Apocryphicity

Women in the Gospel of Thomas (a response to Rob Bowman)

November 7, 2008 by Tony

Rob Bowman has posted another response to my Heresy Hunting in the New Millennium article, this time focusing on the apparent “misogyny” of Gos. Thom. 114. Just to recap the discussion, I stated previously that assessments of the logion as “misogynist” were anachronistic and showed a lack of awareness of scholarship on the text. In response, Bowman excerpted a number of non-conservative scholars (including Pagels, Patterson, and Meyer) who agree that the saying is indeed misogynist. These may not be the best scholars to appeal to in this debate, however, as they write often for popular audiences and their comments on the texts may suffer from the same lack of depth as the apologists I criticize. Mind you, I’m no expert on this text, so I hesitate to say too much about it. But I will limit myself to a few points in my defense.

1. I don’t think Rob can argue that the apologists say little about the logion besides labeling it misogynist. Rob simply supports their conclusion with the views of other scholars. My concern was with the neglect of other scholarship which would more rightly put the saying in its context. Put simply, it looks misogynist to us, but to the author and audience, it may not. That’s what I mean by anachronistic. Far too often these texts are evaluated through modern eyes. The same care that we see being employed with Paul’s “misogyny” in 1 Cor. (i.e., evaluating his comments in the context of life in …

More Responses to “Heresy Hunting”

October 22, 2008 by Tony

Rob Bowman has posted two new responses to my Heresy Hunting in the New Millennium article from the latest issue of SBL Forum. The first addresses my point that the modern apologists tend to disparage the apocryphal texts as bizarre by seizing upon one or two aspects of the texts despite the fact that much of the texts are otherwise benign (thinking specifically here of Gospel of Thomas and Gospel of Peter). I stated in the article: “Such focus on the ‘bizarre’ elements of the texts misrepresents their contents. There is plenty of material in the canonical texts that is bizarre or objectionable but it would be unfair to characterize Acts simply on the basis of the cursing stories, or Luke on Jesus’ disappearing act (4:30) or the sweating of blood (22:43-44), or John on its anti-Semitism.” Rob’s second post deals specifically with Anti-Semitism in John.

Rob’s posts argue that the examples I cite of “bizarre elements” in the canonical texts are not so bizarre and the charge of Anti-Semitism in John is unsubstantiated. He concedes, however, that many readers and commentators have struggled with these issues; and I think that is sufficient for my argument. These are troubling aspects of the texts, whether or not they can be tamed by exegetical athletics. Similarly, some of the “bizarre elements” in Gos. Thom. and Gos. Pet. can also be tamed or explained if one takes the time to do so. It is unfair, I think, to label Gos. Thom.…

A Response to “Heresy Hunting”

October 16, 2008 by Tony

My recent article in SBL Forum, “Heresy Hunting in the New Millennium,” has elicited some responses in the blogging community—some positive, some negative. Rob Bowman of Religious Researcher has offered the first part of a lengthy response (HERE). I appreciate the time and effort he has put into the response—indeed, the real goal of the article was to get so-called liberals and conservatives talking about the issue. I’d like now to offer my own response to Rob’s comments.

1. Rob calls his response “Defending Heresy” and accuses me of being an apologist for the Christian Apocrypha (CA). A similar charge is made by Danny Zacharias at Deinde; April DeConick, on the other hand, has come to my defense, stating, “Objectivity is not neutrality. Tony's piece in my opinion is objective. He writes as a historian who points out the Christian apologetic agenda of some popular writers who are misrepresenting other scholars' work as well as the ancient documents they are writing about. This is not neutral. Who says that neutrality is what we are after?” I am not defending heresy. If anything I am defending CA scholarship, but only because it is misrepresented, not because it is superior in any way.

2. Rob accuses me of “rhetorical gamesmanship” in the terms I use for the various writers I discuss. He takes issue with me calling them “apologists,” which he says is a “term of disapprobation.” That is not how I intended the term, …

Heresy Hunting in SBL Forum

October 10, 2008 by Tony

The paper I presented at 2008 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, "Heresy Hunting in the New Millennium", appears in an edited, popularized form in the current volume of the SBL Forum. It can be accessed HERE.

