Apocalypsis Thomae
Standard abbreviation: Apoc. Thom.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 513; CANT 326
Category: Apocalypses
Related literature: the Fifteen Signs Before Doomsday
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University ([email protected]) and Matthias Geigenfeind, Kirchliche Hochschule ([email protected])
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony and Matthias Geigenfeind. “Apocalypse of Thomas.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/apocalypse-of-thomas/.
Posted October 2018. Current as of March 2023.
1. SUMMARY
Apoc. Thom. is extant in three forms: a Short Version comprised of 13 paragraphs, a Long Version of 28 paragraphs, and five manuscripts containing abbreviated versions of the longer text. Unlike most apocalypses, Apoc. Thom. does not provide a setting for the revelation (such as the Mount of Olives), nor is the speaker (Jesus) even named until the very end of the text. The text begins with a command—“Hear, Thomas”—from Jesus, and then follows a general description of typical apocalyptic catastrophes (famine, war, earthquakes and pestilences) and human failings (blasphemy, hate, pride, moral degradation among religious and secular leaders). The Long Version then contains an ex eventu prophecy of several kings arising one after another. The first king is faithful (a “lover of the law”) but is soon succeeded by his two sons, identified in the text by their initials (“a”; “h”) and likely intended to be Arcadius and Honorius, sons of Theodosius I. After their reign, further princes and kings are described culminating in “a cunning man…who shall rule for a short time.” After this, the Long Version tells of the arrival of the Antichrist, followed by a series of woes for those living in the end times. All three versions then narrate the heavenly signs that will occur over the seven final days leading up to the return of Christ. Each day begins with an introductory formula indicating the day and hour (with the exception of the second day) when the events will occur, followed by a description of what is to happen (rain of blood, opening of heaven’s gates and the abyss, a great earthquake, celestial bodies cease their work, etc.), and concluding with the statement “These are the signs of the … day.” The eighth day will begin with the angels saving the elect from the destruction of the world and then Christ will finally appear. Simultaneously, the gates of paradise will be unlocked and the “spirits and souls” of the saints will come out, return to their buried bodies, and rise from their opened graves. The saints receive the clothes of eternal life and remain in the Father’s and Christ’s proximity. The Short Version finishes with a short conclusion stating that the Savior’s words “are ended,” while the Long Version reveals the fate of the wicked: all evil is removed from the world and all those who are not saved will be taken to “Satan’s perpetual darkness.” Then Thomas is told to reveal everything in this “hidden book” to the saints.
Named historical figures and characters: Antichrist, Arcadius, Honorius, Jesus Christ, Satan, Theodosius (emperor), Thomas (apostle).
Geographical locations: abyss, Babylon, Paradise, temple (Jerusalem), Tyre.
2. RESOURCES
2.1 Websites and Other Online Resources
“Apocalypse of Thomas.” Wikipedia.
Early Christian Writings: Apocalypse of Thomas. Administrator: Peter Kirby (Features several English translations and a brief bibliography).
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Latin
3.1.1.1 Short Version
B Naples, Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, lat. 2 (Vindobon. 16), fol. 60 (5th cent.); (fragmentary) ends mid-sentence in v. 7
N Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm. 4563, fol. 40 (11th cent.)
Bihlmeyer, Pius. “Un Texte non interpolé de l’Apocalypse de Thomas.” RBén 28 (1911): 270–82 (edition of the Short Version based on B and N).
Hauler, Edmund. “Zu den neuen lateinischen Bruchstücken der Thomasapokalypse und eines apostolischen Sendschreibens im Codex Vind. Nr. 16.” Wiener Studien 30 (1908): 308–40 (includes a diplomatic edition of B and a reconstructe text using von Dobschütz’s notes on P and M).
3.1.1.2 Long Version
C Kassel, Universitätsbibliothek Kassel, Landesbibliothek und Murhardsche Bibliothek der Stadt Kassel, 4° Ms. Theol. 10, fol. 135r–38v (8th cent.) ~ lacks pars. 26–27
M Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm. 4585, fols. 65v–67v (9th cent.) ~ finishes mid-sentence in par. 23
P Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 220, fols. 48v–53r (9th cent.) ~ lacks pars. 11–13
V Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare, I (1), fols. 403v, 404v (6th/7th cent.; Apoc. Thom. portion from the 7th cent.) ~ pars. 1–3 only
W Würzburg, Universitätsbibliothek, M.p.th.f. 28, fols. 57r–58v (8th cent.); contains portions of Lactantius, Epitome diuinarum institutionum, in place of pars. 13–14 and at the end of the text, which terminates half way through par. 26
Dionisi, Giovanni Giacopo. Apologetiche riflessioni sopra del fondamental privilegio a’ canonici di Verona concesso dal vescovo Ratoldo. Verona: Antonio Andreoni Libraio, 1755 (Latin text of V, p. 30).
