First apocalypse of James

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The First Apocalypse of James , (1Apc) Jac, is a pseudepigraphic , Gnostic script with "clear proximity to the Valentinians ", which probably originated in the 3rd century. So the apostle James mentioned in the Bible is not the author. There are two Coptic versions that differ in terms of content : one in the Codex Tchacos (CT), which is quite well preserved, and a heavily damaged one in the Nag Hammadi writings (NHC V, 3). Both are v. a. about the personal fate of James and coping with suffering.

Language, author, dating

The texts are in the Sahidic dialect of Coptic. It is very likely that they were originally written in Greek . The author is unknown. The manuscripts that have come down to us from the 4th century either go back to different Greek originals or they are owed to an intra-Coptic process of transmission, which also brought about a different theological orientation. Usually one does not expect it to emerge until the end of the 2nd century at the earliest, but more likely in the 1st half of the 3rd century. The script contains elements of Valentine, the different versions speak for a certain history of impact, so the 3rd century is likely to be the time of origin .

The script mentions Addai (os), which points to a Syrian background, which is also supported by Jewish Christian elements. The literary genre is not easy to determine. Although the "Apocalypse" in NHC V.3 is designated as the "Apocalypse of James" at the beginning and at the end, in the CT it is only signed with "James" at the end. Although "Jesus" reveals the future, it is not about the world as a whole as in the biblical Apocalypse of John .

The script belongs to the early Christian literature of James like the New Testament letter of James , the pseudoclementines, the Protevangelium of James, a fragment of the Hebrew Gospel, as well as the second Apocalypse of James and Epistula Jacobi ("Letter of James") also called The Apocryphon of James , which from Nag Hammadi are known. According to Clement of Alexandria, James is regarded as a prominent recipient of Revelation and was installed as bishop in Jerusalem before all other apostles. James plays a much smaller role in canonized literature than in patristic literature. In this writing, however, there are hardly any Jewish-Christian elements, and a brotherly relationship between Jesus and James is denied.

content

The main topic is the personal affairs of James or his suffering. This stands in a certain analogy to the suffering of Jesus, but without having a redeeming meaning. His martyrdom and the subsequent ascent to heaven serve to overcome the power of the archons . This can be seen as a model or instruction for the Gnostics to cope with suffering as well. The teachings of Jesus to James are for the Gnostic readership. The author has placed what has been reported around the Passion of Jesus.

1st chapter

  • Title in NHC V, 3: "The Apocalypse of James"
  • Conversation between Jesus and James during Holy Week
  • Farewell to Jesus. James hears of the suffering of Jesus; he mourns and remains (waiting) in prayer

Part 2

  • Appearance of the Lord Jesus after his resurrection
  • James Correcting the Disciples. Conflict in Jerusalem.
  • Only recorded in CT: the capture, trial and stoning of James
  • Subscript in the CT: "Jakobus"; in NHC: "The Apocalypse of James"

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Johanna Brankaer, Hans-Gebhard Bethge (ed.): Codex Tchacos. Berlin / New York 2007, p. 85.
  2. ↑ Imke Schletterer, Uwe-Karsten Plisch, in: Nag Hammadi German. Study edition. Berlin 2007, p. 304.
  3. ↑ Johanna Brankaer, Hans-Gebhard Bethge (ed.): Codex Tchacos. Berlin / New York 2007, p. 84.
  4. ↑ Johanna Brankaer, Hans-Gebhard Bethge (ed.): Codex Tchacos. Berlin / New York 2007, p. 83.
  5. ↑ Johanna Brankaer, Hans-Gebhard Bethge (ed.): Codex Tchacos. Berlin / New York 2007, p. 84.
  6. ↑ Silke Petersen: Destroy the works of femininity! Brill, Leiden 1999, p. 62.

literature

  • James M. Robinson (Ed.): The Nag Hammadi Library. Revised edition. HarperCollins, San Francisco 1990.
  • Alexander Böhlig , Pahor Labib: Coptic-Gnostic Apocalypses from Codex V of Nag Hammadi in the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo. WZ (H) special volume, 1963, pp. 29–55.
  • Byung Woo Yoo: The First Apocalypse of James (Nag Hammadi Codex V, 3). Berlin 1998. (Dissertation HU Berlin)
  • Imke Schletterer, Uwe-Karsten Plisch, in: Nag Hammadi German. Study edition. Berlin 2007, pp. 304-310. (Introduction, translation)
  • Rodolphe Kasser , Gregor Wurst, Marvin W. Meyer, François Gaudard: The Gospel of Judas together with the Letter of Peter to Phillip, James and A Book of Allogenes from Codex Tchacos. Critical Edition, Washington DC 2007.
  • Johanna Brankaer, Hans-Gebhard Bethge (Ed.): Codex Tchacos. Berlin, New York 2007, ISBN 978-3-11-019570-5 , pp. 81-254. (Introduction, text Coptic / German, text explanations)