George W Bush and the Christian right - International Social/Political

If we review the history of institutional ‘Christianity’ we see it as an (to use a biblical term) abomination – the very opposite of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Any public library would furnish the interested researcher with ample information in this regard – but we are concerned with the present, specifically George W Bush and the so-called ‘Christian right’ who invoke the name of Jesus (as God) in the hope that it will legitimise their fanatical and cretinous world view.

I am writing this paper as one outside the institutional structure of any Christian group or denomination; however, I will endeavour to maintain the integrity of Christian discourse at all times. I will refer to the Gospels principally (which are considered by scholars to be the seminal texts of Jesus’ message) to demonstrate that George W and the ‘Christian right’ do not reflect even an iota of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The foundation of the American conservative ‘right’ is the family – examples specific to the US have been serialised on their popular media in television shows like "Leave it to Beaver," in a ‘50’s setting and "The Brady Bunch," a few decades later. Does the social structure of the nuclear family reflect Gospel teaching?

Matthew 12:47 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

So much for the ‘sanctity’ of the nuclear family! Jesus gives scant regard to this social phenomenon; it will become clear that he was a universalist not a ‘family man.’ I would also remind the reader that this is Jesus himself speaking – not Paul of the epistles. The quotes that follow will leave the reader in no doubt as to Jesus’ attitude to the family:

Matthew 23:9 "And call no man your father upon earth, for One is your Father, who is in Heaven"

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."

Mathew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Luke 8:21 "But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Mathew 19:29 "And everyone that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life."

Mark 3:35 "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

It would seem that Jesus holds contempt for the nuclear family, however, he is without doubt a Universalist – the brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity.

I challenge any Christian theologian to counter the above with quotes that issued from the mouth of their Saviour, not the usurper (Paul) or the corruptors (Nicean group) of later Christian writings.

Jesus clearly states that we should also follow his example:

John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (my emphasis)

Let us not forget that Jesus was also a bachelor (which is anathema to Judaism) and if we incorporate:

Matthew 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

Luke 20:35 "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:"

Matthew 19:12 "..and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."

Which would imply that he may have been celibate. There is no similarity whatsoever between the ideology of the ‘Christian right’ and the attitude of Jesus regarding the family.

Institutional Christianity chooses to ignore Jesus’ teachings and favour the teachings of Jewish Priests and Pharisees (who are precisely the men that Jesus opposed.) It may surprise many to discover such a strong denunciation of the family from Jesus. However, it would seem that one of the aims of Jesus (as social revolutionary) was to demonstrate [group that toured with him] the virtues of unified communal living as opposed to the insular and divisive structure of an immediate family. A society that is reduced to small family units is fragmented and is far easier to manipulate by ruling elites.

Let us attempt to discover who this radical teacher really was and if there was a coherent pattern set down for all to follow. We will discover Jesus as Hero of the outcasts and marginalised, a man who frequented taverns and associated with whores, drunks, publicans and hated tax collectors:

Luke 7:34 "The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!"

It is worth noting that the teachings of Jesus are completely compatible with teachings of the Sages of the East, especially the Buddha who rejected family, wealth and position to live the life of a wandering renunciate. [The similarities between the Buddha and Jesus – are not coincidental.]

Jesus’ criticisms of the wealthy and (middle) professional classes were emphatic and unrelenting:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth ... A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God ... The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments ... Woe unto you that are rich." (See also Mathew 23.)

A comparison of the above teachings with the American ideology of money worship (See the inscription on their currency, "In God we Trust," ie. money is God ) would reveal a polar opposition. Also, compare Bush family values regarding money.

Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Matthew 19:21 "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

The Bush family follows Mammon not Jesus Christ. The Gospels are replete with examples of Jesus’ detestation of hypocrites! There is no evidence of Jesus even carrying money – the occasions where he had to refer to currency, it had to be brought to him or found elsewhere.

