The Stranger’s Book is an early document preserved in fragments in a couple of papyri from the third and fifth centuries (Source: Manuscript Information). It is a short work of pages 59, 60, 62-66 and conclusion [I do not understand the context of the page numbering system].
It would be an open issue with me to investigate this text more fully. First I will reproduce the complete online article. Then I will add my comments.
The Stranger’s Book
The following translation has been committed to the public domain and may be freely copied and used, changed or unchanged, for any purpose. It is based on the Coptic text of Codex Tchacos 4. For information about the surviving manuscript of the Stranger’s Book, see the Manuscript Information page. For additional information about the translation, see the introduction to the PDF version.
by Mark M. Mattison
Symbols
59 Page Number
[ ] Gap in the text / reconstructed text
59 The [Stranger’s Book]
Introduction
“My [son, let’s pray to God …] to the Father of all the ages, to send us a spirit of knowledge to reveal the mysteries, so that we may know ourselves; specifically, where [we’ve] come from, where we’re going, and what we need to do to live.”
And they left and went up on a mountain called ‘Tabor.’ And they knelt down and prayed, “O Lord God, the One above all the great realms, the One who has no beginning and no end, give us a spirit of knowledge to reveal your mysteries, so that we may know ourselves; specifically, where we’ve come from, where we’re going, and what we need to do to live.”
The Temptation of Stranger
After Stranger had said these words, [Satan] appeared 60 [on] the earth, since he [binds the world]. He said, “[…] while you’re walking up on this mountain, because although you seek, you won’t find anything. But come to me, and [take for] yourself what’s in my [world]. Eat my good things. Take for yourself silver, gold, and clothes.”
In response Stranger said, “Depart from me, Satan, because I don’t seek you but my Father, who is above all the great realms; because I’ve been called ‘Stranger,’ since I’m from another race. I’m not from your race.”
Then the one who binds the [world] told him, “We 61 ourselves […] in my [world].”
[Then] Stranger said to him, “Depart from [me], Satan! Go away, because I don’t [belong to] you.”
Then Satan [departed] from him, after having angered him many times; and he wasn’t able to deceive [him]. And when he had been defeated, he went away to his place in great shame.
The Transfiguration of Stranger
Then Stranger cried out in a loud voice, “O God, you who are in the great realms, hear my voice, have mercy on me, and save me from every evil! Look on me and hear me in this deserted place. Now [let your] indescribable [light] shine on me 62 […] your light. Yes, Lord, help me, because [I] don’t know […] forever and ever.”
And while I said these things, look! A bright cloud surrounded me. Because of the way it was shining, I couldn’t gaze into the light around it. And I heard something from the cloud and the light. It shone on me and said, “O Stranger, the sound of your prayer has been heard, and I’ve been sent here to tell you the gospel before you leave [this place], so that 63 you may [know …] reveal [… body] dissolve […] the [spirit…]
The Ascent of Stranger
“[… above. But] when you go, [you’ll] come to the first Power, which is the power of Desire. And it will bind you and [ask] you, ‘Where are [you] going, O Stranger?’ But say, ‘What bound me has been killed, and I’ve been released. I’ll go up to my Father, the One above all the great realms.’ And it will release you.
“Then you’ll come to the second Power, which is the power of Darkness. [And it] will bind [you and] 64 [ask you], ‘Where [are you going, O Stranger?’ But say, ‘What bound me has been killed, and I’ve been released. I’ll go up to my Father, the One above all the great realms.’ Then it will release you.]
“[And you’ll] come to the [third] Power, which is called ‘Ignorance.’ It will bind you and say to you, ‘Where [are you going, O] Stranger?’ But say to it, ‘What bound me has been killed, and I’ve been released. I’ll go up to my Father, the One above all the great realms.’ Then it will release you.
“And you’ll come to the fourth Power, which [… Death. It will say to you, ‘Where are you going, O Stranger?’] 65 [But say, ‘What bound me has been killed, and I’ve been released. I’ll go up to my Father, the One above all the great realms.’ And it will release you.]
“[And you’ll come to the fifth] Power, [which is the] Kingdom [of the] Flesh. [And it will] say to you, ‘[Where are] you [going, O Stranger?’ But say, ‘What bound] me has been [killed], and I’ve [been] released. [Now] then, I’ll go up to my Father, [the One] above [all the great realms.’ And it will] release you.
