Secret Book of JamesGnostic / Alternative Early ChristianAlternative Early ChristianCoptic translation of Greek traditionsShareSecret Book of James 8Mark M. Mattison - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMark M. MattisonLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Secret Book of James 1Secret Book of James 2Secret Book of James 3Secret Book of James 4Secret Book of James 5Secret Book of James 6Secret Book of James 7Secret Book of James 8Secret Book of James 9Secret Book of James 10Secret Book of James 11Secret Book of James 12›Secret Book of James: Few Have Found the KingdomSecret Book of James 8ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1And when we heard these things, we were delighted, because we had been depressed about the things we mentioned before. 2But when he saw us rejoicing, he said, “Woe to you who need an advocate! Woe to you who need grace! Blessed will be those who’ve spoken out and acquired grace for themselves! 3“Be like foreigners. How are they viewed in your city? Why are you disturbed when you cast yourselves out on your own and separate yourselves from your city? Why do you leave your dwelling on your own and make it available for those who want to live in it? You outcasts and runaways! Woe to you, because you’ll be caught! 4“Or do you think that the Father is a lover of humanity, or is persuaded by prayers, or grants grace to one on behalf of another, or puts up with one who seeks? 5“(God) knows about desire and what the flesh needs. It’s not this (flesh) which desires the soul, because without the soul, the body doesn’t sin, just as the soul isn’t saved without the spirit. But if the soul is saved without evil, and the spirit is also saved, then the body becomes sinless. For it’s the spirit that raises the soul, but the body that kills it; that is, (the soul) kills itself. 6“Truly I tell you, (God) won’t ever forgive the sin of the soul or the guilt of the flesh, because no one who’s worn the flesh will be saved. Do you think that many have found the kingdom of heaven? Blessed is the one who’s seen oneself (at) the fourth (stage) in heaven.” ‹Previous chapterSecret Book of James 7Next chapterSecret Book of James 9›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Translation committed to the public domain by Mark M. Mattison