Standard abbreviation: P. Bal. 27
Other titles: none
Clavis numbers: ECCA 569
Category: Pseudo-Apostolic Memoirs
Related literature: Investiture of Abbaton the Angel of Death, Investiture of the Archangel Gabriel, Investiture of the Archangel Michael, Attiri Book of Michael
Compiled by Tony Burke, York University
Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Papyrus Bala’izah 27.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/papyrus-balaizah-27/.
Created July 2019. Current as of January 2024.
1. SUMMARY
This unidentified fragment discovered at the Monastery of Apa Apollo in el-Bala’izah (18 km south of Assyut), contains a portion of a dialogue between Jesus and the disciples about the fall of the devil. Similar materials are found in a number of other Coptic homilies (listed above). Since the fragment is so small, a translation can be given here in full (trans. Kahle): “Behold, then, O holy angels (Polotsky and Suciu restore instead as “holy members”), I have chosen you, I have revealed to you all my mysteries from the beginning of the creation until now. You know, therefore, from that which I revealed unto you, that it is arrogance which has cast the devil forth out of his office. He was cast forth into the outer darkness because of his arrogance. You see, then, that arrogance is the mother of every sin. He, therefore, who will not humiliate himself among you is a devil.”
Named historical figures and characters: Jesus Christ (implied speaker), devil, “Holy Members” (the Apostles).
Geographical locations: none.
2. RESOURCES
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3.1 Manuscripts and Editions
3.1.1 Coptic (Sahidic)
Oxford, Bodleian Library, Ms. Copt. g 8(p), 6th cent. (PAThs entry; Trismegistos; LDAB)
Kahle, Paul E. Bala’izah: Coptic Texts from Deir El-Bala’izah in Upper Egypt. 2 vols. London: Oxford University Press, 1954 (edition and English translation, vol. 1, pp. 403–404).
Polotsky, H. J. “Zu den koptischen literarischen Texten aus Balaizah.” Or 26.4 (1957): 347–49 (corrections and new emendations of the Coptic text).
3.2 Modern Translations
3.2.1 English
Crum, Walter E. “The Coptic Manuscripts.” Pages 39–43 in William M. Flinders Petrie. Gizeh and Rifeh. London: School of Archaeology, 1907 (English translation pp. 39–40).
Kahle, Paul E. Bala’izah: Coptic Texts from Deir El-Bala’izah in Upper Egypt. 2 vols. London: Oxford University Press, 1954 (edition and English translation, vol. 1, pp. 403–404).
3.3 General Works
Gonis, Nikolaos. “Arabs, Monks, and Taxes: Notes on Documents from Deir el-Bala’izah.” ZPE 148 (2004): 213–24.
Suciu, Alin. The Berlin-Strasbourg Apocryphon: A Coptic Apostolic Memoir. WUNT 370. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017 (p. 73, 110).
Till, Walter C. “Zu den koptischen Texten aus Bala’izah.” Or 25 (1956): 384–403.