New Testament Theology(- ies ) & Non-Canonical Early Christian Literature

1. New Testament Theology(-ies) & Non-Canonical Early Christian Literature Catholic Bible Institute of Southern Arizona May 14, 2016 Felix Just, S.J. Loyola Institute for Spirituality http://catholic-resources.org

2. Opening Prayer • They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

3. CBI – Year 2 – Old Testament • Instructor: Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher • Prof. of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount Univ. • Fall 2016 • Starting Sept. 17 • Textbooks: • Cert: A. Ceresko, Intro to the OT: A Liberation Perspective.Orbis, 2001. • Enr: D. Smith-Christopher, The OT: Our Call to Faith & Justice. Ave Maria Press, 2013. • Opt: J. Collins, Short Intro to the Heb. Bible.

4. I) New Testament Theology/-ies • Brief Table-Group Discussions: • Is there a “main/overall message” in the N.T.? What is it? • Is there an overall message of the Whole Bible? • “The Bible says…” ?

5. Biblical Theology/-ies? • “Theology” of Bible/OT/NT as a whole? • Is there such a thing? • OR Better: A variety of different “theologies”? • “Theology” in/of EACH biblical author: • Torah: Deuteronomistic; Priestly • Prophetic; Wisdom; Apocalyptic • Evangelists: Mark, Matthew, Luke, esp. JOHN ! • PAUL • Other Apostles: enough evidence?

6. New Testament Theology Today • Newer Approach: ANCIENT Authors • Theology of each NT book/author • What are THEIR main issues? ideas? • Older Approach: MODERN Believers • How does the NT inform OUR faith? • “Scripture is the soul of theology” • Be careful of “proof-texting”

7. Categories of “Theology” • Biblical, Moral, Liturgical, Foundational, etc. • Systematic Theology: • God / Trinity • Jesus / Christology • Spirit / Pneumatology • Church / Ecclesiology • Salvation / Soteriology • End Times / Eschatology • Sacramental Theology • Lots of other –ologies! • See HO

8. Four Main Sources of “Theology” • Scripture • Oldest Core Foundation • Tradition • What is “passed on” or “handed down” • Reason • Logic, Science, Study • Experience • What real people actually find in life

9. Principles of Catholic Theology • Development of Doctrine: • “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New” (Augustine) • Older/biblical teachings are like seeds, which later grow and mature into full plants. • Hierarchy of Truths: • Not all doctrines/teachings carry the same weight or require the same level of assent. • Distinguish: Bible, Creeds, Dogmas, Doctrines, Magisterial Teachings, Theological Opinions • Core vs. ancillary; Unchangeable vs. changeable; Universal vs. particular; TRADITION vs. traditions

10. Group Discussions • How are Scripture/Bible and Theology related to each other?

11. Final Papers for Year 1: NT • See BACK of Today’s Schedule • TOPIC: What are the FIVE (5) most significant things you learned about the N.T. over the past year, and how do these new insights affect your life and faith? • Think of truly important insights that you gained this year, not just trivial facts about biblical history or content. • Try to think of five different things, not just five variations of the same point. • For each of your five points, not only briefly state WHAT you learned but also explain HOW this insight truly affects your life and how you live your faith.

12. Final Papers for Year 1: NT • Format: • Please do NOT follow the four-part structure that we used for the monthly papers (literal, rhetorical, personal, communal). • Rather, simply explain your five points in five numbered paragraphs (1 to 5). • Include a compact heading (your name & table no./name). • Your paper should be typed, single-spaced, using normal-sized font (10-12 point), with one-inch margins all around. • Write about two (2) pages total; each of your five points should require one or two paragraphs: more than just one sentence, but not a whole page each. • Due Date: • Please email your paper to your reader by May 30, 2016. • Your reader will then forward all papers from your table-group to both Sr. Paha and to Fr. Just.

