Iohannis Euangelium apocryphorum
Standard abbreviation: Apocr. Gos. John
Other titles: Miracles of Jesus (Ethiopic version)
Clavis numbers: ECCA 518; CANT 44
Related literature: Acts of Pilate, Book of the Rolls, Epistles of Abgar and Jesus, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Protevangelium of James, Revelation of the Magi
Category: Gospels
Status:
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style):
1. SUMMARY
The Apocryphal Gospel of John is a lengthy biography of Jesus, from birth to ascension, arranged as a series of miracles. It draws on the canonical gospels and noncanonical traditions extant in Syriac and Arabic. Though the manuscript sources are in Arabic, the text is believed to be a translation from Syriac, as the copyist of one manuscript states (though another says that it was translated from Hebrew, which is exceedingly unlikely). The Arabic text was in turn translated into Ethiopic as the Miracles of Jesus. In the Ethiopic church, the Miracles are read liturgically; thus its manuscript sources are more plentiful, though they vary in how many miracles are present.
Though it is credited to John, the gospel harmonizes all four canonical gospel and lacks some of the material that is characteristic of John, particularly the “I am” speeches. Each story is greatly amplified, particularly in the assigning of names to the various nameless characters. The author demonstrates much freedom to move sayings and teachings of Jesus from one narrative situation to another. Among the guiding themes of the text are the obstinate rejection of the Jews despite vast numbers of them witnessing great miracles and supernatural testimony about Jesus’ divine identity—from deceased characters from Hebrew scripture (such as Abraham) and animals (including lions, gazelles, and lizards). The miracles are framed by a prequel narrative from the fall of Satan to the story of Cain and Abel and an epilogue covering Pentecost, the Great Commission, the imprisonment of Joseph of Arimathea, and the death of Mary.
Given the length of the text, it is most useful to present its contents in a list according to the chapter numbering by Moraldi:
1–3 Prologue: creation, the fall of Satan, Adam and Eve in paradise, expulsion from paradise, the murder of Abel by Cain (Gen 1–5).
4 Mary grows up in the temple. After conceiving Jesus, Mary and Joseph undergo the trial of the bitter waters (Protevangelium of James 8 and 16).
5 The birth of Jesus in a cave outside Bethlehem. Salome tests Mary’s virginity (Protevangelium of James 18–20).
6 Salome glorifies Jesus.
7 Satan investigates the birth of Jesus. Angels guard the cave from Satan and his demons.
8 The presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:26–38). Satan watches and vows to lay snares and kill Jesus.
9 The visit of the Magi, who are instructed on the significance of the star in records given by Adam to his son Seth (Matthew 2:1–12; Revelation of the Magi). The Holy Family flee to Egypt where the temples of the magicians Jannes and Jambres fall to the ground.
10 On their return to Nazareth the Holy Family encounter a group of bandits. One good bandit protects the family from the others.
(Here the Ehiopic text inserts the Infancy Gospel of Thomas).
11 Jesus helps his neighbour Titmina recover his stolen oxen.
12 In Tiberias Jesus helps a fisherman recover his stolen fish. At Jesus’ word they jump from the thieves’ boat into the fisherman’s.
13 Jesus commands a heifer to identify its true owner.
14 Jesus saves Joseph from lions on the road to Jerusalem.
15 Jesus (now an adult?) helps a man with a flooded field. At his word, the water is sucked into a cloud and the seed instantly grows into grain.
16 Jesus debates with Jews and their scribes in the temple. He animates an image of the four creatures and has them retrieve Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses to testify to his divinity. The Jews refuse to believe and cast stones at Jesus (John 10:31–32).
17 The woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11).
18 The Samaritan woman (John 4:7–30).
19 The call of Simon and Andrew (Mark 1:16–20). After they are baptized by Jesus, Peter leaves the water with a rock clinging to his foot. He receives the nickname Cephas (Matthew 16:16–19).
