EGYPTIANS, GOSPEL OF. – Gnostic apocryphon cited by Origen, Hom. I in Luc. (PG 13, 1081), who notes its heretical character; by Clement of Alexandria, Strom., III, 9, 63 (PG 8, 1163), who reports some words from it that the Encratites abused; by Hippolytus, Philosophoniana, 5, 7 (PG 16, 1130 B), as used by the Naassenes; by Epiphanius, Haer., 62, 2 (PG 41, 1052), as used by the Sabellians.
It is believed to have arisen in Egypt in the first half of the 2nd century. Others propose Antioch. From the 4 fragments that remain, it seems to have connections with the Gospel of S. Mateos; it does not appear that the Gospel citations in the so-called II Cimientis derive from this Gospel, which was evidently heretical.
BIBL.: E. Amann, Apocryphae du N. T., in DBs. I, col. 475 and following; G. Bonaccorsi, Vangeli apocrifi, I, Firenze 1948, pp. xv. 14-17. Pietro De Ambroggi