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agraphon

agraphon

9.9
A saying about Jesus that is not in the four gospels but appears in other early Christian books
  • noun
  • /ˈæɡrəˌfɒn/
  • Specialized
: agrafón
  • He cited an agraphon found in an early church father's writings during his lecture.

Examples

  • The collection of agrapha provides a broader perspective on early Christian teachings.

  • Scholars often debate whether a particular agraphon is authentic or a later invention.

  • The agraphon is intriguing.

  • Look at that agraphon!

  • In his book, he included an agraphon that provided insight into early Christian beliefs.

  • During their study of the New Testament, they discovered an agraphon that shed light on the teachings of Jesus.

  • Many theologians explore various agrapha to understand the diversity of Christian thought.

Synonyms

logion
vsagraphon
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A short saying of Jesus not in the New Testament

is the label for such sayings without implying authenticity
agrapha
vsagraphon
  • Specialized
9.9

Sayings of Jesus that are not in the four Gospels

is the alternate or singular form used for the same sayings

Surface Forms

agraphon singular
agraphs plural

Etymology

The word agraphon comes from Greek parts a- meaning 'not' and graph meaning 'write', the same root you see in autograph. So agraphon means 'not written' and is used for a saying of Jesus that is not in the main gospels but appears in other early Christian writings.