The Childhood of Jesus from the Acts of Andrew and Matthias

October 10, 2008 by Tony

I mentioned some time ago a discussion with A. Vinogradov about a manuscript of the Acts of Andrew and Matthias that features a summary of the life of Jesus. Included in this summary are three episodes from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. The section alludes also to the Protoevangelium of James and begins with an expanded version of the story of the Magi from Matthew. Here is a translation of the IGT material (based on the Greek text edited by A. Vinogradov, “Die zweite Rezension der Actorum Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos [BHG 110B]”, Christianskij Vostok, 3, 2001, p. 11-105 with some emendations by J-. D. Kaestli.):

And behold, he happily taught the alphabet with joy. And hearing him, the teacher….his hand was withered up to where it touched his fringe, and suddenly he was healed. And filled up with strength again, he dug by a word and commanded the flowing water to divide into twelve streams. And he formed birds of clay on the Sabbath day. And the priests, seeing and being angry, wished to destroy them. But, clapping his hands, he said: “O melodious birds, behold, in the presence of the priests I say to you: become flesh, receive form, become animated, become winged and fly to the entire world. Do not fear the archer, be careful of traps and tortuous snares, fly not toward the ground. And take care of your young in heaven above. And at once the announced deed became a thing manifest …

Was Jesus Gay?

August 25, 2008 by Tony

An “Activists for Atheism” club at a community college in Ohio has caused offense by using Secret Mark to suggest that Jesus was homosexual. A critique of their behaviour can be found in the Jewish Journal. One noteworthy excerpt: “The Secret Gospel of Mark is a joke, along the lines of the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, which dismissed women as undeserving of life.” (sigh).

The History of The Thirty Pieces of Silver Given to Judas

July 23, 2008 by Tony

As mentioned in the previous post, Bernard Outtier published in 1999 an expanded version of the Abgar Correspondence from an Armenian manuscript ("Une forme enrichie de la Légende d’Abgar en arménien" from Apocryphes arménians. This form of the text features The History of The Thirty Pieces of Silver Given to Judas, a text mentioned in a previous post. This short narrative is found also in Syriac, Garshuni, and Latin versions, though I do not as yet know how, or if, they differ from the Armenian version. Excerpted below is Outtier's French translation of the text with my English translation from the French.

Jésus dit à ses disciples : « Savezâ€‘vous d'où provient cet argent qu'Abgar nous a envoyé en présent ? » Et ils disent : « Nous ne savons pas. » Et Jésus dit : « Le père d'Abraham, Thara, a fait cet argent et avec cet argent il acheta la grotte aux fils d'Amor. Les Édesséniens prirent cet argent et achetèrent Joseph à ses frères. Et les frères de Joseph (le) portèrent en présent à Joseph en Égypte. Les Égyptiens le portèrent en présent au roi Salomon, et le roi Salomon en fabriqua la porte du Temple. Quand Nabuchodonosor déporta Jérusalem, il brisa la porte, et on l'emporta à Babylone. Les Babyloniens le donnèrent aux Chaldéens. Les Chaldéens le donnèrent aux marchands, et les marchands le donnèrent aux bergers. Et Abgar, l'ayant reçu des bergers, nous l'a envoyé. Maintenant, prenez cet argent portezâ€‘(le) aux prêtres et dites …

Armenian Apocrypha

July 23, 2008 by Tony

While at the AELAC meeting in Dole I picked up a book on Armenian Apocrypha (Calzolari Bouvier, V., J-D. Kaestli, and B. Outtier, eds. Apocryphes arménians: Transmission, traduction, création, iconographie. Actes du colloque international sur la literature apocryphe en langue arménienne [Genève, 18-20 septembre 1997]. PIRSB 1. Lausanne 1999). The book contains some interesting essays. Here is the table of contents:

V. Calzolari Bouvier, “En guise d’introduction: quelques réflexions sur le role de la literature apocryphe dans l’Arménie chrètienne ancienne (9-18)

M. E. Stone, “Two Armenian Manuscripts and the Historia sacra” (21-36)

A. Orengo, “Frammenti di testi apocrifi nei primi libri armeni a stampa” (37-52)

V. Calzolari Bouvier, “Un projet de répertoire des manuscrits arméniens contenant les texts apocryphes chrétiens” (53-70)

Ch. Burchard, “Character and Origin of the Armenian Version of Joseph and Aseneth” (73-90)

S. P. Cowe, “Text Critical Investigation of the Armenian Version of Third Corinthians” (91-102)

Th. M. van Lint, “Grigor Narekac‘i’s Tal Yarut‘ean. The Throne Vision of Ezekiel in Armenian Art and Literature I” (105-127)

