Home » The Bible and Beyond
Enjoy posts about a variety of subjects, all designed to help you look at religion, the Bible, and early Christian texts in a new way.
By Mark M. Mattision|2019-08-05T17:16:53-04:00July 25th, 2019|Tags: Allogenes, Ascent of the Soul, Gospel of Mary, Tchacos Codex, The Book of the Stranger|
Since translating the fifth-century version of The Gospel of Mary, I’ve often pondered its central feature – a story about a soul’s perilous journey upward past seven malevolent Powers that seek to restrain it.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-07-17T04:03:49-04:00July 15th, 2019|Tags: Early Church, Judaism, Justin Martyr, Marcion|
If the long-held distrust between the two faith communities is found to be built on shifting sands, perhaps the day will come when Christians and Jews can unite in a real mutual love of the Shepherd (Psalm 23).
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-06-20T00:17:41-04:00June 20th, 2019|Tags: Early Christian Art, Early Jesus Followers, Mary, Women|
Watch and listen as Dr. Ally Kateusz explains the historical and theological significance of the modern-day discovery and interpretation of ancient Christian art.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-06-06T02:22:23-04:00June 6th, 2019|Tags: Fear and Protection, Gospel of Mary, Jesus|
"Surely the knowledge of [Jesus's] ‘sheltering grace’ is more useful than fear and anger, when it keeps us clear-headed."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-05-21T19:38:54-04:00May 21st, 2019|Tags: Healing, Jesus, The Greek Magical Papyri|
"The 'good news' I heard that night had a transforming effect on me. The love I felt was now everywhere around me. Healing and the transforming power ... of God have become intertwined for me now."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-05-09T03:12:15-04:00May 9th, 2019|Tags: Book Reviews, Early Christian Art, Early Christian Communities, Early Christian Texts|
"Kateusz’ approach to her study (her methodology) is almost as important as the results of her research, because it opens up new channels of discovery beyond her own work."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-04-25T05:37:46-04:00April 25th, 2019|Tags: Climate, Early Christian Texts, Ecology, Secret Revelation of John|
"Maybe it’s not too great a leap of faith to consider that the Creator of the world would be able to revive it (transform it / save it) when we allow the Spirit of Life to transform us first."
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-04-11T03:39:55-04:00April 11th, 2019|Tags: Early Christian Communities, Early Jesus Followers, Jesus, Resurrection|
"Even if the stories about the crucifixion were contradictory or embellished, the fact is that there was something important about the meaning of Jesus, told in so many ways..."
By Deb Saxon, PhD|2019-03-25T01:27:03-04:00March 28th, 2019|Tags: Early Jesus Followers, The Care of the Self in Early Christian Texts|
In [the] ancient texts, I found a model of what I have longed for— a tradition in which I can explore the meaning of Jesus for my own life but also work alongside those whose beliefs differ from mine.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2019-03-12T04:53:15-04:00March 15th, 2019|Tags: Divisiveness, Early Christian Communities, Racial Justice|
We can't look to antiquity to find the model for classless (raceless) society, but some ancient writers do help us consider whether our divisions are based on theologically sound viewpoints.
