The Gospel of Perfection
Home > Apocrypha > The Gospel of Perfection The Gospel of Perfection At a Glance Treatise Genre: (5/5) ***** Reliability of Dating: (5/5) ***** Length of Text: Greek Original Language: Ancient Translations: Modern Translations: English Estimated Range of Dating: 120-180 A.D. Chronological List of Early Christian Writings Discuss this text on the Early Writings forum. Offsite Links Fragments of a Faith Forgotten The Gospel of Perfection Books Wilhelm Schneemelcher, New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 1, pp. 248-249 Recommended Books for the Study of Early Christian Writings Information on The Gospel of Perfection Henri-Charles Puech and Beate Blatz say of the attestation for this text: "The Gospel of Perfection is mentioned by Epiphanius in his Panarion (26.2.5; I, p.
277. 13-17 Holl; tr. Williams, NHS 35, p. 84). The document is also mentioned in Filastrius of Brescia (Haer. 33.7, p. 18. 18 Marx), but this is dependent on Epiphanius, as the immediate context shows. The two heresiologues are content to adduce the title of the work (euaggelion teleiwsews, evangelium consummationis), and both condemn it. Epiphanius gives as its authors the 'Gnostics', Filastrius the Nicolatians (discussed in Epiph. Pan. 25) - whom he confuses with the Gnostici." (New Testament Apocrypha, vol. 1, p. 357) They also comment on the hypothetical content of this lost text: "Harnack (Litg. I, 167f.) and Hennecke (NT Apocrypha, p. 69) propose (not without reservations) to explain title and content with the aid of a Naassene saying quoted by Hippolytus (Ref.
V 6.6; V 8.38, cf. X 9): 'The beginning of perfection (arxh teleiwsews) is the knowledge of man, the knowledge of God is complete perfection (aphrtismenh teleiwsis).' This proposal is debatable. One might also appeal to Irenaeus (adv. Haer. I 30.14) and conjecture that the gospel related to the 'future consummation' (consummationem futuram), which is to take place when all the spiritual 'seed of light' dispersed in the world is finally gathered together (quando tota humectatio spiritus luminis colligatur)." (New Testament Apocrypha, vol. 1, p. 357) Harnack's opinion is that this is a gospel of the second century. Some Contemporary Texts Dialogue of the Savior (120-180 A.D.) Gospel of the Savior (120-180 A.D.) 2nd Apocalypse of James (120-180 A.D.) Trimorphic Protennoia (120-180 A.D.) Gospel of Perfection (120-180 A.D.) Genna Marias (120-200 A.D.) Marcion (130-140 A.D.) Aristo of Pella (130-150 A.D.) Epiphanes On Righteousness (130-160 A.D.) Go to the Chronological List of all Early Christian Writings Please buy the CD to support the site, view it without ads, and get bonus stuff!
Early Christian Writings is copyright © Peter Kirby <E-Mail&gt. Follow @mrpeterkirby MLA Style Kirby, Peter. "The Gospel of Perfection." Early Christian Writings. <http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/perfection.html>. Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Letters of Paul Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Letter to the Hebrews General Letters James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation Gospels Gospel of Thomas Egerton Gospel Gospel of Peter Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel of Mary Epistula Apostolorum Infancy Gospel of James Infancy Gospel of Thomas Acts of Pilate Diatessaron Gospel Fragments Oxyrhynchus 1224 Fayyum Fragment Gospel of the Egyptians Gospel of the Hebrews Gospel of the Ebionites Gospel of the Nazoreans Traditions of Matthias Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony Apostolic Acts Preaching of Peter Acts of Peter Acts of John Acts of Paul Acts of Andrew Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Acts of Thomas Martyrologies Martyrdom of Polycarp Fifth and Sixth Books of Esra Acts of Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonice Letter from Vienna and Lyons Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs Acts of Apollonius Acts of Perpetua and Felicitas Didache Apocalypse of Peter Didascalia Dialogues with Jesus Sophia of Jesus Christ Secret James Gospel of Mary Dialogue of the Savior Gospel of the Savior Books of Jeu Pistis Sophia Apocalypses 2nd Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Paul 1st Apocalypse of James Coptic Apocalypse of Peter Acts Acts of Peter and the Twelve Book of Thomas the Contender Letter of Peter to Philip More Nag Hammadi Apocryphon of John Gospel of Truth Treatise on the Resurrection Gospel of Philip Trimorphic Protennoia Authoritative Teaching Discourse on the Eighth and the Ninth Melchizedek Quoted Authors Basilides Naassene Fragments Valentinus Marcion Epiphanes Ophite Diagrams Gospel of Judas More Quoted Authors Ptolemy Isidore Theodotus Heracleon Apelles Julius Cassianus Apostolic Fathers Didache Epistle of Barnabas First Clement Shepherd of Hermas Ignatius of Antioch Polycarp to the Philippians Second Clement Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus Martyrdom of Polycarp Apologists Aristides Justin Martyr Tatian Minucius Felix Athenagoras of Athens Theophilus of Antioch Quoted Authors Papias Quadratus Aristo of Pella Claudius Apollinaris Melito of Sardis Hegesippus Dionysius of Corinth Rhodon Theophilus of Caesarea More Quoted Authors Bardesanes Maximus of Jerusalem Polycrates of Ephesus Victor I Pantaenus Anonymous Anti-Montanist Serapion of Antioch Apollonius Caius Irenaeus of Lyons Hippolytus of Rome Clement of Alexandria Tertullian Origen Pagan and Jewish Mara bar Serapion Josephus Pliny the Younger Suetonius Tacitus Fronto Lucian of Samosata Marcus Aurelius Galen Celsus Talmud Philostratus Jewish/Christian The Twelve Patriarchs Non-Pagan Sibyllines Odes of Solomon Book of Elchasai Ascension of Isaiah Hypothesized Sources Passion Narrative Sayings Gospel Q Signs Gospel Anti-Marcionite Prologues Muratorian Canon Kerygmata Petrou Inscription of Abercias