B. Outtier, “Une forme enrichie de la Légende d’Abgar en arménien” (129-145)

A. Hultgård, “The Vision of Enoch the Just and Medieval Apocalypses” (147-158)

N. Stone, “Apocryphal Stories in Armenian Manuscripts” (161-169)

L. Zakarian, “La miniature du Vaspourakan et les apocryphes” (171-178)

N. Thierry, “Images cappadociennes atypiques du procès du Christ. L’intervention de la femme de Pilate – Le Christ en gloire – Caïphe deicide” (179-187)

Of particular interest is the piece by Calzolari Bouvier …

Christian Apocrypha Sessions SBL 2008

November 13, 2017 by Tony

The program for this year’s Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature is now available on-line. Here are the sessions and papers related to the Christian Apocrypha:

Christian Apocrypha
11/23/2008 ~ 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Theme: The Latest Publications in Christian Apocrypha: Gospel of Mary and Gospel Fragments

Karen King, Harvard University, Presiding (5 min)
Andrew Gregory, Oxford University
The Oxford Early Christian Gospel Texts (15 min)
Critical Review of Christopher Tuckett, The Gospel of Mary (Oxford University Press)
Esther A. de Boer, Protestant Theological University Kampen, Panelist (20 min)
Ann Graham Brock, Iliff School of Theology, Panelist (20 min)
Christopher Tuckett, University of Oxford, Respondent (15 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Critical Review of Thomas J. Kraus, Michael J. Kruger, and Tobias Nicklas, Gospel Fragments (Oxford University Press)
Paul Foster, University of Edinburgh, Panelist (20 min)
Pierluigi Piovanelli, University of Ottawa, Panelist (20 min)
Tobias Nicklas, University of Regensburg, Respondent (15 min)
Discussion (10 min)

Christian Apocrypha
11/24/2008 ~ 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Theme: New Perspectives on Lesser Known Traditions: Syriac, Egyptian, and Arabic

Robert Doran, Amherst College
Structuring the Fragments of the Gospel of the Egyptians (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Tony Burke, York University
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas in the Jacobite Syriac Tradition (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Brent C. Landau, Harvard University
The Christian Production of “Pagan” Pseudepigrapha (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)
Cornelia Horn, Saint Louis University
Neglected Figures in Neglected Apocrypha: Christian Arabic and Syriac Traditions (20 min)
Discussion (10 min)…

Apocrypha Vol. 17

July 21, 2008 by Tony

The latest volume of the annual journal Apocrypha was released just a few months ago. I picked up a copy at the l’AELAC conference. Here are the contents (previous years contents can be found on the l’AELAC web site HERE):

“Un fragment grec inédit des Actes de Pierre” by François Bovon and Bertrand Bouvier (9-54)

“Semiotik Intertextualität Apokryphität: Eine Annäherung an den Begriff ‘christlicher Apokryphen” by Tobias Nicklas (55-78)

“Les Enseignements de Sylvanos et la parole tranchante. Jeux de mots et assonances plurilinguistiques” by Michèle Broze (79-86)

“Was the Gospel of Philip written in Syria?” by Bas van Os (87-94)

“Revisiting Preliminary Issues in the Acts of Thomas” by Susan E. Myers (95-112)

“Intersections: The Reception History of the Protoevangelium of James in Sources from the Christian East and the Qu’rÄn” by Cornelia B. Horn (113-150)

“‘Righteous people according to the Old Law’: Aelfric on Anne and Joachim” by Frederick M. Biggs (151-178)

“The Gospel of Nicodemus in the Slavic Manuscript Tradition: Initial Observations” by Georgi Mincziew and Malgorzata Skowronek (179-202)

ÉTUDE CRITIQUE: “Michael J. Kruger, The Gospel of the Savior: An Analysis of P. Oxy 840 and its Place in the Gospel Traditions of Early Christianity” by Tobias Nicklas (203-210)

ÉTUDE CRITIQUE: “La philosophie du gnostique Basilide” by Lucia Saudelli (211-222)

ÉTUDE CRITIQUE: “Une collection de paroles de Jésus non comprises dans les évangiles canoniques” by Enrico Norelli (223-244)

ÉTUDE CRITIQUE: “The Old Slavic Apocrypha in Serbian Translation” by Georgi Mincziew (245-254)

Bock and Wallace on Religious Intolerance in the Academy

July 11, 2008 by Tony

I have been rereading Darrell L. Bock and Daniel B. Wallace’s Dethroning Jesus: Exposing Popular Culture’s Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007) for a paper I am writing. I was struck by one statement in particular:

“Certain narrow perspectives reign on many campuses almost without any expression of alternate viewpoints. What makes this a scandal is that educational universities, especially state universities, are supposed to be places where intellectual perspectives held by the full array of the populace represented by the schools are weighed. These public schools should not be think tanks of a singular point of view. The give-and-take of diverse viewpoints is what makes the educational experience. Yet in many universities, when it comes to religion, representation by believers within the various religious perspectives is lacking, as evidenced by the numerous students who say their faith has come under attack in courses on religion” (p. 21).

