New Testament Apocrypha

Hundreds of ancient documents have been have been classified over time under the rubric of 'New Testament Apocrypha' (or sometimes 'New Testament Pseudegpigrapha') — not even including the number of works found in the Nag Hammadi codices.1 These apocyrphal texts were produced over centuries and by diverse communities. The tenuous connections between them, as a genre or corpus, are either their attribution to apostlic authors or, in terms of content, the 'hidden' stories they reveal about Jesus, the apostles, Mary, and other New Testement figures. These works, ranging from the 2nd century CE (Protoevangelium of James) to the Islamic period (Gospel of the 12 Apostles), represent both the inventiveness of late antique Christian writers and the popularity of such stories among their readers. Originally written for the most part in Greek or Latin, they were soon translated into Syriac, Armenian, Coptic, Georgian, etc., but many original compositions of Christian apocrypha, or variants on older stories, also originated in these languages. This page represents an adaptation and expansion of Geerard's foundational work on the Clavis of New Testament Apocrypha.2 While Geerard has given information for the New Testament Apocrypha across all reception languages, the information below focuses on the New Testament Apocrypha as it is preserved in Syriac and Arabic (including Garshuni).

Many of the texts given by Geerard exist in the public domain. The information below assimilates Geerard's, but then expands upon it by providing a hyperlink to the resource if it is available in the public domain. 

Works marked with ** are those which are not available in Geerard, but have nonetheless been made available digitally. Texts marked with * are either unavailable or only partially available in the public domain.

Instrumenta

Works Cited

Table of Contents

1. Apocryphal Gospel of John (Arabic)

2. Miracles of Jesus (Arabic)

3. Protoevangelium of James (Syriac, Arabic)

4. On the Priesthood of Christ; or, The Conversion of Theodosius the Jew (Arabic)

5. The Vision of Theophilus; or, Sermon on the church of the holy family on mount Qosqam (Arabic, Syriac)

​6. The Gospel of Thomas of the Infancy of the Savior (Syriac, Arabic)

7. Infancy Gospel (Arabic)

8. History of Joseph the Carpenter (Arabic)

9. Gospel of Nicodemus (or The Acts of Pilate) (Syriac, Christian Palestinian Aramaic)

10. Epistle of Pilate to Claudius (Syriac)

11. Anaphora and Paradosis of Pilate (Syriac, Arabic)

12. Epistles of Pilate and Herod (Syriac)

13. Homily on the Lament for Mary (The Gospel of Gamaliel) (Arabic)

14. Homily on the Death of Pilate (Martyrium Pilati) (Arabic)

15. Epistle of Abgar with the Response of Christ (Syriac, Arabic)

16. Teaching of Addai (Syriac)

17. The 'Nestorian' Life of the Virgin (Syriac)

18. The 'Jacobite' Life of the Virgin (Syriac)

19. The Obsequies of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

20. The Book of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

21. The Book of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (II) (Syriac)

22. Book Six of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

23. Book Five of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

24. Jacob of Sarug, Memra on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

25. John, Bishop of Birta, Memra on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Syriac)

26. Homily on the Assumption of Mary the Virgin attributed to Theophilus of Alexandria (Arabic)

27. (Pseudo-)John the Apostle, Book Six of the Dormition of the Blessed Mary (Arabic)

28. (Pseudo-)John, Dormition (Arabic)

29. (Pseudo-)John, Dormition (II) (Arabic)

30. Homily on the Dormition ascribed to Cyril of Alexandria (Arabic)

31. Homily on the Assumption ascribed to Cyril of Alexandria (Arabic)

32. Homily on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, attributed to Cyril of Jerusalem (Arabic)

33. Homily on the Assumption, attributed to Theophilus of Landra (Arabic)

34. Homily of Cyriacus of Behnasa [On the Assumption] (Arabic)

35. Story of the History of Euthemia (Arabic)

36. (Pseudo-)Serapion of Thmuis, Life and Miracles of John the Baptist (Syriac)