13. II) Early Christian Literature • Definitions of “Canon” (Bible: OT & NT) & Criteria for Canonicity • Definitions of “Non-canonical”; “Apocryphal”; “Patristic”; “Pre/Post-Nicene”; etc. • Ancient Jewish Writings: OT Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha (HO, pg. 1) • Early Christian Writings: Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses (HO, pg. 2) • Patristic Literature: Letters, Martyrdoms, Apologies, Sermons, etc. (HO, pg. 3) • Pre-Nicene Writings: Didaché, Epistles of St. Ignatius, Martyrdom of Polycarp (HO, pp. 8-10)

14. Definitions • “Canon” of the Bible • OT Canon • NT Canon • “Non-canonical” • Non-biblical; non-scriptural • “Apocryphal” • Also “Pseudepigraphical” • “Patristic” • “Early Christian” • “Pre-Nicene” / “Nicene” / “Post-Nicene” • Council of Nicea (AD 325)

15. Canonization of the NT • Long Process of Development: • writing, sharing, collecting, editing, translating, debating, interpreting the books/letters now in NT 1st Cent. – individual writings composed 2nd Cent. – writings collected (4 Gospels; Paul’s Letters) 4th Cent. – early canon lists • some with fewer than books: 2 Peter? Revelation? • some with more: Didache, Shepherd of Hermas, etc. • 367 – Easter Letter of St. Athanasius – first list of all 27 16th Cent. – Council of Trent • First "official" listing of all 46 OT & 27 NT books • In reaction to Protestants(esp. regarding OT Apocrypha)

16. End of Luke & Beginning of John

17. Canonization of the NT • Main Criteria for Inclusion: 1) Apostolic Origin – • attributed to and/or based on preaching/teaching of first-generation apostles (or their closest companions) 2) Universal Acceptance – • acknowledged by all major Christian communities in the Mediterranean world (by end of 4th century) 3) Liturgical Use – • read publicly along with OT when early Christians gathered for Lord's Supper (weekly worship services) 4) Consistent Message – • containing theological ideas compatible with other accepted Christian writings (incl. divinity & humanity Jesus)

18. Canonization of the NT • Reasons for Non-Inclusion in NT Canon(opposites of the four criteria): • Apostolic Origin? – written by later generations • Universal Acceptance? – rejected by some communities • Liturgical Use? – too esoteric, obscure, private • Consistent Theology? – present God/Jesus differently • Christology (Who is Jesus?): • Catholic:Both/And:Both HUMAN and DIVINE • Jewish or Adoptionist: Human, not really divine • Gnostic or Docetist: Divine, not really human

19. Literature Categories (HO, p. 1) • Ancient Jewish Writings (pg. 1): • OT Apocrypha, a.k.a. Deutero-canonical books • OT Pseudepigrapha • Dead Sea Scrolls • Philo of Alexandria • Flavius Josephus • Rabbinic Literature • Bibliography: in print & online

20. Literature Categories (HO, pp. 2-3) • Patristic Literature (pg. 3): • Letters, Martyrdoms, Apologies, Sermons, etc. • Usually sorted by AGE: Pre-Nicene / Post-Nicene • Earliest: Ignatius, Clement, Papias, Polycarp, Justin • More Early Christian Writings (pg. 2): • Apocryphal Gospels • Apocryphal Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses, etc. • Nag Hammadi Library (4th Cent. Coptic/Egypt)

21. Pre-Nicene Writings (HO, pp. 8-10) • Didaché • “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” • Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch • Authentic Letters • Also more Pseudepigraphic Letters later • Martyrdom of Polycarp • Bishop of Smyrna (Turkey)

22. Table-Group Discussions What can we learn from these post-biblical early Christian texts? Why is it still important for us to read these today?

23. III) Intro to Apocryphal Books • There are MANY ancient Jewish or Christian writings not found in the OT or NT! • Have you read the entire text of… • …the Gospel of James? …of Peter? • …the Gospel of Thomas? (both?) • …the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)? …of Judas? – really? • …the Letter of Barnabas? …the Didache? • …the 1st Book of Enoch? …the Book of Jubilees? • Have you read ALL of the four NT Gospels? • The whole NT? The whole OT?