20 Jesus heals a man who is mute and deaf.
21 The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17). Jesus now joined by John and James, the sons of Zebedee.
22 Jesus is brought to raise a dead man. On the way he frees sheep and cows who proclaim their faith in him.
23 Jesus restores an olive crop for a man named Zacchaeus. Twigs from the crop protect homes.
24 Jesus raises Sarah, Rachel, and Rebecca to testify to his divinity.
25 In Caesarea Palestine, Jesus saves a crop of cucumbers from worms. The farmer becomes one of the 70 disciples.
26 The woman with a hemorrhage (Mark 5:25–34 par.). Jesus commands a gazelle to testify to his divinity.
27 Jesus heals a man with elephantiasis in Gadara. He commands him to bathe in the pool of Siloam. It is the sabbath when he does this, resulting in conflict with the Jews (John 9).
28 The people of Galilee are plagued by locusts. Nicodemus is sent to Jesus for assistance. At his request, Jesus lifts the plague and Nicodemus becomes a disciple.
29 The people of Ashkelon are troubled by roaming lions. Nathanael, one of the disciples, comes to the city and casts the lions out in Jesus’ name.
30 Discourse to the Twelve in Jericho. Jesus warns of a people from the desert who will attack his people and trample the temple underfoot.
31 Jesus and his apostles rest in the house of Gamaliel, brother of Nicodemus.
32 Jesus talks with John and James on the Mount of Olives. He predicts the fall of the temple and delivers the “synoptic apocalypse” (Mark 13). He also speaks a poetic blessing on Simon.
33 The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9–11 par.). The Jordan River recedes at his approach.
34 The temptation by Satan (Mark 1:12–13 par.).
35 The wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11). The bridegroom is a cousin of Nathanael. Joseph (Jesus’ father) is present at the event.
36 The raising of Lazarus (John 11:1–44). Satan is distressed that Jesus has taken one of the dead from Hades.
37 Farewell discourse on the Mount of Olives. Includes predictions of the deaths of Peter and John and warnings of a black swarm of locusts from the lineage of Ham. A false Christ from the tribe of Dan will appear during a time of abundance. Jesus gives a lengthy description of Judgment Day with lists of activities that bring blessings and those that bring woes.
38 Jesus continues his discourse on the way to Jerusalem, with additional predictions of future conflicts and signs that will accompany his return.
39 Entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1–11 par.).
40 The disruption of the money-changers in the temple (Mark 11:15–17 par.)
41 Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus with perfume (Mark 14:3–9).
42 The Last Supper (Mark 25:12–21 par.; John 13).
43 Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and the arrest of Jesus (Mark 14:32–50 par.).
44 Jesus stands before the council and Pilate (Mark 14: 53–65; 15:1–5 par.). The standards bow to Jesus (Acts of Pilate 1:5). Pilate frees Barabbas and then washes his hands of Jesus (Mark 15:6–15 par.). The threefold denial of Jesus by Peter (Mark 14:66–72).
45 Jesus is crucified on wooden beams that supported the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus promises salvation in paradise to the good bandit (Luke 23:39–43). When he utters his final words, the dead rise from their tombs (Matthew 27:51–53).
46 Jesus is impaled with a spear to verify his death (John 19:31–37). The Jews want to burn his body but Pilate will not allow it. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus bury Jesus in a tomb (John 19:38–42). Caiaphas and Annas plan that, should Jesus rise, they will pay the guards at the tomb to say Jesus’ disciples stole his body. The death of Judas (Matthew 27:3–10).
47 Jesus rises and others who rise with him go to their families to tell them how Jesus liberated Hades. The women come to the tomb (Mark 16:1–8 par.).
48 The Jews tell Pilate that the disciples stole Jesus’ body but he is unconvinced when he sees the seals still intact (Matthew 28:11–15).
49 Simon and John see the empty tomb and Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:1–18). The captain of the guard witnesses all of the events at the tomb and records them for Pilate, who sends a letter to the emperor. Five hundred men also write down their testimony and this is placed in the House of Wisdom in Rome.
50 Jesus appears to two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35).
51 Nicodemus, Cleopas, Gamaliel, and Nathanael gather 500 men to attack the Jews for their disbelief. Jesus appears, tells them to be merciful, and assures them that belief in Jesus will grow.
