TRADITIONS OF MATTHIAS

Fragment 1 – Fragment 2 – Fragment 3 – Fragment 4

 

Likely written in the 2nd century, the Traditions of Matthias, possibly identical with a lost Gospel of Matthias, is a text ascribed to the apostle Matthias. It is almost entirely missing except for these brief snippets. It was quoted by Clement of Alexandria.


FRAGMENT 1

1 Wonder at what is present.

 

FRAGMENT 2

1 . . . to fight with the flesh and misuse it, without yielding to it through undisciplined pleasure, so to increase the soul through faith and knowledge . . .

 

FRAGMENT 3

1 We must fight against the flesh and treat it with contempt, never yielding to it for pleasure’s sake, but must nourish the soul through faith and knowledge.

 

FRAGMENT 4

1 If the neighbor of a chosen one sins, the chosen one sins. 2 For if he had conducted himself as the word dictates, the neighbor would have been in awe of his life so that he would not have sinned.