What Are the Apocrypha?

1. What Are the Apocrypha? ApostolicityCanonicityPseudepigraphy

2. “Apostolicity” From Apóstolos to Apostolikós

3. Jesus & hoi Apóstoloi • Jesus as envoy of God, bringing gospel • Disciples as envoys of Jesus and his gospel • Q • GMark • But GLuke conflates “Apostles” with “the Twelve” • Paul claims to fit “apostle” model • Unmediated Christophanic call makes him “eyewitness” • Independent of “styloi” in Jerusalem • Cf. Gnostic gospels • Cf. Didache’s itinerant preachers

4. Luke Sets Stage for Paradigm Shift • In GLuke presents “the apostles” = “the Twelve” • Qualifications of an apostle-member-of-the-twelve in Acts 1:21–22: • Male companion of Jesus • Can give eyewitness testimony to historia Jesu ‘from beginning to the end’ • Witness to post-resurrection Christophany and commission • Novelty: “One of the Twelve” can be called by the ekklesia (not solely by Jesus)

5. Significance of Eyewitness • “Apostles” are guarantors of validity & reliability of the kerygma • Viz.Luke 1:1–4, re: “the certainty of the teachings [Theophilus has] received” • Cf. 1 John 1:1–4, eyewitness testimony to the “word of life”

6. Value of Traditio • Polycarp of Smyrna • Traditio: transmission of message by word-of-mouth from eyewitness to non-eyewitness • Now chain of persons guarantees validity of message

7. Paradigm Shift Complete c. CE 125 • Reification in the later Pauline traditions • The church is “founded on the apostles” (Eph 3:20, [who must be dead]) • Anti-Gnostic emphasis on holding fast to the received tradition (“the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ” in 1 Tim 6:3) • Validity of teaching urged to validate authority of preacher (e.g., 1 Tim 4:6–12)

8. From Apóstolos to Apostolikós • “Apostolicity” becomes key mechanism for managing doctrinal disputes • “Apostolic” message is “sure” foundation • Ignatius of Antioch’s letters • Martyrdom of Polycarp (poss. written by Ignatius) • Reification of message: • Implies rejection of Polycarp’s catena • Traditio or kerygma is valid, regardless of persons involved in traditioning process

9. Rise of Pseudo-Apostolic Works • Standard of “apostolicity” is precondition for pseudo-apostolic phenomena • Pseudonymous writings assume acceptance of category/value-judgment • Use contrary “apostolic” testimony • Presume authority of “apostolic” name/figure • Contemporary doctrinal arguments set as “apostle’s” teaching • Legendary Acts as encomia • Satisfy Polycarp’s catena • Convey to audience “eyewitness” testimony, or even ipsissimi verbi Jesu • Implies message still validated by person who testifies

10. Canonicity “Books That Defile the Hands”

11. To Read or Not to Read (Aloud) • Question of Canon = question of Lectionary • Is the “word” in this text valuable for public proclamation in the Liturgy? • Is the message too esoteric for the laity? • No “conspiracy” to destroy other works • Survival shows continued scholarly use • Copyist tradition in monasteries & oratories

12. Yes Diaspora Jews Origen, and most other 1st–3rd c. Christian writers Ambrose & Augustine Council of Trent, in 4th session (8Apr1546), defined acceptance No Gregory of Nazianzus Epiphanius Jerome Debated in West, yet used in Liturgy Varied OT Canons Q. 1: Include deutero-canonicals?

13. Varied NT Canons in Early Church • Marcion of Sinope (d. c. CE 160) • GLuke (expurgated of OT refs) • 10 letters of “Paul”, including • Ep. to Laodicea • Ep. to Alexandria • The Muratorian Fragment (c. CE 180) • Athanasius Festal Epistle (c. CE 367) • Viz. Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History III.24??

14. The Muratorian Fragment (c. CE 180) • Possibly constructed by Hippolytus of Rome • Ms. missing beginning and probably some of end • List includes: • Four Gospels (gives the number) • First name is missing • GMark • GLuke • GJohn • 13 Letters of “Paul” • 1–3 John • Revelation • Apocalypse of Peter • Wisdom of Solomon

15. Criteria for Canonicity • Explicit criteria • “Apostolicity” • Antiquity • Orthodoxy • Widespread, frequent liturgical use • Implicit criteria • Written before c. CE 150 • Provenance: city along main trade route • Aristocratic author • Hellenistic and Romanized urban cultural milieu

16. Pseudepigraphy Will the Real Apostle Please Stand Up?

17. Competing “Apostolic” Traditions • Substitution tactics (e.g., Colossians v. Philemon) • Claim same apostle’s authority to influence doctrinal or polity changes • Pastoral Epistles’ disputation of women’s leadership roles • Colossians’ delay-of-the-parousia tactic v. 1Thessalonians • Use weight of authority in doctrinal contests • True v. false prophecy

18. Inquiring Minds Want to Know • Curiosity about unknown periods in Jesus’ life • Infancy Gospel of Thomas • Vindication of Jesus’ status • Gospel of Peter • Acts of Pilate • Sequels to the canonical Gospels and Acts • Acts of Peter, Andrew, Philip, John, Paul, etc. • Appeal of the miraculous • Legend traditions • Martyrologies

19. Response to New Developments • Exploratory theology • Assumption of the Virgin Mary • Gospel of Bartholomew • Pistis Sophia • Sophia Jesu Christi • Church orders • Apostolic Church Order • Didache 7ff • Paraenetic material • Didache 1–6 • Epistles of Ignatius of Antioch

20. Contending with Outsiders • Facing Persecution • Apocalypse of Paul • Apocalypse of Thomas • Apocryphon of James • Martyrologies • Apologetics • Correspondence between Seneca and Paul • Kerygma Petrou • At least some of the Acts