James writes to you. Peace be with you from Peace, love from
Love, grace from Grace, faith from Faith, life from Holy Life!
Since you asked me to send you a secret book which was revealed
to me and Peter by the Lord, I could neither refuse you nor speak
directly to you, but I have written it in Hebrew letters and have
sent it to you - and to you alone. But inasmuch as you are a
minister of the salvation of the saints, endeavor earnestly and take
care not to recount this book to many - this which the Savior did
not desire to recount to all of us, his twelve disciples. But
blessed are those who will be saved through faith in this discourse.
Now I sent you ten months ago another secret book with the Savior
revealed to me. But that one you are to regard in this manner, as
revealed to me, James.
Now the twelve disciples were sitting all together at the same
time, and, remembering what the Savior had said to each one of them,
whether secretly or openly, they were setting it down in books. And
I was writing what was in my book - lo, the Savior appeared, after
he had departed from us while we gazed at him. And five hundred and
fifty days after he arose from the dead, we said to him: "Have you
gone and departed from us?"
And Jesus said: "No, but I shall go to the place from which I
have come. If you desire to come with me, come."
They all answered and said: "If you bid us, we'll come."
He said: "Truly I say to you, no one ever will enter the Kingdom of
Heaven if I bid him, but rather because you yourselves are full. Let
me have James and Peter, in order that I may fill them." And when he
called these two, he took them aside, and commanded the rest to busy
themselves with that with which they had been busy.
The Savior said; "You have received mercy....
(7 lines missing) Do you not desire, then, to be filled? And is your
heart drunk? Do you not desire, then, to be sober? Therefore, be
ashamed! And now, waking or sleeping, remember that you have seen
the Son of Man, and with him you have spoken, and to him you have
listened. Woe to those who have seen the Son of Man! Blessed are
those who have not seen the Man, and who have not consorted with
him, and who have not spoken with him, and who have not listened to
anything from him. Yours is life! Know, therefore, that he healed
you when you were ill, in order that you might reign. Woe to those
who have rested from their illness, because they will relapse again
into illness! Blessed are those who have not been ill, and have
known rest before they became ill. Yours is the Kingdom of God!
Therefore I say to you, become full and leave no place within you
empty, since the Coming One is able to mock you."
Then Peter answered: "Lord, three times you have said to us
'Become full', but we are full."
The Lord answered and said: "Therefore I say unto you, become full,
in order that you may not be diminished. Those who are diminished,
however, will not be saved. For fullness is good and diminution is
bad. Therefore, just as it is good for you to be diminished and, on
the other hand, bad for you to be filled, so also the one who is
full is diminished; and the one who is diminished is not filled as
the one who is diminished is filled, and the one who is full, for
his part, brings his sufficiency to completion. Therefore, it is
fitting to be diminished while you can still be filled, and to be
filled while it is still possible to be diminished, in order that
you can fill yourselves the more. Therefore become full of the
spirit but be diminished of reason. For reason is of the soul; and
it is soul."
And I answered, and said to him: "Lord, we can obey you if you
wish. For we have forsaken our forefathers and our mothers and our
villages and have followed you. Grant us, therefore, not to be
tempted by the wicked Devil."
The Lord answered and said: "What is your merit when you do the will
of the Father if it is not given to you by him as a gift, while you
are tempted by Satan? But if you are oppressed by Satan and are
persecuted and you do the Father's will, I say that he will love you
and will make you equal with me and will consider that you have
become beloved through his providence according to your free choice.
Will you not cease, then, being lovers of the flesh and being afraid
of sufferings? Or do you not know that you have not yet been
mistreated and have not yet been accused unjustly, nor have you yet
been shut up in prison, nor have you yet been condemned lawlessly,
nor have you yet been crucified without reason, nor have you yet
been buried shamefully, as was I myself, by the evil one? Do you
dare to spare the flesh, you for whom the spirit is an encircling
wall? If you contemplate the world, how long it is before you and
also how long it is after you, you will find that your life is one
single day and your sufferings, one single hour. For the good will
not enter the world. Scorn death, therefore, and take concern for
life. Remember my cross and my death and you will live."
And I answered and said to him: "Lord, do not mention to us the
cross and the death, for they are far from you."
The Lord answered and said: "Truly I say to you, none will be saved
unless they believe in my cross. But those who have believed in my
cross, theirs is the Kingdom of God. Therefore, become seekers for
death, just as the dead who seek for life, for that which they seek
is revealed to them. And what is there to concern them? When you
turn yourselves towards death, it will make known to you election.
In truth I say to you, none of those who are afraid of death will be
saved. For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who have put
themselves to death. Become better than I; make yourselves like the
son of the Holy Spirit."
Then I questioned him: "Lord how may we prophesy to those who ask
us to prophesy to them? For there are many who ask us and who look
to us to hear an oracle from us."
The Lord answered and said: "Do you not know that the head of
prophecy was cut off with John?"
