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TheQuestions of Bartholomew is a work of ChristianNew Testament apocrypha which describes a dialogue betweenJesus andBartholomew the Apostle. In two versions of the work, it is a post-resurrection dialogue with the Risen Jesus, while theChurch Slavonic version places the dialogue during Jesus's ministry before his death. In it, various topics are discussed, notably an expansion on the role of the Devil and a version of theHarrowing of Hell.
The work is not to be confused with the CopticBook of Bartholomew, a separate work. Additionally,Jerome mentions a mysteriousGospel of Bartholomew in one of his writings, albeit dismissively as a "source of heresies." It is not known whether Jerome (or the source Jerome was trusting) was referring to theQuestions of Bartholomew with this comment, as no further details are provided.
The text survives as Greek, Latin, andOld Church Slavonic manuscripts, although each copy varies from the others considerably in the wording chosen. It is of similar style to theApocalypse of St. John the Divine, although sensational instead of seeking to frighten. It is framed as a dialogue from Jesus to theapostles (it varies significantly as to at which stage in time between the manuscripts), instigated by a series of extremely daring and outrageous questions and requests byBartholomew.
The text appears to have been quite popular, judging by how well it survived, perhaps due to depictions of the supernatural. For example, the text implies thatThe Fall of Man was caused by Satan poisoning the water of Eden.
The text draws heavily on Jewish mysticism (such as theBook of Enoch), seeking to provide an explanation of the more supernatural aspects of Christian thought at the time. However, rather than a more clinical treatment that would be expected for such a treatise, it approaches these topics in atabloid manner, evidently seeking to be a popular work rather than one for official church teaching.
Initially, the text describes how Jesus descended into hell in his own words, and then jumps to discussing thevirginal conception when Mary arrives amongst the apostles. Next, the apostles ask for a vision of hell, and angels roll up the earth to let them, and then return the earth when they have glimpsed it.
Finally, Bartholomew asks to seeSatan, and so a choir of angels dragsBeliar (a name for Satan) from the depths of hell in chains, the sight of which kills the apostles dead. Jesus immediately brings them back to life and gives Bartholomew control over Satan. Bartholomew asks Satan how he came to be the enemy and other questions on esoteric subjects such as the hierarchy of the angels. He also explains the story of his removal from heaven.[1] Satan's testimony also includes an admission to his role as the leader of six hundredfallen angels that fell with him.[2]
The work is unique for the detail of introducing a direct son toSatan, named Salpsan.[3] He is notably absent from the Latin version, appearing only in the Greek text.[4]
And I [Satan] looked about and saw the six hundred who were under me senseless. And I awakened my son Salpsan and took him to counsel how I might deceive the man on whose account I was cast out of the heavens.
Satan and his son here have been interpreted as a counterpart to theFather andSon inChristianity.[3] Although Salpsan was previously considered a possible reference to theAntichrist, authors have linked him instead to the Enochian tradition of theWatchers and their monstrousoffspring.[4] He is also compared toCain in accounts where the latter is sired by thefallen angelSamael after seducingEve.[5]