When confronted with the standards Jesus set for his followers, what does Bush and the American ‘Christian right’ do? They disregard his teachings and adopt the teachings of the Old Testament. I offer the following as examples of a barbaric and primitive religion in dire need of reform:

According to the Old Testament Jehovah advised or countenanced deception ["Ezek. 14, 9; Num. 14, 30-34.]; stealing [Ex. 3, 21-22.], selfishness [Deut. 14, 21.], conquest by force [Num. 31 et al.], indiscriminate slaughter [Ex. 32, 27.], murder [Deut. 7, 16 et al.], cannibalism [Jer. 19, 9 et al.], killing of witches ["Ex. 22, 8.], slavery [Lev. 25, 44-46.], capital punishment for rebellious sons [Deut. 21, 18-21; 13, 6-9.], sacrifices of animals [Lev. 1, 14-15.] and other acts (infanticide and genocide in Joshua) which represent the concepts and actions of primitive men, most notably George W Bush and the conservative right.

The character of modern America is easily appreciated as reflecting Jewish values of the Old Testament not the values set down by Jesus Christ. Moreover, it should not surprise anyone that the most influential men in the US are Jews, Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Perle, Henry Kissinger, two of whom are advisers or puppet masters to that buffoon George W Bush. It should also come as no surprise that the direct beneficiaries of the invasion of Iraq are the Oil Companies (money) and Israel (Judaism.)

What is lacking in US government is the Christian ethic of the Gospels. The failure to live up to the standards of Jesus has even led some leaders of the ‘Christian right’ to adopt the practice of wearing the Star of David! At least they make no pretence of their religious persuasion. But what is at issue is the US pretends to be a Christian nation with Christian values. American Christianity has failed to grasp the central message of the Gospels and that is Jesus is the promised Messiah who reformed the barbarity and corruption of Judaism and that his blood (as he puts it) is the NEW Testament which makes the Old redundant. What occurs in the US however, is a reversal of doctrinal priority in favour of the Old Testament, which effectively represents a rejection of Christ. Jesus made it very clear who or what opposes him, the liar (or father of lies) the one who divides and inverts. I leave it to the reader to conclude who the ‘God’ of George W Bush and his ‘Christian right’ actually is!

In order to highlight Jesus’ opposition to Judaism and its values I would refer to the case of Mary Magdalene. This woman, a whore by profession, was only half Jewish by blood – in the Jewish context of obsession with ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ and the blatant racism of genetic ‘purity’ – her story represents a telling but often overlooked example of the refutation of Jewish values by Jesus.

Prior to her conversion, she practised her profession and serviced wealthy Jews, Romans and Greeks (gentiles.) In every possible way she would have been considered ‘unclean’ by Jewish values. Jesus, with total disregard for the "teachings of men," embraced this woman both figuratively and literally; it is recorded in the (Gnostic) "Gospel of Philip" that he often kissed her on the mouth!

"There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, her sister, and Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. His sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary. ………

……..And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [...] loved her more than all the disciples, and often kissed her on her mouth. The rest of the disciples [...]. They said to him "Why do you love her more than all of us?" The Saviour answered and said to them, "Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness."

When we consider her past profession and infer where her mouth had been – every aspect of Jesus’ relationship with her becomes the height of rebellion (in the social context) and acceptance of reformation and transformation in the spiritual context. From the day of her conversion she is known to have been a constant and close companion of Jesus, which would have presented an extremely provocative and challenging example to the Jewish Priests and society at large. This most revolutionary relationship was demonstrative of Jesus’ spiritual freedom and opposition to prevailing social values.

An understanding of the reasons people would follow this man become apparent – he was forgiving, accepting and considering the social context, remarkably brave (fearless.)

Another revolutionary aspect of Jesus is his denunciation of all temporal authority and hierarchical structures of power. His example to all is to wrest power from the few and divest it across the social spectrum. Rather than accept the injustice of inequality he consciously embarked on a campaign to subvert the prevailing social system. The following sequence is quite remarkable in its implications – there is nothing miraculous depicted, on the contrary, it was strategically planned (with military precision) and an exceedingly human political manoeuvre.

