Lost scriptures: books that did not make it into the New Testament by [edited by] Bart D. Ehrman Read Free Book Online Page A

Jesus said, “If one who knows the
    ‘I have claims against some merchants.
    all still feels a personal deficiency, he is
    They are coming to me this evening. I
    completely deficient.”
    must go and give them my orders. I ask
    68 Jesus said, “Blessed are you when
    to be excused from the dinner.’ He went
    you are hated and persecuted. Wherever
    to another and said to him, ‘My master
    you have been persecuted they will find
    has invited you.’ He said to him, ‘I have
    no place.”
    just bought a house and am required for
    69 Jesus said, “Blessed are they who
    the day. I shall not have any spare time.’
    have been persecuted within themselves.
    He went to another and said to him, ‘My
    It is they who have truly come to know
    master invites you.’ He said to him, ‘My
    the father. Blessed are the hungry, for the
    friend is going to get married, and I am
    belly of him who desires will be filled.”
    to prepare the banquet. I shall not be able
    70 Jesus said, “That which you have
    to come. I ask to be excused from the
    will save you if you bring it forth from
    dinner.’ He went to another and said to
    yourselves. That which you do not have

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    NON-CANONICAL GOSPELS
    within you [will] kill you if you do not
    you and the breasts which nourished
    have it within you.”
    you.”
    71 Jesus said, “I shall [destroy this]
    He said to [her], “Blessed are those
    house, and no one will be able to build
    who have heard the word of the father
    it [ . . . ]”
    and have truly kept it. For there will be
    72 [A man said] to him, “Tell my
    days when you (pl.) will say, ‘Blessed
    brothers to divide my father’s possessions
    are the womb which has not conceived
    with me.”
    and the breasts which have not given
    He said to him, “O man, who has made
    milk.’ ”
    me a divider?”
    80 Jesus said, “He who has recognized
    He turned to his disciples and said to
    the world has found the body, but he who
    them, “I am not a divider, am I?”
    has found the body is superior to the
    73 Jesus said, “The harvest is great but
    world.”
    the laborers are few. Beseech the lord,
    81 Jesus said, “Let him who has grown
    therefore, to send out laborers to the
    rich be king, and let him who possesses
    harvest.”
    power renounce it.”
    74 He said, “O lord, there are many
    82 Jesus said, “He who is near me is
    around the drinking trough, but there is
    near the fire, and he who is far from me
    nothing in the cistern.”
    is far from the kingdom.”
    75 Jesus said, “Many are standing at
    83 Jesus said, “The images are manithe door, but it is the solitary who will fest to man, but the light in them remains
    enter the bridal chamber.”
    concealed in the image of the light of the
    76 Jesus said, “The kingdom of the fafather. He will become manifest, but his ther is like a merchant who had a conimage will remain concealed by his signment of merchandise and who dislight.”
    covered a pearl. That merchant was
    84 Jesus said, “When you see your
    shrewd. He sold the merchandise and
    likeness, you rejoice. But when you see
    bought the pearl alone for himself. You
    your images which came into being betoo, seek his unfailing and enduring treafore you, and which neither die nor besure where no moth comes near to devour come manifest, how much you will have
    and no worm destroys.”
    to bear!”
    77 Jesus said, “It is I who am the light
    85 Jesus said, “Adam came into being
    which is above them all. It is I who am
    from a great power and a great wealth,
    the all. From me did the all come forth,
    but he did not become worthy of you.
    and unto me did the all extend. Split a
    For had he been worthy, [he would] not
    piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up
    [have experienced] death.”
    the stone, and you will find me there.”
    86 Jesus said, “[The foxes have their
    78 Jesus said, “Why have you come
    holes] and the birds have their nests, but
    out into the desert? To see a reed shaken
    the son of man has no place to lay