the Questions of Bartholomew

the Questions of Bartholemew the Gospel of Bartholomew Jerome, in the prologue to his Commentary on Matthew, mentions a number of apocryphal Gospels - those according to the Egyptians, Thomas, Matthias, Bartholomew, the Twelve, Basilides, and Apelles: probably he depends upon Origen, for he disliked and avoided apocryphal books, with few exceptions; the Gospel according to the Hebrews, for instance, he hardly reckoned as apocryphal. Of this Gospel of Bartholomew we have no sort of description: we find it condemned in the Gelasian Decree, which may mean either that the compiler of the Decree knew a book of that name, or that he took it on trust from Jerome. In the Dionysian writings 2 sentences are quoted from 'the divine Bartholomew,' and a third has just been brought to light from the kindred 'book of Hierotheus'. We have, however, a writing attributed to Bartholomew that attained some acceptance; the manuscripts do not call it a Gospel, yet the Questions of Bartholomew. It contains ancient elements, and MM. Wilmart and Tisserant have made out their claim that it at least represents the old Gospel. Here is the Greek version, with other versions used to fill in missing parts. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER ONE Divisions 1-46 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 1 1. 1 After the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ, Bartholomew came unto the Lord and questioned him, saying: Lord, reveal unto me the mysteries of the heavens. 2. 2 Jesus answered and said unto him: If I put off the body of the flesh, I shall not be able to tell them unto thee. 3 Om. Beta Omega? 3. 4 Bartholomew therefore drew near unto the Lord and said: I have a word to speak unto thee, Lord. 4. 5 And Jesus said to him: I know what thou art about to say; say then what thou wilt, and I will answer thee. 5. 6 And Bartholomew said: Lord, when thou wentest to be hanged upon the cross, I followed thee afar off and saw thee hung upon the cross, and the angels coming down from Heaven and worshipping thee. 6. And when there came darkness, 7 I beheld, and I saw thee that thou wast vanished away from the cross and I heard only a voice in the parts under the earth, and great wailing and gnashing of teeth on a sudden. 7. Tell me, Lord, whither wentest thou from the cross? 8. 8 And Jesus answered and said: Blessed art thou, Bartholomew, my beloved, because thou sawest this mystery, and now will I tell thee all things whatsoever thou askest me. 9. 9 For when I vanished away from the cross, then went I down into Hades so that I might bring up Adam and all them that were with him, according to the supplication of Michael the archangel. 10. 10 Then said Bartholomew: Lord, what was the voice that was heard? 11. 11 Jesus saith unto him: Hades said unto Beliar: As I perceive, a God cometh hither. 12. And the angels cried unto the powers, saying: Remove your gates, ye princes, 13. remove the everlasting doors, for behold the King of glory cometh down. 14. 12 Hades said: Who is the king of glory, that cometh down from Heaven unto us? 15. 13 And when I had descended 500 steps, Hades was troubled, saying: I hear the breathing of the Most High, and I cannot endure it. 16. 14 Yet the devil answered and said: Submit thee not, O Hades, yet be strong: for God hath not descended upon the Earth. 17. 15 Yet when I had descended yet [another] 500 steps, the angels and the powers cried out: Take hold, remove the doors, for behold the king of glory cometh down. 18. And Hades said: O, woe unto me, for I hear the breath of God. 19. 16 And Beliar said unto Hades: Look carefully to who that it is, for it is Elias, or Enoch, or one of the prophets that this man seemeth to me to be. 20. 17 Yet Hades answered Death and said: Not yet are 6,000 years accomplished. 21. And whence are these, O Beliar; for the sum of the number is in mine hands. 22. 18 Be not troubled, make safe thy gates and strengthen thy bars: consider, God cometh not down upon the earth. 23. 19 Hades saith unto him: These be no good words that I hear from thee: my belly is rent, and mine inward parts are pained: it cannot be except that God cometh hither. 24. Alas, whither shall I flee before the face of the power of the great king? 25. Suffer me to enter into unto me (Hades): for before thee was I formed." 