Earlier literature means literature that (probably) predates Christianity. Later literature means literature that (possibly) postdates the epistles and gospels, which I place in the middle. So far, in that middle category, the canonical texts have received most of my attention, not because I think they are more important than the noncanonical, but rather because searching them is easier than searching the rest using the tools at my disposal.
Please feel free to suggest additional passages or even entire themes (so far I have mystery, manifestation, and likeness from the epistles; messianic secret and resurrection appearances from the gospels).
Potentially relevant references in earlier literature.
1 Enoch 42.1-3, translated by R. H. Charles (http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/boe/boe045.htm, here for context more than for content):
1. Wisdom found no place where she might dwell;
Then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens.
2 Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men,
And found no dwelling-place:
Wisdom returned to her place,
And took her seat among the angels.
3 And unrighteousness went forth from her chambers:
Whom she sought not she found,
And dwelt with them,
As rain in a desert
And dew on a thirsty land.
Then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens.
2 Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men,
And found no dwelling-place:
Wisdom returned to her place,
And took her seat among the angels.
3 And unrighteousness went forth from her chambers:
Whom she sought not she found,
And dwelt with them,
As rain in a desert
And dew on a thirsty land.
Baruch 3.29-4.4 RSV:
3.29 Who has gone up into heaven, and taken her,
and brought her down from the clouds?
30 Who has gone over the sea, and found her,
and will buy her for pure gold?
31 No one knows the way to her,
or is concerned about the path to her.
32 But he who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
He who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
33 he who sends forth the light, and it goes,
called it, and it obeyed him in fear;
34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”
They shone with gladness for him who made them.
35 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him!
36 He found the whole way to knowledge,
and gave her to Jacob his servant
and to Israel whom he loved.
37 Afterward she appeared upon earth
and lived among men.
4.1She is the book of the commandments of God,
and the law that endures for ever.
All who hold her fast will live,
and those who forsake her will die.
2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her;
walk toward the shining of her light.
3 Do not give your glory to another,
or your advantages to an alien people.
4 Happy are we, O Israel,
for we know what is pleasing to God.
and brought her down from the clouds?
30 Who has gone over the sea, and found her,
and will buy her for pure gold?
31 No one knows the way to her,
or is concerned about the path to her.
32 But he who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
He who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
33 he who sends forth the light, and it goes,
called it, and it obeyed him in fear;
34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, “Here we are!”
They shone with gladness for him who made them.
35 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him!
36 He found the whole way to knowledge,
and gave her to Jacob his servant
and to Israel whom he loved.
37 Afterward she appeared upon earth
and lived among men.
4.1She is the book of the commandments of God,
and the law that endures for ever.
All who hold her fast will live,
and those who forsake her will die.
2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her;
walk toward the shining of her light.
3 Do not give your glory to another,
or your advantages to an alien people.
4 Happy are we, O Israel,
for we know what is pleasing to God.
1 Enoch 94.5 is translated by Matthew Black as follows:
(5) And hold fast to my precepts in the meditation of your heart,
And let not my words be effaced from your hearts;
For I know that sinners will tempt men to entreat wisdom evilly,
And no place will be found for her,
And trials will in no way decrease.
And let not my words be effaced from your hearts;
For I know that sinners will tempt men to entreat wisdom evilly,
And no place will be found for her,
And trials will in no way decrease.
1 Enoch 46.1-2 (translation by Richard Laurence, http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/enoch.html):
Enoch 46:1 There I beheld the Ancient of days, whose head was like white wool, and with him another, whose countenance resembled that of man. His countenance was full of grace, like that of one of the holy angels. Then I inquired of one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me every secret thing, concerning this Son of man; who he was; whence he was and why he accompanied the Ancient of days.
Enoch 46:2 He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
Enoch 46:2 He answered and said to me, This is the Son of man, to whom righteousness belongs; with whom righteousness has dwelt; and who will reveal all the treasures of that which is concealed: for the Lord of spirits has chosen him; and his portion has surpassed all before the Lord of spirits in everlasting uprightness.
1 Enoch 61.1-18 (translation by Richard Laurence, http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/enoch.html):
Enoch 61:1 Thus the Lord commanded the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who dwell on earth, saying, Open your eyes, and lift up your horns, if you are capable of comprehending the Elect One.
Enoch 61:2 The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory.
Enoch 61:3 And the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him.
Enoch 61:4 The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall perish at his presence.
Enoch 61:5 In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints shall be judged in righteousness;
Enoch 61:6 And that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain.
Enoch 61:7 Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth.
Enoch 61:8 One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their countenance;
Enoch 61:9 And trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory.
Enoch 61:10 Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect.
Enoch 61:11 He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and all the elect shall stand before him in that day.
Enoch 61:12 All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over all the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall worship him.
Enoch 61:13 They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him, and petition him for mercy.
Enoch 61:14 Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment, that vengeance may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his children and his elect. And they shall become an example to the saints and to his elect. Through them shall these be made joyful; for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them.
Enoch 61:15 Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold.
Enoch 61:16 The Lord of spirits shall remain over them:
Enoch 61:17 And with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and rise up, for ever and ever.
Enoch 61:18 The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits, in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your glory diminish.
Enoch 61:2 The Lord of spirits sat upon the throne of his glory.
Enoch 61:3 And the spirit of righteousness was poured out over him.
Enoch 61:4 The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall perish at his presence.