The statement shows a surprisingly misguided view of the goals and methodology of Religious Studies in the Academy. In our courses we do not seek to provide instruction, or even a forum, for all viewpoints on religion (though here by “religion,” I think the authors mean Christianity). What we do seek to do is examine religious texts and related historical events with the same scientific methodology as other university/college disciplines (e.g., literary criticism, social-scientific criticism, etc.). Religious or faith-based perspectives have no role to play in the Academy, i.e., unless it is to study these perspectives in others. …

Life of Mary in two Altarpieces

July 11, 2008 by Tony

Education of Mary by her mother Anna. While in Paris last week, I visited the Musée National du Moyen Age. The museum is situated in the Latin Quarter of Paris, combining two earlier buildings: Gallo-Roman baths (1st-3rd cent.) and the former residence of the abbots of Cluny (15th cent.).

The museum itself was founded in 1843 and contains works of art assembled by Alexandre Du Sommerard. I found two pieces particularly interesting: A 14th cent. altar front with scenes of the life of Mary (including her education by her mother Anna), and a tryptich of the Assumption of the Virgin from the 16th cent.

Assumption of the Virgin.

July 8, 2008 by Tony

The Sanctury at Mt. Roland in Dole, France. This year’s AELAC (Association pour l’étude de la literature apocryphe chrétienne) réunion took place in Dole, France June 26-28. The association was formed by French and Swiss scholars in 1981 and is responsible for a well-regarded line of critical editions (Corpus Christianorum, Series Apocryphorum), the journal Apocrypha, the Pleiades Apocrypha Collection Études apocryphes chrétiens, and a series of French pocketbook editions of individual texts (La collection de poche apocryphes). The membership of the group has become increasingly international over the years and now includes scholars from across Europe, Russia, and North America. The annual meetings are wonderful opportunities to meet scholars in the field, engage in collaborative endeavours, and hear about new developments in the study of the texts.

Many of the presenters this year were North American, which was somewhat comforting to those of us who do not speak French. Several of the papers dealt with narratives of Jesus’ childhood and infancy, a topic of particular interest to me. Here are some of the highlights of the réunion.

Andrei Vinogradov presented a study of the Acts of Andrew and Matthaias. What was interesting from my perspective was that he informed me later of a Russian manuscript of the text which features a recital of events from Jesus’ life including four stories from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. He promised to send me a copy of his edition of the manuscript. I look forward to seeing where it fits into the Greek tradition of the text.…

Medieval Apocrypha

May 22, 2008 by Tony

Blogging has slowed down of late as I devote myself to a summer course on the History of the Bible (syllabus HERE) and to working on my edition of Infancy Gospel of Thomas from Vat. Syr. 159 for the AELAC réunuion in June. But I came across a new book on a few medieval apocrypha that I thought I’d bring to your attention.

The book is Tales From Another Byzantium: Celestial Journey and Local Community in the Medeival Greek Apocrypha (Cambridge UP, 2007) by Jane Baun. It focuses on two texts: the much-neglected Apocalypse of the Theotokos (aka the Apocalypse of Mary) and the Apocalypse of Anastasia. Both texts are 9/10th century reworkings of the Apocalypse of Paul, though there are versions of the Marian text believed to hail from the 4th century. The two apocalypses received some attention in 19th and early 20th century scholarship on the CA but, given the lateness of the texts, the CA scholars did not devote much time and energy to them. Technically, the Apocalypse of Anastasia is not an apocryphal text—an apocalypse certainly, but because it is not attributed to an early Christian figure, nor does it feature NT figures in their historical setting, it does not qualify as Christian Apocrypha (at least not as I see the category).

Mentioned also in the book are The Letter That Fell from the Sky, a text known from as early as the 5th century, the Didaskalia of our Lord Jesus …

April 27, 2008 by Tony

The program for this year’s réunion annuelle de l’AELAC (Association pour l’étude de la littérature apocryphe chrétienne) taking place June 26-28 has been posted on the association’s web site. You can access it HERE.