By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-24T09:32:38-04:00April 1st, 2026|Tags: Christian Canon, Gnosticism, Gospel of Mary, Mary Magdalene, Women|
“When I use the word ‘gnostic’ or ‘gnosis’… I’m speaking about gnosis in its original sense… an inner awakening to the divine presence already dwelling within us.” An interview with Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-05-26T15:45:58-04:00May 28th, 2025|Tags: Bible, Christian Canon, Early Christian Communities, Gospels, New Testament|
Communities across the ancient world contributed more to the process than we might expect. While some authoritative men offered strong opinions about which texts were useful or correct, the eventual canon reflected a broader practice of community practices.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-05-19T00:52:01-04:00February 26th, 2025|Tags: Ancient Writings, Apocrypha, Apocryphal Texts, Christian Canon|
By themselves, the Apocryphal writings are fascinating, and historically, they have much to tell us about the ancient state of religious thought. An interview with Dr. Matthew Goff
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2024-11-12T23:55:16-05:00November 13th, 2024|Tags: Ancient Writings, Christian Canon, Dead Sea Scrolls, Demons, Gratitude, Thanksgiving|
I hope the exposure of both myths—Thanksgiving traditions and canonical traditions—resets the course for a more informed appreciation of the treasures buried in the pseudepigrapha even as some Americans have embraced a more inclusive Thanksgiving table.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-03-25T05:01:24-04:00April 24th, 2024|Tags: Christian Canon, Fundamentalism, Noncanonical Texts, Religious Boundaries, Syrophoenician Woman|
Jesus told a Canaanite woman she was unworthy of the blessings reserved for his own people, but her counter-text challenged his 'canon.' Shirley Paulson's experience with extracanonical writings resonates with this challenge. Presenter: Dr. Shirley Paulson with host Helen Mathis.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-08-12T17:50:53-04:00April 3rd, 2024|Tags: Ancient Writings, Bible, Christian Canon, Irenaeus, Shepherd of Hermas|
If written in 200, the traditional interpretation of it—which I am challenging—is that this is an attempt to form a closed canon, the kind I had said we don't really see until the 300s. An interview with Dr. David Brakke.
By Dr. Marko Marina|2026-04-09T21:36:44-04:00October 18th, 2023|Tags: Christian Canon, Christian Heresies, Christianity, Gnosticism, Valentinus, Valentinus Series|
Modern scholarship has, therefore, painted a much more complex picture of early Christianity. It was a fluid world with different streams, communities, and leaders. And Valentinus was among them! (Part 1 of 4)
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-02-14T05:04:49-05:00September 6th, 2023|Tags: Apocryphal Texts, Christian Canon, Dr. James McGrath, Genesis, Mandaeans, Noncanonical Texts|
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.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-08-31T03:01:23-04:00August 31st, 2022|Tags: Christian Canon, Extracanonical Texts, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Thomas, New Testament, Noncanonical Texts|
Some obscure points in the canon may have much greater significance in the larger context of other works. Here is a detailed example to illustrate this point. Starting with Colossians.
By Eric C. Smith, PhD|2022-08-10T08:55:54-04:00August 10th, 2022|Tags: Bible, Christian Canon, Early Christian Art|
Is a t-shirt with John 3:16 on it bible? It’s not a bible, it’s not the Bible, but it’s bible, in some sense.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-02-14T05:17:29-05:00August 3rd, 2022|Tags: Bible, Christian Canon, Early Christian Art, Gospel of John|
So when we see, for example, a painting, in the catacombs of Jonah being cast out of the big fish, is it Bible itself? An interview with Eric Smith, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2024-06-07T04:17:42-04:00May 31st, 2022|Tags: Art Dewey, Christian Canon, Genesis, Hebrew Bible, Noncanonical Texts, Secret Revelation of John|
The canon is not something that is happening in the second century. It becomes an issue particularly in the fourth century. Canon, before, simply meant “these are the top ten books in my group.” A discussion between Dr. Shirley Paulson and Dr. Art Dewey.
