This epistle, or letter, claims to come from the apostles of Jesus (the eleven remaining after Judas Iscariot’s death). It is addressed to the churches “of the east and the west, of the north and the south, declaring and imparting to you that which concerns our Lord Jesus Christ.” Some scholars believe the letter was written in Asia Minor around AD 160. Others think it came from Egypt. It was probably written sometime in the middle of the second century AD. The surviving copies include a damaged Coptic manuscript from the fourth or fifth century, a complete version in Ethiopic, and a short fragment in Latin. The work was unknown until 1895, when the Coptic manuscript was discovered.
After an introduction, a declaration follows that “our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ is God the Son of God who was sent of God the Lord of the whole world.” The letter then summarizes several incidents from the Gospels. This includes a negative formulation of the Golden Rule: “Love your enemies, and what you would not that man do to you, that do to no man.” Chapter 24 introduces the subject of the resurrection. This section includes questions from the disciples and answers from Jesus.
A prophecy of the conversion of Paul appears in chapter 31. In chapter 31, there is a prophecy about Paul’s conversion. Later, in chapter 43, the five wise virgins are said to represent Faith, Love, Grace, Peace, and Hope. The five foolish virgins are called Knowledge, Understanding (Perception), Obedience, Patience, and Compassion.
The most substantial part of the letter consists of questions and answers, and resembles in style some of the texts found in the Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, especially the Apocryphon of John. However, the warnings that Cerinthus and Simon (chapter 7) are “enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ” make it clear that this is not a Gnostic text. The letter supports many traditional Christian beliefs, although it also departs in some ways from the teachings of the apostles.