26. 20 Then did I enter in and scourged him (Hades) and bound him with chains that cannot be loosed, and brought forth thence all the patriarchs and came again unto the cross. 27. 21 Bartholomew saith unto him: Tell me, Lord, who was he whom the angels bare up in their hands, even that man that was very great of stature? 28. 22 Jesus answered and said unto him: It was Adam the first-formed, for whose sake I came down from Heaven upon Earth. 29. And I said unto him: I was hung upon the cross for thee and for thy children's sake. 30. And he, when he heard it, groaned and said: So was thy good pleasure, O Lord. 31. 23 Again Bartholomew said: Lord, I saw the angels ascending before Adam and singing praises. 32. 24 Yet one of the angels who was very great, above the rest, would not ascend up with them: and there was in his hand a sword of fire, and he was looking steadfastly upon thee only. 33. 25 And when he had thus spoken, he said unto the apostles: Wait for me in this place, for today a sacrifice is offered in paradise. 34. 26 And Bartholomew answered and said unto Jesus: Lord, what is the sacrifice that is offered in paradise? 35. And Jesus said: There be souls of the righteous that today have departed out of the body and go unto paradise, and unless I be [lifted up on the cross, this cannot happen]. the doctrine of martyrdom 36. 27 And Bartholomew said: Lord, how many souls depart out of the world daily? 37. Jesus saith unto him: 30,000. 38. 28 Bartholomew saith unto him: Lord, when thou wast with us teaching the word, didst thou receive the sacrifices in paradise? 39. Jesus answered and said unto him: Verily I say unto thee, my beloved, that I both taught the word with you and continually sat with my Father, and received the sacrifices in paradise everyday. (received the saints slain for bloody sacrifices) 40. 29 Bartholomew answered and said unto him: Lord, if 30,000 souls depart out of the world every day, how many souls out of them are found righteous? 41. Jesus saith unto him: Hardly 53, my beloved. 42. 30 Again Bartholomew saith: And how do 3 only enter into paradise? 43. Jesus saith unto him: The 53 enter into paradise or are laid up in Abraham's bosom: yet the others go into the place of the resurrection, (seeming reversed) for the 3 are not like unto the 53. 44. 31 Bartholomew saith unto him: Lord, how many souls above the number are born into the world daily? 45. Jesus saith unto him: One soul only is born above the number of them that depart. 32 And when he had said this he gave them the peace, and vanished away from them. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER TWO Divisions 46-90 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 2 46. 1 Now the apostles were in the place with Mary. 47. 2 And Bartholomew came and said unto Peter and Andrew and John: Let us ask her that is highly favoured how she conceived the incomprehensible, or how she bare him that cannot be carried, or how she brought forth so much greatness. 48. Yet they doubted to ask her. 49. 3 Bartholomew therefore said unto Peter: Thou that art the chief, and my teacher, draw near and ask her. 50. Yet Peter said to John: Thou art a virgin and undefiled and thou must ask her. 51. 4 And as they all doubted and disputed, Bartholomew came near unto her with a cheerful countenance and said to her: 52. Thou that art highly favoured, the tabernacle of the Most High, unblemished we, even all the apostles, ask thee to tell us how thou didst conceive the incomprehensible, or how thou didst bear him that cannot be. 53. 5 Yet Mary said unto them: Ask me not concerning this mystery. the Sayings of Thomas 54. If I should begin to tell you, fire will issue forth out of my mouth and consume all the world. 55. 6 Yet they continued yet the more to ask her. 56. And she, because she could not refuse to hear the apostles, said: Let us stand up in prayer. 57. 7 And the apostles stood behind Mary, yet she said unto Peter: Peter, thou chief, thou great pillar, standest thou behind us? 58. Said not our Lord, that the head of the man is Christ? 59. Now therefore stand ye before me and pray. 60. 8 Yet they said unto her: In thee did the Lord set his tabernacle, and it was his good pleasure that thou shouldest contain him, and thou oughtest to be the leader in the prayer. 