52 Joseph of Arimathea and other followers of Jesus are imprisoned and subsequently released by Jesus, riding on a chariot with the good bandit. Pilate sends a report to the emperor with the seals of the prison, which are still intact. Joseph is found in Arimathea (Acts of Pilate 15:5–6; Narrative of Joseph of Arimathea 4).
53 Jesus appears to the Seven on the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1–14) and then to Thomas (John 20: 24–29) in the room. Thirty days after the resurrection, he appears to Mary, Simon, and John. They ascend the Mount of Olives and he reveals mysteries to them (Book of the Rolls).
54 After forty days from the resurrection, he gives Simon the keys and promises the apostles that the Paraclete will come (John 14:16–17). Then he ascends to heaven on a chariot.
55 Ten days later, the Paraclete descends upon them allowing them to speak languages (Acts 2:1–12). Jesus appears and has them cast lots for their missionary journeys. The church appoints seven deacons with Stephen as their leader (Acts 6:1–6). Stephen is instructed by Jesus in the mysteries recounted in the illustrious Book of the Mysteries known as the Book of Genealogies.
56 The apostles depart on their missionary journeys. The Gospels are composed. Mary spends time with Paul and reveals to him what Clement had learned from Simon Peter. These teachings are recorded in the Book of Genealogies and deposited in Rome. Paul gave these mysteries to Dionysius in Ephesus. When Mary dies, Thomas is absent. He appears on a cloud as she departs for heaven in a chariot (Dormition of the Virgin by Joseph of Arimathea 17–18)
57 Conclusion with attribution to John.
(The Ethiopic text adds the Epistles of Jesus and Abgar).
Named Historical Figures and Characters: Aaron, Abel, Abgar, Abiram, Abraham, Adam, Addai, Ahab, Al-Hagiar, Andrew (apostle), Anna, Annas, Baglasman, Balaam, Bandits (Titus and Daksar), Barabbas, Bartholomew (apostle), Beelzebub, Caesar for the census, Caiaphas, Cain, Clement of Rome, Cleopas, Dakima (groom at Cana), Daniel, Dathan, Daumaka (thief), David, Death, Dionysius (follower of Paul), Elijah, Elisha, Elizabeth, Ephraim, Eve, Ezekiel, Four creatures, Gabriel, Gamaliel, Habakkuk, Hades (person), Hadnukh, Ham, Havilah, Her four husbands: Sa’alta, Juhan, Lawi, Hablut, Rafsija, Herod the Great, Hezekiah, Isaac, Isaiah, Jacob, Jambres, James (son of Zebedee), James (the Righteous), Jannes, Jeremiah, Jesse, Jezebel, Joachim, Job, John Baptist, John (son of Zebedee), Jonah, Jonah (father of Peter), Joseph of Arimathea, Joshua, Judah, Judas, Judas not Iscariot, Kedar, Lazarus, Manasseh, Mark, Martha of Bethany, Mary and Joseph, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Matthew, Melchizedek, Micah, Michael, Moses, Nadrin, Nathanael (disciple), Nebuchadnezzar, Nicodemus, Noah, Paraclete, Paul, Peter, Pharaoh, Philip, Pilate, Ptolemy, Rachel, Rebecca, Salome, Samaritan woman (Barfashabina), Samaritan woman’s parents: Salafak and Lahmija, Sarah, Satan, Seth, Simeon, Simon of Cyrene, Simon the Canaanean, Simon the Pharisee, Stephen, Thaddaeus, Thomas, Three Marys at tomb, Titmina, Titus (thief), Uzziah, Widow of Nain (Barsaah) (father is Yuwail, her son is Yunan), Woman caught in adultery, Woman with hemorage (Yasufiya), Zechariah, Zechariah (prophet).