Enoch 61:5 In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints shall be judged in righteousness;
Enoch 61:6 And that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain.
Enoch 61:7 Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth.
Enoch 61:8 One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their countenance;
Enoch 61:9 And trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory.
Enoch 61:10 Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect.
Enoch 61:11 He shall sow the congregation of the saints, and of the elect; and all the elect shall stand before him in that day.
Enoch 61:12 All the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who rule over all the earth, shall fall down on their faces before him, and shall worship him.
Enoch 61:13 They shall fix their hopes on this Son of man, shall pray to him, and petition him for mercy.
Enoch 61:14 Then shall the Lord of spirits hasten to expel them from his presence. Their faces shall be full of confusion, and their faces shall darkness cover. The angels shall take them to punishment, that vengeance may be inflicted on those who have oppressed his children and his elect. And they shall become an example to the saints and to his elect. Through them shall these be made joyful; for the anger of the Lord of spirits shall rest upon them.
Enoch 61:15 Then the sword of the Lord of spirits shall be drunk with their blood; but the saints and elect shall be safe in that day; nor the face of the sinners and the ungodly shall they thenceforwards behold.
Enoch 61:16 The Lord of spirits shall remain over them:
Enoch 61:17 And with this Son of man shall they dwell, eat, lie down, and rise up, for ever and ever.
Enoch 61:18 The saints and the elect have arisen from the earth, have left off to depress their countenances, and have been clothed with the garment of life. That garment of life is with the Lord of spirits, in whose presence your garment shall not wax old, nor shall your glory diminish.
Wisdom of Sirach 39.1-3 RSV:
1 On the other hand he who devotes himself to the study of the law of the Most High will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be concerned with prophecies; 2 he will preserve the discourse of notable men and penetrate the subtleties of parables; 3 he will seek out the hidden [ἀπόκρυφα] meanings of proverbs and be at home with the obscurities of parables.
Wisdom of Solomon 2:1-24 RSV:
1 For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has been known to return from Hades. 2 Because we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been; because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, and reason is a spark kindled by the beating of our hearts. 3 When it is extinguished, the body will turn to ashes, and the spirit will dissolve like empty air. 4 Our name will be forgotten in time and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. 5 For our allotted time is the passing of a shadow, and there is no return from our death, because it is sealed up and no one turns back. 6 Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that exist, and make use of the creation to the full as in youth. 7 Let us take our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no flower of spring pass by us. 8 Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they wither. 9 Let none of us fail to share in our revelry, everywhere let us leave signs of enjoyment, because this is our portion, and this our lot. 10 Let us oppress the righteous poor man; let us not spare the widow nor regard the gray hairs of the aged. 11 But let our might be our law of right, for what is weak proves itself to be useless. 12 Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training. 13 He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. 14 He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; 15 the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. 16 We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father. 17 Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; 18 for if the righteous man is God's son [υἱὸς θεοῦ], he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. 19 Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected." 21 Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, 22 and they did not know the secret purposes [μυστήρια, literally mysteries] of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls; 23 for God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, 24 but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it.
Wisdom of Solomon 6.22-23 RSV:
22 I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, and I will hide [ἀποκρύψω] no secrets [μυστήρια, literally mysteries] from you, but I will trace her course from the beginning of creation, and make knowledge of her clear, and I will not pass by the truth; 23 neither will I travel in the company of sickly envy, for envy does not associate with wisdom.
References to the mystery of Christ or of the gospel in the epistles.
Romans 11.25-26:
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery [μυστήριον], lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob."
Romans 16.25-27 NASB:
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [μυστηρίου] which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested [φανερωθέντος], and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 2.1 NASB:
1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony [μυστήριον, literally mystery] of God.
1 Corinthians 2.6-9 NASB:
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery [μυστηρίῳ], the hidden [ἀποκεκρυμμένην] wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 4.1 NASB:
1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries [μυστηρίων] of God.
1 Corinthians 13.2 NASB:
2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries [μυστήρια] and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 14.2 NASB:
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries [μυστήρια].
1 Corinthians 15.51-52 NASB:
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery [μυστήριον]; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
Ephesians 1.9-12 NASB:
9 He made known to us the mystery [μυστήριον] of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 3.1-10 NASB:
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery [μυστήριον], as I wrote before in brief. 4 And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery [μυστηρίῳ] of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery [μυστηρίου] which for ages has been hidden [ἀποκεκρυμμένου] in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 5:31-32 NASB:
31 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery [μυστήριον] is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
Ephesians 6:18-20 NASB:
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery [μυστήριον] of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 1.25-27 NASB:
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery [μυστήριον] which has been hidden [ἀποκεκρυμμένον] from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested [ἐφανερώθη] to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [μυστηρίου] among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 2.1-3 NASB:
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery [μυστηρίου], that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden [ἀπόκρυφοι] all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 4.2-3 NASB:
3 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery [μυστήριον] of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned....
1 Timothy 3.8-9 NASB:
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery [μυστήριον] of the faith with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 3.16 NASB:
16 And by common confession great is the mystery [μυστήριον] of godliness:
He who was revealed [ἐφανερώθη] in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
He who was revealed [ἐφανερώθη] in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
The term mystery is often used of the symbolism of apocalyptic visions and dreams. I will not include such instances here, but refer, for example, to Daniel 2.18, 19, 27-30, 47; Revelation 1.20; 10.7; and 17.5, 7.
