Egerton Gospel

Other titles: Papyrus Egerton 2, Papyrus London Christian 1, Papyrus Köln VI 255, the “Unknown Gospel” on Papyrus Egerton 2

Standard abbreviation: Gos. Egerton

Clavis numbers: ECCA 722; CANT 2

VIAF: 204217584; 2250157416828516710005

Category: Agrapha and Fragments

Related Literature: Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 840, Gospel of Peter

Compiled by Lorne R. Zelyck, St. Joseph’s College – University of Alberta ([email protected])

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Zelyck, Lorne R. “Egerton Gospel.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/egerton-gospel/.

Created January 2019. Updated January 2020.

1. SUMMARY

Two separately published papyri, established as belonging to the same manuscript page, contain seven discernible episodes from the life of Jesus. The relationship between the episodes and what came before and after is not always apparent. The significant lacunae in Episodes 4, 5, 7, and 8 also makes their reconstruction quite speculative. Episode 1, “A Confrontation with the Authorities” (Gos. Egerton 1v lin. 1–26 [P. Eg. 2, 1v.1–20 + P. Köln 255v.1–6]), begins with a conflict between Jesus and the lawyers where he is accused of transgressing the Law (perhaps for healing on the Sabbath) and declares himself innocent. This leads to a debate with the leaders of the people concerning the identity and origins of Jesus, and his relationship to Moses and the Scriptures. At the beginning of Episode 2, “An Attempt to Stone and Arrest Jesus” (1r.1–10 [P. Eg.]), it appears that the leaders and crowd conspire to pick up stones to throw at Jesus. The leaders then lay their hands on him in an attempt to hand him over to the crowd, but they are unable to seize him because his hour had not yet come. The episode ends with Jesus slipping out from their hands and withdrawing from them. In Episode 3, “The Healing of a Leper” (1r.11–24 [P. Eg. 2, 1r.11–20 + P. Köln. 255, 1r.1–7]), a leper approaches Jesus, explains that he has acquired leprosy while eating with lepers in an inn, and requests that Jesus make him clean; Jesus responds, heals the man, and instructs him to go show himself to the priests and make the offering commanded by Moses for his purification, and “sin no more.” Episode 4, “Jesus’ Strange Question” (2v.1–5 [P. Eg.]) and Episode 5, “The Miracle on the Jordan River” (2v.6–16) may be two distinct episodes, although they appear to be geographically and interpretatively connected. Jesus asks a “strange question” related to the immeasurable produce of a single seed of grain, which is immediately followed by the miracle on the Jordan River: Jesus stood on the bank of the Jordan, reached out his right hand, scattered salt on the river, then poured out water on the ground, prayed, and an abundant crop was produced. In Episode 6, “The Question of Tribute” (2r.1–18 [P. Eg.]), Jesus’ opponents offer a laudatory compliment and then test him with a question regarding the lawfulness of obligatory payments to secular governments; Jesus perceives their devious intention, becomes angry, and responds with a counter-question and quotation of Isa 29:13. The content of Episode 7, “An Unidentified Text” (3v.1–6 [P. Eg.]), is indiscernible. In Episode 8, “Another Attempt to Stone Jesus” (3r.1–6 [P. Eg.]), Jesus claims that he is one with the Father and mutually abides in him, which results in another attempt to stone him to death.

Named historical figures and characters: Isaiah (prophet), Jesus (Christ), Moses (patriarch).

Geographical locations: Jordan River.

2. RESOURCES

“Egerton Gospel.” Wikipedia.

Early Christian Writings: Egerton Gospel. Administrator: Peter Kirby (features several English translations and a brief bibliography).

The Papyrus Egerton 2 Homepage. Administrator: Wieland Wilker (features English translation, links to manuscript images, and a bibliography).

“The Unknown Gospel: Papyrus Egerton 2.” Gospels.net. Administrator: Mark Mattison (features a translation based on Andrew Bernhard’s edition).

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1. Greek

London, British Library, P. Lond. Christ. 1 (P. Egerton 2) + Cologne, Universität zu Köln, Papyrussammlung inv. 00608 (Papyrus Köln VI 255) (2nd cent.)

Bauer, Johannes B. “Die Saat aufs Wasser geht auf. PEgerton 2 fr. 2 verso (Bell/Skeat).” ZNW 97 (2006): 280–82.

