apocryphon

While the apocryphon has many points of contact with the genuine Gospels, it diverges curiously from them in details, and bears evidence of having treated them with much freedom.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Aside from a few other brief references in patristic literature, nothing more was known of this apocryphon until the Latin manuscript containing a long portion of it was discovered by Ceriani in the Ambrosian Library, at Milan, and published by him in 1861.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Esdras, and some Messianic points of contact with the Gospels combined to win for it an acceptance among Christians unequalled by any other apocryphon.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

There is a basis of truth in this statement as our apocryphon betrays tokens of being a Gnostic writing worked over in an orthodox interest.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Syrian apocryphon (q.v. infra), reproduces the correspondence with additions.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

The apocryphon in all its present forms extravagantly magnifies the

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Hence arose a considerable apocryphal Pilate literature, of which the Gospel of Gamaliel really forms a part, and like this latter apocryphon, it is characterized by exaggerating Pilate's weak defence of Jesus into strong sympathy and practical belief in His divinity.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

The apocryphon gained wide credit in the Middle Ages, and has considerably affected the legends of our Saviour's Passion.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

Our apocryphon exists only in Latin and translations from the Latin, though it gives signs of a Greek original.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913

The apocryphon is attributed by critics to the first quarter of the second century and is therefore one of the earliest specimens of non-canonical literature.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 1: Aachen-Assize 1840-1916 1913