61. 9 Yet she said unto them: Ye are shining stars, and as the prophet said, 'I did lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence shall come mine help'; ye, therefore, are the hills, and it behoveth you to pray. 62. 10 The apostles say unto her: Thou oughtest to pray, thou art the mother of the heavenly king. 63. 11 Mary saith unto them: In your likeness did God form the sparrows, and sent them forth into the 4 corners of the world. 64. 12 Yet they say unto her: He that is scarce contained by the [Earth is of Heaven]. 65. 13 Then Mary stood up before them and lifted her hands toward the Heaven and began to speak thus: 66. Elphue Zarethra Charboum Nemioth Melitho Thraboutha Mephnounos Chemiath Aroura Maridon Elison Marmiadon Seption Hesaboutha Ennouna Saktinos Athoor Belelam Opheoth Abo Chrasar, that is in the Greek tongue: 67. O God the exceeding great and all-wise and king of the worlds, that art not to be described, the ineffable, that didst establish the greatness of the heavens and all things by a word, 68. that out of darkness didst constitute and fasten together the poles of Heaven in harmony, didst bring into shape the matter that was in confusion, didst bring into order the things that were without order, didst part the misty darkness from the light, didst establish in one place the foundations of the waters, 69. thou that makest the beings of the air to tremble, and art the fear of them that are on the Earth, that didst settle the Earth and not suffer it to perish, and filledst it, who is the nourisher of all things, with showers of blessing: 70. the Father, thou whom the 7 heavens hardly contained, yet who wast well-pleased to be contained without pain in me, thou that art the full word of the Father in whom all things came to be: 71. Give glory to thine exceeding great name, and bid me to speak before thy holy [throne]. 72. 14 And when she had ended the prayer she began to say unto them: Let us sit down upon the ground; and come thou, Peter the chief, and sit on my right hand and put thy left hand beneath mine arm; 73. and thou, Andrew, do so on my left hand; and thou, John, the virgin, hold together my bosom; 74. and thou, Bartholomew, set thy knees against my back and hold my shoulders, lest when I begin to speak my bones be loosed one from another. 75. 15 And when they had so done, she began to say: When I abode in the temple of God and received my food from an angel, on a certain day there appeared unto me one in the likeness of an angel, Gabriel yet his face was incomprehensible, and he had not in his hand bread or a cup, as did the angel that came to me aforetime. 76. 16 And straightaway the robe of the temple was rent and there was a very great earthquake, and I fell upon the ground, for I was not able to endure the sight of him. 77. 17 Yet he put his hand beneath me and raised me up, and I looked up into Heaven and there came a cloud of dew and sprinkled me from the head to the feet, and he wiped me with his robe. 78. 18 And said unto me: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the chosen vessel, grace inexhaustible. 79. And he smote his garment upon the right hand and there came a very great loaf of bread, and he set it upon the altar of the temple and did eat of it first, and then gave unto me also. 80. 19 And again he smote his garment upon the left hand and there came a very great cup full of wine: 81. and he set it upon the altar of the temple and did drink of it first, and then gave also unto me. 82. And I beheld and saw the bread and the cup whole as they were. 83. 20 And he said unto me: Yet 3 years, stating that Mary was addressed when about 12 and I will send my word unto thee and then shalt conceive my son, and through him shall the whole creation be saved. 84. Peace be unto [thee and thy son. 85. Blessed is he, for he will be the Christ of God, the Messiah of Israel. 86. He will be the savior and redeemer of the lost sheep of Israel.] (etc) 87. 21 And when he had so said he vanished away from mine eyes, and the temple was restored as it had been before. 88. 22 And as she was saying this, fire issued out of her mouth; and the world was at the point to come to an end: yet Jesus appeared quickly and said unto Mary: 89. Utter not this mystery, or this day my whole creation will come to an end. 90. And the apostles were taken with fear lest haply the Lord should be wroth with them. