Date of composition

• From 70 - 120.

Biography of Jesus?

• Probably.

Type of Apocrypha (heretical or in error (made up))

• Possible error: One story describes a nature miracle that seems out of character to miracles Jesus performed in the Gospels.

Length

• Consists of four different fragments that originated from a longer work. Three fragments were purchased in 1934, and a fourth fragment was discovered later.

Summary

• The fragments contain short discussions, a story of Jesus healing a leper, and a miracle not found in the Gospels.

Noteworthy from the book

1. The first three fragments give information and tell stories similar to those found in the Four Gospels but different enough that they were not borrowed from the Gospels.
2. A leper approached Jesus and asked to be healed. He explained that he had been healthy but traveled with a group of lepers. He ate with them in an inn and soon became ill with leprosy. Jesus healed the man.
3. The fourth fragment describes Jesus planting a grain of wheat that immediately grew and produced more wheat.
4. These are the four fragments translated into English. In some places parts of sentences are missing. These are indicated by ellipses (. . .). This translation comes from here
1. First fragment: "Punish every wrong-doer and transgressor, but not me. . . .how he does what he does." Then he turned to the rulers of the people and spoke this word: "Search the Scriptures; you think that in them you have life. They are the ones that testify concerning me. Do not think that I came to accuse you to my Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have hoped." They replied, "We know full well that God spoke to Moses. But we do not know where you have come from." Jesus answered them, "Now what stands accused is your failure to believe his testimonies. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed For that one wrote to your fathers. . . ." . . . to the crowd. . . stones together so that they might stone him. And the rulers were trying to lay their hands on him, that they might arrest him and deliver him over to the crowd. They were unable to arrest him because the hour for him to be delivered over had not yet come. But the Lord himself went out through their midst and left them.
2. Second fragment: And behold, a leper approached him and said, "Teacher Jesus, while I was traveling with some lepers and eating with them at the inn, I myself contracted leprosy. If, then, you are willing, I will be made clean." Then the Lord said to him, "I am willing: be clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. Jesus said to him, "Go, show yourself to the priests and make an offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded; and sin no more. . . ."
3. Third fragment: . . . [they came] to him and began rigorously testing him, saying, "Teacher Jesus, we know that you have come from God. For the things you do give a testimony that is beyond all the prophets. And so, tell us: is it right to pay the kings the things that relate to their rule? Shall we pay them or not?" But when Jesus understood their thought, he became incensed and said to them, "Why do you call me teacher with your mouth, when you do not listen to what I say? Well did Isaiah prophecy about you, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far removed from me. In vain do they worship me, commandments. . . .'"
4. Fourth fragment: . . . enclosed in a secret place . . . placed underneath inwardly . . . its weight beyond measure. . . . And when they were puzzled, as it were, over his strange question, Jesus walked and stood on the bank of the Jordan river; he reached out his right hand, and filled it. . . . And he sowed it on the . . . And then . . . water . . . and . . . before their eyes; and it brought forth fruit . . . many . . . for joy . . .