Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/505



1854 or 1855 I published an English version of these letters in a newspaper. Of that translation I have no copy, and I have therefore made another. Dr. Wright has included them in his "Contributions to the Apocryphal Literature of the New Testament from Syriac MSS.," and I have made use of both his text and his translation. The letters occur in a Syriac MS., of the sixth or seventh century, in the British Museum. Dr. Tischendorf states in his Apocalypses Apocryphæ (Prolegg. p. 56) that he has a copy of the same in Greek from a Paris MS. of which he says "scriptura satis differt, non item argumentum." Of course the two letters are forgeries; produced perhaps about 400.

The letters are followed by a few extracts which seem to have been added by some copyist, although they are followed by the subscription to Pilate's letter. I suppose that by Justinus, we are to understand Justus of Tiberias of whom Josephus speaks as a historian of his time. I cannot venture an