Geographical Locations: Ain Shams, al-‘Ayn ad-Dawafija, Al-Ahdat, Al-Gauf, Amman, Antioch, Arimathea, Ascalon, Assyria, Babel, Babylon, Bethany, Bethlehem, Bethsaida, Caesarea, Capernaum, China, Chorazin, Decapolis, Egypt, Emmaus, Ephesus, Gadara, Galilee, Gehenna, Gethesmane, Golgotha, Gomorrah, Haran, Hill of Treasures, India, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jordan, Karsh (Philip), Mada’in, Magdala, Moab, Mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, Mountain of Treasures, Nablus, Nain, Nazareth, Nubia, Ophir, Paddan-aram, Palestine, Paradise, Persia, Pottr’s Field, Red Sea, Rome, Samaria, Sea of Tiberias, Sheba, Sidon, Sindh, Sodom, Spring of Siloam, Tadmur, Tartarus, Temple, Tiberias, Tus, Valley of Jehoshaphat.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Arabic
Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, E 96 sup. (1342) ~ CATALOG
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 300, fols. 356r–453v (undated)
Cairo, Coptic Museum, 702 (Graf 729; Macomber CM B-12 8), fols. 1r–49v (18th cent.)
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, ar. 441, fol. numbers not provided (1196)
Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, ar. 531, fols. 103r–153v (1232) ~ chs. 10–29
Burmester, O. H. E. “Fragments from an Arabic Version of two Infancy Gospels.” Studia Orientalia Christiana Collectanea 7 (1962): 105–14.
Galbiati, Giovanni. Iohannis evangelium apocryphum arabice in lucero edidit, latine convertit praefatione et commentario instruxit. Mediolani: In aedibus Mondadorianis, 1957 (Arabic text and Latin translation).
Graf, Georg. Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. 5 vols. Rome: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1944 (discussion, vol. 1, pp. 236–37).
Watson, W. S. “A Syriac-Arabic Narrative of Miracles of Jesus.” AJSL 16 (1899): 37–46 (texts and translation of a fragment with miracles 23–29 [here numbered 21–25] from a manuscript dated 1859).
Garsuni
Aleppo, Syriac Orthodox Church, 62 M (18th cent.)~ https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/134164
Apoc Paul and LH: https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/132886
3.1.2 Ethiopic (Miracles of Jesus)
A Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, d’Abbadie 168, fol. 1r–111r (19th cent.) ~ Gallica
B Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, d’Abbadie 226 (18th/19th cent.) ~ Gallica
C London, British Library, Or. 623 (18th cent.)
D London, British Library, Or. 624, fols. 4r–154v (1715) ~ BL
E London, British Library, Or. 712 (late 17th cent.)
Dublin, Chester Beatty Library 913 ~ contains 57 illuminations
London, British Library, Or. 8824, fols. 2r–179v (18th cent.) ~ contains 40 illuminations
Royal Collection Trust LINK
Additional MSS listed in Arras and van Rompay 1975.
Arras, Victor, and Lucas van Rompay. “Les manuscrits éthiopiens des ‘Miracles de Jesus.’” AnBoll 93 (1975): 133–46.
Grébaut, Sylvain. “Aperçu sur les miracles de N. S.” ROC (2ème série) 16 (1911): 255–65, 356–67; 21 (1918–1919): 94–99 (description of text up to mir. 43).
__________. “Les miracles de Jésus: Texte éthiopien publié et traduit.” PO 12 (1919): 555–652; 14 (1920): 771–844; 17 (1924): 783–857 (edition of mir. 1–30 based on A with B–E in the apparatus).
__________. “La légende du parfum de Marie-Madeleine.” ROC 21 (1918–1919): 100–103 (mir. 36).
__________. “Un miracle de Notre-Seigneur.” ROC 17 (1912): 427–31.
__________. “La Pentecôte et la mission des Apôtres.” ROC 21 (1918–1919): 204–13; 22 (1920–1921): 57–64.
__________. “Les relations entre Abgar et Jésus.” ROC 21 (1918–19): 73–87; 190–203.
Grébaut, Sylvain, and A. Roman. “Un passage eschatologique de Miracles de Jésus.” Aethiops 3 (1930): 35–38.
Grohmann, Adolf. “Reste einer neuen Rezension der Kindheitsgeschichte Jesu in der Ta’amra ’Iyasus.” WZKM 28 (1914): 1–15.