Prior to the following comparative analysis I would refer to what is probably the most important declaration in the New Testament:

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

The Way, Truth and Life is not, the absurd, dream or impossible – in order to know the "Father" through Jesus, it is imperative that the identity of Jesus is understood then realised. The tendency to the fairytale mentality is to be avoided – superstition and supernaturalism is not religion; it is the opiate of the churches to induce servility.

The following quotes are taken from the King James version of the Gospels – all emphases are mine:

Matthew 8:4 "And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

Jesus consciously brings himself to the attention of the ruling Priests after performing a healing.

Matthew 12:2 "… Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day."

John 9:14 "And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes."

Jesus makes no secret of the fact that he disregards the Old Law – he now openly reveals his opposition to the ruling elites of Judaism.

Matthew 22:16 "And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men."

John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God."

Matthew 12:8 "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."

No explanation necessary, but one monumentally bold statement – and further evidence that he will not be constrained buy anyone or thing. A clear message is sent that he is now the enemy of the ruling hierarchy of Judaism. Furthermore, by adopting the identity of the "Son of man" he declares to the Priests that he is above them! Always the provocateur in his dealings with the ruling elite of Judaism

Matthew 13:58 "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."

As a result of fantasy weaving by the various churches, we are prone to forget that Jesus was a man – the above quote clearly demonstrates that his ability to work ‘miracles’ is predicated on belief. This places his ‘supernatural’ abilities squarely in the realm of the natural. It should not be forgotten that when the Priests and rulers needed an excuse to murder him, they did not resort to the charge of "sorcery" (raising the dead, levitation etc.) which was punishable by death. They would surely have taken this opportunity if available. I ask the reader to awaken from the theocratic stupor instilled by church theologians since childhood and realise that we are all potential Christs – which is exactly what Jesus is attempting to teach us. The ‘supernatural’ is for children and those of feeble mentalities. The churches utilise the supernatural to dis-empower the individual and transfer authority to them – the exact technique utilised by the Judaic theocrats of Old. Jesus’ mission was to restore God to the people and destroy the centralisation of religion.

A section from the (apocryphal) "Acts of John" is added at the end of this article – excluded from the canon for reasons obvious when it is read. It is the key to the ‘miracles’ of the New Testament. Realising the actuality of events does not diminish the stature of Jesus – on the contrary, it only increases it. Jesus becomes immediately apprehensible. We are all (including Jesus) One in Christ(os) – "anointed One."

Matthew 21:2 "…Go into the village…ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

Mark 14:12 "…his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? 13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

In order to identify himself to the people as the Messiah, he required the use of an ass to ride (fulfilling a prophecy.) This verse also relates to the role of Nicodemus (the ‘midnight rambler’ (John 3; 7:50) who was secretly keeping Jesus informed of the machinations of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus also defended Jesus at his trial but was recognised as being "one of them." [Who are they, we may well ask?] I state this here with the above verse to highlight the mundane pragmatism of the story. The availability of the ass was arranged in advance and the code for the keeper was "The Lord hath need of them." I would remind the reader that Jesus and John the Baptist were first cousins and that both families were members of a (secretive) communistic mystical sect called the Essenes – who ‘coincidentally,’ held the view that the ruling Priests of the Temple were corrupt and needed to be overthrown!

All these pre-arranged occurrences – including the "man …bearing a pitcher of water," who indicated the secret venue for Jesus and his disciples to celebrate the Passover, imply organisation. In the world of men, "No man is an island," not even the "Son of man." When we consider the intrigues of Jerusalem in that period – it becomes plain that Jesus is the principal player in an organised theocratic coup. The success of this venture is borne out today by the fact that the ruling Priest class of Judaism have been permanently eliminated and the sect of the Nazarenes (hijacked by Paul and transformed into ‘Christianity’) has become a world religion. These assessments may appear ‘worldly’ to those church-fed the ‘Disneyland’ version of the Jesus story. Nevertheless, the above information is ample for earnest seekers to research and verify of their own accord.

Matthew 21:12 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Matthew 21:31 "...Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." (Directed at the Priests)

Jesus reserves his most inflammatory acts for the centre of the Jewish culture – the Temple and Priests – relative to social context, his rebuke and insult of the Priests cannot be matched to this day. I hope it is now clear that acceding to the values of the Old Testament is anathema to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 21:43 "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."