References to the manifestation of Christ or of the gospel in the epistles.
Romans 3.21-22 NASB:
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction....
Romans 16.25-27 (above).
Ephesians 5.13-14 NASB:
13 But all things become visible [φανεροῦται] when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible [φανερούμενον] is light. 14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
Colossians 1.25-27 (above).
Colossians 3.4 NASB:
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed [φανερωθῇ], then you also will be revealed [φανερωθήσεσθε] with Him in glory.
2 Thessalonians 2.8 NASB:
8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance [ἐπιφανείᾳ] of His coming.
1 Timothy 3:16 (above).
1 Timothy 6.13-14 NASB:
13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing [ἐπιφανείᾳς] of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will bring about at the proper time-- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
2 Timothy 1.8-10 NASB:
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed [φανερωθεῖσαν] by the appearing [ἐπιφανείᾳς] of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
2 Timothy 4.1:
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing [ἐπιφάνειαν] and His kingdom....
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NASB:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing [ἐπιφάνειαν].
Titus 1:1-4 NASB:
1 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time manifested [ἐφανέρωσεν], even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Titus 2.13 NASB:
...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing [ἐπιφάνειαν] of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus....
Hebrews 9.26 NASB:
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested [πεφανέρωται] to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
1 Peter 1.20-21 NASB:
20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [φανερωθέντος] in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 5:4 NASB:
And when the Chief Shepherd appears [φανερωθέντος], you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 John 1.1-3 NASB:
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested [ἐφανερώθη], and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested [ἐφανερώθη] to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 2.28 NASB:
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears [φανερωθῇ], we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
1 John 3.2 NASB:
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears [φανερωθῇ], we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.
1 John 3.5, 8b NASB:
5 You know that He appeared [ἐφανερώθη] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. ....
8b The Son of God appeared [ἐφανερώθη] for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
8b The Son of God appeared [ἐφανερώθη] for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 4:9 NASB:
9 By this the love of God was manifested [ἐφανερώθη] in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
References to Christ assuming human likeness in the epistles.
Romans 8.3-4 NASB:
3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness [ὁμοιώματι] of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Philippians 2.5-11 NASB:
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form [μορφῇ] of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form [μορφὴν] of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness [ὁμοιώματι] of men. 8 Being found in appearance [σχήματι] as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 2.14-18 NASB:
14 Therefore, since the children share [κεκοινώνηκεν] in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook [μετέσχεν] of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like [ὁμοιωθῆναι] His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Compare Acts 14.11 NASB:
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like [ὁμοιωθέντες] men and have come down to us.”
References to the messianic secret in the gospels.
Mark 1.34 (= Luke 4.41) NASB:
34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Mark 1.43-44 (= Matthew 8.4 = Luke 5.14) NASB:
43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Mark 3.12 (= Matthew 12.16) NASB:
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.
Mark 4.11-12 (= Matthew 13.11, 13 = Luke 8.10) NASB:
11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
Mark 4.22 (= Luke 8.17) NASB:
22 For nothing is hidden [ἀπόκρυφον], except to be revealed [φανερωθῇ]; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light.
Mark 4.33-34 (= Matthew 13.34-36a) NASB:
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Other notices of teachings given privately to the disciples include Mark 7.17; 8.31; 9.28, 31; 10.32b; and 13.3.
Mark 5.43 (= Luke 8.56) NASB:
43 And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.
Mark 7.36 NASB:
36 And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
Mark 8.26 NASB:
26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
Mark 8.30 (= Matthew 16.20 = Luke 9.21) NASB:
30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
Mark 9.9 (= Matthew 17.9) NASB:
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
Mark 9.30 NASB:
30 From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it.
Matthew 9.30 NASB:
30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!”
Luke 10:21-22 NASB:
21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide [ἀπέκρυψας these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight. 22 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."
John 1.31 NASB:
31 "And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested [φανερωθῇ] to Israel, I came baptizing in water."
John 2.11 NASB:
This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested [ἐφανέρωσεν] His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
John 7.4 NASB:
4 "For no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show [φανέρωσον] Yourself to the world."
John 17.6 NASB:
6 "I manifested [ἐφανέρωσα] Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word."
References to the resurrection appearances in the gospels.
Matthew 28.16-20 NASB:
16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16.12, 14, 19 NASB:
12 And after that, He appeared [ἐφανερώθη] in a different form to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country. .... 14 And afterward He appeared [ἐφανερώθη] to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. .... 19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Luke 24.13-16, 28-43, 50-51 NASB:
13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. ....
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. ....
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. ....
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Acts 1.9-11 NASB:
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
John 20.14-18 NASB:
14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
John 20-19-20, 26-29 NASB:
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. .... 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
John 21.1 NASB:
1 After these things Jesus manifested [ἐφανέρωσεν] Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested [ἐφανέρωσεν] Himself in this way.
John 21.14 NASB:
14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested [ἐφανερώθη] to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
Let me add two more instances which are not in the gospels. 1 Corinthians 9.1 NASB:
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1 Corinthians 15.3-11 NASB:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Potentially relevant references in later literature.
