The Apocryphon of James (vegetarian): From the Gnostic Nag Hammadi Library, Part 1 of 2

The Nag Hammadi Library is a collection of early Christian and Gnostic manuscripts, also called codices, discovered in 1945, near the Upper Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi. The general dating of the books varies from the 2nd to the 4th century. In the apocryphon of James, we will find a letter from the apostle, revealing a discourse with the Lord Jesus before His ascension to Heaven, as He explains who are those who would be able to follow Him.

The Prayer of the Apostle Paul “...Your light, give me Your mercy! My Redeemer, redeem me, for I am Yours; the one who has come forth from You. You are my mind; bring me forth! You are my treasure house; open for me! You are my fullness; take me to You!

“James writes…: Peace be with you from Peace, love from Love, grace from Grace, faith from Faith, life from Holy Life!” “...The twelve disciples were all sitting together and recalling what the Savior had said to each one of them, whether in secret or openly, and putting it in books – But I was writing that which was in my book – lo, the Savior appeared, after departing from us while we gazed after Him. And five hundred and fifty days since He had risen from the dead, we said to Him, ‘Have You departed and removed Yourself from us?’ But Jesus said, ‘No, but I shall go to the place from whence I came. If you wish to come with me, come!’” “But I answered and said to Him, ‘Lord, we can obey You if You wish, for we have forsaken our fathers and our mothers and our villages, and followed You. Grant us, therefore, not to be tempted by the devil, the evil one.’ The Lord answered and said, ‘What is your merit if you do the will of the Father and it is not given to you from Him as a gift while you are tempted by Satan? But if you are oppressed by Satan, and persecuted, and you do His (that is, the Father’s) will, I say that He will love you, and make you equal with me, and reckon you to have become beloved through His providence by your own choice. So, will you not cease loving the flesh and being afraid of sufferings?”