Early Christian Texts: The Bible and Beyond
Those who have immersed themselves in these texts have been strengthened, shocked, inspired, and healed by relating to them. They contain extraordinary gems of wisdom, but also challenge preconceived notions about what it meant and what it means to identify as a follower of Jesus.
The Bible and Beyond Discussions
Once a month, at 8–9 pm Eastern Time on Monday nights (generally the fourth of the month), Early Christian Texts presents an online discussion pertaining to the early Christ movement texts. These discussions, hosted or presented by Shirley Paulson, PhD, begin with a well-framed overview of the particular text, and then participants ask questions and share their own insights about the meanings and potential for these texts.
Introducing Nag Hammadi and Related Texts
Introductory Course For the Nag Hammadi Series – The Nag Hammadi collection and other major 20th-century textual discoveries inspire and challenge today’s Christians. This course introduces these remarkable ancient texts. Learn what they’re about, why they were lost for so long, why they are so controversial, and what impact they could have on modern Christianity. This self-study course is free (registration required). Learn more.
The Gospel of Thomas Goes Public
First in the Nag Hammadi Series – New and revised second edition now available. Presenter Dr. Shirley Paulson explains the complex but extremely important relationship between the recently discovered Gospel of Thomas and the Bible, while helping you gain confidence in your own ability to interpret and make use of it. Learn more.
Healing Violence in the World: Letter of Peter to Philip
Second Course in the Nag Hammadi Series – Learn about some surprising new ideas about Jesus in this little-known text, the Letter of Peter to Philip. Jesus gives his ambassadors (i.e. disciples) instructions in six steps that lead his followers (from long ago and now) to experience peace, joy, and even healing in the face of violence. Learn more.
The Thought of Norea: Christ’s Sister Savior
Third in the Nag Hammadi Series – In this course, students will discover that a female divine Savior was among a few other Saviors who helped the early Christ followers. The Thought of Norea, found in the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945, not only indicates the reality of this female Savior, but in her divine-human state, she illustrates for humanity how her divinity might be attainable by others. Learn more.
Fourth Course in the Nag Hammadi Series – This course explores the ancient writing titled the Secret Revelation of John. [Note: this is not the biblical Revelation TO John.] The remarkable 1945 discovery of this ancient text expands our modern understanding of the early Christ people in extraordinary ways. Written about the same time or just a bit later than other biblical texts, it reveals a side of the Jesus movement that had been lost to the world for over 1600 years. In this online course, Dr. Shirley Paulson explores the book’s three major ideas – gems – that support its healing and saving message. Learn more.
Mary Magdalene: A Leader for the First and Twenty-First Centuries
Christians have imagined Mary Magdalene as the repentant prostitute for well over a thousand years, but now, after the discovery of the Gospel of Mary and other early Christian writings, we know there is not a shred of truth to that. She was also the one person most closely associated with the resurrection of Jesus. Was she actually one of Jesus’s disciples? Or even the first apostle? Learn more.
Ancient Christian Texts for Modern Healing
This course focuses on healing in the first centuries after Jesus and how those ideas can be made practical today. The course introduces several extracanonical texts including the Nag Hammadi works. Experienced readers of the texts and those new to the material will find engaging material, challenging learners to engage in healing the world we live in now. Learn more.
After Jesus Before Christianity: New Discoveries
This course, After Jesus Before Christianity: New Discoveries, is presented by Dr. Shirley Paulson and Dr. Deborah N. Saxon. The course is designed to help students gain a better understanding of early Jesus people by examining information from a wide variety of sources, including extracanonical texts found in the last century and the book After Jesus Before Christianity. Learn more.
Illuminating the Secret Revelation of John: Catching the Light
The Book by Shirley Paulson
The Secret Revelation of John was probably written around the same time some of the later books of the Bible took shape, but it was lost and buried around the 4th century. Although it was hidden throughout most of Christian history, its message seems especially relevant today because it appeared at a time somewhat like our own. Shirley Paulson introduces readers to the ancient text in her new book, Illuminating the Secret Revelation of John: Catching the Light.
Learn more here!
The Bible and Beyond Blog
The Bible and Beyond blog explores historical and spiritual questions about Jesus, women, salvation, healing, the meaning of life, and where Christianity came from. This blog opens the conversation that will help all writers and readers unlock some of the mysteries from extra-canonical books, forgotten scriptures, so-called “gnostic” gospels, and the Bible. Read Shirley Paulson’s introductory post here.
The Bible and Beyond Podcast
The Bible and Beyond podcast is a series of interviews with scholars who are able to unlock mysteries from extra-canonical books, forgotten scriptures, so-called ‘gnostic’ gospels, as well as the Bible. Host Shirley Paulson, Ph.D., and her guests explore historical and spiritual questions about Jesus, gender, women, salvation, healing, and the meaning of life. The discoveries these scholars share don’t always fit with what we’ve been told, but time and again they lead us toward a deeper intimacy with Jesus.
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Jesus the Healer, Jesus the Magos? Rethinking Magic and Religion in Antiquity
"They would focus on the fact that he (Jesus) was Jewish, and so that would make him exotic. And they would also focus on some of the stories that he had knowledge of secret or foreign incantations to heal." An interview with Dr. David Frankfurter.
What Is the Kingdom of God? Rethinking Sacred Space
So I think it can be hugely shaping. And it makes it really kind of a perfect example of something with no physical structure that can still be very core to our identity and how we live our lives. An interview with Dr. Karen Winell.
Bible and Beyond Presentations
Introductory and In-Depth Online or In-Person Presentations by Shirley Paulson, PhD
The Bible and Beyond Presentation series offers courses and workshops designed for use by churches, conferences, and organizations. Providing a unique opportunity for participants to experience introductory or in-depth classes on various aspects of early Christian texts, the presentations can be offered in-person or online. The combination of Shirley Paulson’s experience with healing, scholarship, and research in Practical Theology evokes ever-new questions and conversations based on ancient texts. Shirley has nearly two decades of experience presenting lectures, classes, and workshops on early texts. Learn more about the variety of presentations offered.