Ignatius of Antioch, Ephesians 19.1-3, translated by J. B. Lightfoot (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... tfoot.html):
1 And hidden [ἔλαθεν] from the prince of this world were the virginity of Mary and her child-bearing and likewise also the death of the Lord -- three mysteries [μυστήρια] to be cried aloud -- the which were wrought in the silence of God.
2 How then were they made manifest [ἐφανερώθη] to the ages? A star shone forth in the heaven above all the stars; and its light was unutterable, and its strangeness caused amazement; and all the rest of the constellations with the sun and moon formed themselves into a chorus about the star; but the star itself far outshone them all; and there was perplexity to know whence came this strange appearance which was so unlike them.
3 From that time forward every sorcery and every spell was dissolved, the ignorance of wickedness vanished away, the ancient kingdom was pulled down, when God appeared in the likeness of man [ἀνθρωπίνως φανερουμένου] unto newness of everlasting life; and that which had been perfected in the counsels of God began to take effect. Thence all things were perturbed, because the abolishing of death was taken in hand.
2 How then were they made manifest [ἐφανερώθη] to the ages? A star shone forth in the heaven above all the stars; and its light was unutterable, and its strangeness caused amazement; and all the rest of the constellations with the sun and moon formed themselves into a chorus about the star; but the star itself far outshone them all; and there was perplexity to know whence came this strange appearance which was so unlike them.
3 From that time forward every sorcery and every spell was dissolved, the ignorance of wickedness vanished away, the ancient kingdom was pulled down, when God appeared in the likeness of man [ἀνθρωπίνως φανερουμένου] unto newness of everlasting life; and that which had been perfected in the counsels of God began to take effect. Thence all things were perturbed, because the abolishing of death was taken in hand.
Ascension of Isaiah 8.8-10; 9.12-15; 10.7-12, 17-31; 11.22-32 (all from the Vision), translated by R. H. Charles (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/t ... nsion.html):
8.8. For it is He alone to whose voice all the heavens and thrones give answer. I have therefore been empowered and sent to raise thee here that thou mayest see this glory,
8.9. And that thou mayest see the Lord of all those heavens and these thrones,
8.10. Undergoing (successive) transformation until He resembles your form and likeness.
9.12. And he said unto me: "Crowns and thrones of glory they do not receive, till the Beloved will descend in the form in which you will see Him descend [will descend, I say] into the world in the last days the Lord, who will be called Christ.
9.13. Nevertheless they see and know whose will be thrones, and whose the crowns when He has descended and been made in your form, and they will think that He is flesh and is a man.
9.14. And the god of that world will stretch forth his hand against the Son, and they will crucify Him on a tree, and will slay Him not knowing who He is.
9.15. And thus His descent, as you will see, will be hidden even from the heavens, so that it will not be known who He is.
10.7. And I heard the voice of the Most High, the Father of my Lord, saying to my Lord Christ who will be called Jesus:
10.8. "Go forth and descend through all the heavens, and thou wilt descend to the firmament and that world: to the angel in Sheol thou wilt descend, but to Haguel thou wilt not go.
10.9. And thou wilt become like unto the likeness of all who are in the five heavens.
10.10. And thou wilt be careful to become like the form of the angels of the firmament [and the angels also who are in Sheol].
10.11. And none of the angels of that world shall know that Thou art with Me of the seven heavens and of their angels.
10.12. And they shall not know that Thou art with Me, till with a loud voice I have called (to) the heavens, and their angels and their lights, (even) unto the sixth heaven, in order that you mayest judge and destroy the princes and angels and gods of that world, and the world that is dominated by them.
10.17. And so I saw my Lord go forth from the seventh heaven into the sixth heaven.
10.18. And the angel who conducted me [from this world was with me and] said unto me: "Understand, Isaiah, and see the transformation and descent of the Lord will appear."
10.19. And I saw, and when the angels saw Him, thereupon those in the sixth heaven praised and lauded Him; for He had not been transformed after the shape of the angels there, and they praised Him and I also praised with them.
10.20. And I saw when He descended into the fifth heaven, that in the fifth heaven He made Himself like unto the form of the angels there, and they did not praise Him (nor worship Him); for His form was like unto theirs.
10.21. And then He descended into the forth heaven, and made Himself like unto the form of the angels there.
10.22. And when they saw Him, they did not praise or laud Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.23. And again I saw when He descended into the third heaven, and He made Himself like unto the form of the angels in the third heaven.
10.24. And those who kept the gate of the (third) heaven demanded the password, and the Lord gave (it) to them in order that He should not be recognized. And when they saw Him, they did not praise or laud Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.25. And again I saw when He descended into the second heaven, and again He gave the password there; those who kept the gate proceeded to demand and the Lord to give.
10.26. And I saw when He made Himself like unto the form of the angels in the second heaven, and they saw Him and they did not praise Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.27. And again I saw when He descended into the first heaven, and there also He gave the password to those who kept the gate, and He made Himself like unto the form of the angels who were on the left of that throne, and they neither praised nor lauded Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.28. But as for me no one asked me on account of the angel who conducted me.
10.29. And again He descended into the firmament where dwelleth the ruler of this world, and He gave the password to those on the left, and His form was like theirs, and they did not praise Him there; but they were envying one another and fighting; for here there is a power of evil and envying about trifles.
10.30. And I saw when He descended and made Himself like unto the angels of the air, and He was like one of them.
10.31. And He gave no password; for one was plundering and doing violence to another.
11.2. And I saw one like unto a son of man, and he was dwelling with men in the world, and they did not know him [Latin and Slavonic; translation mine, from the Latin].