Bell, H. I. and T. C. Skeat, eds. Fragments of an Unknown Gospel and Other Early Christian Papyri. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1935 (editio princeps of P. Egerton 2).

__________, eds. The New Gospel Fragments. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1935.

Cerfaux, Lucien. “Parallèles canoniques et extra-canoniques de ‘l’évangile inconnu’ (Pap. Egerton 2).” Mus 49 (1936): 55–77.

Daniels, Jon B. “The Egerton Gospel: Its Place in Early Christianity.” PhD diss. Claremont Graduate School, 1989.

Dibelius, Martin. “Review of Bell–Skeat, Fragments of an Unknown Gospel.” Deutsche Literaturzeitung 57 (1936): 3–11.

Dodd, C. H. “A New Gospel.” BJRL 20 (1936): 56–92.

Gronewald, Michael “255. Unbekanntes Evangelium oder Evangelienharmonie (Fragment aus dem ‘Evangelium Egerton’).” Pages 136–45 in Kölner Papyri Band 6 (P.Köln VI). Edited by Michael Gronewald et al. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 1987 (editio princeps of P. Köln VI 255).

Lagrange, M.-J. “Deux nouveaux textes relatifs a l’Évangile.” RB 44 (1935): 321–43.

Lietzmann, Hans. “Neue Evangelienpapyri.” ZNW 34 (1935): 285–93.

Lührmann, Dieter. Fragmente apokryph gewordener Evangelie: in griechischer und lateinischer Sprache. Marburg: Elwert, 2000 (esp. 142–54).

Mayeda, Goro. Das Leben-Jesu-Fragment Papyrus Egerton 2 und seine Stellung in der urchristlichen Literaturgeschichte. Bern: Paul Haupt Verlag, 1946.

Neirynck, Frans. “The Apocryphal Gospels and the Gospel of Mark.” Pages 715–72 in Evangelica II: 1982–1991, Collected Essays. Edited by Frans Van Segbroeck. BETL 99. Leuven: University Press, 1991. Reprinted from ETL 86 (1989):123–75.

Nicklas, Tobias. “The ‘Unknown Gospel’ on P.Egerton 2.” Pages 9–120 in Gospel Fragments. Authored by Thomas J. Kraus, Michael J. Kruger, and Tobias Nicklas. Oxford: University Press, 2009 (with additional bibliography).

Schmidt, Karl F. W. and Joachim Jeremias. “Ein bisher unbekanntes Evangelienfragment.” Theologische Blätter 15 (1936): 34–45.

Wayment, Thomas. The Text of the New Testament Apocrypha (100–400 CE). London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2013 (esp. 180–84).

Zelyck, Lorne R. The Egerton Gospel (Egerton Papyrus 2 + P. Köln VI 255): Introduction, Critical Edition, and Commentary. TENTS 13. Leiden: Brill, 2019.

3.2 Modern Translations

3.2.1. English

Bernhard, Andrew E. Other Early Christian Gospels: A Critical Edition of the Surviving Greek Manuscripts. London: T&T Clark, 2006 (esp. 84–97).

Cameron, Ron (ed.). The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts. Philadelphia: Westminster John Knox, 1982 (esp. 72–75).

Ehrman Bart D. and Zlatko Pleše. The Apocryphal Gospels: Texts and Translations. Oxford: University Press, 2011 (esp. 245–53).

Elliott, J. K. The Apocryphal New Testament: A Collection of Apocryphal Christian Literature in an English Translation. Oxford: University Press, 1993 (esp. 37–42).

Jeremias, Joachim and Wilhelm Schneemelcher, “Papyrus Egerton 2.” Pages 96–99 in New Testament Apocrypha: Volume One: Gospels and Related Writings. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Revised edition. English translation edited by R. McL. Wilson. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003.

3.2.2. French

Bertrand, Daniel A. “Papyrus Egerton 2.” Pages 411–13 in Écrits apocryphes chrétiens. Vol. 1. Edited by François Bovon and Pierre Geoltrain. Bibliothèque de la Pléiade 442. Paris: Gallimard, 1997.

3.2.3. German

Jeremias, Joachim and Wilhelm Schneemelcher, “Papyrus Egerton 2.” Pages 82–84 in Neutestamentliche Apokryphen I. 6th ed. Edited by Wilhelm Schneemelcher. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1990.