There are many examples to cite in the New Testament; to enumerate all is beyond the scope of this short paper. Bush and his ‘Christian right,’ by embracing the values of the Old Testament, stand as a perversion in any Christian context – they are in fact defacto Jews, and as demonstrated by the men who influence the direction of the Nation, the US has become a defacto Jewish State.

For those readers who may retain a vestige of doubt I leave them with the following quotes:

Luke 6:27 "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.."

Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Mark 12:30 " And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

And for those who do not heed his message, Jesus states plainly:

Matthew 23:38 "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

Endnote:
Please note that this paper is primarily concerned with exposing the hypocrisy of the US, George W Bush and the ‘Christian right’ – it is not an exercise in ‘Jew bashing.’ The writer subscribes to the integrity and underlying Truth found in all religions.

Section from the Acts of John:

The Mystic Cross
translated by G. R. S. Mead.

XCVII

Thus, my beloved, having danced with us the Lord went forth. And we as men gone astray or dazed with sleep fled this way and that. I, then, when I saw him suffer, did not even abide by his suffering, but fled unto the Mount of Olives, weeping at that which had befallen. And when he was crucified on the Friday, at the sixth hour of the day, darkness came upon all the earth. And my Lord standing in the midst of the cave and enlightening it, said: John, unto the multitude below in Jerusalem I am being crucified and pierced with lances and reeds, and gall and vinegar is given me to drink. But unto thee I speak, and what I speak hear thou. I put it into thy mind to come up into this mountain, that thou mightest hear those things which it behoveth a disciple to learn from his teacher and a man from his God.

XCVIII

And having thus spoken, he showed me a cross of light fixed, and about the cross a great multitude, not having one form: and in it (the cross) was one form and one likeness. And the Lord himself I beheld above the cross, not having any shape, but only a voice: and a voice not such as was familiar to us, but one sweet and kind and truly of God, saying unto me: John, it is needful that one should hear these things from me, for I have need of one that will hear. This cross of light is sometimes called the word by me for your sakes, sometimes mind, sometimes Jesus, sometimes Christ, sometimes door, sometimes a way, sometimes bread, sometimes seed, sometimes resurrection, sometimes Son, sometimes Father, sometimes Spirit, sometimes life, sometimes truth, sometimes faith, sometimes grace. And by these names it is called as toward men: but that which it is in truth, as conceived of in itself and as spoken of unto you, it is the marking-off of all things, and the firm uplifting of things fixed out of things unstable, and the harmony of wisdom, and indeed wisdom in harmony….

CII

When he had spoken unto me these things, and others which I know not how to say as he would have me, he was taken up, no one of the multitudes having beheld him. And when I went down I laughed them all to scorn, inasmuch as he had told me the things which they have said concerning him; holding fast this one thing in myself, that the Lord contrived all things symbolically and by a dispensation toward men, for their conversion and salvation. (My emphasis.)

A prophetic manuscript (written in third century) from the Gnostics follows. I would add "there is nothing new under the sun" regarding human nature. It is not a difficult exercise for a perceptive person to be a ‘prophet:’

Apocalypse Of Peter

The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition.
translated by James Brashler and Roger A. Dullard.
Below selected by James M.Robinson (ed)

As the Saviour was sitting in the temple in the three hundredth year of the covenant and the agreement of the tenth pillar, and being satisfied with the number of the living, incorruptible Majesty, he said to me , " Peter, blessed are those above belonging to the Father, who revealed life to those who are from life, through me, since I reminded them, they who are built on what is strong, that they may hear my word, and distinguish words of unrighteousness and transgression of the law from righteousness, as being from the height of every word of this Pleroma of truth, having been enlightened in good pleasure by him whom the principalities sought. But they did not find him, nor was he mentioned among any generation of the prophets. He has now appeared among these, in him who appeared, who is the Son of Man who is exalted above the heavens in fear of men of like essence. But you yourself, Peter, become perfect in accordance with your name with myself, the one who chose you, because from you I established a base for the remnant whom I have summoned to knowledge. Therefore be strong until the imitation of righteousness - of him who had summoned you, having summoned you to know him in a way (whichforth?-unknown) doing because of the rejection which happened to him , and the sinews of his hands and his feet, and the crowning by those of the middle region, and the body of his radiance which they bring in hope of service because of a reward of honour - as he was about to reprove you three times in this night."

