Adapted from M. R. James, Apocryphal New Testament (1924)


FRAGMENTS OF EARLY GOSPELS, ETC.: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE 
HEBREWS (p. 8)


One other mention of this Gospel has to be added.

In Budge's <t>Miscellaneous Coptic Texts</> is a Discourse on 
Mary by Cyril of Jerusalem.  Cyril (Pseudo-Cyril) relates that 
he had to send for a monk of Maio^ma of Gaza who was teaching 
false doctrine.  Called on for an account of his belief the monk 
(p. 637, Eng. trans.) said: 

<q>It is written in the Gospel to the Hebrews that when Christ 
wished to come upon the earth to men, the Good Father called a 
mighty power in the heavens which was called Michael, and 
committed Christ to the care thereof. And the power came down 
into the world and it was called Mary, and Christ was in her womb 
seven months. Afterwards she gave birth to him, and he increased 
in stature, and he chose the apostles, ... was crucified, and 
taken up by the Father.</> 

Cyril asked: <q>Where in the four gospels is it said that the holy 
Virgin Mary the mother of God is a force?</>  

The monk said: <q>In the Gospel to the Hebrews.</>  

<q>Then,</> said Cyril, <q>there are five Gospels?  Where is the 
fifth?</>  

The monk said: <q>It is the Gospel that was written to the 
Hebrews.</> 

(Cyril convinced him of his error and burned the books.  No more 
is told of the Gospel, which, whatever it may have been, was 
certainly not the book we have been dealing with, but a writing 
of pronouncedly heretical (Docetic?) views.  The last sentence of 
the monk's account of Christ, which I did not quote in full just 
now, is perhaps worth recording.) 

<q>After they had raised him up on the cross, the Father took him 
up into heaven unto himself.</> 

This, with its omission of all mention of the resurrection, might 
be construed as heretical: on the other hand, it may be merely a 
case of extreme compression of the narrative. 

[RAK comments:

On a divine "power" associated with Mary and the birth of 
Joshua/Jesus, see also the <t>Protevangelium/Book of 
Jacob/James</> 11.2 (M.R.James p.43).] 

/end/