37. The Glory of the Forerunner (Apocalypse of James, brother of the Lord) (Arabic)

38. The Acts of the Martyrs (Syriac, Arabic)

39. (Pseudo-)Marcellus, Passion of Apostles Peter and Paul (Arabic)

40. Epistle of (Pseudo-)Dionysius the Areopagite to Timothy on the Passion of Peter and Paul (Syriac)

41. Preaching of Simon Peter in the city of Rome (Syriac)

42. The Acts of Peter (Syriac)

43. The Preaching of Peter (Arabic)

44. Acts of Peter and Paul (Syriac, Arabic, Garshuni)

45. Acts of Peter according to Clement (Arabic)

46. (Pseudo-)Clementine Homilies X-XIV (Syriac)

47. (Pseudo-)Clementine Recognitions I-IV (Syriac)

48.  Epitome [of the Recognitions of (Pseudo-)Clement], by Simon Metaphrastes (Syriac, Arabic)

49. Epitome of the (Pseudo-)Clementine Recognitions (Arabic)

50. Epitome: Recognitions (with the Epistle to James) (Arabic)

51. Acts of Paul and Thecla (Syriac)

52. Martyrdom of Paul (Syriac, Arabic)

53. Acts of John (Syriac, Arabic)

54. Acts (or Travels) [of John], by Prochorus (Arabic)

55. History of John (Syriac)

56. (Pseudo-)John Chrysostom, in praise of John the Theologian (Arabic)

57. Martyrdom of the Apostle Andrew (Arabic)

58. Acts of Andrew and Matthew in the city of the cannibals (Arabic, Syriac)

59. Acts of Peter and Andrew (Arabic)

60. Acts of Andrew and Bartholomew (Arabic)

61. Acts of Andrew and Philemon (Arabic)

62. Acts of Thomas (Syriac, Arabic)

63. Preaching of Thomas (Arabic)

64. Martyrdom of Thomas (Arabic)

65. Hymn of the Soul (Syriac)

66. Preaching of Philip (Arabic)

67. Martyrdom of Philip (Arabic)

68. History of Philip (Syriac)

69. Martyrdom of Bartholomew (Arabic)

70. The Preaching of Bartholomew (Arabic)

71. The Acts of Matthew and Andrew in the city of Kahenat (Arabic)

72. Martyrdom of Matthew (Arabic)

73. Preaching and Martyrdom of James the Great, the son of Zebedee (Arabic)

74. Preaching and Martyrdom of James the lesser, brother of the Lord (Arabic)

75. The Martyrdom of Matthias (Arabic)

76. (Pseudo-)Cyril of Jerusalem, Homily on the Legend of St. Matthias (Prayer of the Mother in the region of the Parthians) (Arabic)

77. Preaching and Martyrdom of Simon, son of Cleophas (Arabic)

78. Martyrdom of Mark (Arabic)

79. Martyrdom of Luke (Syriac, Arabic)

80. Apocryphon of Stephen (Arabic)

81. Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans (Arabic)

82. Epistle to Quadratus (Syriac)

83. Epistles of Longinus, Augustus, Ursinus, and Patrophilus (Syriac)

84. Epistles of Lentulus (Syriac)

85. Letter of Christ fallen from Heaven (Syriac, Arabic, Garshuni)

86. The Tiburtine Sibyl (Garshuni, Arabic)

87. Apocalypse of Paul (Syriac, Arabic)

88. Syriac Apocalypse of Mary (Syriac)

89. Arabic Apocalypse of Mary (Arabic)

90. Apocryphal Apocalypse of John (Arabic, Garshuni)

**91. Gospel of the 12 Apostles (Syriac)

**92. Apocalyse of Simon Kepha (Syriac)

**93. Apocalypse of James (Syriac)

**94. Apocalypse of John, the Younger Brother of James (Syriac)

 