And as he was saying these things I saw the priests and the people running up to us with stones, as if they would kill us; and I was afraid that we were going to die. And he said to me. "Peter, I have told you many times that they are blind ones who have no guide. If you want to know their blindness, put your hands before your eyes - your robe - and say what you see....." But when I had done it, I did not see anything. I said "No one sees this way"

And he said to me, "Do it again." And there came in me fear with joy, for I saw a new light greater than the light of day. Then it came down upon the Saviour. And I told him about those things which I saw. And he said to me again, "Lift up your hands and listen to what the priests and the people are saying." And I listened to the priests as they sat with the scribes. The multitudes were shouting with their voice. When he heard these things from me he said to me "prick up your ears and listen to the things they are saying." And I listened again, "As you sit, they are praising you." And when I said these things, the Saviour said "I have told you that these people are blind and deaf. Now then, listen to the things which they are telling you in a mystery, and guard them, do not tell them to the sons of this age. For they shall blaspheme you in these ages since they are ignorant of you, but they will praise you in knowledge"

"For many will accept our teaching in the beginning. And they will turn from them again bythe will of the Father of their error, because they have done what he wanted. And he will reveal them in his judgment, ie the servants of the Word. But those who became mingled with these shall become their prisoners, since they are without perception. And they praise the men of propagation of falsehood, those who will come after you. And they will cleave to the name of a dead man, thinking that they will become pure. But they will become greatly defiled and they will fall into a name of error, and into the hand of an evil, cunning man and a manifold dogma, and they will be ruled without law."

"For some of them will blaspheme the truth and proclaim evil teaching. And they will say evil things against each other. Some will be named: those who stand in the strength of the archons, of a man and a naked woman, who is manifold and subject to much suffering. And those who say these things will ask about dreams. And if they say that a dream came from a demon worthy of their error, then they shall be given perdition instead of incorruption."

"For evil cannot produce good fruit. For the place from which each of them is (comes) produces that which is like itself; for not every soul is of the truth, nor of immortality. For every soul of these ages has death assigned to it in our view, and their eternal destruction, in which they are and from which they are. They love the creatures of the matter which came forth with them."

"But the immortal souls are not like these, O Peter. But indeed, as long as the hour is not yet come, the immortal soul shall resemble the mortal one. But it shall not reveal its nature, that it alone is the immortal one, and thinks about immortality, having faith, and desiring to renounce these things." "For people do not gather figs from thorns or from thorn trees, if they are wise, nor grapes from thistles. For on the one hand, that which is always becoming is in that from which it is, being from what is not good, which becomes destruction for it and death. But that which comes to be in the Eternal One is in the One of the life and the immortality of the life which they resemble. "Therefore all that which exists not will dissolve into what exists not. For deaf and blind ones join only with their own kind."

"But others shall change from evil words and misleading mysteries. Some who do not understand mystery speak of things which they do not understand, but they boast that the mystery of the truth is theirs alone. And in haughtiness they shall grasp at the pride to envy the immortal soul which has become a pledge. For every authority rule, and power of the aeons wishes to be with these in the creation of the world, in order that those who are not, having been forgotten by those that are, may praise them, though they have not been saved, nor have they been brought to the Way by them, always wishing that they may become imperishable ones. For if the immortal soul receives power in an intellectual spirit. But immediately they join with one of those who mislead them."

"But many others, who oppose the truth and are the messengers of error, will set up their error and their law against these pure thoughts of mine, as looking out from one perspective, thinking that good and evil are from one source. They do business in my word. And they will propagate harsh fate. The race of immortal souls will go in it in vain, until my Parousia. For they shall come out of them, and my forgiveness of their transgressions into which they fell through the adversaries, whose ransom I got from the slavery in which they were, to give them freedom that they may create an imitation remnant in the name of a dead man, who is Hermas, of the first-born of unrighteousness, in order that the light which exists may not be believed by the little ones. But those of this sort are the workers who will be cast into the outer darkness, away from the sons of light. For neither will they enter, nor do they permit those who are going up to their approval for their release."

