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TheSecond Apocalypse of John[1] is apseudepigraphalGreekChristian text sometimes classified as among theNew Testament apocrypha. It is falsely attributed toJohn of Patmos. Its date is uncertain and has been placed as early as the late fourth century and as late as the mid-ninth.
In form, theSecond Apocalypse appears to have been influenced by theQuestions and Answers ofEphraim the Syrian (died 373). An early date for its composition puts it in the late fourth or early fifth century.[2]François Nau dated it no later than the early eighth century on the grounds that it appeared unaffected either by therise of Islam in the seventh century or byByzantine iconoclasm in the next. He thought it was written inCyprus. Alice Whealey, however, argues that there are signs the author was writing with Muslims and iconoclasts in mind, which would place its composition during the iconoclast period (726–843).[3] She argues that it was written in a place that experienced Islamic rule or at least attack (such as Cyprus).[4] Tony Burke places its composition in 4th-centuryRoman Syria.[5]
The earliest reference to theSecond Apocalypse is found in a mid-ninth centuryscholion onDionysius Thrax. It must have been written before this date.[3] The scholiast, while clarifying that theApocalypse of Paul was named forPaul of Samosata, notes that the apocalyptic text "called the Apocalypse of the Theologian" (i.e., theSecond Apocalypse) was not in fact "of the one in the island of Patmos, God forbid, for that one [theBook of Revelation] is supremely true; but of a pseudonymous and spurious one".[6]
TheSecond Apocalypse ispseudonymous, being falsely attributed toJohn of Patmos. For convenience, its anonymous author is sometimes called Pseudo-John of Patmos.[7] On the basis of style, Nau identified the author of theSecond Apocalypse as the same person who wrote what he called theSecond Apocryphal Greek Apocalypse of Saint John, which is not an apocalypse but a collection ofcanons.[3] It too is falsely attributed to John of Patmos. It consists of a series of answers given by Jesus to questions posed by John on matters of Christian ethics and rites.[7]
TheSecond Apocalypse is a series of questions by John about theend times with answers byJesus.[7] It may have been written as a supplement to John of Patmos'Book of Revelation. It contains details about the physical appearance of theBeast and life on theNew Earth.[8][5] Its language and choice of imagery is distinctly rural.[9] A date of composition after theearly Muslim conquests of the seventh century has been invoked to explain the text's concern with the preservation oficons,crosses andbibles—all of which Jesus says he will bring up to Heaven before destroying the Earth. A reference toChristian emperors being driven like slaves and wailing like infants may reflect the author's disgust with their support oficonoclasm.[10]
There will be "no risk of racial discrimination in Heaven", according to John Court, but nobodily resurrection either, according to the following passage:[11]
Just as the bees do not differ one from another, but are all of the same appearance and size, so every human being will be at the resurrection. Not fair-skinned, nor red-skin, nor black, not Ethiopian nor different facial features, but all will rise with the same appearance and size. The whole human species will rise bodiless.[9]
John Court, accepting an early date for theSecond Apocalypse, identifies it as part of a "Johannine apocalyptic tradition", which also includes theApocalypse of John Chrysostom, theThird Apocalypse of John and theCoptic Apocalypse of John.[12] On the basis of her later dating, Whealey questions the validity of this classification. Nevertheless, the work is often classified as among theNew Testament apocrypha.[4]
Thefirst edition of the text byAndreas Birch was printed in 1804 and based on two Greek copies.Constantin von Tischendorf published a new edition in 1866 using five more Greek manuscripts. Most manuscripts are late and show progressive elaboration. The most reliable text, therefore, is probably the least elaborate.[6]
TheSecond Apocalypse was early translated intoArabic. At least threeGarshuni copies were known toGiuseppe Simone Assemani, indicating that the text was popular inSyriac circles.[13][6] There is an English translation by Court.[14]