The Gospel of Nicodemus, also known as the Acts of Pilate, is an apocryphal gospel claimed to have been derived from an original Hebrew work written by Nicodemus, who appears in the Gospel of John as an associate of Jesus (John 3:1–21; 7:50–52; 19:39–42). This work is considered by most modern scholars to be pseudepigraphical, meaning it was attributed to Nicodemus but most likely was written much later by an unknown author.
The Gospel of Nicodemus narrates Jesus’s Passion, including his trial and descent into hell. It is divided into two sections known as the Acts of Pilate and the Descent of Christ into Hell. The Acts of Pilate section focuses on the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The Descent of Christ into Hell section narrates Jesus’s triumph over Hades after his death on the cross. Together, these two sections aim to authenticate Christianity and provide details about Christ’s final days not included in the biblical gospels.
Some key points about the Gospel of Nicodemus:
- It was likely written in the 4th or 5th century AD, several hundred years after the life of Jesus.
- The original was composed in Greek, but later versions exist in Latin and other languages.
- It contains legendary embellishments not found in the biblical gospels.
- It aims to portray Jesus’s innocence before Pilate and prove the truth of his resurrection.
- It became popular in medieval Europe and influenced Christian art and literature.
Contents of the Gospel of Nicodemus
The Gospel of Nicodemus can be divided into two main sections:
1. The Acts of Pilate
This section comprises chapters 1-16 of the text. It gets its name from Pontius Pilate and focuses on the trial and resurrection of Jesus. Major episodes include:
- The healing of two witnesses and their testimony about Jesus (1-2)
- The arrest and trial of Jesus before Pilate (2-9)
- Pilate writing letters declaring Jesus’s innocence (9)
- The Crucifixion and burial of Jesus (10-11)
- The descent of Satan and rescue of Jesus’s soul (12)
- The resurrection of the saints after Jesus’s resurrection (13-16)
This section aims to prove Jesus’s innocence before Pilate and convince readers of the truth of his resurrection. It also establishes Jesus’s power over Satan.
2. The Descent of Christ into Hell
This section comprises chapters 17-27 of the text. It narrates Jesus’s triumph over Hades after his death. Key events include:
- Jesus’s appearance in Hades after his death (17-20)
- Conversations between Satan and Hades about Jesus (18-20)
- Jesus trampling the gates of Hades and freeing the dead (21-27)
- Appearances to Old Testament figures like Adam, Isaiah, John the Baptist (24-27)
This dramatic section establishes Jesus’s supremacy over death and evil spiritual powers. It draws imagery from passages like 1 Peter 3:19-20 and 4:6.
Origins and Authorship
The Gospel of Nicodemus likely originated sometime in the 4th or 5th centuries AD, though the exact date and location are unknown. The introductory statements in the text claim it was derived from a Hebrew work authored by Nicodemus himself. However, this is widely regarded as a pseudepigraphic attribution. Nicodemus was likely chosen because of his appearance in the Gospel of John. But the language, style and content indicate the work was composed centuries after Nicodemus lived.
Scholars debate whether the Gospel originally existed in Greek or Latin. The earliest Greek manuscripts date to the 10th century. The oldest Latin versions date to the 5th or 6th centuries. Regardless of its original language, the text likely reached its final form in Greek before being translated into other tongues like Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, and Arabic.
No single author can be identified for the Gospel. It loosely draws from canonical sources like Matthew, Luke, John, 1 Peter, and apocryphal texts like the Gospel of Peter. This has led scholars to conclude it was likely written by an unknown Christian compiler who wove together various traditions to create an original work centered on Nicodemus.
Historical Value and Accuracy
Given its late date of authorship, the Gospel of Nicodemus contains numerous legendary details that have no claim to historical accuracy regarding the life of Jesus. These include fantastical stories about people rising from the dead, Jesus’s confrontation of Hades and Satan, and imagined speeches by figures like Pilate and Joseph of Arimathea.
However, some scholars argue the text preserves a kernel of truth about Pilate’s view of Jesus. In the 2nd century, the apologist Justin Martyr wrote that Pilate had sent a report to Emperor Tiberius telling him about Jesus’s miracles and resurrection. While likely embellished, Justin’s account hints the earliest Christians believed Pilate held a favorable view of Jesus. The Gospel of Nicodemus expands this tradition by dramatizing Pilate’s witness of Jesus’s miracles and his declaration of Jesus’s innocence.
In the end, though, the Gospel of Nicodemus provides little historically reliable information about Jesus not found in the biblical gospels. At best, it offers an imaginative depiction of how later Christians viewed figures like Nicodemus and Pilate in relation to Jesus.
Purpose and Themes
The Gospel of Nicodemus has a clear apologetic purpose in promoting Christian beliefs about Jesus. Each section aims to achieve a different goal:
- Acts of Pilate – Defends Jesus’s innocence before Pilate and proves his resurrection.
- Descent into Hell – Establishes Jesus’s mastery over Satan, death, and evil.
Scholars also note the Gospel appears to interact with and supplement the biblical passion narratives in various ways. For example:
- It adds the backstory about the two witnesses healed by Jesus (chapters 1-2).
- It dramatizes and expands episodes only briefly mentioned in the Bible like Jesus’s descent to hell (1 Peter 3:19-20).
- It embellishes the apocryphal tradition that Pilate was sympathetic to Jesus, mentioned by Justin Martyr.
In this sense, the Gospel of Nicodemus aims to provide supplementary “behind the scenes” details related to the death and resurrection of Jesus not found in the canonical accounts. The author skillfully weaves together various traditions to create a cohesive narrative centered on authenticating Christian beliefs.
Later History and Influence
After arising in the 4th-5th centuries, the Gospel of Nicodemus grew in popularity during the Middle Ages. Various expanded versions and translations circulated in Europe. It profoundly influenced perceptions of figures like Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus. The vivid descriptions of the Harrowing of Hell inspired Dante’s Inferno and classic artistic depictions like the Anastasis.
In the Eastern church, the Gospel of Nicodemus was sometimes appended to the Acts of Pilate to form a single volume. Portions of the text are still read during Holy Week liturgies in the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches today.
Despite its medieval popularity, the Gospel of Nicodemus was later banned along with other apocryphal works deemed heretical or inaccurate. The Anglican and Catholic churches eventually declared it apocryphal. While no longer accepted as authoritative Scripture, the text remains an important relic of early medieval Christianity and a window into ancient apologetics.
Summary of Key Details
To summarize some key details covered above:
- The Gospel of Nicodemus, aka Acts of Pilate, is an apocryphal gospel written around the 4th-5th century AD.
- It consists of two sections: The Acts of Pilate and the Descent into Hell.
- The text aims to prove Jesus’s innocence and resurrection while depicting his mastery over Satan and death.
- It creatively expands on biblical accounts and traditions about Pilate, Nicodemus, and Christ’s descent to hell.
- The Gospel greatly influenced medieval Christianity but was later banned for containing legendary embellishments.
- Portions are still read in some Eastern Orthodox services during Holy Week.
In summary, while historically dubious, the Gospel of Nicodemus provides an important window into early medieval Christian thought and the development of extra-biblical traditions related to Holy Week and Easter.