Read Ancient Texts Outside the Bible
Throughout most of Christian history – even when there was a canon – people felt it was worth telling other stories around the edges and in between the scenes of the canon. An interview with Dr. James McGrath.
Where Traditions about Jesus’s Apostles Came From
Cutting-edge research on ancient lists of apostles reveals their connection with the apocryphal acts of the apostles and shows why they (the lists) offer such important new information about the apostles. Presenters: Dr. Tony Burke and Dr. Shirley Paulson
How Illness and Heresy Became Entangled in Christianity
From then on, illness is associated with heresy, mostly because of the way it spreads. Diseases spread [when] you talk to somebody, and the ancients were aware of that type of dissemination. An interview with Dr. Jennifer Barry.
What Is the Apocrypha and Why Read It?
Apocrypha give us some real insights into beliefs and practices across Judaism and Christianity, across many cultures and thousands of years. An interview with Dr. Brandon Hawk.
What the Apostles Did after the Resurrection
"Christian believers for the past two millennia haven’t distinguished between canonical and noncanonical sources. Lots of stories in noncanonical texts have been just as much true stories for believers as canonical texts. Lots of stories in noncanonical texts have been just as much true stories for believers as canonical texts." An interview with Dr. Janet Spittler.
Shapira Deuteronomy Fragments: Forgery or Authentic?
"I would suggest keeping a cool head and reserving judgment. Good scholarship takes time—thinking about … all the stuff that comes out on the internet very, very rapidly." An interview about the Shapira Scroll with Dr. Tony Burke.
Why You Should Read New Testament Apocrypha
"There are some strange things in these texts, and even Thomas’s skin is one of them. But … there’s plenty of strangeness in the New Testament as well. " An interview with Dr. Tony Burke.
Protevangelium of James: New/Old Views of Mary
I was trained in traditional texts, but drawn to non-normative books and what they can reveal about gender and the construction of one’s identity. Franҫois Bovon considers the Protevangelium of James to be “useful for the soul.” An Interview with Dr. Lily Vuong.