Turayev, B. “Chudesa Khristovi.” Khristianskiy Vostok 1 (1912): 56–59 (two small pieces from manuscripts in St. Petersburg).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Watson, W. S. “A Syriac-Arabic Narrative of Miracles of Jesus.” AJSL 16 (1899): 37–46 (texts and translation of a fragment with miracles 23–29 [here numbered 21–25] from a manuscript dated 1859).
3.2.2 Italian
Moraldi, Luigi. Vangelo Arabo apocrifo dell’Apostolo Giovanni da un Manoscritto della Biblioteca Ambrosiana. Biblioteca di Cultura Medievale. Milan: Editoriale Jaca Book, 1991 (translation of the Arabic text).
3.2.3 Latin
Galbiati, Giovanni. Iohannis evangelium apocryphum arabice in lucero edidit, latine convertit praefatione et commentario instruxit Mediolani: In aedibus Mondadorianis, 1957 (Arabic text and Latin translation).
3.2.4 Norwegian
Prytz, P. Det apokryfiske Johannesvangeliet. Trømso 1996.
3.2.5 Polish
Starowieysky, Marka. Apokryfy Nowego Testamentu, Vol 1, Ewangelie apokryficzne. 2 vols. Lublin: Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego, 1980 (partial translation of the Ethiopic text, pp. 141–45).
3.2.6 Swedish
Löfgren, Oscar. Det apokryfiska Johannesvangeliet i översättning från den enda kända arabiska handskriften i Ambrosiana. Stockholm, 1967.
3.3 General Works
Esbroeck, Michel van. “À propos de l’Évangile apocryphe arabe attribué à Saint Jean.” Mélanges de l’Université Saint-Joseph 49 (Mélanges offerts au R. P. Henri Fleisch, S.J.) (1975–1976): 597–603.
Gero, Stephen. “Apocryphal Gospels: A Survey of Textual and Literary Problems.” Page 3969–96 in ANRW 25.2. Edited by H. Temporini and W. Haase. New York: De Gruyter, 1988 (pp. 3989–91).
__________. “The Ta’amra ’Iyasus: A Study of Textual and Source-Critical Problems.” Pages 165–70 in Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. Edited by T. Beyene. Addis Ababa: Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University, 1988.
Horn, Cornelia. “Apocryphal Gospels in Arabic, Some Complications on the Road to Traditions about Jesus.” Pages 583–609 in Jesus in apokryphen Evangelienüberlieferungen. Edited by Jörg Frey and Jens Schröter. WUNT 254. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010 (pp. 604–606).
__________. “Syriac and Arabic Perspectives on the Structural and Motif Parallels Regarding Jesus’ Childhood in Christian Apocrypha and Early Islamic Literature: The ‘Book of Mary,’ the Arabic Apocryphal Gospel of John, and the Qur’an.” Apocrypha 19 (2008): 267–91.
Lindeskog. G. “Krisrtologien i det apokryfiska Johannesvangeliet.” Teologinen Aikakauskirja [=Teologisk Tidskrift] 73 (1968): 249–62.
Löfgren, Oscar. “Evangelium Ambrosianum: en förbisedd apokryf.” Svenska Dagbladet 11 March 1940.
__________. “Ein unbeachtetes apokryphes Evangelium.” OLZ 46 (1942): 153–59.
__________. “Fakta och dokument angåended et apokryfiska Johannesevangeliet.” , Svensk exegetisk årsbok 7 (1942): 30.
__________. “Zur Charakteristik des apokryphen Johannesevangeliums.” Orientalia Suecana 9 (1960): 107–30.
__________. “Ergänzendes zum apokryphen Johannesevangelium.” Orientalia Suecana 10 (1961): 137–44.
Peretto, L. M. “Cristo e la Vergine nel Vangelo arabo di Giovanni.” Marianum 25 (1963): 99–138.
Vööbus, Arthur. “Ta’amera ’Iyasus: Zeuge eines älteren äthiopischen Evangelientypus.” OCP 17 (1951): 462–67.
Witakowski, Witold. “The Miracles of Jesus: An Ethiopian Apocryphal Gospel.” Apocrypha 6 (1995): 279–98.
