The Epistula Apostolorum (Latin for Letter of the Apostles) is a work from the New Testament apocrypha. Though the content was thought to be lost by the majority of the academic community, it transpired that the text was used regularly amongst the previously somewhat secretive Coptic Church of Ethiopia. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language. ... The category of New Testament apocrypha reminds the modern reader of the wide range of responses that were engendered in the interpreting of the message of Jesus of Nazareth during the first several centuries of the Common Era, as mainstream Christianity emerged. ... Christ - Coptic Art Coptic Orthodox Christianity is the indigenous form of Christianity that, according to tradition, the apostle Mark established in Egypt in the middle of the 1st century AD (approximately AD 60). ...

Although the text is framed as a letter, and the first 5th (10 chapters) begins in this manner, describing nativity, resurrection, and miracles of Jesus, this framing is only done extremely superficially. In fact, the remainder of the text recounts a vision and dialogue between Jesus and the apostles, consisting of about sixty questions, and 41 short chapters (the text is by far the largest epistle in either the new testament or apocrypha).

The text itself appears to be based on both the New Testament, in particular the Gospel of John, as well as the Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabas, and Shepherd of Hermas, all of which were considered canon during periods of the early church. John 21:1 Jesus Appears to His Disciples--Alessandro Mantovani: the Vatican, Rome. ... The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel in the canon of the New Testament, traditionally ascribed to John the Evangelist. ... The recovered Apocalypse of Peter or Revelation of Peter is extant in two translations of a lost original, one Greek, one Ethiopic, which diverge considerably. ... The Epistle of Barnabas is a Greek treatise with some features of an epistle containing twenty-one chapters, preserved complete in the 4th century Codex Sinaiticus where it appears at the end of the New Testament. ... The Shepherd of Hermas is a Christian work of the first or second century which had great authority in ancient times and was considered by some as one of the books of the Bible. ...

The content heavily criticises gnosticism, although it does so not so much as a polemic against it, as an attempt to shore up the faith of non-gnostics against conversion to gnosticism. In particular the text uses the style of literature, that of a discourse and series of questions with a vision of Jesus, that was popular amongst gnostic groups, so as to appeal to the same readers. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

However, the text is at pains to point out that it is not a secret teaching, that the content applies universally rather than to one group, and that everyone can easily come to learn its content, strongly differing with the esoteric mysteries inherent in gnosticism.

One of the most important parts in this respect is the parable of foolish virgins:

But we said to him 'O Lord, who are the foolish?' He said to us, 'Hear their names. They are (1) gnosis and (2) Insight (3) Obedience (4) Forbearance and (5) Mercy'

Such instruction to disobey authority is common with religious conservatives who instruct people to disobey national laws (e.g. on same-sex marriage in Canada) because they are contrary to their belief, and likely directed against gnostics in authority. Likewise the condemnation of mercy underlines that the author wished their audience to never give in when attacking gnosticism, in contrast with the gnostics who were in the most part content to engage in polite dialogue with other sects and faiths. Wiktionary has related dictionary definitions, such as: gnosis The word gnosis (from the Greek word for knowledge, γνώσις) has several uses. ... World homosexuality laws Same-sex marriage is the union of two people who are of the same gender. ...

Other polemical features include emphasising the physicality of the resurrection, to counter docetism, by having the apostles place their fingers in the print of the nails, in the spear wound in his side, and checking for footprints (like similar imagery in the Gospel of John, having the appearance of design to specifically counter docetism rather than to reflect history). In Christianity, Docetism is the belief, regarded by most theologians as heretical, that Jesus did not have a physical body; rather, that his body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion. ...

A great deal (1/5) of the text is given over to confirming the doctrine of resurrection of the flesh, in direct conflict with the Gospel of Truth's criticism of this stance (it states that the resurrection of the flesh happens before death, which is to be understood esoterically). Indeed when Jesus' stance is questioned further on this point, he gets quite angry, suggesting that the true author of the epistle found the gnostic's stance both offensive and infuriating. The Gospel of Truth is one of the texts from the New Testament apocrypha found in the Nag Hammadi codices. ...

Since the text concerns the apostles during the period immediately around Jesus' resurrection, it necessarily excludes Paul of Tarsus. However, given the importance of Paul and his writings, to the mainstream church, the author of the text chose to put in a prediction of Paul's future coming. Also, they change the description of the healing of Paul's blindness in Acts by Ananias, to one by the apostles, so that Paul is thus subordinate to them. It also quotes an ancient prophecy about a new Jerusalem arising from Syria (where Paul was from) and the old Jerusalem being captured and destroyed (as happened in 70AD), except that this prophecy is likely to have been invented as it does not exist in any other known text from the period or before. Paul of Tarsus, also known as Saul, Paulus, and Saint Paul the Apostle (AD 3–14 — 62–69),[1] is widely considered to be central to the early development and spread of Christianity, particularly westward from Jerusalem. ... The Acts of the Apostles (Greek Praxeis Apostolon) is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. ...

One of the reasons that the text was ultimately declared heretical is the claim within it that the second coming shall be 150 years after the time of the vision to the apostles, which didn't noticeably occur. The Second Coming or Second Advent refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy. ...

References

• Early Christian Writings: Online text for Epistula Apostolorum