By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-03-25T04:58:26-04:00December 17th, 2024|Tags: Ancient Writings, Apocrypha, Early Christian Texts, Extracanonical Texts, Nag Hammadi, Noncanonical Texts, Translation Issues|
When people begin to realize the treasures of the Nag Hammadi Library, the Gospel of Mary, and other extracanonical writings, they'll be happy to find more English translations to read on two excellent websites. An interview with Mark M. Mattison and Rachel Bousfield.
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|2026-03-24T01:14:08-04:00March 27th, 2024|Tags: Ancient Writings, Christian Heresies, Early Christian Communities, Nag Hammadi, Noncanonical Texts, Oxyrhynchus|
Some of the earliest so-called Gnostic manuscripts ever discovered, as well as a variety of extra-canonical and magical manuscripts that challenge traditional notions of orthodoxy and heresy, came from the Oxyhrynchus garbage heap. Presenter: Adeline Harrington with host Dr. Shirley Paulson
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-02-14T05:04:08-05:00March 6th, 2024|Tags: Ascent of the Soul, Baptism, Gospel of Mary, Noncanonical Texts, Oxyrhynchus|
If the fragment is indeed from the Gospel of Mary, it would emphasize Mary's privileged position as the recipient of Jesus's teachings and strengthen the link with the canonical gospels. An interview with Dr. Sarah Parkhouse.
By Dr. Marko Marina|2023-11-20T04:57:42-05:00November 20th, 2023|Tags: Material World, Noncanonical Texts, Plato, Valentinus, Valentinus Series|
There are no radically negative views on this world and its creation and no particularly positive views of the material world, either. So the essential message of Valentinus’s poem is that everything eventually depends on the divine realm. (Part 2 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 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.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-02-05T18:28:54-05:00February 9th, 2022|Tags: Gospel of Peter, Mary Magdalene, Noncanonical Texts, Resurrection|
The more I read these other texts, the more light I find shining on the Bible and the spiritual things I’m interested in. Getting a better view of what Mary saw in Gethsemane is worth it.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2022-02-01T17:34:06-05:00February 2nd, 2022|Tags: Christianity, Jesus, Noncanonical Texts, Secret Revelation of John, Thecla|
"This is the biggest thrust from After Jesus Before Christianity. How will we end up talking about those first two centuries, now that you’ve exposed that these words don’t work right?" An interview with Dr. Shirley Paulson.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-02-14T05:19:37-05:00September 1st, 2021|Tags: Apocrypha, Apocryphal Texts, Dead Sea Scrolls, Noncanonical Texts, Religion|
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.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-02-14T05:26:29-05:00April 7th, 2021|Tags: Apocrypha, Apocryphal Texts, Early Christian Texts, Early Church, Noncanonical Texts|
"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.
