Gospel of Bartholomew

The Gospel of Bartholomew is a missing text of New Testament apocrypha, known only from mentions by other sources. It might be the same as the Questions of Bartholomew, the Coptic Book of Bartholomew, or neither and be a fully lost work. The references do not go into particular detail about the nature of the work, leaving scholars little more than a name to work with.

Primary sources

In the prologue to his commentary on Matthew, Jerome mentions a "Gospel of Bartholomew" among several other apocryphal gospels. Jerome doesn't indicate anything more about the gospel other than his list has "been the beginning of various heresies." It is unknown if Jerome had personal knowledge of the work, or was simply trusting another source such as Origen of Alexandria.

The Gelasian Decree is a 6th-century work, although it is considered possible parts of it might date back earlier. It includes "the Gospels in the name of Bartholomew" in a list of condemned or unacceptable scriptures.

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and Epiphanius the Monk both make passing references to a Gospel of Bartholomew, but they are late sources. The Syriac Book of Secrets has a quote mentioning a Gospel of Bartholomew as well. The Venerable Bede also mentions the book, but only as part of a quotation of Jerome. Heinrich von Herford claims that Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor was acquainted with a Gospel of Bartholomew as well. All of these references are sparse and late, and unclear whether they were referring to the same book, or were simple mistakes or misstatements.

Analysis

There is little to be said without further knowledge of the work. One area of speculation has been if the Gospel of Bartholomew was Gnostic or not, as Gnosticism was a major target of anti-heresy tracts of the early Church, and this would explain the later hostile references.

See also

• List of Gospels