11.19. And after this the adversary envied Him and roused the children of Israel against Him, not knowing who He was, and they delivered Him to the king, and crucified Him, and He descended to the angel (of Sheol).
11.20. In Jerusalem indeed I saw Him being crucified on a tree:
11.21. And likewise after the third day rise again and remain days.
11.22. And the angel who conducted me said: "Understand, Isaiah": and I saw when He sent out the Twelve Apostles and ascended.
11.23. And I saw Him, and He was in the firmament, but He had not changed Himself into their form, and all the angels of the firmament and the Satans saw Him and they worshipped.
11.24. And there was much sorrow there, while they said: "How did our Lord descend in our midst, and we perceived not the glory [which has been upon Him], which we see has been upon Him from the sixth heaven?"
11.25. And He ascended into the second heaven, and He did not transform Himself, but all the angels who were on the right and on the left and the throne in the midst.
11.26. Both worshipped Him and praised Him and said: "How did our Lord escape us whilst descending, and we perceived not?"
11.27. And in like manner He ascended into the third heaven, and they praised and said in like manner.
11.28. And in the fourth heaven and in the fifth also they said precisely after the same manner.
11.29. But there was one glory, and from it He did not change Himself.
11.30. And I saw when He ascended into the sixth heaven, and they worshipped and glorified Him.
11.31. But in all the heavens the praise increased (in volume).
11.32. And I saw how He ascended into the seventh heaven, and all the righteous and all the angels praised Him. And then I saw Him sit down on the right hand of that Great Glory whose glory I told you that I could not behold.
8.9. And that thou mayest see the Lord of all those heavens and these thrones,
8.10. Undergoing (successive) transformation until He resembles your form and likeness.
9.12. And he said unto me: "Crowns and thrones of glory they do not receive, till the Beloved will descend in the form in which you will see Him descend [will descend, I say] into the world in the last days the Lord, who will be called Christ.
9.13. Nevertheless they see and know whose will be thrones, and whose the crowns when He has descended and been made in your form, and they will think that He is flesh and is a man.
9.14. And the god of that world will stretch forth his hand against the Son, and they will crucify Him on a tree, and will slay Him not knowing who He is.
9.15. And thus His descent, as you will see, will be hidden even from the heavens, so that it will not be known who He is.
10.7. And I heard the voice of the Most High, the Father of my Lord, saying to my Lord Christ who will be called Jesus:
10.8. "Go forth and descend through all the heavens, and thou wilt descend to the firmament and that world: to the angel in Sheol thou wilt descend, but to Haguel thou wilt not go.
10.9. And thou wilt become like unto the likeness of all who are in the five heavens.
10.10. And thou wilt be careful to become like the form of the angels of the firmament [and the angels also who are in Sheol].
10.11. And none of the angels of that world shall know that Thou art with Me of the seven heavens and of their angels.
10.12. And they shall not know that Thou art with Me, till with a loud voice I have called (to) the heavens, and their angels and their lights, (even) unto the sixth heaven, in order that you mayest judge and destroy the princes and angels and gods of that world, and the world that is dominated by them.
10.17. And so I saw my Lord go forth from the seventh heaven into the sixth heaven.
10.18. And the angel who conducted me [from this world was with me and] said unto me: "Understand, Isaiah, and see the transformation and descent of the Lord will appear."
10.19. And I saw, and when the angels saw Him, thereupon those in the sixth heaven praised and lauded Him; for He had not been transformed after the shape of the angels there, and they praised Him and I also praised with them.
10.20. And I saw when He descended into the fifth heaven, that in the fifth heaven He made Himself like unto the form of the angels there, and they did not praise Him (nor worship Him); for His form was like unto theirs.
10.21. And then He descended into the forth heaven, and made Himself like unto the form of the angels there.
10.22. And when they saw Him, they did not praise or laud Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.23. And again I saw when He descended into the third heaven, and He made Himself like unto the form of the angels in the third heaven.
10.24. And those who kept the gate of the (third) heaven demanded the password, and the Lord gave (it) to them in order that He should not be recognized. And when they saw Him, they did not praise or laud Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.25. And again I saw when He descended into the second heaven, and again He gave the password there; those who kept the gate proceeded to demand and the Lord to give.
10.26. And I saw when He made Himself like unto the form of the angels in the second heaven, and they saw Him and they did not praise Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.27. And again I saw when He descended into the first heaven, and there also He gave the password to those who kept the gate, and He made Himself like unto the form of the angels who were on the left of that throne, and they neither praised nor lauded Him; for His form was like unto their form.
10.28. But as for me no one asked me on account of the angel who conducted me.
10.29. And again He descended into the firmament where dwelleth the ruler of this world, and He gave the password to those on the left, and His form was like theirs, and they did not praise Him there; but they were envying one another and fighting; for here there is a power of evil and envying about trifles.
10.30. And I saw when He descended and made Himself like unto the angels of the air, and He was like one of them.
10.31. And He gave no password; for one was plundering and doing violence to another.
11.2. And I saw one like unto a son of man, and he was dwelling with men in the world, and they did not know him [Latin and Slavonic; translation mine, from the Latin].
11.19. And after this the adversary envied Him and roused the children of Israel against Him, not knowing who He was, and they delivered Him to the king, and crucified Him, and He descended to the angel (of Sheol).
