The Second Apocalypse of James

The Second Apocalypse of James

[A discourse and the martyrdom of James; preserved with damage.]

This is the discourse that James the Just spoke in Jerusalem, which Mareim, one of the priests, wrote down. James said, I am the first son who was begotten; I shall make known to you the mysteries. The Lord appeared to me, who is my brother in the flesh and my Lord in the spirit; he embraced me and kissed me and said, My beloved, behold, I shall reveal to you the things that neither the heavens nor their rulers have known. [Line damaged]

He said to me: I am the one who was within you; I am the knowledge of the truth; I am the gate of the Pre-existent One. Hear and understand; and tell the people not to walk in ignorance, but to know the way that leads upward, for I have opened it. Become a passer-by, you who would be saved; cross over the world, and do not let it cross over you.

Then they seized James and set him upon the height of the temple, and cast him down; but he did not die. He rose up, and they took stones and stoned him. And as they stoned him, he prayed, saying: My Father in the heavens, forgive them, for they do not know what they do; receive my spirit, O Lord, and let me not be held by the powers, but bring me to the rest of the imperishable life. [Text missing] And so he gave up his spirit; and he was the Just one, and the gate for many.

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