"And still others of them who suffer think that they will perfect the wisdom of the brotherhood which really exists, which is the spiritual fellowship of those united in communion, through which the wedding of incorruptibility shall be revealed. The kindred race of the sisterhood will appear as an imitation. These are the ones who oppress their brothers, saying to them, "Through this our God has pity, since salvation comes to us through this" not knowing the punishments of those who are made glad by those who have done this thing to the little ones whom they saw, and whom they took prisoner."

"And there shall be others of those who are outside our number who name themselves bishop and also deacons, as if they have received their authority from God. They bend themselves under the judgment of the leaders. Those people are dry canals." But I said "I am afraid because of what you have told me, that indeed little ones are, in our view, the counterfeit ones, indeed, that there are multitudes that will mislead other multitudes of living ones, and destroy them among themselves. And when they speak your name they will be believed." The Saviour said, "For a time determined for them in proportion to their error they will rule over the little ones. And after the completion of the error, the never-aging one of the immortal understanding shall become young, and the little ones shall ruler over those who are their rulers. The root of their error he shall pluck out, and he shall put it to shame so that it shall be manifest in all the impudence which it has assumed to itself. And such ones shall become unchangeable, O Peter."

"Come therefore, let us go on with the completion of the will of the incorruptible Father. For behold, those who will bring them judgment are coming, and they will be put to shame. But me they cannot touch. And you, O Peter, shall stand in their midst. Do not be afraid because of your cowardice. Their minds shall be closed, for the invisible one has opposed them."

When he said those things, I saw him seemingly being seized by them. And I said "What do I see, O Lord, that it is you yourself whom they take, and that you are grasping me? Or who is this one, glad and laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they are striking?" The Saviour said to me, "He whom you saw on the tree, glad and laughing, this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands and feet they drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the substitute being put to shame, the one who came into being in his likeness. But look at him and me." But I, when I had looked, said "Lord, no one is looking at you. Let us flee this place." But he said to me, "I have told you, "Leave the blind alone!" And you, see how they do not know what they are saying. For the son of their glory instead of my servant, they have put to shame."

And I saw someone about to approach us resembling him, even him who was laughing on the tree. And he was filled with a Holy Spirit, and he is the Saviour. And there was a great, ineffable light around them, and the multitude of ineffable and invisible angels blessing them. And when I looked at him, the one who gives praise was revealed. And he said to me, "Be strong, for you are the one to whom these mysteries have been given, to know them through revelation, that he whom they crucified is the first-born, and the home of demons, and the stony vessel, in which they dwell, of Elohim, of the cross, which is under the Law. But he who stands near him is the living Saviour, the first in him, whom they seized and released, who stands joyfully looking those who did him violence, while they are divided among themselves. Therefore he laughs at their lack of perception, knowing that they are born blind. So then the one susceptible to suffering shall come, since the body is the substitute. But what they released was my incorporeal body. But I am the intellectual Spirit filled with radiant light. He whom you saw coming to me is our intellectual Pleroma, which unites the perfect light with my Holy Spirit."

"These things, then, which you saw you shall present to those of another race who are not of this age. For there will be no honour in any man who is not immortal, which has shown that it is able to contain him who gives his abundance. Therefore I said, "Every one who has, it will be given to him, and he will have plenty, " But he who does not have, that is, the man of this place, who is completely dead, who is removed from the planting of the creation of what is begotten, whom, if one of the immortal essence appears, they think that they possess him - it will be taken from him and be added to the one who is. You, therefore, be courageous and do not fear at all. For I shall be with you in order that none of your enemies may prevail unto you.

Peace be to you, Be strong!"

When he had said these things, Peter came to himself.

selection made from James M.Robinson (ed):

The Nag Hammadi Library, revised edition.

Note: The text "Apocalypse of Peter" is copyright material.

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