The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 5, St. Paul

In Short

These documents represent a selection of "apocryphal" writings—letters and narratives attributed to figures like Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and early martyrs. The collection includes correspondence between Jesus and King Abgarus, a series of letters exchanged between Paul and the Roman philosopher Seneca, and the dramatic account of Thecla, a virgin martyr. These texts have endured as historical artifacts, providing insight into the diverse, sometimes contested, beliefs of the primitive Church before the ecumenical councils of the fourth century standardized the biblical canon.

The Story

The narrative arc of these documents moves from the divine to the human, and finally to the heroic. It opens with a brief, formal exchange between King Abgarus of Edessa and Jesus. The King, hearing of Jesus’s miraculous healings, invites him to his city to cure his ailment. Jesus responds with a gentle refusal, explaining that he must fulfill his mission in Jerusalem, but promises to send a disciple after his ascension to provide the healing the King seeks. This sets the tone for a series of texts centered on the dissemination of faith and the power of apostolic witness.

The focus then shifts to the correspondence between Paul and the Roman philosopher Seneca. These letters present an intellectual bridge between early Christianity and the classical world. Seneca, tutor to the Emperor, expresses admiration for the "sublime" and "lofty" sentiments in Paul’s epistles, which he has shared with the Emperor himself. Paul, in turn, offers spiritual guidance, urging Seneca to avoid the superstitions of the day and focus on the "durable word of God." Their letters navigate the tensions of living in a world dominated by a suspicious, pagan imperial court, culminating in an exchange where they discuss their mutual affection and the dangers of their shared beliefs.

The final, and most substantial, portion of the work is the account of Thecla. A young woman betrothed to a nobleman in Iconium, Thecla is captivated by Paul’s preaching on chastity and the resurrection. Her conversion leads to a series of escalating conflicts: she rejects her suitor, defies her mother, and is eventually brought before the governor on charges of sacrilege. Her story follows a trajectory of miraculous deliverance. She is sentenced to be burned at the stake, only to be saved by a divine intercession. Later, in Antioch, she faces wild beasts in the amphitheater, but even these creatures refuse to harm her. She baptizes herself in a pit of water while surrounded by a protective cloud of fire. The narrative concludes with her life as a hermit and teacher in Seleucia, where she endures further temptations and works miracles until her eventual translation at the age of ninety. Her journey serves as a prototype of the ascetic, courageous devotion that defined the ideals of early Christian martyrdom.

How It Unfolds

The king’s invitation King Abgarus writes to Jesus, expressing his belief that the miracle-worker is either God or the Son of God. He offers his city as a sanctuary against those who wish Jesus harm, but Jesus declines the offer, citing his divine mission.

The philosopher’s inquiry Paul engages in a correspondence with Seneca, who expresses deep fascination with the Apostle’s writings. Seneca attempts to navigate the Emperor’s erratic interest in these teachings while protecting his friend from imperial wrath.

The conversion of Thecla Thecla discovers the new faith by watching Paul through a window, prompting her to abandon her engagement. Her family and the local elite, threatened by her newfound devotion to chastity, drag her before the magistrate.

The trials of the martyr Thecla faces a succession of public executions, including burning and exposure to wild beasts. Each time, she is shielded by extraordinary, supernatural events that convince onlookers of her divine protection.

The life of the ascetic Following her acquittal, Thecla dedicates her life to teaching and solitary prayer in the mountains of Seleucia. She withstands repeated attacks from those who fear her influence, finally passing away as a venerable saint.

The People

Paul serves as the primary conduit for the transformative message. He is depicted as a man of unwavering resolve, constantly on the move, and focused entirely on the dissemination of the Gospel. He remains calm in the face of chains and magistrates, his authority derived solely from his revelation.

Thecla is the most dynamic figure in the collection. She begins as a sheltered, betrothed woman in Iconium but is transformed through her faith into a bold, independent martyr and apostle. Her primary desire is to maintain her commitment to Christ, which puts her in direct opposition to the societal expectations of marriage and obedience to her mother.

Seneca represents the intellectual and political complexity of the Roman world. He is a man of high standing, yet he is clearly unsettled by the radical nature of Paul’s teachings. He wants to support and understand this new faith, yet he is constantly aware of the danger that such an association poses to his life and his position in the imperial court. His growth is seen in his increasing willingness to risk his status to defend the "innocence" of the Christians.

In Its Own Voice

ABGARUS, king of Edessa, to Jesus the good Saviour, who appears at Jerusalem, greeting.

The King formally initiates the correspondence, reflecting the contemporary desire to bridge the gap between the earthly Jesus and the local rulers of the time.

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation for ever, which shall be through your prayer, and the supply of the Holy Spirit.

In his letter to the Laodiceans, Paul expresses the profound connection he feels with his converts, anchoring his suffering in the hope of eternal life.

I am a servant of the living God; and as to my state, I am a believer on Jesus Christ his Son, in whom God is well pleased; and for that reason none of the beasts could touch me.

Thecla stands before the governor in the amphitheater, asserting her faith as the sole reason for her survival against the wild beasts.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the radical disruption of social and religious norms by the early Christian message. The texts explore the tension between worldly authority—represented by governors and emperors—and the higher allegiance owed to the divine. There is a persistent argument that the faith of the primitive Church was not merely a set of moral guidelines, but a transformative, protective power that allowed believers to transcend their circumstances. The questions underneath the narrative are: what is the cost of absolute devotion, and how does one maintain integrity in a world that views one’s beliefs as a crime? These texts offer a vision of faith that is intensely experiential and fiercely independent.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the origins of Christianity will find this collection fascinating for its raw, unpolished tone. Unlike the standardized texts of the modern Bible, these excerpts feel like artifacts of a vibrant, experimental period where the identity of the faith was still being forged in the heat of public debate and trial. Reading them feels like sifting through the fragments of an ancient, forgotten conversation.

The primary difficulty, for some, will be the archaic prose and the repetitive nature of the accounts of miracles, which reflect the rhetorical style of the era. The attitudes toward gender and the body—particularly the extreme emphasis on chastity and asceticism—are very much products of their period and may feel jarring to modern readers. Additionally, the collection includes extensive notes and historical context that can be dense and highly technical. However, for those who value the history of religious thought, the book offers something rare: a sense of the intense, often perilous devotion that defined the earliest followers of the faith. It stays with you as a testament to how profoundly and quickly the early Christian message took root in the lives of those who heard it, challenging the structures of the Roman world and reshaping the individual soul.