Diversity in Early Christianity: Early Christian Apocrypha and “Gnostic” Writings
(Graduate course; Fall 2005)
Course description:
This course explores the diversity of early Christian thought and practice using extra-canonical writings of the first three centuries that were collected together (by scholars) in the so-called New Testament Apocrypha and (by monks) in the so-called Nag Hammadi library. Our focus will be two-fold in working our way through specific writings:
1) We will be concerned with the types or genres of literature produced by Christians and in assessing the common characteristics of these genres, placing our discussion within the Jewish and Greco-Roman literary context.
2) We will focus our attention on discussing and comparing the various forms of Christian belief and practice reflected in the writings. In the process we will need to address theoretical and historiographical issues surrounding what has traditionally been called “orthodoxy” and “heresy”.
Required books:
- Bible (modern translation: NRSV, NIV, NEB, Jerusalem)
- Wilhelm Schneemelcher, The New Testament Apocrypha. R. M. Wilson, trans. 2 volumes. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1991-92.
- Bentley Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures: a New Translation With Annotations and Introductions. Anchor Bible.
- Bart D. Ehrman, Lost Christianities: The Battle for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- Additional readings to be assigned (on reserve or on my door)
Recommended:
- Wayne A. Meeks, ed., HarperCollins Study Bible
- J.B. Lightfoot and J.R. Harmer, The Apostolic Fathers, 2nd edition. Revised and edited by Michael W. Holmes. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989.
Readings
Everyone is responsible for reading works listed for a particular week (under the “readings” heading), especially the ancient sources. Come prepared for discussion. Our principal focus for discussion will be the primary sources (early Christian literature) and forms of Christianity represented within. Readings in Ehrman will provide us an overview of writings that were not included in the early Christian canon and a discussion of the problems in approaching so called “heresies”. Additional readings will be required of the presenter in a particular week (to be arranged with me).
Online discussions
There will be ongoing discussions (with opportunity for you to post your own comments or questions) on my blog: http://www.philipharland.com/Blog
Evaluation:
- Seminar presentations or discussion leadership, ongoing participation, and online participation (= 40%)
- Book review, due week 4 (Sept 28) (5 pages double-spaced, no longer = 20%)
- Essay proposal and critical bibliography, due week 6 (Oct 12) at beginning of class (10%)
- Major research paper, due week 13 (Nov 30) at beginning of class (20-25 pages = 30%)
Presentations / Discussion leadership (to be discussed in more detail)
Each student will have an opportunity to present twice in the term:
1) On one occasion you will discuss the book you reviewed (for 10-15 minutes). The books for review are listed on the final page of this syllabus and the date of presentation is mentioned in the discussion schedule.
2) On another occasion you will introduce and provide background on the ancient “writing of the week” (for 15-20 minutes followed by leading discussion for another 10 minutes). This will involve additional preparatory readings for the presenter, which will be discussed with me more than one week in advance of the presentation itself (I will guide you to some key articles or books to assist you).
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DISCUSSION SCHEDULE:
Orientation
Week 1 (Sept 7)
The academic study of early Christian diversity
Traditional and scholarly theories on “orthodoxy” and “heresy”
Introduction to the New Testament Apocrypha and genres of early Christian literature
Readings: Schneemelcher (New Testament Apocrypha), 1.1-76
Week 2 (Sept 14)
Discussion of Ehrman: Problems in the study of “orthodoxy” and “heresy”
Readings: Ehrman (entire book)
Focus questions: What is Ehrman’s overall argument in the book and how does he build this up in specific chapters? What strengths or weaknesses do you find in Ehrman’s arguments?
What does Ehrman’s survey show about the diversity of Christianity and the problems in studying “orthodoxy” and “heresy”? How can we draw out religious belief and practice from the apocryphal writings?