And I said: "Lord, it is not possible to remove the head of
prophecy, is it?"
The Lord said to me: "When you come to know what 'head' is, and that
prophecy issues from the head, then understand what is the meaning
of 'Its head was removed'. I first spoke with you in parables, and
you did not understand. Now, in turn, I speak with you openly, and
you do not perceive. But it is you who were to me a parable in
parables and what is apparent in what are open.
"Be zealous to be saved without being urged. Rather, be ready on
your own and, if possible, go before me. For thus the Father will
love you.
"Become haters of hypocrisy and evil thought. For it is thought
which gives birth to hypocrisy, but hypocrisy is far from the truth.
"Let not the Kingdom of Heaven wither away. For it is like a date
palm shoot whose fruits poured down around it. It put forth leaves
and, when they budded, they caused the productivity of the date palm
to dry up. Thus it is also with the fruit which came from this
single root; when the fruit was picked, fruits were collected by
many harvesters. It would indeed be good if it were possible to
produce these new plants now; for then you would find the Kingdom.
"Since I have been glorified in this manner before this time, why
do you all restrain me when I am eager to go? You have constrained
me to remain with you eighteen more days for the sake of the
parables. It sufficed for some persons to pay attention to the
teaching and understand 'The Shepherds' and 'The Seed' and 'The
Building' and 'The Lamps of the Virgins' and 'The Wage of the
Workers' and 'The Double Drachma' and 'The Woman'.
"Become zealous about the Word. For the Word's first condition is
faith; the second is love; the third is works. Now from these comes
life. For the Word is like a grain of wheat. When someone sowed it,
he believed in it; and when it sprouted, he loved it, because he
looked forward to many grains in the place of one; and when he
worked it, he was saved, because he prepared it for food. Again he
left some grains to sow. Thus it is also possible for you all to
receive the Kingdom of Heaven: unless you receive it through
knowledge, you will not be able to find it.
"Therefore I say to you, be sober. Do not go astray. And many
times I have said to you all together - and also to you alone,
James, I have said - 'Be saved!' And I have commanded you to follow
me, and I have taught you the response in the presence of the
rulers. Observe that I have descended, and I have spoken, and I have
troubled myself, and I have received my crown, when I saved you. For
I have descended to dwell with you in order that you also may dwell
with me. And when I found that your houses had no ceilings over
them, I dwelt in houses which would be able to receive me when I
descended.
"Therefore, obey me, my brothers. Understand what the great light
is. The Father does not need me. For a father does not need a son,
but it is the son who needs the father. To him I am going, for the
Father of the Son is not in need of you.
"Pay attention to the Word. Understand Knowledge. Love Life. And
no one will persecute you, nor will any one oppress you, other than
you yourselves.
"O you wretched! O you unfortunates! O you dissemblers of the
truth! O you falsifiers of knowledge! O you sinners against the
spirit! Do you even now dare to listen, when it behooved you to
speak from the beginning? Do you even now dare to sleep, when it
behooved you to be awake from the beginning, in order that the
Kingdom of Heaven might receive you? In truth I say to you, it is
easier for a holy one to sink into defilement, and for a man of
light to sink into darkness, than for you to reign - or even not to
reign!
"I have remembered your tears and your grief and your sorrow.
They are far from us. Now, then, you who are outside the inheritance
of the Father, weep where it behooves you and grieve and proclaim
that which is good, since the Son is ascending appropriately. In
truth I say to you, had it been to those who would listen to me that
I was sent, and had it been with them that I was to speak, I would
have never descended upon the earth. And now, then, be ashamed on
account of them.
"Behold, I shall depart from you. I am going and I do not desire
to remain with you any longer - just as you yourselves have not
desired. Now, then, follow me quickly. Therefore I say to you, for
your sake I have descended. You are the beloved; you are those who
will become a cause of life for many. Beseech the Father. Implore
God often, and he will give to you. Blessed is the one who has seen
you with him when he is proclaimed among the angels and glorified
among the saints. Yours is life! Rejoice and be glad as children of
God. Keep his will in order that you may be saved. Take reproof from
me and save yourselves. I intercede on your behalf with the Father,
and he will forgive you much."
And when we heard these things, we became elated, for we had been
depressed on account of what we had said earlier. Now when he saw
our rejoicing, he said: "Woe to you who are in want of an advocate!
Woe to you who are in need of grace! Blessed are those who have
spoken freely and have produced grace for themselves. Make
yourselves like strangers; of what sort are they in the estimation
of your city? Why are you troubled when you oust yourselves of your
own accord and depart from your city? Why do you abandon your
dwelling place of your own accord, readying it for those who desire
to dwell in it? O you exiles and fugitives! Woe to you, because you
will be caught! Or perhaps you imagine that the Father is a lover of
humanity? Or that he is persuaded by prayers? Or that he is gracious
to one on behalf of another? Or that he bears with one who seeks?
