Gospel of the Savior

Gospel of the Savior

Restored Witness

[Beginning missing]

[The surviving witness opens in a damaged portion of dialogue between the Savior and the apostles.]

[Page 97 - fragmentary]

The Savior spoke to Andrew and said: Blessed is the one who will eat with me in the kingdom of the heavens. You are the salt of the earth. You are the lamp that gives light to the world.

[Lines damaged]

Do not sleep, and do not give yourselves over to slumber.

[Text missing]

The garment of the kingdom I obtained through the blood of the vine.

[Andrew answered, but his words are mostly lost.]

[Page 98 - fragmentary]

The Savior said: If I have cared for what belongs to the world, it is also fitting that I should go down to Hades because of the souls that are bound there.

[Lines damaged]

Now, while you are in the body, do not let matter rule over you.

Rise. Let us go away from this place, for the one who will hand me over has drawn near.

You will all flee and leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

I and my Father are one.

[Page 99 - fragmentary]

I am the good shepherd. I lay down my life for you, and you also must lay down your lives for your friends, for this is pleasing to the Father.

There is no commandment greater than this.

I came from the divine height, and I took on the human condition.

[Text missing]

One of the disciples asked: Master, how long will it be before we are called out from the world?

[The answer is damaged and mostly lost.]

[Page 100 - heavily fragmentary]

[A vision or ascent scene is partly preserved.]

The disciples spoke of becoming spiritual bodies and of approaching the heavens.

Those who belonged to the heavenly regions were troubled when they saw them ascending.

[Lines damaged]

They saw the Savior in a vision.

[Text missing]

[Pages 101-104 missing or not preserved in this restored sequence]

[Page 105 - heavily fragmentary]

The Savior said: The one who does not receive my body and my blood is a stranger to me.

[Text missing]

[Page 106 - heavily fragmentary]

Do not weep over me.

[Lines damaged]

Rather, rejoice concerning what is coming to pass.

[Text missing]

[Page 107 - fragmentary but partly coherent]

The Savior said to the apostles: Do not let your hearts be troubled when you see me.

They asked Him: Master, in what form will you appear when you reveal yourself to us?

John answered and said: Master, do not reveal yourself to us in all your glory, lest we be unable to bear the sight. Reveal yourself in another form of your glory, so that we may see you and not fall into fear or despair.

The Savior said: I will appear to you in a form you are able to behold. But do not touch me until I have gone to the Father.

Whoever is near me is near the fire. Whoever is far from me is far from life.

[Lines damaged]

I am in your midst as a child.

Amen. A little longer I am in your midst.

[Page 108 - fragmentary]

[The Savior speaks of the one who plots against Him. The identity in the damaged line is uncertain.]

Therefore now, behold, I suffer because of the sins of the world.

But I rejoice over you, because you have continued well in the world.

[Text missing]

Joy has come to the world. Do not weep; rather, rejoice.

I have overcome the world. Do not let the world overcome you.

I have become free from the world, and you also will become free from it.

They will pierce my side. Let the one who sees this bear witness truly.

[Pages 109-112 - damaged or missing in this restored sequence]

[Page 113 - fragmentary vision]

The apostles saw the world become dark before them.

Then they became as those who stand among the aeons of glory.

They saw their Savior after He had reached the fourth heaven.

[Lines damaged]

Angels and archangels fled before the vision.

The cherubim were seen.

[Text missing]

They cast down their crowns before the throne of the Father.

All the holy ones received their robes.

[Text missing]

Someone wept and was distressed, and the host of angels was troubled.

[Page 114 - fragmentary prayer/dialogue]

[The Savior speaks to the Father.]

I go to die with joy and to pour out my blood upon the human race.

Yet I weep for my beloved ones, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, that they may be able to stand in the day of judgment.

I will sit upon my throne, and I will judge the world.

They will say to me:

[Text missing]

[Pages 115-116 - fragments]

[Only scattered words and broken lines remain.]

[Text missing]

[Pages 117-120 missing or not preserved in this restored sequence]

[Pages 121-122 - fragments]

In three days I will take you with me into heaven, and I will teach you.

Since your desire...

[Line breaks off]

[Unplaced fragments]

A little longer, O cross, and what is lacking will be completed. What has been diminished will be made full.

A little longer, O cross, and what has fallen will rise.

A little longer, O cross, and all the fullness will be completed.

[Fragment]

They will not remember his generation. His wife will be widowed, and his children will be fatherless.

[Fragment]

One gives milk, and another gives honey. As for you, rest yourselves beside the spring of the water of life.

[End missing]