24. Introduction: Apocryphal Books • Should Catholic-Christians read these books? • Yes!(If you wish!) But for what purpose? • Historical knowledge: Jesus & apostles? – NO! • Historical knowledge: How early Christian beliefs developed in the first few centuries? – Yes! • Theological understanding: Our faith today? – – Only indirectly! (learning about anything helps us) • It's OK to read non-canonical books! • Some suppressed/neglected in past (dangerous?) • Widely available today; popular in some circles • Yet OT & NT are still much more important!

25. Important Definitions • "gospel" = "good news" = oral preaching • from Gk. Ευ̉αγγέλιον = Evangelion(cf. Eng. "Evangelist")eu = "good"; angelos = "messenger" • "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.' " (Mark 1:14-15; NRSV) • "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son…" (Romans 1:1-3; NRSV) • "But the birthday of the god (Caesar Augustus) was… the beginning of the good news for the world…" (Prien inscription)

26. Important Definitions (cont.) • "Gospel" = "written account about Jesus" • Mark was first to use "gospel" in this sense: • "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mark 1:1) • NT Gospel Titles(added in 2nd Cent.): • "Gospel according to Mark; Gospel according to…" • "Canon" • "Official List" of writings ("scriptures") considered foundational by some group: HB canon, NT canon… • Usually religious, but not only:e.g. Shakespearean canon

27. Important Definitions (cont.) • Four "Canonical Gospels" • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John • Dates: 1st century (60's – 90's) • Order? Mark probably first, then Matthew, Luke; John last • "Non-canonical Gospels" • Many other short books • mostly from 2nd to 4th cent. • about Jesus' life and/or his teachings • not all explicitly entitled “Gospel”

28. More Definitions • "Apocryphal" = "hidden, secret" • Cf. English "crypt," "cryptic" • MANY ancient Jewish or Christian books outside of HB or NT, overall called "Apocrypha" • Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses • Not "canonical"; i.e., not in anyone's Bible • Caution: Protestants refer to OT "Apocrypha": • Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Eccl., Baruch • Called "Deutero-canonical" by Catholics & Orthodox • Don't confuse with "Apocalyptic" • "Revelation"; lit. "uncovering, revealing, opening"

29. Important Definitions • "Pseudepigraphic" • Writings "falsely attributed" to famous figures of the past (esp. biblical, but not only) • Actual authors anonymous; written (much) later

30. Important Definitions • "Gnostic" • Religious systems related to Judaism & Christianity • Dualistic: good vs. evil; spirit vs. matter; M vs. F ! • Human life = "divine spark" trapped in mortal body • Salvation = freeing soul/spirit from its bodily prison,by attaining proper (secret/esoteric) "knowledge" of our divine origins & eternal destiny

31. III) Non-canonical Gospels • We know of at least 30 "Gospels" not in NT • many different origins, styles, theologies • some positively influenced Church tradition • others rejected as "Gnostic" and/or "heretical" • some texts complete, others badly damaged/ fragmentary, others known only by title!

32. III) Non-canonical Gospels (See the bibliography, on back of the handout.)

33. III) Non-canonical Gospels • Some of the most famous or influential: • Gospel of James:mid-2nd Cent. • mainly about Mary (of Nazareth) as the mother of Israel's salvation • Gospel of Peter:late 2nd Cent. (discovered 1886) • earliest non-canonical narrative account of Jesus' passion & resurrection • Infancy Gospel of Thomas:late 2nd Cent. • strange & miraculous events from Jesus' childhood,from ages 5 to 12 • Sayings Gospel of Thomas:2nd – 3rd Cent. • (more below)

34. III) Non-canonical Gospels • Nag Hammadi Library: • Over 50 texts in 13 codices, Coptic, mostly gnostic, discovered in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt • Gospel of Thomas: • Orig. 2nd – 3rd Cent.; some old fragments in Greek;Collection of 114 short sayings & teachings of Jesus • Gospel of the Egyptians • Gospel of Philip • Gospel of Truth • Many other books, including various Acts, Dialogues, Treatises, Apocalypses, etc.