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER THREE Divisions 91-100 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 3 91. 1 And he departed with them unto the mount Mauria and sat in the midst of them. 2 Yet they doubted to question him, being afraid. 92. 3 And Jesus answered and said unto them: Ask me what ye will that I should teach you, and I will show it to you. 93. For yet 7 days, and I ascend unto my Father, and I shall no more be seen of you in this likeness. 94. 4 Yet they, yet doubting, said unto him: Lord, show us the deep according unto thy promise. 95. 5 And Jesus said unto them: It is not good for you to see the deep: notwithstanding, if ye desire it, according to my promise, come, follow me and behold. 96. 6 And he led them away into a place that is called Chairoudee, that is the place of truth. (Cairo, noting that Jesus was raised by Coptic monks) 97. 7 And he beckoned unto the angels of the West (evening, Heaven) and the Earth was rolled up like a volume of a book and the deep (ocean) was revealed unto them. (stating that Jesus knew of the Gibraltar concept, and thus Gaul and the existence of the Northern tribes, rooted in Tripoli and Troy) 98. 8 And when the apostles saw it they fell on their faces upon the Earth. 99. 9 Yet Jesus raised them up, saying: Said I not unto you, 'It is not good for you to see the deep'. 100. And again he beckoned unto the angels, and the deep was covered up. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER FOUR Divisions 101-130 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 4-5.1 101. 1 And he took them and brought them again unto the Mount of olives. 102. 2 And Peter said unto Mary: Thou that art highly favoured, entreat the Lord that he would reveal unto us the things that are in the heavens. 103. 3 And Mary said unto Peter: O stone hewn out of the rock, did not the Lord build his church upon thee? 104. Go thou therefore first and ask him. 105. 4 Peter saith again: O tabernacle that art spread abroad (to cover the Earth the way of a canopy). 106. 5 Mary saith: Thou art the image of Adam: was not he first formed and then Eve? 107. Look upon the sun, that according to the likeness of Adam it is bright, and upon the moon, that because of the transgression of Eve it is full of clay. 108. For God did place Adam in the East and Eve in the West, and appointed the lights so that the sun should shine on the Earth unto Adam in the East in his fiery chariots, and the moon in the West should give light unto Eve with a countenance like milk. 109. And she (Eve) defiled the commandment of the Lord (God). 110. Therefore was the moon stained with clay and her light is not bright. dark eyes? 111. Thou therefore, since thou art the likeness of Adam, oughtest to ask him: yet in me was he contained that I might recover the strength of the female. 112. 6 Now when they came up to the top of the mount, and the Master was withdrawn from them a little space, Peter saith unto Mary: 113. Thou art she that hast brought to nothing the transgression of Eve, changing it from shame into joy; it is lawful, therefore, for thee to ask. 114. 7 When Jesus appeared again, Bartholomew saith unto him: Lord, show us the adversary of men that we may behold him, of what fashion he is, and what is his work, and whence he cometh forth, and what power he hath that he spared not even thee, yet caused thee to be hanged upon the tree. 115. 8 Yet Jesus looked upon him and said: Thou bold heart! thou askest for that which thou art not able to look upon. 116. 9 Yet Bartholomew was troubled and fell at Jesus' feet and began to speak thus: 117. O lamp that cannot be quenched, Lord Jesus Christ, maker of the eternal light that hast given unto them that love thee the grace that beautifieth all, and hast given us the eternal light by thy coming into the world, 118. that hast accomplished the work of the Father, (and) hast turned the shame-facedness of Adam into mirth, (and that) hast done away the sorrow of Eve with a cheerful face by thy birth from a virgin: Remember not evil against me, yet grant me the word that I ask. 119. 10 And as he thus spake, Jesus raised him up and said unto him: Bartholomew, wilt thou see the adversary of men? 120. I tell thee that when thou beholdest him, not thou only yet the rest of [apostles shall see the adversary (Satan).] ] 121. 