11.20. In Jerusalem indeed I saw Him being crucified on a tree:
11.21. And likewise after the third day rise again and remain days.
11.22. And the angel who conducted me said: "Understand, Isaiah": and I saw when He sent out the Twelve Apostles and ascended.
11.23. And I saw Him, and He was in the firmament, but He had not changed Himself into their form, and all the angels of the firmament and the Satans saw Him and they worshipped.
11.24. And there was much sorrow there, while they said: "How did our Lord descend in our midst, and we perceived not the glory [which has been upon Him], which we see has been upon Him from the sixth heaven?"
11.25. And He ascended into the second heaven, and He did not transform Himself, but all the angels who were on the right and on the left and the throne in the midst.
11.26. Both worshipped Him and praised Him and said: "How did our Lord escape us whilst descending, and we perceived not?"
11.27. And in like manner He ascended into the third heaven, and they praised and said in like manner.
11.28. And in the fourth heaven and in the fifth also they said precisely after the same manner.
11.29. But there was one glory, and from it He did not change Himself.
11.30. And I saw when He ascended into the sixth heaven, and they worshipped and glorified Him.
11.31. But in all the heavens the praise increased (in volume).
11.32. And I saw how He ascended into the seventh heaven, and all the righteous and all the angels praised Him. And then I saw Him sit down on the right hand of that Great Glory whose glory I told you that I could not behold.
Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho 14:
"Of these and such like words written by the prophets, O Trypho," said I, "some have reference to the first advent of Christ, in which He is preached as inglorious, obscure [ἀειδὴς], and of mortal appearance: but others had reference to His second advent, when He shall appear in glory and above the clouds; and your nation shall see and know Him whom they have pierced, as Hosea, one of the twelve prophets, and Daniel, foretold."
Justin Martyr, Dialogue With Trypho 36:
The Psalm of David is this: .... 'The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and all that dwell therein. .... Lift up your gates, ye rulers; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.' Accordingly, it is shown that Solomon is not the Lord of hosts; but when our Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, the rulers in heaven, under appointment of God, are commanded to open the gates of heaven, that He who is King of glory may enter in, and having ascended, may sit on the right hand of the Father until He make the enemies His footstool, as has been made manifest by another Psalm. For when the rulers of heaven saw Him of uncomely and dishonoured appearance, and inglorious, not recognising Him, they inquired, 'Who is this King of glory?' And the Holy Spirit, either from the person of His Father, or from His own person, answers them, 'The Lord of hosts, He is this King of glory.'
Epistula Apostolorum 13, translated by M. R. James (http://wesley.nnu.edu/sermons-essays-bo ... -apostles/):
13 Now that which he revealed unto us [the apostles] is this, which he spake: It came to pass when I was about (minded) to come hither from the Father of all things, and passed through the heavens, then did I put on the wisdom of the Father, and I put on the power of his might. I was in heaven, and I passed by the archangels and the angels in their likeness, like as if I were one of them, among the princedoms and powers. I passed through them because I possessed the wisdom of him that had sent me. Now the chief captain of the angels, [is] Michael, and Gabriel and Uriel and Raphael followed me unto the fifth firmament (heaven), for they thought in their heart that I was one of them; such power was given me of my Father. And on that day did I adorn the archangels with a wonderful voice (so Copt.: Eth., Lat., I made them quake--amazed them), so that they should go unto the altar of the Father and serve and fulfil the ministry until I should return unto him. And so wrought I the likeness by my wisdom; for I became all things in all, that I might praise the dispensation of the Father and fulfil the glory of him that sent me (the verbs might well be transposed) and return unto him.
Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus 8.1-11:
8:1 For what man at all had any knowledge what God was, before He came?
8:2 Or dost thou accept the empty and nonsensical statements of those pretentious philosophers: of whom some said that God was fire (they call that God, whereunto they themselves shall go), and others water, and others some other of the elements which were created by God?
8:3 And yet if any of these statements is worthy of acceptance, any one other created thing might just as well be made out to be God.
8:4 Nay, all this is the quackery and deceit of the magicians;
8:5 and no man has either seen or recognised Him, but He revealed Himself.
8:6 And He revealed (Himself) by faith, whereby alone it is given to see God.
8:7 For God, the Master and Creator of the Universe, Who made all things and arranged them in order, was found to be not only friendly to men, but also long-suffering.
8:8 And such indeed He was always, and is, and will be, kindly and good and dispassionate and true, and He alone is good.
8:9 And having conceived a great and unutterable scheme He communicated it to His Son alone.
8:10 For so long as He kept and guarded His wise design as a mystery, He seemed to neglect us and to be careless about us.
8:11 But when He revealed it through His beloved Son, and manifested the purpose which He had prepared from the beginning, He gave us all these gifts at once, participation in His benefits, and sight and understanding of (mysteries) which none of us ever would have expected.
8:2 Or dost thou accept the empty and nonsensical statements of those pretentious philosophers: of whom some said that God was fire (they call that God, whereunto they themselves shall go), and others water, and others some other of the elements which were created by God?
8:3 And yet if any of these statements is worthy of acceptance, any one other created thing might just as well be made out to be God.
8:4 Nay, all this is the quackery and deceit of the magicians;
8:5 and no man has either seen or recognised Him, but He revealed Himself.
8:6 And He revealed (Himself) by faith, whereby alone it is given to see God.