Gospels and Stories About Jesus
Week 3 (Sept 21)
Gospels and the question of genre
Coptic Gospel of Thomas: Teachings and sayings of Jesus
Readings: Schneemelcher, 1.77-109; The Gospel According to Thomas* (in Layton [on reserve], aka Coptic Gospel of Thomas); Gospel of Mark* (Bible); Aune, “The Genre of the Gospels”, “The Gospels as Ancient Biography” in The New Testament in Its Literary Environment (on reserve)
Week 4 (Sept 28)
Infancy Gospels of Thomas and of James: Gospels focusing on the birth and childhood of Jesus
Readings: Schneemelcher, 1.414-452, esp. Infancy Story of Thomas* and Protevangelium of James*; Matthew chs. 1-2 (Bible); Luke chs. 1-2 (Bible)
Book review presentation: Burridge 2004
Week 5 (Oct 5)
Gospel of Peter and Gospel of Nicodemus: Gospels focusing on Jesus’ death and/or resurrection
Readings: Schneemelcher, 1.414-469, esp. Gospel of Peter* and Gospel of Nicodemus* (including the Acts of Pilate, and Christ’s Descent into Hell); Mark 14-16 // Matthew 26-28 // Luke 22-24 // John 18-21
Book review presentation: Williams 1996
Week 6 (Oct 12)
Gospel of Mary (Magdalene) and the Sophia of Jesus Christ: Dialogue Gospels
Readings: Gospel of Mary* and Sophia of Jesus Christ* // Eugnostos the Blessed (on reserve); Schneemelcher 1.228-232 and 390-397
Book review presentation: King 2003
Week 7 (Oct 19)
“Jewish” Gospels and related forms of Christianity: Ebionites and others
Readings: Schneemelcher, 1.134-178, esp. Gospels of Nazareans, Ebionites, and Hebrews*; Schneemelcher, 2.483-541, esp. Introductory Writings and the Clement Romance of the Pseudo-Clementines*
Book review presentation: Pervo 1987
Acts of Apostles and Martyrdom Accounts
Week 8 (Oct 26)
Acts of Paul (and Thecla): Asceticism and martyrdom in apocryphal Acts
Readings: Schneemelcher and Bienert, 2.1-27 (introduction); Schneemelcher, 2.75-101, 213-270, esp. The Acts of Paul (and Thecla)*; Acts of the Apostles (Bible); Aune, “Luke-Acts and Ancient Historiography” in The New Testament in Its Literary Environment (on reserve)
Book review presentation: Trevett 1996
Week 9 (Nov 2)
Acts of John: Apostolic adventures
Readings: Schneemelcher, 2.152-212 = The Acts of John*
Book review presentation: Lalleman 1998 and/or Thomas 2003
Apocalypses
Week 10 (Nov 9)
Apocalypse of Peter: Otherworldy journeys and tours of hell
Readings: Schneemelcher, 2.542-568 and 2.603-638, esp. The Apocalypse of Peter* and The Ascension of Isaiah; John’s Apocalypse (Bible)
Book review presentation: Cartlidge and Elliott 1991
“Gnostic” Interpretations of Scripture and Other Writings
Week 11 (Nov 16)
Apocryphon of John: Interpretations of Genesis
Readings: The Secret Book According to John* (in Layton [on reserve]); Williams, “What Kind of Thing Do Scholars Mean by ‘Gnosticism’: A Look at Four Cases” in Rethinking ‘Gnosticism’ (on reserve)
Week 12 (Nov 23) FILM
Week 13 (Nov 30)
Gospel of Philip: Gnostic rituals
Readings: Schneemelcher, 1.179-208 = The Gospel According to Philip* (in Layton [on reserve])
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Books for review (and for presentation)
(All book reviews are due week 4, but you will also discuss the book during class on the specified dates: see “Book review presentation” references in the discussion schedule)
Richard A. Burridge, What are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
David R. Cartlidge and J. Keith Elliott, Art and the Christian Apocrypha. London: Routledge, 2001.
King, Karen. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala. Santa Rosa, CA: Polebridge Press, 2003.
Lalleman, P.J. The Acts of John: A Two-Stage Initiation into Johannine Gnosticism. Studies on the Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles, vol. 4. Leuven: Peeters, 1998
Pervo, Richard I. Profit with Delight: The Literary Genre of the Acts of the Apostles. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1987.
Thomas, Christine M. The Acts of Peter, Gospel Literature, and the Ancient Novel.
Rewriting the Past. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Trevett, Christine. Montanism: Gender, Authority and the New Prophecy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Williams, Michael A. Rethinking “Gnosticism”: An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category. Princeton University Press, 1996.