The Epistle of the Apostles

If the Greek version of the "Epistle of the Apostles" had survived, says Julian Hills, it would be on everyone's shelf. But this second-century document survived only in Coptic and Ethiopic translations and thus gathered dust in academic libraries. "The Epistula Apostulorum" opens with a letter-like greeting to believers worldwide, followed by a brief summary of Jesus' earthly career. It then launches into an extended dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. Its orthodox author therefore employs the very form favored by the Gnostics to refute their claims regarding resurrection and judgment. He further has Jesus predict that Paul will come on the scene to fulfill the mission to the gentiles and more. Readers interested in the battle between orthodoxy and heresy, the development of literary genres such as the epistle, dialogue, gospel, apocalypse, and church order, and those studying the emergence of the Christian canon, will find much to like in this insightful volume.