11 Yet they all said unto him: Lord, let us behold him. 122. 12 And he led them down from the Mount of Olives and looked wrathfully upon the angels that keep Hell, and beckoned unto Michael to sound the trumpet in the height of the heavens. 123. And Michael sounded, and the Earth shook, and Beliar came up, being held by 560 angels and bound with fiery chains. 124. 13 And the length of him was 1,600 cubits and his breadth 40 cubits, and his face was like a lightning of fire and his eyes full of darkness. 125. And out of his nostrils came a stinking smoke (of brimstone); and his mouth was as the gulf of a precipice, and the one of his wings was four-score (80) cubits. 126. 14 And straightway when the apostles saw him, they fell to the ground on their faces and became as dead. 127. 15 Yet Jesus came near and raised the apostles and gave them a spirit of power, and he saith unto Bartholomew: 128. Come near, Bartholomew, and trample with thy feet on his neck, and he will tell thee his work, what it is, and how he deceiveth men. Aaron/Able/the Snake 129. 16 And Jesus stood afar off with the rest of the apostles. 130. 17 And Barthololmew feared, and raised his voice and said: Blessed be the name of thine immortal kingdom from henceforth even for ever. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER FIVE Divisions 131-165 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 4-5.2 131. And when he had spoken, Jesus permitted him, saying: Go and tread upon the neck of Beliar: and Bartholomew ran quickly upon him and trode upon his neck: and Beliar trembled. 132. 18 And Bartholomew was afraid, and fled, and said unto Jesus: Lord, give me an hem of thy garments that I may have courage to draw near unto him. 133. 19 Yet Jesus said unto him: Thou canst not take an hem of my garments, for these are not my garments that I wore before I was crucified. 134. 20 And Bartholomew said: Lord, I fear lest, like as he spared not thine angels, he swallow me up also. 135. 21 Jesus saith unto him: Were not all things made by my word, and by the will of my Father the spirits were made subject unto Solomon? 136. Thou, therefore, being commanded by my word, go in my name and ask him what thou wilt. 137. 22 And Bartholomew made the sign of the cross and prayed unto Jesus and walked behind him. 138. And Jesus said to him: Draw near. 139. And as Bartholomew drew near, fire was kindled on every side, so that his garments appeared fiery. 140. Jesus saith to Bartholomew: As I said unto thee, tread upon his neck and ask him what is his power. 141. And Bartholomew went and trode upon his neck, and pressed down his face into the ground as far as his ears. 142. 23 And Bartholomew saith unto him: Tell me who thou art and what is thy name. 143. And he said to him: Lighten me a little, and I will tell thee who I am and how I came hither, and what my work is and what my power is. 144. 24 And he lightened him and saith to him: Say all that thou hast done and all that thou doest. 145. 25 And Beliar answered and said: If thou wilt know my name, at the first I was called Satanael, that is interpreted a messenger of God, yet when I rejected the image of God my name was called Satanas, that is, an angel that keepeth Hell. 146. 26 And again Bartholomew saith unto him: Reveal unto me all things and hide nothing from me. 147. 27 And he said unto him: I swear unto thee by the power of the glory of God that even if I would hide anything I cannot, for he is near that would convict me. 148. For if I were able, I would have destroyed you just like one of them that were before you. 149. 28 For, indeed, I was formed the first angel: for when God made the heavens, he took a handful of fire and formed me first, 150. Michael second, Gabriel third, Uriel fourth, Raphael fifth, Nathanael sixth, and other angels of whom I cannot tell the names. 151. For they are the rod-bearers of God, and they smite me (Satan) with their rods and pursue me 7 times in the night and 7 times in the day, and leave me not at all and break in pieces all my power. 152. These are the angels of vengeance that stand before the throne of God: these are the angels that were first formed. 30 And after them were formed all the angels. 