The Book of the Resurrection of Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle
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This text is made up of three Coptic fragments with a date difficult to establish. The best manuscript is 12th century, but the older ones have undecided dates on them. Likely 5th-6th century is where it sits (200-550AD is the span scholars generously give as some believe it to be the lost Gospel of Bartholomew.
Reasons for rejection/non-inclusion
- Written outside of the apostolic age
- If it’s the lost Gospel of Bartholomew, then it is the one 5th century church fathers like Jerome reject as well as Pope Gelasius
- It’s focus only on passion week is a common feature of Gnostic works
- Has Bartholomew as ascending into heaven observing the liturgy which is just bizarre and doesn’t appear to happen.
Useful external attestation details
- Jesus is described as “all-powerful” and identified as the “First Born of the Father”, “the Saviour”, the “Son of God”, the “Holy Lamb” and the “Shepherd” who came from Heaven.
- Judas Iscariot is identified as the one who betrayed Jesus
- Jesus died
- Jesus was crucified
- Jesus was pierced in the side
- Jesus rose from the dead
- Jesus’ body is recovered by Joseph of Arimathea
- Jesus was laid in a new tomb
- Jesus was wrapped in linen and anointed with oils and perfumes
- Mary and other women followers go to the tomb (this book specifies those women as Salome, M. Magdalene and Martha)
- Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection
- Jesus ascended into heaven
- Jesus’ disciples are acknowledged and named: Bartholomew (of course), Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, Thaddeus, and Matthias.
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