“[And you’ll come to the sixth Power, which is the Foolish] ‘Wisdom’ [of Flesh. And] it will say to you, ‘Where [are you going,] O [Stranger]?’ But say to [it, ‘What] bound me [has been killed, and I’ve been released. I’ll go up to my Father], 66 [the One above all the great realms.’ And it will release you.]
“[…] in […] and you’ll [go up] over [these] angels […] myriads of [holy] angels [… myriads of] angels […] Don’t be faint of heart […] Be strong [… O Stranger], because you […] Don’t be afraid […] which was said […]”
An unknown number of pages are missing.
Conclusion
Last Page: Stranger […] he sent […] so that they might [… the] judgment. [Peace to the one] who wrote them down [and to those who will] preserve them.
Commentary
This book or the extant portions thereof appears to parallel aspects of Christ’s life on earth. Here are my comments on the five parts of the manuscript.
Introduction
The introduction begins with one of a group of faithful [my term for the unknown persons present but likely the Apostles] issuing a prayer:
to send us a spirit of knowledge to reveal the mysteries, so that we may know ourselves; specifically, where [we’ve] come from, where we’re going, and what we need to do to live.”
This is not a prayer for knowledge but for the indwelling of the [Holy] Spirit of knowledge.
The second part of the prayer captures the essence of what I have been praying about and exploring for the last year. It is beautifully succinct: “that we may know ourselves; specifically, where [we’ve] come from, where we’re going, and what we need to do to live.”
The Temptation of Stranger
This section parallels the temptation of Christ in Matthew 4:1-11.
Of note is this explanation from Stranger to Satan: “because I’ve been called ‘Stranger,’ since I’m from another race. I’m not from your race.” Here Christ makes it clear that he is not from Satan’s race, that of (fallen) angels. As such, he (Stranger) is apart from and above Satan.
The Transfiguration of Stranger
The story of the transfiguration of Christ in the bible (read: What was the Transfiguration of Jesus? Bible Story and Meaning) establishes the divine nature of Christ. The brief account in the Stranger’s Book in what is known of the text is much reduced from the biblical story. Of note is that it is written as of Christ describing his own experience.
The Ascent of Stranger
The ascent of Christ is described only briefly in the bible (read: The Ascension of Jesus: What It Is, Why It’s Often Overlooked & More) and mainly by Luke in Luke 24:36-53, in particular consider verse 51: “And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Luke also continued writing in Acts 1:6-12, particularly verse 9: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”
The Stranger’s Book, however, gives specific details about Stranger’s ascent that may apply to all of us. In it, God speaks to Stranger and describes a series of six tests that he will face when he ascends (passes from this world) and how to pass the tests. For example, of the first he is told “when you go, [you’ll] come to the first Power, which is the power of Desire. And it will bind you and [ask] you, ‘Where are [you] going, O Stranger?’”. Similar instructions are given for the other five.
These are the six Powers which bind men in this world:
- The Power of Desire;
- the Power of Darkness;
- the Power called ‘Ignorance’;
- the Power, which … Death;
- the Power[which is the Kingdom of the Flesh;
- and the Power which is the Foolish] ‘Wisdom’ of Flesh.
These Powers appear to be different from the standard view of Powers in the Celestial Hierarchy (read: What are the 9 Levels of Angels? A Complete Expert Guide to the Angelic Hierarchy). In this book, Powers appear to be categories or states of demonic influence that bind us under Satan’s dominion.
Concluding Thoughts
As with many old manuscripts, one is left wondering what is missing. Is it the most important parts? This book presents only description around Christ’s divinity: his defining encounter with Satan, a similar heavenly encounter in the transfiguration, and his ascent and departure.
The identification of the Powers which bound him on earth invites further study and understanding.
The perplexing aspect of the Book is the author’s failure to identify Stranger as Jesus Christ. This tells me to approach the work prayerfully and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, something that one needs to do in approaching all these early Christian writings.
Other Series on Spirituality
The other series of articles that I have published can be found at A New Direction.
***
If you liked this post, consider subscribing – in right-hand sidebar – if you are not a subscriber already. Please forward it to anyone else you might think will benefit from it. We are at a critical point in time where we need to disseminate truth to those who have ears to hear, and be forming communities of like-minded individuals. If you want to discuss an idea or issue, contact me – see Contacts.
0 Comments