35. Nag Hammadi Codices

36. Nag Hammadi – Codex IV

38. III) Non-canonical Gospels • More recent texts: • Secret Gospel of Mark(1958, Morton Smith) – forgery? • Gospel acc. to Peanuts(1965, Robert L. Short) • Gospel acc. to the Simpsons(2001/2007, Mark I. Pinsky)"Bigger and Possibly Even Better! Edition: With a New Afterword Exploring South Park, Family Guy, and Other Animated TV Shows" • Gospel acc. to Harry Potter(2002, Connie Neal)"Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker" • Gospel acc. to Doctor Seuss(2004, James Kemp) • Gospel acc. to Martha(2000, Barbara Murphy)

39. III) Non-canonical Gospels • "Are you serious?"(I hear you cry!) • How are these modern texts related tothe ancient Apocryphal Gospels? • Similarities: they are mostly authors’ attemptsto understand the teachings or meaning of Jesus, or, more broadly, of other spiritual themes • Differences: most modern texts are not forgeries; modern authors' names are known

40. Excerpts: Gospel of James (mid-2nd Cent.; Engl. trans. Andrew Bernhard) Chap. 1: In the histories of the twelve tribes of Israel, Joachim was an extremely rich man . . . As the great day of the Lord was drawing near and the children of Israel were bringing their offerings, however, Reubel stood in his way, saying, "You cannot offer your gifts first because you have not conceived a child in Israel." . . . Then, Joachim was extremely frustrated and did not appear to his wife, but gave himself to the desert and pitched his tent there. He fasted forty days and forty nights. All the while, Joachim was saying to himself, "I will not go down for food or drink until the Lord my God visits me; prayer will be my food and drink."

41. Excerpts: Gospel of James Ch. 2: Then, his wife Anna mourned and lamented greatly for two reasons, saying, "I lament that I am a widow and I lament that I am childless."…she petitioned the Lord, saying, "God of my ancestors, bless me and hear my prayer, just as you blessed our mother Sarah and gave her son Isaac to her." Ch. 4: Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood in front of her, saying, "Anna, Anna, the Lord God has heard your prayer. You will conceive and give birth and your child will be spoken of everywhere people live." And Anna said, "As the Lord God lives, whether I give birth to either a male or a female child, I will bring it as an offering to the Lord my God and it will be a servant to him all the days of its life."

42. Annunciation to Joachim & AnnaGaudenzio Ferrari(1544–45) Next, two angels came, saying to her, "Look your husband Joachim is coming with his flocks." For an angel of the Lord had gone down to Joachim, saying, "Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Go down from here. Look, your wife Anna has conceived in her womb."

43. Excerpts: Gospel of James Ch. 5: …After nine months, Anna gave birth and she said to the midwife, "What is it?" The midwife said, "A girl." Anna said, "My soul exalts this day." And she put her baby to bed. After her days were completed, Anna cleansed herself and gave her breast to the child and gave her the name Mary. Ch. 6 – At 6 months, Mary walks. At one year, she is blessed by the high priests. Ch. 7 – At age 3, Mary is taken to live in the temple. Ch. 8-9 – At age 12, Mary is given to Joseph, a widower. Ch. 11-12 – At age 16, Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel; then she visits her cousin Elizabeth. Ch. 13-14 – Joseph discovers her pregnant; Joseph's dream Ch. 15-16 – Mary & Joseph are questioned before the court.

