Terminology Tuesday

Agrapha. Lit. ‘unwritten things’. As many as 256 sayings attributed to Jesus but lying outside the four canonical Gospels have been identified by scholars. Sometimes referred to as ‘unknown (or non-canonical) sayings’. Some occur in other parts of the *NT but most are found in *apocryphal gospels and other non-canonical sources. Their connection with the historical Jesus is uncertain and scholars are divided as to their value. One argues that no more than eighteen are authentic and another says not more than ten are to be taken seriously and of those probably no more than four or five are likely to be authentic.

 Some Unknown Sayings of Jesus

1.  As you are found, so you will be led away [sc. to judgement] (Syriac Book of Steps).     

2. Ask for the great things, and God will add to you what is small (*Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 1.24.158).

3. Be competent [approved] money-changers! (Clementine Homilies 2.51: 3.50; 8.20). 

4. On the same day he [Jesus] saw a man working on the sabbath. He said to him, ‘Man, if you know what you are doing, you are blessed; but if you do not know, you are accursed and a transgressor of the law!’ (Lk. 6:5 in *Codex Bezae). 

5. He who is near me is near the fire; he who is far from me is far from the kingdom (*Gospel of Thomas). 

6. [He who today] stands far off will tomorrow be [near to you] (*Oxyrhynchus). 

7. And only then shall you be glad, when you look on your brother with love (Gospel of the Hebrews).

8. The kingdom is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea; he drew it up from the sea full of small fish; among them he found a large [and] good fish; that wise fisherman threw all the small fish down into the sea; he chose the large fish without regret (Gospel of Thomas). 

9. How is it then with you? For you are here in the temple. Are you then clean?… Woe to you blind who see not! You have washed yourself in water that is poured forth, in which dogs and swine lie night and day, and washed and scoured your outer skin, which harlots and flute girls also anoint, bathe, scour, and beautify to arouse desire in men, but inwardly they are filled with scorpions and with all manner of evil. But I and my disciples, of whom you say that we have not bathed, have bathed ourselves in the living and clean water, which comes down from the father in heaven (Oxyrhynchus).

10. Lift the stone and you will find me, cleave the wood and I am there (Oxyrhynchus). 

11. They that are with me have not understood me (Acts of Peter).

Gilmore, A. (2006). Agrapha. In A Concise Dictionary of Bible Origins and Interpretation (p. 4-5). London; New York: T&T Clark.