8:7 For God, the Master and Creator of the Universe, Who made all things and arranged them in order, was found to be not only friendly to men, but also long-suffering.
8:8 And such indeed He was always, and is, and will be, kindly and good and dispassionate and true, and He alone is good.
8:9 And having conceived a great and unutterable scheme He communicated it to His Son alone.
8:10 For so long as He kept and guarded His wise design as a mystery, He seemed to neglect us and to be careless about us.
8:11 But when He revealed it through His beloved Son, and manifested the purpose which He had prepared from the beginning, He gave us all these gifts at once, participation in His benefits, and sight and understanding of (mysteries) which none of us ever would have expected.
Irenaeus, Demonstration 84, translated by Armitage Robinson (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/irenaeus/demonstr.iv.html):
84. And the same says David again: Lift up your gates, ye rulers; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall come in. For the everlasting gates are the heavens. But because the Word descended invisible to created things, He was not made known in His descent to them. Because the Word was made flesh, He was visible in His ascension; and, when the powers saw Him, the angels below cried out to those who were on the firmament: Lift up your gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting gates, that the King of glory may come in. And when they marvelled and said: Who is this? those who had already seen Him testified a second time: The Lord strong and mighty, he is the King of glory.
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.30.12-14 (http://textexcavation.com/irenaeusah1.html), writing of a miscellaneous heretical sect which he does not bother to name:
12. And since she herself had no rest either in heaven or on earth, she invoked her mother to assist her in her distress. Upon this, her mother, the first woman, was moved with compassion towards her daughter, on her repentance, and begged from the first man that Christ should be sent to her assistance, who, being sent forth, descended to his sister, and to the besprinkling of light. When he recognised her (that is, the Sophia below), her brother descended to her, and announced his advent through means of John, and prepared the baptism of repentance, and adopted Jesus beforehand, in order that on Christ descending he might find a pure vessel, and that by the son of that Ialdabaoth the woman might be announced by Christ. They further declare that he descended through the seven heavens, having assumed the likeness of their sons, and gradually emptied them of their power. For they maintain that the whole besprinkling of light rushed to him, and that Christ, descending to this world, first clothed his sister Sophia [with it], and that then both exulted in the mutual refreshment they felt in each other's society: this scene they describe as relating to bridegroom and bride. But Jesus, inasmuch as he was begotten of the Virgin through the agency of God, was wiser, purer, and more righteous than all other men: Christ united to Sophia descended into him, and thus Jesus Christ was produced.
13. They affirm that many of his disciples were not aware of the descent of Christ into him; but that, when Christ did descend on Jesus, he then began to work miracles, and heal, and announce the unknown Father, and openly to confess himself the son of the first man. The powers and the father of Jesus were angry at these proceedings, and laboured to destroy him; and when he was being led away for this purpose, they say that Christ himself, along with Sophia, departed from him into the state of an incorruptible Aeon, while Jesus was crucified. Christ, however, was not forgetful of his Jesus, but sent down a certain energy into him from above, which raised him up again in the body, which they call both animal and spiritual; for he sent the mundane parts back again into the world. When his disciples saw that he had risen, they did not recognise him-no, not even Jesus himself, by whom he rose again from the dead. And they assert that this very great error prevailed among his disciples, that they imagined he had risen in a mundane body, not knowing that "flesh and blood do not attain to the kingdom of God."
14. They strove to establish the descent and ascent of Christ, by the fact that neither before his baptism, nor after his resurrection from the dead, do his disciples state that he did any mighty works, not being aware that Jesus was united to Christ, and the incorruptible Aeon to the Hebdomad; and they declare his mundane body to be of the same nature as that of animals. But after his resurrection he tarried [on earth] eighteen months; and knowledge descending into him from above, he taught what was clear. He instructed a few of his disciples, whom he knew to be capable of understanding so great mysteries, in these things, and was then received up into heaven, Christ sitting down at the right hand of his father Ialdabaoth, that he may receive to himself the souls of those who have known them, after they have laid aside their mundane flesh, thus enriching himself without the knowledge or perception of his father; so that, in proportion as Jesus enriches himself with holy souls, to such an extent does his father suffer loss and is diminished, being emptied of his own power by these souls. For he will not now possess holy souls to send them down again into the world, except those only which are of his substance, that is, those into which he has breathed. But the consummation [of all things] will take place, when the whole besprinkling of the spirit of light is gathered together, and is carried off to form an incorruptible Aeon.
13. They affirm that many of his disciples were not aware of the descent of Christ into him; but that, when Christ did descend on Jesus, he then began to work miracles, and heal, and announce the unknown Father, and openly to confess himself the son of the first man. The powers and the father of Jesus were angry at these proceedings, and laboured to destroy him; and when he was being led away for this purpose, they say that Christ himself, along with Sophia, departed from him into the state of an incorruptible Aeon, while Jesus was crucified. Christ, however, was not forgetful of his Jesus, but sent down a certain energy into him from above, which raised him up again in the body, which they call both animal and spiritual; for he sent the mundane parts back again into the world. When his disciples saw that he had risen, they did not recognise him-no, not even Jesus himself, by whom he rose again from the dead. And they assert that this very great error prevailed among his disciples, that they imagined he had risen in a mundane body, not knowing that "flesh and blood do not attain to the kingdom of God."
