First Apocalypse of James

Before the Passion, the Lord takes James the brother apart, and prepares him for what is to come — concerning the Father, the Pleroma, and the powers that detain the soul.

1It is the Lord that spake with me: Behold now the consummation of My redemption. I have given thee a sign of these things, James, my brother. Not without reason have I called thee my brother, although thou art not my brother materially. Now I am not ignorant concerning thee — that I have given thee a sign of these things. Know thou therefore that I am called by another name.

2I am the One; and the second to me is He whom thou hast known. James, my brother, hearken. The Lord said: I shall depart this day. Be not troubled; the things which are about to happen, I have not been ignorant of from the beginning. Even as it is necessary that I depart, so it is necessary that I should suffer.

3James said: Rabbi, if it is necessary that Thou shouldest suffer — what is the suffering of thee?

4And the Lord said: It is the suffering of the body. Now this body which I have put on is not mine own; it is a sign which I bear, that I might be discovered. The unutterable Father hath sent me. The seven powers shall come upon me, and shall lay hold upon me. They shall scourge me; they shall crucify me. But I shall not in truth suffer; for I am not in this body.

5James said: Lord, when shall I receive Thee? When shall they cast me down? When shall I be at peace?

6The Lord said: James, after all these things, after that thou hast suffered as I, thou shalt come unto Him that is, the Pre-existent. They will lay hold upon thee; they shall judge thee. Thou shalt utter what they shall say unto thee. Yet I tell thee, James, do not despise the suffering. The fortifications of darkness fall down before thee through the strength which thou shalt receive.

7Behold, I shall reveal unto thee thy redemption. When thou shalt be detained, and shalt come unto these sufferings, the powers — they shall come up against thee, that they may lay hold upon thee. And in particular, three of them shall lay hold upon thee — they that sit there as toll collectors. Not only do they demand toll; they take souls also by theft.

8Now when thou shalt come into their power, one of them, who is their guardian, shall say unto thee: Who art thou? Whence comest thou? Thou shalt say unto him: I am a son. I am from the Father. The Pre-existent Father is mine. I am a son among the sons of the Pre-existent Father.

9He shall say unto thee: What sort of a son art thou? And of what father art thou? Thou shalt say unto him: I am from the Pre-existent Father. I am a son in the Pre-existent One.

10He shall say unto thee: Why hast thou come down? Thou shalt say unto him: I am come from the Pre-existent One that I might behold the things which are mine, and which are not mine.

11He shall say unto thee: Whither shalt thou go? Thou shalt say unto him: Unto the place from which I came forth — even thither shall I return.

12And if thou shalt say these things, thou shalt escape their attacks. But when thou shalt come unto these three guards — them that take away souls by theft, in that place — thou must, in passing them, say: I am a vessel more precious than the female that hath fashioned you. Your mother knoweth not the source from which she came; rather, she gave herself the name. But I myself know me. I am from the Pre-existent One.

13And they shall say unto thee: Pass through. Thou shalt go up unto the place where thou art. Thou shalt remain. James, behold; I have revealed unto thee thy redemption. Take heed of thyself; do not blunder.