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Second Apocalypse of James

The Second Apocalypse of James is a Gnostic text presenting the martyrdom of James, the Lord's brother, and his secret teachings.|||Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex V.|||Composed in the 3rd century CE.|||Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.|||Presents the martyrdom of James, the Lord's brother, and his secret teachings, emphasizing the importance of spiritual knowledge and the inadequacy of the material world. Important for understanding Gnostic views on martyrdom.|||Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.|||Veilleux, A. " The Second Apocalypse of James." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.|||Veilleux, A. " The Second Apocalypse of James." In Nag Hammadi Codices V, 2-5 and VI. Brill, 1979.|||Second Apocalypse of James — Gnostic Society|https://gnosis.org/naghamm/2james.html|Full translation with introduction.;; Early Christian Writings — Second Apocalypse of James|https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/2james.html|Indexed text and scholarly resources.|||" And James said: I have seen the Lord, and I have believed in him." — Second Apocalypse of James (paraphrase)

Collection: Gnostic Literature Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.

Date & Provenance

Composed in the 3rd century CE.

Language & Manuscripts

Coptic text in Nag Hammadi Codex V.

Why It Matters for Study

Presents the martyrdom of James, the Lord's brother, and his secret teachings, emphasizing the importance of spiritual knowledge and the inadequacy of the material world. Important for understanding Gnostic views on martyrdom.

" And James said: I have seen the Lord, and I have believed in him." — Second Apocalypse of James (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.
Veilleux, A. " The Second Apocalypse of James." In The Nag Hammadi Library in English.
Veilleux, A. " The Second Apocalypse of James." In Nag Hammadi Codices V, 2-5 and VI. Brill, 1979.