Works

1. Apocryphal Gospel of John [Back to Top

2. Miracles of Jesus [Back to Top]

3. Protoevangelium of James (BHO 612[Back to Top

​​4. On the Priesthood of Christ; or, The Conversion of Theodosius the Jew [Back to Top

​5. The Vision of Theophilus; or, Sermon on the church of the holy family on mount Qosqam [Back to Top]

​6. The Gospel of Thomas of the Infancy of the Savior [Back to Top]

7. ​​Infancy Gospel (BHO 619) [Back to Top]

8. History of Joseph the Carpenter [Back to Top]

​9. Gospel of Nicodemus (or The Acts of Pilate) [Back to Top]

10. Epistle of Pilate to Claudius [Back to Top]

11. Anaphora and Paradosis of Pilate [Back to Top]

12. Epistles of Pilate and Herod [Back to Top

13. Homily on the Lament for Mary (The Gospel of Gamaliel) [Back to Top]

14. Homily on the death of Pilate (Martyrium Pilati) [Back to Top]

15. Epistle of Abgar with the Response of Christ  [Back to Top]

16. Doctrine of Addai (BHO 24) [Back to Top]

17. The 'Nestorian' Life of the Virgin (BHO 643-645) [Back to Top]

18. The 'Jacobite' Life of the Virgin [Back to Top]

Assumption of the Virgin [Back to Top]

19. The Obsequies of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO p. 142n6[Back to Top]

20. The Book of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO 631) [Back to Top]

21. The Book of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (II) (BHO 632) [Back to Top]

22. Book Six of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO 620-625) [Back to Top]

  • Syriac

    • W. Wright, The departure of my Lady Mary from this world. London: Mitchell and Hughes, 1865. [This contains all three sections from the articles published by Wright in the Journal of Sacred Literature issues 6 (pp. 3-32) and 7 (pp. 33-51; 129-160)]. From BL Add. 14484 (6th cent.), ff. 16-45; BL Add. 14732 (8th cent.), ff. 2-16v.
    • Manuscripts
      • BL Add. 14730, f. 84v (Book 4); Paris BnF Syr. 196, ff. 406-411 (fragments from books 1-4); Paris BnF syr. 238, ff. 147-161 (Garshuni); Paris BnF syr. 232, ff. 496-523 (Garshuni); Paris BnF syr. 233, ff. 2-37 (Garshuni).

​23. Book Five of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO 626-630) [Back to Top]

24. Jacob of Sarug, Memra on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO 676) [Back to Top]

25. John, Bishop of Birta, Memra on the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BHO 679) [Back to Top]

26. Homily on the Assumption of Mary the Virgin attributed to Theophilus of Alexandria (BHO 671) [Back to Top]

27. (Pseudo-)John the Apostle, Book Six of the Dormition of the Blessed Mary (BHO 633-636) [Back to Top]

28. (Pseudo-)John, Dormition [Back to Top]

  • Arabic (Unedited)

    • Vat. arab. 698, ff. 51v-84v
      • This Dormition narrative is related to #25 above as well as the Syriac Dormition (#21)

29. (Pseudo-)John, Dormition (II) [Back to Top]

30. Homily on the Dormition ascribed to Cyril of Alexandria [Back to Top]

31. Homily on the Assumption ascribed to Cyril of Alexandria [Back to Top]

32. Homily on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, attributed to Cyril of Jerusalem [Back to Top]

33. Homily on the Assumption, attributed to Theophilus of Landra [Back to Top]

34. Homily of Cyriacus of Behnasa [on the Assumption] [Back to Top]

35. Story of the History of Euthemia [Back to Top]

36. (Pseudo-)Serapion of Thmuis, Life and Miracles of John the Baptist [Back to Top

37. The Glory of the Forerunner (Apocalypse of James, brother of the Lord) [Back to Top]

38. The Acts of the Martyrs [Back to Top]

39. (Pseudo-)Marcellus, Passion of Apostles Peter and Paul (BHO 960) [Back to Top]

