Prophecy, Hypocrisy, and Life

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Codex 1, Tractate 2, 6:21 – 8:27

This section of the Apocryphon of James starts with a question about prophecy.  Jesus answers them that when the “head” is removed there will be no more prophecy.  Two verse from the Word of God explain this concept and why removing the “head” had ended prophecy.

Eph 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

So from this verse, from Paul to the Ephesians, Jesus is the Head.  Which means that when he is gone prophecy will end, making John the last Prophet.  But there is one more verse that collaborates with this passage from the Apocryphon of James:

1^st Cor 13:8-10 Love never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

Many Christians see this verse as the explanation of why prophecy does not occur today.  But when you put all three passages together there is no need to guess.  Jesus and Paul have made it clear that after Jesus left prophecy would end.  What Paul meant by the “when perfection comes” has been lost.  Great going inerrant Word of God!

Jesus continues to remind James and Peter about his teachings.  This section reminds me of an earlier post in the Gospel of Mark.  Jesus is still showing his humanity…he rebukes his disciples for not being able to perceive his teachings through the parables and even his straight talk.  Yet we know that YHWH has to open the eyes and unblock the ears for people to understand (Mark 4:12).  Obviously, YHWH has still not accomplished this task!

Here again Jesus changes the subject rapidly.  This entire section is more like clips than a narration.  He talks about how to be saved.  He says that being saved requires eagerness and cannot be urged upon anyone.  No less to his apostles, who should already be saved?  I do like his next topic about hypocrisy:

7:17-22 Come to hate hypocrisy and the evil thought; for it is the thought that gives birth to hypocrisy; but hypocrisy is far from truth.

Hypocrisy is one thing that I can say is a pet peeve of mine!  It would seem that it was also one of Jesus’.  The decision to be a hypocrite does come before the action itself.  And hypocrisy is most definitely far from the truth.  As I have said before, Jesus had some wonder teaching.  I just wish that the “Christians” would actually follow his word and his actions.  They claim to imitate him and yet there is not a single sign that this is true.

Jesus continues to jump from topic to topic.  At one point he talks about the kingdom of heaven.  He warns that it can wither.  The cause of this withering is similar to a fruiting plant.  If you allow the plant to go to “seed” it stops producing seed, but if you continue to harvest the plant continues to grow more seeds.  Jesus claims that he has done exactly this while on earth and is eager to return to heaven.  Jesus then mentions some of the Parables that he taught and how some people understood them.  It would seem that Jesus is rebuking James and Peter for not being satisfied with these Parables.  But the text jumps to the next subject abruptly.

He jumps to the concept of being earnest about the word:

8:10-15 “Become earnest about the word!  For as the word, its first part is faith; the second, love; the third, works; for from these comes life.

This definitely goes in the face of modern “Christianity”.  Works actually ranks third in the list of things required to receive life!  Many of today’s “christian” believe that only faith is required.  How wrong they are!  Love and works are also required.  Jesus goes on to explain why this is so.  Using an example of a grain of wheat, he tells James and Peter that it is by faith that one sows the seed (hoping that it will sprout).  That same person lovingly tends the plant that sprouts.  But to live the person must do the work of harvesting and preparing the food to live.  This is so true and seems to be self-evident, yet the “christians” of today seem to focus on only single parts of this lesson.

Remember, you can read the entire Nag Hammadi Library here…The Gnostic Society Library.

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