Porter, Stanley E. “Der Papyrus Egerton 2 (P.Egerton 2 / P.Lond. Christ 1).” Pages 360–65 in Antike christliche Apokryphen in deutscher Übersetzung. I Band: Evangelien und Verwandtes. Edited by Christoph Markschies and Jens Schröter. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012.

__________. “Der Papyrus Köln VI 255 (P. Köln VI 255).” Pages 366–67 in Antike christliche Apokryphen in deutscher Übersetzung. I Band: Evangelien und Verwandtes. Edited by Christoph Markschies and Jens Schröter. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012.

3.2.4 Italian

Erbetta, Mario. Gli Apocrifi del nuovo Testamento. 3 vols. in 4. Turin: Marietti, 1966–1981 (1.1:102–104).

Moraldi, Luigi. Apocrifi del Nuovo Testamento. 2 vols. Classici delle Religioni 24.5. Turin: Unione Tipografico-Editrice Torinese, 1971 (1:444–46).

3.2.5. Spanish

Santos Otero, Aurelio de. Los Evangelios apócrifos: Colección de textos griegos y latinos, versión crítica, estudios introductorios y comentarios. Revised edition. Madrid: Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 2003 (esp. 91–96).

3.3 General Works

Bockmuehl, Markus. Ancient Apocryphal Gospels. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017 (esp. 106–10).

Charlesworth, Scott D. Early Christian Gospels: Their Production and Transmission. Papyrologica Florentina 47. Florence: Edizioni Gonnelli, 2016 (esp. 241–50).

Klauck, Hans-Josef. Apocryphal Gospels: An Introduction. London: T&T Clark, 2003 (esp. 23–26).

Koester, Helmut. Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development. London: SCM Press, 1990 (esp. 205–16).

Malik, Peter. “Whose Fathers?: A Note on the (Un)Johannine Echo in the Egerton Gospel.” Early Christianity 9 (2018): 201–11.

Malik Peter and Lorne R. Zelyck. “Reconsidering the Date(s) of the Egerton Gospel.” ZPE 204 (2017): 55–71.

Neirynck, Frans. “Papyrus Egerton 2 and the Healing of the Leper.” Pages 773–83 in Evangelica II: 1982–1991, Collected Essays. Edited by Frans Van Segbroeck. BETL 99. Leuven: University Press, 1991. Reprinted from ETL 61 (1985): 153–60.

Nicklas, Tobias. “Gospel Fragments on Papyrus.” Pages 22–37 in Early New Testament Apocrypha. Edited by J. Christopher Edwards. Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies 9. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022 (pp. 23–26).

Nicklas, Tobias. “Papyrus Egerton 2.” Pages 139–49 in The Non-Canonical Gospels. Edited by Paul Foster. London: T&T Clark, 2008.

Norelli, Enrico. “Le Papyrus Egerton 2 et sa localisation dans la tradition sur Jésus. Nouvel examen du fragment 1.” Pages 397–435 in Jésus de Nazareth: Nouvelles approches d’une énigme. Edited by Daniel Marguerat, Enrico Norelli, and Jean-Michel Poffet. Genève: Labor et Fides, 1998.

Porter, Stanley E. “Apocryphal Gospels and the Text of the New Testament before A.D. 200.” Pages 235–59 in The New Testament Text in Early Christianity. Proceedings of the Lille Colloquium, July 2000. Edited by Christian-Bernard Amphoux and J.K. Elliott. HTB 6. Lausanne: Editions du Zèbre, 2003.

Pryor, John W. “Papyrus Egerton 2 and the Fourth Gospel.” ABR 37 (1989): 1–13.

Watson, Francis. Gospel Writing: A Canonical Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013 (esp. 222–64).

Webb, Robert L. “Jesus Heals a Leper: Mark 1.40–45 and Egerton Gospel 35–47.” JSHJ 4 (2006): 177–202.

Wright, David F. “Papyrus Egerton 2 (the Unknown Gospel) – Part of the Gospel of Peter?” SecCent 5 (1985/86): 129–50.

Zelyck, Lorne R. “Elisha Typology in Jesus’ Miracle on the Jordan River (Papyrus Egerton 2, 2v.6–14).” NTS 62 (2016): 149–56.

__________. John among the Other Gospels: The Reception of the Fourth Gospel in the Extra-Canonical Gospels. WUNT 347. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013 (esp. 23–45).