40. Epistle of (Pseudo-)Dionysius the Areopagite to Timothy on the Passion of Peter and Paul [Back to Top]

41. Preaching of Simon Peter in the city of Rome (BHO 936) [Back to Top]

42. The Acts of Peter (BHO 935) [Back to Top]

43. The Preaching of Peter (BHO 938, 943) [Back to Top]

44. Acts of Peter and Paul [Back to Top]

45. The Acts of Peter according to Clement (BHO 944-950) [Back to Top]

46. (Pseudo-)Clementine Homilies X-XIV (BHG 322-341; BHO 198-201) [Back to Top]

47. (Pseudo-)Clementine Recognitions (I-IV) (BHO 197) [Back to Top]

48. Epitome [of (Pseudo-)Clement], by Simon Metaphrastes (BHO 204) [Back to Top]

49. Epitome of the (Pseudo-)Clementine Recognitions (BHO 203) [Back to Top]

50. Epitome: Recognitions (with the Epistle to James) (BHO 202) [Back to Top]

 

51. Acts of Paul and Thecla [Back to Top]

52. Martyrdom of Paul [Back to Top]

53. Acts of John (BHO 475) [Back to Top]

54. Acts (or Travels) [of John] by Prochorus [Back to Top]

55. History of John (BHO 468) [Back to Top]

56. (Pseudo-)John Chrysostom, in praise of John the Theologian (BHG 932f; CPG 4936) [Back to Top]

57. Martyrdom of the Apostle Andrew (BHO 53) [Back to Top]

58. Acts of Andrew and Matthew in the city of the cannibals [Back to Top]

59. Acts of Peter and Andrew (BHO 1142) [Back to Top]

​60. Acts of Andrew and Bartholomew (BHO 55) [Back to Top]

61. Acts of Andrew and Philemon (BHO 48) [Back to Top]

62. Acts of Thomas [Back to Top]

63. Preaching of Thomas (BHO 1213) [Back to Top]

64. Martyrdom of Thomas (BHO 1217) [Back to Top]

65. Hymn of the Soul [Back to Top]

66. Preaching of Philip (BHO 977) [Back to Top]

67. Martyrdom of Phillip (BHO 982) [Back to Top]

68. History of Philip (BHO 974) [Back to Top]

69. Martyrdom of Bartholomew (BHO 157) [Back to Top]

70. The Preaching of Bartholomew (BHO 152) [Back to Top]

71. The Acts of Matthew and Andrew in Kahenat (BHO 738) [Back to Top]

72. Martyrdom of Matthew (BHO 723) [Back to Top]

73. Preaching and Martyrdom of James the Great, the son of Zebedee (BHO 417[Back to Top]

74. Preaching and Martyrdom of James the lesser, brother of the Lord [Back to Top]

75. Martyrdom of Matthias (BHO 731[Back to Top]

76. (Pseudo-)Cyril of Jerusalem, Homily on the Legend of St. Matthias (Prayer of the Mother in the region of the Parthians) [Back to Top]

77. Preaching and Martyrdom of Simon, son of Cleophas [Back to Top]

78. Martyrdom of Mark (BHO 597[Back to Top]

79. Martyrdom of Luke [Back to Top]

80. Apocryphon of Stephen [Back to Top]

81. Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans [Back to Top]

82. Epistle to Quadratus [Back to Top

83. Epistles of Longinus, Augustus, Ursinus, and Patrophilus [Back to Top]

84. Epistles of Lentulus [Back to Top]

85. Letter of Christ fallen from Heaven [Back to Top]

86. The Tiburtine Sybil [Back to Top]

87. The Apocalypse of Paul [Back to Top]

88. Syriac Apocalypse of Mary [Back to Top]

89. Arabic Apocalypse of Mary [Back to Top]

90. Apocryphal Apocalypse of John [Back to Top]

**91. Gospel of the 12 Apostles [Back to Top]

**92. Apocalypse of Simon Kepha [Back to Top]

**93. Apocalypse of James [Back to Top]

**94. Apocalypse of John, the Younger Brother of James [Back to Top]