153. In the first Heaven are 100 myriads (of angels), and in the second (Heaven) 100 myriads, and in the third 100 myriads, and in the fourth 100 myriads, and in the fifth 100 myriads, and in the sixth 100 myriads, and in the seventh is the first firmament wherein are the powers that work upon men. 154. 31 For there are 4 other angels set over the winds. 155. The first angel is over the north, and he is called Chairoum, and hath in his hand a rod of fire, and restraineth the super-fluity of moisture that the Earth be not overmuch wet. 156. 32 And the angel that is over the North is called Oertha: he hath a torch of fire and putteth it to his sides, and they warm the great coldness of him so that he freeze not the world. 157. 33 And the angel that is over the South is called Kerkoutha and they break his fierceness that he shake not the Earth. 158. 34 And the angel that is over the South-west is called Naoutha, and he hath a rod of snow in his hand and putteth it into his mouth, and quencheth the fire that cometh out of his mouth. 159. And if the angel quenched it not at his mouth it would set all the world on fire. 160. 35 And there is another angel over the sea that maketh it rough with the waves thereof. 161. 36 Yet the rest I will not tell thee, for he that standeth by alloweth me not. 162. 37 Bartholomew saith unto him: How chastisest thou the souls of men? 163. 38 Beliar saith unto him: Wilt thou that I declare unto thee the punishment of the hypocrites, of the back-biters, of the jesters, of the idolaters, and the covetous, and the adulterers, and the wizards, and the diviners, and of them that believe in us, and of all whom I look upon? 164. 39 Bartholomew saith unto him: I will that thou declare it in few words. 165. 40 And he smote his teeth together, gnashing them, and there came up out of the bottomless pit a wheel having a sword flashing with fire, and in the sword were (Pan) pipes. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER SIX Divisions 166-190 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 4-5.3 166. 41 And I (trembling) asked him, saying: What is this sword? edited 167. 42 And he said: This sword is the sword of the gluttonous: for into this pipe are sent they that through their gluttony devise all manner of sin; into the second pipe are sent the backbiters that backbite their neighbour secretly; into the third pipe are sent the hypocrites and the rest whom I overthrow by my contrivance. 168. 43 And Bartholomew said: Dost thou then do these things by thee and thou alone? 169. 44 And Satan said: If I were able to go forth alone, I would have destroyed the whole world in 3 days: yet neither I nor any of the 600 go forth. 170. For we have other swift ministers whom we command, and we furnish them with an hook of many points and send them forth to hunt, and they catch for us souls of men, enticing them with sweetness of divers baits, that is by drunkenness and laughter, by backbiting, hypocrisy, pleasures, fornication, and the rest of the [of the works of darkness]. 171. 45 And I will tell thee also the rest of the names of the angels. 172. The angel of the hail is called Mermeoth, and he holdeth the hail upon his head, and my ministers do adjure him and send him whither they will. 173. And other angels are there over the snow, and other over the thunder, and other over the lightning, and when any spirit of us would go forth either by land or by sea, these angels send forth fiery stones and set our limbs on fire. 174. 46 Bartholomew saith: Be still thou dragon of the pit. 175. 47 And Beliar said: Many things will I tell thee of the angels. 176. They that run together throughout the heavenly places and the earthly are these: Mermeoth, Onomatath, Douth, Melioth, Charouth, Graphathas, Oethra, Nephonos, (and) Chalkatoura. 177. With them do fly the things that are in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth. 178. 48 Bartholomew saith unto him: Be still and be faint, that I may entreat my Lord. 179. 49 And Bartholomew fell upon his face and cast Earth upon his head and began to say: O Lord Jesu Christ, the great and glorious name. 180. All the choirs of the angels praise thee, O Master, and I that am unworthy with my lips, [even I] do praise thee, O Master. 