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The Gospel of the Holy Twelve

Also Known as
The Gospel of the Perfect Life

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL ARAMAIC
AND EDITED BY THE REV. GIDEON JASPER RICHARD OUSELEY

Lection XI

The Anointing By Mary Magdalene

1. AND one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat.
2. And behold a certain woman of Magdala, who was reputed to be a sinner, was in the city, and when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an Alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and washed His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.
3. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he thought within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
4. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
5. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most.
6. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
7. And he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she hath washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
8. Wherefore I say unto thee, man but also beast and birds of the air, yea, even the fishes of the sea; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much, not only man but also beast and birds of the air, yea, even the fishes of the sea; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
9. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven, and they who sat at the table began to say within themselves, who is this that forgiveth sins also?
10. Though he had said not, I forgive thee, but Thy sins are forgiven thee, for he discerned true faith and penitence in her heart. And Jesus needed not that any should testify of any man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Lection XII

The Marriage In Cana The Healing Of The Nobleman's Son

1. AND the next day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus and Mary Magdalene were there, and his disciples came to the marriage.
2. And when they wanted wine the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what is that to thee and to me ? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
3. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. And Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
4. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine to them, and knew not whence it was; the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
5. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and many disciples believed on him.
6. After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, with Mary Magdalene, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there for many.
7. And there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest wittness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all do come to him.
8. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
9. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase; but I must decrease. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
10. AND certain of the Pharisees came and questioned Jesus, and said unto him, how sayest thou that God will condemn the world ? And Jesus answered, saying, God so loveth the world, that the only begotten Son is given, and cometh into the world, that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but have everlasting life. God sendeth not the Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him may be saved.
11. They who believe on him are not condemned: but they that believe not are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil .
12. For all they that do evil hate the light, neither come they to the light, lest their deeds may be condemned. But they that do righteousness come to the light, that their deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
13. AND there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
14. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
15. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as, he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
16. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday of the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth. And himself believed, and his whole house.

Lection XIII

The First Sermon In The Synagogue Of Nazareth

1. AND Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the roll of the prophet Esaias.
2. And when he had opened the roll, he found the place where it was written. The Spirit of the Lord Is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bound. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
3. And he closed the roll, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down, And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began saying unto them. This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son ?
4. And some brought unto him a blind man to test his power, and said, Rabbi, here is a son of Abraham blind from birth. Heal him as thou hast healed Gentiles in Egypt. And he, looking upon him, perceived his unbelief and the unbelief of those that brought him, and their desire to ensnare him. And he could do no mighty work in that place because of their unbelief.
5. And they said unto him, Whatsoever we have heard done in Egypt, do also here in thy own country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own home or in his own country, neither doth a physician work cures upon them that know him.
6. And I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
7. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
8. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way and escaped them.

Lection XIV

The Calling Of Andrew And Peter
The Teaching of Cruelty In Animals
The Two Rich Men

1. NOW Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by John the Baptist for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which he had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
2. And Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway forsook their nets, and followed him.
3. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left their nets, and the ship, and their father, and followed him.
4. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in, their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And the fame of his miracles went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto him many sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy, and he healed them.
5. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
6. AND as Jesus was going with some of his disciples he met with a certain man who trained dogs to hunt other creatures. And he said to the man, Why doest thou thus? and the man said, By this I live and what profit is there to any in these creatures? these creatures are weak, but the dogs they are strong. And Jesus said, Thou lackest wisdom and love. Lo, every creature which God hath made hath its end, and purpose, and who can say what good is there in it? or what profit to thyself, or mankind?
7. And, for thy living, behold the fields yielding their increase, and the fruit-bearing trees and the herbs; what needest thou more than these which honest work of thy hands will not give to thee? Woe to the strong who misuse their strength, Woe to the hunters for they shall be hunted.
8. And the man marvelled, and left off training the dogs to hunt, and taught them to save life rather than destroy, And he learned of the doctrines of Jesus and became his disciple.
10. AND behold there came to him two rich men, and one said, Good Master. But he said, Call me not good, for One alone is the All good, and that is God.
11. And the other said to him, Master, what good thing shall I do and live? Jesus said, Perform the Law and the prophets. He answered, I have performed them. Jesus answered, Go, sell all thou hast and divide with the poor, and follow me. But this saying pleased him not.
12. And the Lord said unto him, How sayest thou that thou hast performed the Law and the prophets? Behold many of thy brethren are clad with filthy rags, dying from hunger and thy house is full of much goods, and there goeth from it nought unto them.
13. And he said unto Simon, It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, for the rich care for themselves, and despise them that have not.

