Apocryphal collection · Sayings and fragments · 2 min read
Gospel and Traditions of Matthias
The apostle who replaced Judas and the secret teachings
The full text of this study is in Portuguese; the summary, key points and official view are in English.
Matthias was the apostle chosen to take Judas’s place (Acts 1:26). Writers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries mention a Gospel of Matthias and Traditions of Matthias, used by Gnostic groups such as the followers of Basilides, who claimed to have received from Matthias secret teachings of the Saviour. Only a few quotations survive, most of them in Clement of Alexandria, such as this one: “Wonder at the things that are before you”.
Key points
- Known only from quotations by Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Hippolytus.
- Origen lists a “Gospel according to Matthias” among the heretical books.
- The Basilideans said Matthias had passed on to them secret words of Jesus.
- It taught mastery over the flesh and knowledge as the way.
What scholars say
No manuscript of the work exists. The quotations suggest a text of ascetic teachings linked to 2nd-century Egypt. It is not known whether the “Gospel” and the “Traditions” were the same work.
Keep investigating
- Gospel of Thomas 114 secret sayings of Jesus, hidden for almost two thousand years
- Gospel of Judas The disciple who understood, the aeons of light and the 360 firmaments
- Gospel of the Egyptians (Greek) Salome's dialogue with the Lord about death
Other languages: Português · Español
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