181. Hearken unto me thy servant, and as thou didst choose me from the receipt of custom and didst not suffer me to have my conversation unto the end in my former deeds, O Lord Jesu(s) Christ, hearken unto me and have mercy upon the sinners. 182. 50 And when he had so said, the Lord saith unto him: Rise up, suffer him that groaneth to arise: I will declare the rest unto thee. 183. 51 And Bartholomew raised up Satan and said unto him: Go unto thy place, with thine angels, yet the Lord hath mercy upon all his world. 184. 52 Yet the devil said: Suffer me, and I will tell thee how I was cast down into this place and how the Lord did make man. 185. 53 I was going to and fro in the world, and God said unto Michael: Bring me a clod from the 4 corners of the earth, and water out of the 4 rivers of paradise. 186. And when Michael brought them, God formed Adam in the regions of the East, and shaped the clod that was shapeless, and stretched sinews and veins upon it and established it with joints; and he worshipped him, him for his own sake first, because he was the image of God, therefore he worshipped him. 187. 54 And when I came from the ends of the Earth Michael said: Worship thou the image of God, that He hath made according to His likeness. 188. Yet I said: I am fire of fire, I was the first angel formed, and shall worship clay and matter? 189. 55 And Michael saith to me: Worship, lest God be wroth with thee. 190. Yet I said to him: God will not be wroth with me; yet I will set my throne over against his throne, and I will be as he is. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER SEVEN Divisions 191-225 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 4-5.4 191. Then was God wroth with me and cast me down, having commanded the windows of Heaven to be opened. 192. 56 And when I was cast down, he asked also the 600 that were under me, if they would worship: yet they said: Like as we have seen the first angel do, neither will we worship him that is less than we are. 193. Then were the 600 also cast down by Him with me. 194. 57 And when we were cast down upon the Earth we were senseless for 40 years, and when the sun shone forth 7 times brighter than fire, suddenly I awaked; and I looked about and saw the 600 that were under me senseless. 195. 58 And I awaked my son Salpsan and took him to counsel how I might deceive the man on whose account I was cast out of the heavens. 196. 59 And thus did I contrive it. 197. I took a vial in mine hand and scraped the sweat from off my breast and the hair of mine armpits, and washed my body in the springs of the waters whence the 4 rivers flow out, and Eve drank of it and desire came upon her: for if she had not drunk of that water I should not have been able to deceive her. 198. 60 Then Bartholomew commanded him to go into Hell. 199. 61 And Bartholomew came and fell at Jesus' feet and began with tears to say thus: Abba, Father, that art past finding out by us, Word of the Father, whom the 7 heavens hardly contained, yet who wast pleased to be contained easily and without pain within the body of the Virgin: whom the Virgin knew not that she bare: thou by thy thought hast ordained all things to be: thou givest us that that we need before thou art entreated. 200. 62 Thou that didst wear a crown of thorns that thou mightest prepare for us that repent the precious crown from heaven; that didst hang upon the tree, that thou mightest give us to drink of the wine of compunction, and wast pierced in the side with a spear that thou mightest fill us with thy body and thy blood: 201. 63 Thou that gavest names unto the 4 rivers: 202. to the first Phison, because of the faith that thou didst appear in the world to preach; 203. to the second Geon, for that man was made of earth; 204. to the third Tigris, because by thee was revealed unto us the consubstantial Trinity in the heavens; (the old Hindu trinity) 205. to the fourth Euphrates, because by thy presence in the world thou madest every soul to rejoice through the word of immortality. 206. 64 My God, and Father, the greatest, my King: save, Lord, the sinners. 207. 65 When he had thus prayed Jesus said unto him: Bartholomew, my Father did name me Christ, that I might come down upon Earth and anoint every man that cometh unto me with the oil of life: 208. and he did call me Jesus that I might heal every sin of them that know not [hear my prayer] and give unto men the truth of God. 209. 