14. They strove to establish the descent and ascent of Christ, by the fact that neither before his baptism, nor after his resurrection from the dead, do his disciples state that he did any mighty works, not being aware that Jesus was united to Christ, and the incorruptible Aeon to the Hebdomad; and they declare his mundane body to be of the same nature as that of animals. But after his resurrection he tarried [on earth] eighteen months; and knowledge descending into him from above, he taught what was clear. He instructed a few of his disciples, whom he knew to be capable of understanding so great mysteries, in these things, and was then received up into heaven, Christ sitting down at the right hand of his father Ialdabaoth, that he may receive to himself the souls of those who have known them, after they have laid aside their mundane flesh, thus enriching himself without the knowledge or perception of his father; so that, in proportion as Jesus enriches himself with holy souls, to such an extent does his father suffer loss and is diminished, being emptied of his own power by these souls. For he will not now possess holy souls to send them down again into the world, except those only which are of his substance, that is, those into which he has breathed. But the consummation [of all things] will take place, when the whole besprinkling of the spirit of light is gathered together, and is carried off to form an incorruptible Aeon.
Naassene Psalm as quoted by Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies 5.5, translated by Alexander Roberts (http://www.gnosis.org/library/hyp_refut5.htm):
The world's producing law was Primal Mind,
And next was First-born's outpoured Chaos;
And third, the soul received its law of toil:
Encircl'd, therefore, with an acqueous form,
With care o'erpowered it succumbs to death.
Now holding sway, it eyes the light,
And now it weeps on misery flung;
Now it mourns, now it thrills with joy;
Now it wails, now it hears its doom;
Now it hears its doom, now it dies,
And now it leaves us, never to return.
It, hapless straying, treads the maze of ills.
But Jesus said, Father, behold,
A strife of ills across the earth
Wanders from thy breath (of wrath);
But bitter Chaos (man) seeks to shun,
And knows not how to pass it through.
On this account, O Father, send me;
Bearing seals, I shall descend;
Through ages whole I'll sweep,
All mysteries [μυστήρια] I'll unravel,
And forms [μορφάς] of Gods I'll show;
And secrets [κεκρυμμένα, literally hidden things] of the saintly path,
Styled "Gnosis," I'll impart.
And next was First-born's outpoured Chaos;
And third, the soul received its law of toil:
Encircl'd, therefore, with an acqueous form,
With care o'erpowered it succumbs to death.
Now holding sway, it eyes the light,
And now it weeps on misery flung;
Now it mourns, now it thrills with joy;
Now it wails, now it hears its doom;
Now it hears its doom, now it dies,
And now it leaves us, never to return.
It, hapless straying, treads the maze of ills.
But Jesus said, Father, behold,
A strife of ills across the earth
Wanders from thy breath (of wrath);
But bitter Chaos (man) seeks to shun,
And knows not how to pass it through.
On this account, O Father, send me;
Bearing seals, I shall descend;
Through ages whole I'll sweep,
All mysteries [μυστήρια] I'll unravel,
And forms [μορφάς] of Gods I'll show;
And secrets [κεκρυμμένα, literally hidden things] of the saintly path,
Styled "Gnosis," I'll impart.
Clementine Homily 3.20b, translated by the Reverend Thomas Smith (http://www.compassionatespirit.com/Homilies/Book-3.htm):
"But he would act most piously, if he should not allow to another to have it, but should say that he alone has it, who has changed his forms and his names from the beginning of the world, and so reappeared again and again in the world, until coming upon his own times, and being anointed with mercy for the works of God, he shall enjoy rest for ever. His honour it is to bear rule and lordship over all things, in air, earth, and waters. But in addition to these, himself having made man, he had breath, the indescribable garment of the soul, that he might be able to be immortal."
Clementine Recognition 3.53 (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/080403.htm):
First of all, then, he is evil, in the judgment of God, who will not inquire what is advantageous to himself. For how can any one love another, if he does not love himself? Or to whom will that man not be an enemy, who cannot be a friend to himself? In order, therefore, that there might be a distinction between those who choose good and those who choose evil, God has concealed that which is profitable to men, i.e., the possession of the kingdom of heaven, and has laid it up and hidden it as a secret treasure, so that no one can easily attain it by his own power or knowledge. Yet He has brought the report of it, under various names and opinions, through successive generations, to the hearing of all: so that whosoever should be lovers of good, hearing it, might inquire and discover what is profitable and salutary to them; but that they should ask it, not from themselves, but from Him who has hidden it, and should pray that access and the way of knowledge might be given to them: which way is opened to those only who love it above all the good things of this world; and on no other condition can any one even understand it, however wise he may seem; but that those who neglect to inquire what is profitable and salutary to themselves, as self-haters and self-enemies, should be deprived of its good things, as lovers of evil things.
From the Teachings of Silvanus, translated by Malcolm L. Peel and Jan Zandee (http://gnosis.org/naghamm/silvanus.html):
O soul, persistent one, in what ignorance you exist! For who is your guide into the darkness? How many likenesses did Christ take on because of you! Although he was God, he was found among men as a man. He descended to the Underworld. He released the children of death. They were in travail, as the scripture of God has said. And he sealed up the (very) heart of it (the Underworld). And he broke its (the Underworld's) strong bows completely. And when all the powers had seen him, they fled, so that he might bring you, wretched one, up from the Abyss, and might die for you as a ransom for your sin. He saved you from the strong hand of the Underworld.
Ben.