Lection XV

Healing Of The Leper And
The Man With Palsy
The Deaf Man Who Denied
That Others Could Hear

1. AND it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, fell toward the earth, and besought him, saying, Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, Blessed be thou who believest; I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
2. And he charged him saying, Tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
3. AND it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, to see them which were come out of every town, of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of God was present to heal them.
4. AND, behold, they brought in a bed a man who was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
5. And the scribes and the pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Can even God forgive sins, if man repent not? Who said, I forgive thee thy sins? Said I not rather, Thy sins are forgiven thee?
6. Whether is easier to say. Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to discern, and declare the forgiveness of sins (he said unto the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go to thine house.
7. And immediately he arose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with the Spirit of reverence, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
8. AND as Jesus was going into a certain village there met him a man who was deaf from his birth. And he believed not in the sound of the rushing wind, or the thunder, or the cries of the beasts, or the birds which complained of their hunger or their hurt, nor that others heard them.
9. And Jesus breathed into his ears, and they were opened, and he heard. And he rejoiced with exceeding joy in the sounds he before denied. And he said, Now hear all things.
10. But Jesus said unto him. How sayest thou, I hear all things? Canst thou hear the sighing of the prisoner, or the language of the birds or the beasts when they commune with each other, or the voice of angels and spirits? Think how much thou canst not hear, and be humble in thy lack of knowledge.

Lection XVI

Calling of Matthew
Parable of The The New Wine
In The Old Bottles

1. AND after these things he went forth, and saw a tax gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
2. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of taxgatherers and of others that sat down with them. But the Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners ?
3. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
4. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine do eat and drink ?
5. And he said unto them, Wherewith shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children, sitting in the market place and calling one to another and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced, we have mourned to you and ye have not lamented.
6. For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and ye say, He hath a devil, The Son of Man cometh eating and drinking the fruits of the earth, and the milk of the flock, and the fruit of the vine, and ye say, Behold a glutton and wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.
7. Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
8. AND he spake also this parable unto them, saying, No man putteth a piece of new cloth upon an old garment; for then the new agreeth not with the old, and the garment is made worse.
9. And no one putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved.
10. None also having drunk old wine, straightway desire new: for they say, The old is better. But the time cometh when the new shall wax old, and then the new shall be desired by them. For as one changeth old garments for new ones, so do they also change the body of death for the body of life, and that which is past for that which is coming.

Lection XVII

Jesus Sendeth Forth The Twelve And Their Fellows

1. AND Jesus went up into a mountain to pray. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these who stood for the twelve tribes of Israel:
2. Peter, called Cephas, for the tribe of Reuben James, for the tribe of Naphtali; Thomas, called Dydimus, for the tribe of Zabulon; Matthew, called Levi for the tribe of Gad; John, for the tribe of Ephraim Simon, for the tribe of Issachar.
3. Andrew, for the tribe of Joseph; Nathanael, for the tribe of Simeon; Thaddeus, for the tribe of Zabulon; Jacob, for the tribe of Benjamin; Jude, for the tribe of Dan; Philip, for the tribe of Asher. And Judas Iscariot, a Levite, who betrayed him, was also among them (but was not of them). And Matthia and Barsabbas were also present with them.
4. Then he called in like manner twelve others to be Prophets, men of light to be with the Apostle and shew unto them the hidden things of God. And their names were Hermes, Aristobulus, Selenius, Nereus, Apollos, and Barsabbas; Andronicus, Lucius, Apelles, Zachaeus, Urbanus, and Clementos. And then he called twelve who should be Evangelists, and twelve who should be Pastors. A fourfold twelve did he call that he might send them forth to the twelve tribes of Israel, unto each, four.
5. And they stood around the Master, clad in white linen raiment, called to be a holy priesthood unto God for the service of the twelve tribes whereunto they should be sent.
6. These fourfold Twelve Jesus sent forth and charged them, saying, I will that ye be my Twelve Apostle with your companions, for a testimony into Israel. Go ye into the cities of Israel and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. As I have baptized you in wader, so baptize ye them who believe.
7. Anoint and heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of his food; and eat that which is set before you, but of that which is gotten by taking of life, touch not, for it is not lawful to you.
8. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
9. Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Be ye innocent and undefiled. The Son of Man is: not come to destroy but to save, neither to take life, but to give life, to body and soul.
10. And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
11. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without permission of the All Holy. Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear yet not therefore, if God careth for the sparrow, shall he not care for you!
12. It is enough for disciples that they be as their master, and the servants as their lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; or hid, that shall not be known.
13. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light when the time cometh: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. Whosoever therefore shall confess the truth before men, them will I confess also before my Parent Who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny the truth before men, them will I also deny before my Parent Who is in heaven.
14. Verily I am come to send peace upon earth, but when I speak, behold a sword followeth. I am come to unite, but, behold, a man shall be at variance with his father, and the daughter with her mother, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. For the unjust cannot mate with them that are just.
15. They who take not their cross and follow after me are not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.