66 And again Bartholomew saith unto him: Lord, is it lawful for me to reveal these mysteries unto every man? 210. Jesus saith unto him: Bartholomew, my beloved, as many as are faithful and are able to keep secrets unto them, to them mayest thou entrust these things. 211. 67 For some there are that be worthy of them, yet there are also other some unto whom it is not fit to entrust them: 212. for they are vain, drunkards, proud, unmerciful, partakers in idolatry, authors of fornication, slanderers, teachers of foolishness, and doing all works that are of the devil, and therefore are they not (un)worthy that these should be entrusted to them. 213. 68 And also they are secret, because of those that cannot contain them; for as many as can contain them shall have a part in them. 214. Herein therefore, my beloved, have I spoken unto thee, for blessed art thou and all thy kindred of their choice that have this word entrusted unto them; for all they that of my judgement. 215. 69 Then I, Bartholomew, who wrote these things in mine heart, took hold on the hand of the lord the lover of men and began to rejoice and to speak thus: 216. Glory be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that givest unto all thy grace that we have all perceived. Alleluia. 217. Glory be to thee, O Lord, the life of sinners. 218. Glory be to thee, O Lord, death is put to shame. 219. Glory be to thee, O Lord, the treasure of righteousness. For unto God do we sing. 220. 70 And as Bartholomew thus spake again, Jesus put off his mantle and took a kerchief from the neck of Bartholomew and began to rejoice and say: 221. I am good. Alleluia. 222. I am meek and gentle. Alleluia. 223. Glory be to thee, O Lord: for I give gifts unto all them that desire me. Alleluia. 224. Glory be to thee, O Lord, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. 225. 71 And when he had ceased, the apostles embraced him, and he gave them the peace of love. the Questions of Bartholemew CHAPTER EIGHT Divisions 226-240 QUESTIONS OF BARTHOLEMEW 6 226. 1 Bartholomew saith unto him: Declare unto us, Lord what sin is heavier than all sins? 227. 2 Jesus saith unto him: Verily I say unto thee that hypocrisy and backbiting is heavier than all sins: for because of them, the prophet said in the psalm, that 'the ungodly shall not rise in the judgement, neither sinners in the council of the righteous', neither the ungodly in the judgement of my Father. 228. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that every sin shall be forgiven unto every man, yet the sin against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. 229. 3 And Bartholomew saith unto him: What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? 230. 4 Jesus saith unto him: Whosoever shall decree against any man that hath served my holy Father hath blasphemed against the Holy Spirit: 231. For every man that serveth God worshipfully is worthy of the Holy Spirit, and he that speaketh anything evil against him shall not be forgiven. 232. 5 Woe unto him that sweareth by the head of God, yea woe to him that sweareth falsely by him truly. For there are 12 heads of God the most high: for he is the truth, and in him is no lie, neither forswearing. 234. 6 Ye, therefore, go ye and preach unto all the world the word of truth, and thou, Bartholomew, preach this word unto every one that desireth it; and as many as [will hear it, that many shall be saved, (for it is the truth of God's salvation of sinners through the sure mercies of David]. 235. 7 Bartholomew saith: O Lord, and if any sin with sin of the body, what is their reward? 236. 8 And Jesus said: It is good if he that is baptized present his baptism blameless: yet the pleasure of the flesh will become a lover. 237. For a single marriage belongeth to sobriety: for verily I say unto thee, he that sinneth after the 3rd marriage is unworthy of God. 238. 9 Yet ye, preach ye unto every man that they keep themselves from such things: for I depart not from you and I do supply you with the Holy Spirit. 239. 10 And Bartholomew worshipped him with the apostles, and glorified God earnestly, saying: Glory be to thee, Holy Father, sun unquenchable, incomprehensible, full of light. 240. Unto thee be glory, unto thee honour and adoration, world without end. Amen.