Genealogiis duodecim apostolos
Standard abbreviation: Gene. Apos.
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 523
Category: Lists of Apostles and Disciples
Related literature: List of Apostles and Disciples, by Pseudo-Eusebius
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Genealogies of the Twelve Apostles.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/genealogies-of-the-twelve-apostles/.
Created March 2024.
1. TEXT
Full translation from Budge, Contendings of the Apostles (with some adjustments; see below).
The father of Simon, who was surnamed Peter, and of Andrew his brother, was of the house of Rôbêl (Reuben), and his mother’s mother was of the house of Simon (Simeon); Simon Peter’s mother loved him greatly, and she named him Simon after the name of her father’s family, and because Andrew’s father loved him greatly he counted him among the family of his father Reuben. Zebedee was of the house of Levi and he took to wife a woman of the house of Judah, who bore [to him] two sons, called James and John. Now because the father of James loved him greatly he counted him among the family of his father Levi, and similarly, because the mother of John loved him greatly she counted him among the family of her father Judah; and for this reason she brought him forth to Jesus, for she herself was of the house of Judah, and Christ also was of the house of Judah, according to the flesh. And they were surnamed “Children of thunder,” for they were of both the priestly house and of the royal house. And Philip was of the house of Zebulun. And Bartholomew was of the house of Naphtali; now his name was formerly John, but our Lord changed his name because of John the son of Zebedee, His beloved. And Matthew was of the house of Issachar. And Thomas was of the house of Asher. And James, the son of Alphaeus, was of the house of Gad. And Thaddaeus was of the house of Joseph. And Simon, the son of Cleopas, who is the same as Nathaniel, was of the house of Benjamin. And Judas Iscariot was of the house of Dan; now Dan sold his brother Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, and in like manner Judas sold our Lord for thirty pieces of silver.
The text concludes with a short doxology. The translation of the text to Ethiopic is attributed in the title to “Abba Dionysius, Bishop of the country to the East.”
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
London, British Library, Or. 678, fols. 17v–18r (15th cent.) (=Budge A)
London, British Library, Or. 683, fols. 254v (17th cent.) (=Budge B)
Budge, Ernest A. W. Gadla Ḥawâryât: The Contendings of the Apostles, Being the Lives and Martyrdoms and Deaths of the Twelve Apostles and Evangelists. Vol. 1. London: Henry Frowde, 1899 (Ethiopic text based on British Library, Or. 678 and 683, pp. 49–50).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Budge, E. Wallis. Gadla Ḥawâryât: The Contendings of the Apostles, Being the Lives and Martyrdoms and Deaths of the Twelve Apostles and Evangelists. Vol. 2 (English translations). London: Henry Frowde, 1901 (English translation, pp. 59–60).
3.3 General Works