sunday (2:1–3), and fasting (2:4–19); the bulk of the text, however, consists of a series of questions and answers (“eratapokriseis”) on the correct interpretation of the liturgy (chaps. 3–5). There, John queries the Lord about the interpretation of the multiple aspects of the liturgical locations and paraphernalia (the altar, the bēma, the ambo, the paten, etc.), as well as about the significance of the multiple parts of the Mass. The emphasis seems to be on aspects of the liturgy that would have been most prominent to a lay participant (that is, the hymns, the readings, the Creed, and the kiss of peace). The interpretations that the Lord offers are simultaneously typological (drawing connections between the earthly liturgy and its heavenly counterpart) and historical (drawing connections between the liturgy and moments of Jesus’ earthly existence). The text continues with a query involving baptism, the answer to which actually has more to do with haircuts (6:1–6). A final question involves love (6:7–11).

Named Historical Figures and Characters: Abraham (patriarch), Adam (patriarch), David (king), devil, Jesus Christ, John Chrysostom, John the Theologian (son of Zebedee), Judas Iscariot, Michael (angel)

Geographical Locations: Constantinople, Galilee, Hades.

2. RESOURCES

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Greek (BHG 922i)

Recension A

Mount Athos, Skētē Hagiou Andreou, 96, fols. 78^r–81^v (16th cent.) ~ destroyed in fire

Recension B

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 947, fols. 276^v–280^v (1574)

Unassigned

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, MΓ 66 and MΓ 69 (8th/9th cent.)

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. II, 106 (col. 1169), fols. 22^v–225^v (16th cent.)

Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, gr. III, 12 (col. 1267), fols. 412–413^v (1467)

Zaborda, Mone tou hagiou Nikanoros, 127, fols. 186^v–189

Court, John M. The Book of Revelation and the Johannine Apocalyptic Tradition. JSNTS 190. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000 (reprinting of Nau’s text with English translation, pp. 67–103).

Krasnoseltsev, Nikolai F. Addenda “Anecdota Graeco-Byzantina” (in Russian). Odessa: Economicheskaa Tipografia, 1898 (editio princeps of A, pp. 98–101).

Nau, François. “Une deuxième Apocalypse apocryphe grecque de S. Jean.” RB NS 11.2 (1914): 209–21 (editio princeps of B based on Paris, gr. 947).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1 English

Court, John M. The Book of Revelation and the Johannine Apocalyptic Tradition. JSNTS 190. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2000 (pp. 67–103).

Draughon, Rebecca, Jeannie Sellick, and Janet E. Spittler. “2 Apocryphal Apocalypse of John: A New Translation and Introduction.” Pages 399–422 in vol. 2 of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Edited by Tony Burke. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2020.

3.3 General Works

Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in English Translation. Oxford: Clarendon, 1993 (p. 684).

Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. Italy: Marietti, 1975–1981 (description, vol. 3, p. 415).

Kaestli, J.-D., and J.-C. Picard. “Première Apocalypse Apocryphe de Jean.” Pages 983–90 in volume 2 of Écrits Apocryphes Chrétiens. Edited by P. Geoltrain and J.-D. Kaestli. Bibliothèque de la Pléiade 516. Paris: Gallimard, 2005 (discussion pp. 988–89).

Tóth, Péter. “New Wine in Old Wineskin: Byzantine Reuses of the Apocryphal Revelation Dialogue.” Pages 77–93 in Dialogues and Debates from Late Antiquity to Late Byzantium. Edited by Averil Cameron and Niels Gaul. New York: Routledge, 2017.