James, Montague Rhodes. “Notes on Apocrypha.” JTS 11 (1910): 288–91 (edition of V).
O’Sullivan, Tomás. “The Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 567–92 in The End and Beyond: Medieval Irish Eschatology. Edited by John Carey, Emma Nic Cárthaigh, and Caitríona Ó Dochartaigh. 2 vols. Celtic Studies Publications 27. Aberystwyth: Celtic Studies Publications, 2014 (edition and translation of P).
Wilhelm, Friedrich. Deutsche Legenden und Legendare: Texte und Untersuchungen zu ihrer Geschichte im Mittelalter. Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs, 1907 (edition of M, pp. 40*–42*).
Wright, Charles D. “6 Ezra and the Apocalypse of Thomas. With a previously unedited ‘interpolated’ text of Thomas.” Apocrypha 26 (2015): 9–55 (publication of C, pp. 39–55).
Wright, Charles D. “The Apocalypse of Thomas: Some New Latin Texts and their Significance for the Old English Versions.” Pages 27–64 in Apocryphal Texts and Traditions in Anglo-Saxon England. Edited by K. Powell and D. Scragg. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2003 (editions of THREO and W, pp. 52–64).
3.1.1.3 Abbreviated Version
A Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Clm. 8439, fol. 191 (15th cent.) ~ interpolated into a dialogue between Hadrian and Epictetus
E Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek, 319, fols. 155–156 (10th cent.)
H Oxford, Bodleian Library, Hatton 26, part II, fol. 88r (13th cent.)
O Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, 1878, part B, fols. 161v–62r (12th cent.)
R Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Reg. lat. 49, fol. 52v (10th cent.)
T Toronto, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, 45 frags. 24–25 (9th cent.)
Dobschütz, Ernst von. Thomas-Apokalypse. Unpublished notes, 1912 (includes transcriptions of all manuscripts known to the author: MNPVB).
Suchier, Walther. L’Enfant Sage (Das Gespräch des Kaisers Hadrian mit dem klugen Kinde Epitus). Gesellschaft für romanische Literatur 24. Dresden: M. Niemeyer, 1910 (edition of A, p. 272).
Wright, Charles D. “The Apocalypse of Thomas: Some New Latin Texts and their Significance for the Old English Versions.” Pages 27–64 in Apocryphal Texts and Traditions in Anglo-Saxon England. Edited by K. Powell and D. Scragg. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2003 (editions of THREO and W, pp. 52–64).
3.1.2 Old English
3.1.2.1 Vercelli Homily 15
Vercelli, Biblioteca Capitolare di Vercelli, MS CXVII (the Vercelli Book), fols. 80v–85v (10th cent.)
Kemble, J. M., ed. and trans. The Poetry of the Codex Vercellensis, with an English Translation. London: Aelfric Society, 1856.
Krapp, George Philip, ed. The Vercelli Book. The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records 2. New York: Columbia University Press, 1932.
Scragg, D. G., ed. The Vercelli Homilies and Related Texts. Early English Text Society, o.s. 300. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
3.1.2.2 Corpus 41
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, 41, pp. 287–295 (11th cent.)
Förster, Max. “A New Version of the Apocalypse of Thomas in Old English.” Anglia 73 (1955): 6–36 (edition and discussion of the Corpus 41 homily).
3.1.2.3 Blicking Homily 7
Princeton, Princeton University Library, W.H. Scheide Collection 71 (the Blickling Book), fols. 50r–59v (10th cent.)
Kelly, Richard J., ed. and trans. The Blickling Homilies. 2 vols. London and New York: Continuum, 2003–2009.
Morris, Richard, ed. The Blickling Homilies. Early English Text Society, o.s. 58, 63, 73. London: Oxford University Press, 1874–1880; repr. in 1 vol. 1967 (edition and facing English translation, pp. 83–97).
3.2 Translations
3.2.1 English
Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993 (English translation of Short Version based on B and N and the Long Version based on M and V, pp. 645–51).
