Agrapha (Greek for "non written") - sayings of Jesus that are not to be found in the canonical Gospels. The term was used for the first time by J.G. Körner, a German Bible scholar in 1776.

Definition of agrapha

The Agrapha must satisfy three conditions:

• It must be Sayings, not discourses

Works like the "Didascalia" and the "Pistis Sophia", that tells about Jesus, but do not quote him are not considerated.

• It must be Sayings of Jesus

Therefore Agrapha are not Sayings found in religious romances, apocryphal Gospels, the apocryphal Acts, or the Letter of Christ to Abgar, etc.

• It must not be in the canonical Gospels

So, mere

Authentic Agrapha

The Agrapha's genuineness must be supported by external and internal evidence. It means that early writers, like Papias, Clement, Ireneas, and Justin Martyr, would have quoted it, and the message of the Agrapha must be in context with the teachings of Jesus contained in the Canonical Gospels.

New Testament

Acts, 20:35, "Remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive."

Apocryphal Scriptures

Apostolic Church ­Order, 26: "For he said to us before, when he was teaching: That which is weak shall be saved through that which is strong."

Philip Acts 34: "For the Lord said to me: Except ye make the lower into the upper and the left into the right, ye shall not enter into my kingdom."

Patristic citations

Justin Martyr, Dial. 47: "Wherefore also our Lord Jesus Christ said, In whatsoever things I apprehend you, in those I shall judge you."

Clement of

Clement of

Clement of Alexandria, Strom. V, 10, 64: "For not grudgingly, he saith, did the Lord declare in a certain gospel: My mystery is for me and for the sons of my house."

Origen, Homil. in Jer., XX, 3: "But the Saviour himself saith: He who is near me is near the fire; he who is far from me, is far from the kingdom."

Oxyrhynchus Logia

Second Logion: "Jesus saith, Except you fast to the world, you shall in no wise find the kingdom of God." Third Logion: "Jesus saith, I stood in the midst of the world, and in the flesh was I seen of them, and I found all men drunken, and none found I athirst among them, and my soul grieved over the sons of men, because they are blind in their heart, and see not."

Fifth Logion: "Jesus saith, Wherever there are two, they are not without God; and wherever there is one alone, I say I am with him. Raise the stone and there thou shalt find me; cleave the wood, and there am I." Sixth Logion: "Jesus saith, A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither doth a physician work cures upon them that know him." Seventh Logion: "Jesus saith, A city built upon the top of a hill and stablished can neither fall nor be hid." Eighth Logion: "Jesus saith, Thou hearest with one ear . . ."

Bibliography

The Catholic Encyclopedia-"Agrapha" - 1907, therefore free of copyright Agrafa (chrześcijaństwo) Аграфы