The Other Gospels: Additional Portraits of Jesus Chapter 11 The Other Gospels: Additional Portraits of Jesus

Key Topics/Themes Diversity of Gospels produced in early Christian period Reflect great diversity of views about nature of Jesus and his message Three classes of early, noncanonical Gospels © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Introduction The composite portrait of Jesus assumed by casual readers of the four canonical Gospels The actual uniqueness of each canonical Gospel Other Gospels produced in first three centuries CE © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Introduction (continued) A reflection of the early fluidity of Christian belief and practice Early use of edited versions of canonical Gospels: Gospel of the Nazoreans Marcion’s canon Tatian’s Diatessaron © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Gospel of Thomas © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Introduction to the Gospel of Thomas Discovery among the Nag Hammadi documents Consists of 114 sayings of Jesus The ostensible author: the apostle Didymos Thomas © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Thomas’s Diverse Contents 79 of 114 sayings resemble Synoptic material Possible Gnostic orientation of some sayings Lack of highly developed Christology Jesus as wisdom sage rather than savior who dies for sins of the world © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Independence from the Synoptic Gospels Strong possibility of Thomas preserving forms of Jesus’ sayings earlier than Synoptic accounts Negative attitude toward women © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Significance of the Gospel of Thomas Scholars uncertain of historical authenticity of its materials Demonstrates existence of early Christian communities that saw Jesus only as wisdom sage © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Gospel of Judas New discovery portraying Judas very differently from other accounts Irenaeus denounced as heretical in 180 Expresses a form of Gnostic dualism © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Case of Secret Mark Many teachers reserved special teachings for closest followers Clement of Alexandria: special version of Gospel of Mark reserved for Jesus’ secret teachings Copy discovered 1958. Some scholars say a forgery; other say genuine. Parallels with raising of Lazarus in John 11 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Gospel of Peter Version of the Passion of Jesus Close parallels with Matthew Includes scene of Jesus’ actual resurrection Scholarly debates about document’s origin and significance © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Gospels About Jesus’ Infancy and Childhood © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas Dated c. 150 CE Portrays child Jesus using divine power selfishly and vindictively Jesus grows in maturity and awareness of the need to use powers for good © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Infancy Gospel of James Also known as Protoevangelium of James Personal history of Mary, mother of Jesus Mary the result of miraculous birth Mary a descendant of King David Joseph Mary’s guardian, not husband © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Infancy Gospel of James (continued) Mary a perpetual virgin Contributed significantly to Mariology in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Summary Demonstrates that early Church did not settle quickly on single view of Jesus Demonstrates early competition between competing views about Jesus Debate settled in fifth century with establishment of doctrinal orthodoxy that condemned competing views about Jesus © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.