44. Excerpts: Gospel of James Ch. 17-18 – They go to Bethlehem, and Jesus is born. Ch. 19-20 – A midwife attests that Mary is still a virgin. Ch. 21-22 – Magi come visit; Herod kills all the infant boys near Bethlehem; Mary hides Jesus; Elizabeth hides John Ch. 23-24 – Still seeking John, Herod murders Zechariah(see Matt 23:35 & Luke 11:51 – "…the blood of Zechariah son of Zarachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.) Ch. 25 – "I, James, wrote this history when there was unrest in Jerusalem, at the time Herod died. I took myself into the desert until the unrest in Jerusalem ceased. All the while, I was glorifying God who gave me the wisdom to write this history. And grace will be with all who fear the Lord. Amen.“ Birth of Mary / Revelation of James Peace to the writer and the reader

45. Gospel of James • Evaluation of this text: • Not accepted as "canonical" – but why not? • Yet also not "gnostic" nor "heretical" • Popular / traditional / influential in Christian history • Parallels parts of Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2 • But also adds material (both earlier & filling in gaps): • Birth of Mary to Joachim & Anna • Some episodes in Mary's childhood • Her marriage to Joseph • More details surrounding her pregnancy • More episodes re. Herod killing children & Zechariah

46. Infancy Gospel of Thomas (Mid-2nd Cent.; Engl. trans. Andrew Bernhard) (1)I, Thomas the Israelite, am reporting to you, all my brothers from the nations, to reveal the childhood and the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ, what he did in my country after he was born. This is the beginning of it. (2) When the boy Jesus was five years old, he was playing in a narrow part of a rushing stream. He was gathering the flowing waters into ponds, and immediately they were made clean, and he ordered these things with a single word.

47. Infancy Gospel of Thomas (2) (2 cont.) And after he made clay, he molded twelve sparrows from it. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things. . . Then, a certain Jew saw what Jesus was doing while playing on the Sabbath. Immediately, he departed and reported to Jesus' father, Joseph, "Look, your child is in the stream and he took clay and formed twelve birds and profaned the Sabbath?" And Joseph went to the area and when he saw him, he shouted, "Why are you doing these things that are not permitted on the Sabbath?" Jesus, however, clapped his hands and shouted to the sparrows, "Depart, fly, and remember me now that you are alive." And the sparrows departed shrieking. When the Jews saw this, they were amazed. . .

48. Infancy Gospel of Thomas (3) (3) The son of Annas the scribe was standing there with Jesus. Taking a branch from a willow tree, he dispersed the waters which Jesus had gathered. When Jesus saw what had happened, he became angry and said to him, "You godless, brainless moron, what did the ponds and waters do to you? Watch this now: you are going to dry up like a tree and you will never produce leaves or roots or fruit." And immediately, this child withered up completely. Then, Jesus departed and returned to Joseph's house. The parents of the one who had been withered up, however, wailed for their young child as they took his remains away. Then, they went to Joseph and accused him, "You are responsible for the child who did this."

49. Infancy Gospel of Thomas (4-8) (4) Next, he was going through the village again and a running child bumped his shoulder. Becoming bitter, Jesus said to him, "You will not complete your journey." Immediately, he fell down and died. Then, some of the people who had seen what had happened said, "Where has this child come from so that his every word is a completed deed?" And going to Joseph, the parents of the one who had died found fault with him. They said, "Because you have such a child, you are not allowed to live with us in the village, or at least teach him to bless and not curse. For our children are dead!" (5-8) Jesus, at age 5, is already wiser than teachers.

50. Infancy Gospel of Thomas (9) (9) And after a few days passed, Jesus was up on a roof of a house. And one of the children playing with him died after falling off the roof. . . When the parents of the one who had died came, they accused Jesus, "Troublemaker, you threw him down." But Jesus replied, "I did not throw him down, rather he threw himself down. When he was not acting carefully, he leaped off the roof and died." Jesus leaped off the roof and stood by the corpse of the boy and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Zeno," - for that was his name - "rise up, talk to me: did I throw you down?" And rising up immediately, he said, "No, Lord, you did not throw me down, but you did raise me up." And when they saw this, they were overwhelmed. The parents of the child glorified God on account of the sign which had happened and they worshipped Jesus.