The Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres the magicians
Subtitle: P. Chester Beatty XVI (with new editions of Papyrus Vindobonensis Greek inv. 29456+29828 verso and British Library Cotton Tiberius B. v f. 87)
By: edited, with introduction, translation, and commentary with full facsimile of all three texts by Albert Pietersma.
Contributors: Pietersma, Albert.
Series: Religions in the Graeco-Roman world,; v. 119
Publisher: E.J. Brill; Brill; Brill Academic Pub
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Leiden; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 349
Subjects: Jannes (Biblical figure) -- Legends.; Jambres (Biblical figure) -- Legends.; British Library.; Bible. N.T. Timothy, 2nd, III, 8 -- Legends.; Papyrus Chester Beatty XVI.; Papyrus Vindobonensis Greek inv. 29456+29828 verso.; Magic -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Legends.
Description: The focus of this volume is the editio princeps of Papyrus Chester Beatty XVI: The Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres, composed in Greek, perhaps as early as the first century CE. A full commentary accompanies the edited text. An introductory section discusses the numerous references to the two magicians, who appear in Jewish, Christian and Pagan literatures as Moses' crafty opponents at the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt.

Their exploits are recounted in over half a dozen languages, from the Syriac east to the Latin west and from Egypt's deserts to King Alfred's court. The Apocryphon is placed in its Graeco-Roman context, but is also discussed as a backdrop for the Faust saga of European literature. A basic book for anyone interested in biblical and related literatures.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [305]-313) and indexes.
Greek and Latin versions of the legend with English translations.