Geigenfeind, Matthias. “The Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 580–604 in vol. 2 of New Testament Apocrypha: More Noncanonical Scriptures. Edited by Tony Burke. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2020 (parallel translations of the Long and Short Versions).
James, Montague Rhodes. The Apocryphal New Testament. 1924. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1953 (English translation of the Long Version based on M and V with readings from the Old English, and the Short Version on Bihlmyer’s edition, pp. 555–62).
Otero, Aurelio de Santos. “Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 748–52 in New Testament Apocrypha. Vol. 2: Writings Relating to the Apostles; Apocalypses and Related Subjects. Edited by Wilhem Schneemelcher. Translated by R. McLachlan Wilson. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1992 (translation of the Short Version based on Bihlmeyer’s edition).
3.2.2 French
Faerber, Robert. “Apocalypse de Thomas.” EAC 2:1019–43. (French translation of the Short Version based on B and N and the Long Version based on MVP with readings from the Old English.)
3.2.3 Italian
Erbetta, Mario. Gli apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. in 4. Turin: Marietti, 1966-1981 (Italian translation of the Long Version based on MPV and the Short Version on NB, vol. 3, pp. 387–95).
Moraldi, Luigi. Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 2 vols. Classici delle religioni, Sezione quarta, La religione cattolica 24. Turin: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese, 1971 (Italian translation of the Short Version based on Bihlmyer’s edition and the Long Version based on Wilhelm’s edition, vol. 2, pp. 1939–50).
3.3 General Works
Dando, Marcel. “L’Apocalypse de Thomas.” Cahiers d’Études Cathares 28 (1977): 3–58.
Faerber, Robert. “L’Apocalypse de Thomas en vieil anglais.” Apocrypha 4 (1993): 125–39.
Frick, Carolus. “Die Thomasapokalypse.” ZNW 9 (1908): 172–73.
Geigenfeind, Matthias. “Audi Thomas, … Audi a me signa quae futura sunt in fine huius saeculi – Zum Textbestand und zur Überlieferung der apokryphen Thomas-Apokalypse.” ZAC 20 (2016): 147–81.
__________. Die apokryphe Thomas-Apokalypse. Analyse und Übersetzung. Diplomarbeit Universität Regensburg, 2013.
James, Montague Rhodes. “The Revelatio Thomas Again.” JTS 11 (1910): 569.
Jett, Mary Julia. “Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 459–75 in Early New Testament Apocrypha. Edited by J. Christopher Edwards. Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022.
McNamara, Martin, and Herbert Máire, eds. Irish Biblical Apocrypha. 2nd ed. London and New York: T & T Clark International, 2004 (pp. 153–60).
Nicklas, Tobias. “Die apokryphe Thomasapokalypse und ihre Rezeption der Offenbarung des Johannes.” Pages 683–708 in Die Johannesapokalypse. Kontexte – Konzepte – Rezeption. Edited by Jörg Frey, James A. Kelhoffer, and Franz Tóth. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012.
Nicklas, Tobias, Matthias Geigenfeind and Johannes Stettner. “Die Deutung der Weltgeschichte in der Langform der Apokalypse des Thomas (Codex Palatinus: §§ 2–10).” ETL 94 (2018): 257–74.
Sanchez, Jean Gabriel. “L’usage de l’Apocalypse de Thomas au sein des Priscillianistes.” Pages 259–69 in Parcs et jardins au Moyen Age et à la Renaissance: L’Apocalypse. Edited by C. Ridoux. Recherches valenciennoises 28. Valenciennes: Presses universitaires de Valenciennes, 2009.
Seymour, John D. “The Signs of Doomsday in the Saltair na Rann.” Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy C 36 (1923): 154–63.
Swan, Mary. “The Apocalypse of Thomas in Old English.” Leeds Studies in English 29 (1998): 333 –46.
Wright, Charles D. “Rewriting (and re-editing) the Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 441–54 in Écritures et réécritures: la reprise interprétative des traditions fondatrices par la littérature biblique et extra-biblique. Edited by Claire Clivaz et al. Leuven: Peeters, 2012.
Wright, Charles D. “Vercelli Homily XV and the Apocalypse of Thomas.” Pages 150–84 in New Readings in the Vercelli Book. Edited by Samantha Zacher and Andy Orchard. Toronto Anglo-Saxon Series 4. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009.