By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-01T03:42:01-05:00November 5th, 2025|Tags: Acts of Paul and Thecla, Apocrypha, Empowerment, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Thecla, Timothy|
Even if we may not like the text itself very much, it points us to questions we usually do not ask anymore. Maybe we should start thinking about these questions a little bit deeper. An interview with Dr. Tobias Nicklas
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-07-29T04:33:01-04:00August 6th, 2025|Tags: 1 Timothy, Acts of Paul and Thecla, Baptism, Empowerment, Thecla|
This is not only an entertaining story, but deeply significant in terms of the development of Christian thought going on in the second century, when so many things were happening, and in such a robust period of time. An interview with Dr. Perry Kea
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2023-10-09T00:44:01-04:00October 10th, 2023|Tags: Apostles, COVID-19, Early Jesus Followers, Fear and Protection, Nag Hammadi, Thecla|
A tentative assessment of the work of the Jesus followers during the first pandemic depicts relatively small communities who stayed loyal to their healing mission, even though they were somewhat invisible to the overview of the pandemic situation.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2022-05-06T09:22:39-04:00May 11th, 2022|Tags: Gospel of Luke, Parables, Thecla, Translation Issues|
The elder is not simply a son; he is the father’s child, … In the terms of first century cultural expectations, the observant reader will notice that this father is playing the role of a mother.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-24T01:04:02-04:00March 2nd, 2022|Tags: 1 Timothy, Deb Saxon, Early Christian Communities, Gender Issues, Thecla|
Thecla is willing to die, but she doesn’t patiently endure violence toward her. … So that’s a very different dynamic than what is often presented as the pattern that a good submissive woman should follow. An interview with Dr. Deborah Niederer Saxon.
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|2022-01-13T12:44:52-05:00January 12th, 2022|Tags: Fear and Protection, Heaven, Material World, Thecla|
Heaven was not found in another place or time, but right in the midst the world she inhabited. The world’s fire was blazing, but in her other dimension of thought, Thecla was holding tight to God.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-24T01:16:53-04:00September 3rd, 2020|Tags: Extracanonical Texts, Odes of Solomon, The Thunder Perfect Mind, Thecla|
"I saw that I was womanish. I saw myself in it…. In the feminist movement, it was about being a woman. In the womanist tradition, it’s about being a woman in community." An interview with Rev. Stephanie A. Duzant.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2020-02-11T09:58:19-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Tags: Christian Heresies, Deb Saxon, Extracanonical Texts, Mary Magdalene, Perpetua, Thecla|
"Orthodoxy glorifies martyrs. So the stories of women martyrs are lifted up, but women who speak up or stand up in any other way are criticized and challenged." An Interview with Deb Saxon, PhD.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2023-08-01T05:46:42-04:00August 26th, 2019|Tags: Acts of Paul and Thecla, Paul, Sex, Thecla|
This discussion concentrates on Thecla's freedom and leadership, especially the ways her gender and sexuality is far more than what has often been considered “virginity” and/or “celibacy.” Presenter: Dr. Hal Taussig (with host Dr. Shirley Paulson) Includes transcript!