For he knows the desire and also that which the flesh needs. Because
it is not the flesh which yearns for the soul. For without the soul
the body does not sin, just as the soul is not saved without the
Spirit. But if the soul is saved when it is without evil, and if the
spirit also is saved, then the body becomes sinless. For it is the
spirit which animates the soul, but it is the body which kills it -
that is, it is the soul which kills itself. Truly I say to you, the
Father will not forgive the sin of the soul at all, nor the guilt of
the flesh. For none of those who have worn the flesh will be saved.
For do you imagine that many have found the Kingdom of Heaven?
Blessed is the one who has seen himself as a fourth one in Heaven."
When we heard these things, we became distressed. Now when he saw
that we were distressed, he said: "This is why I say this to you,
that you may know yourselves. For the Kingdom of Heaven is like an
ear of grain which sprouted in a field. And when it ripened, it
scattered its fruit and, in turn, filled the field with ears of
grain for another year. You also: be zealous to reap for yourselves
an ear of life, in order that you may be filled with the Kingdom.
"As long as I am with you, give heed to me and obey me. But when
I am to depart from you, remember me. And remember me because I was
with you without your knowing me. Blessed are those who have known
me. Woe to those who have heard and have not believed! Blessed are
those who have not seen but have had faith!
"And once again I persuade you. For I am revealed to you building
a house which is very valuable to you, since you take shelter under
it; in the same way it will be able to support the house of your
neighbors when theirs is in danger of falling. In truth I say to
you, woe to those on behalf of whom I was sent down to this place!
Blessed are those who are to ascend to the Father. Again I reprove
you. You who are, make yourselves like those who are not, in order
that you may come to be with those who are not.
"Let not the Kingdom of Heaven become desolate among you. Do not
become arrogant on account of the light which illumines. Rather,
become to yourselves in this manner, as I am to you. For I have
placed myself under the curse, in order that you may be saved"
And Peter answered to this and said: "Sometimes you urge us on to
the Kingdom of Heaven, and other times you turn us away, Lord.
Sometimes you persuade us and impel us to faith and promise us life,
and other times you expel us from the Kingdom of Heaven."
And the Lord answered and said to us: "I have given you faith
many times. Moreover, I have revealed myself to you, James, and you
have not known me. Again, now I see you rejoicing many times. And
when you are elated over the promise of life, are you nevertheless
glum? And are you distressed when you are taught about the Kingdom?
But you through faith and knowledge have received life. Therefore,
scorn rejection when you hear it, but, when you hear the promise, be
the more glad. In truth I say to you, the one who will receive life
and believe in the Kingdom will never leave it - not even if the
Father desires to banish him!
"These things I shall say to you for the present. But now I shall
ascend to the place from which I have come. But you, when I was
eager to go, have driven me out, and, instead of your accompanying
me, you have pursued me. But give heed to the glory which awaits me,
and, having opened your hearts, listen to the hymns which await me
up in heaven. For today I am obliged to take (my place) at the right
hand of my Father. Now I have said my last word to you. I shall part
from you. For a chariot of wind has taken me up, and from now on I
shall strip myself in order that I may clothe myself. But give heed:
blessed are those who have preached the Son before he descended, in
order that, when I have come, I may ascend. Thrice-blessed are those
who were proclaimed by the Son before they came into being, in order
that you may have a portion with them."
When he said these things, he went away. And we knelt down, I and
Peter, and gave thanks, and sent our hearts up to heaven. We heard
with our ears and saw with our eyes the sound of wars and a trumpet
call and a great commotion.
And when we passed beyond that place, we sent out minds up
further. And we saw with our eyes and heard with our ears hymns and
angelic praises and angelic jubilation. And heavenly majesties were
hymning, and we ourselves were jubilant.
After this, we also desired to send our spirits above to the
Majesty. And when we ascended, we were permitted neither to see nor
to hear anything. For the rest of the disciples called to us and
questioned us: "What is it that you have heard from the Master?"
And, "What has he said to you?" And, "Where has he gone?"
And we answered them: "He has ascended." And, "He has given us a
pledge and has promised us all life and disclosed to us children who
are to come after us, since he has bid us to love them, inasmuch as
we will be saved for their sake."
And when they heard, they believed the revelation, but were angry
about those who would be born. Then I, not desiring to entice them
to scandal, sent each one to another place. But I myself went up to
Jerusalem, praying that I may obtain a portion with the beloved who
are to be revealed.
And I pray that the beginning may come from you, for thus I can
be saved. Because they will be enlightened through me, through my
faith and through another's which is better than mine, for I desire
that mine become the lesser. Endeavor earnestly, therefore, to make
yourself like them, and pray that you may obtain a portion with
them. For apart from what I have recounted, the Savior did not
disclose revelation to us. For their sake we proclaim, indeed, a
portion with those for whom it was proclaimed, those whom the Lord
has made his children.