Lection XVIII

He Sendeth Forth Of The Two and Seventy

1. AFTER these things the Lord appointed two and seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place of the tribes whither he himself would come.
2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into the harvest.
3. Go your ways, behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way.
4. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the spirit of peace be there your peace shall rest upon it, if not it shall turn to you again.
5. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you without taking of life. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
6. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give without shedding of blood, for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
7. But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you, notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
8. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for them in the judgement than for you.
9. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven shalt be thrust down to hades. They that hear you, hear also me; and they that despise you, despise also me; and they that despise me, despise Him that sent me. But let all be persuaded in their own minds.
10. AND again Jesus said unto them: Be merciful, so shall ye obtain mercy. Forgive others, so shall ye be forgiven. With what measure ye mete, with the same shall it be meted unto you again.
11. As ye do unto others, so shall it be done you. As ye give, so shall it be given unto you. As ye judge others, so shall ye be judged. As ye serve others, so. shall ye be served.
12. For God is just, and rewardeth every one according to their works. That which they sow they shall also reap.

Lection XIX

Jesus Teacheth How to Pray
Error Even In Prophets

1. As Jesus was praying in a certain place on a mountain, some of his disciples came unto him, and one of then said, Lord teach us how to pray. And Jesus said unto them, When thou prayest enter into thy secret chamber, and when thou hast closed the door, pray to Abba Amma Who is above and within thee, and thy Father-Mother Who seest all that is secret shall answer thee openly.
2. But when ye are gathered together, and pray in common, use not vain repetitions, for your heavenly Parent knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask them. After this manner therefore pray ye:—
3. Our Father-Mother Who art above and within: Hallowed be Thy Name in twofold Trinity. In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all. Thy will be done, As in Heaven so in Earth. Give us day by day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of the living Vine. As Thou dost forgive us our trespasses, so may we forgive others who trespass against us. Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the same. In the hour of temptation, deliver us from evil.
4. For Thine are the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory; From the Ages of ages, Now and to the Ages of ages. Amun.
5. And wheresoever there are seven gathered together in My Name there am I in the midst of them; yea, if only there be three or two; and where there is but one who prayeth in secret, I am with that one.
6. Raise the Stone, and there thou shall find me. Cleave the wood, and there am I. For in the fire and in the water even as in every living form, God is manifest as it’s Life and it’s Substance.
7. AND the Lord said, If thy brother hath sinned in word seven times a day, and seven times a day hath made amendment, receive him. Simon said to him, Seven times a day ?
8. The Lord answered and said to him, I tell thee also unto seventy times seven, for even in the Prophets, after they were anointed by the Spirits utterance of sin was found.
9. Be ye therefore considerate, be tender, be ye pitiful, be ye kind, not to your own kind alone, but to every creature which is within your care, for ye are to them as gods, to whom they look in their need. Be ye slow to anger for many sin in anger which they repented or when their anger was past.
10. AND there was a man whose hand was withered and he came to Jesus and said, Lord, I was a mason seeking sustenance by my hands, I beseech thee restore to me my health that I may not beg for food with shame. And Jesus healed him, saying There is a house made without hands, seek that thou mayest dwell therein.

Lection XX

The Return Of The Two and Seventy

1. AND after a season the two and seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through thy name.
2. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
3. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this, rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.
4. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said I thank thee, Holy Parent of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, All Holy, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
5. All things are delivered to me of the All-Parent: and no man knoweth the Son who is the Daughter, but the All Parent; nor who the All-Parent is, but the Son even the Daughter, and they to whom the Son and the Daughter will reveal it.
6. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
7. Blessed are ye of the inner circle who hear my word and to whom mysteries are revealed, who give to no innocent creature the pain of prison or of death, but seek the good of all, for to such is everlasting life.
8. Blessed are ye who abstain from all things gotten by bloodshed and death, and fulfill all righteousness: Blessed are ye, for ye shall attain to Beatitude.

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