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In The Bible and Beyond, you’ll read explorations of historical and spiritual questions about Jesus, women, salvation, healing, the meaning of life, and where Christianity came from. This blog opens the conversation that will help us – writers and readers – unlock some of the mysteries from extra-canonical books, forgotten scriptures, so-called “gnostic” gospels, and the Bible.
Please share your insights in the comments area of each post. Also, come on over to the Early Christian Texts Facebook page for more conversation, or share posts on Twitter to invite others to join in. Your thoughts can help the whole community see from a broader perspective.
Your questions and ideas about The Bible and Beyond will help guide what topics are chosen for discussion. Please use the form at the bottom of this page to share your suggestions.
Thank you for joining in this great conversation!
Finding Safety When There’s Good Reason to Be Afraid
"Surely the knowledge of [Jesus's] ‘sheltering grace’ is more useful than fear and anger, when it keeps us clear-headed."
Magic? Or New Testament Healing?
"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."
Mary and Early Christian Women: Hidden Leadership
"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."
When Climate Becomes an Issue of Survival, This Is How God Saves
"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."
Making Sense of Jesus’ Resurrection in 2019
"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..."
Finding a way past doctrines that hurt
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.
Racism In early Christian communities?
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.
What of the Christian Canon?
The canonical books of the Christian New Testament are foundational spiritual texts for Christians, but they are not the only texts written by early Christians.
Valentine’s Day Treat: Love, from Odes of Solomon
Throughout the Odes of Solomon, the writer praises the source of love that wells up and overflows into love for everything and everyone.
Finding God in the Secret Revelation of John
This was the God I learned in Jesus. Someone in the second century knew something very important about this God that encourages me even now.
It Takes Courage to Cross Religious Boundaries
We simply relate to God and God’s role on earth differently, even though we read the same scriptures and worship what we think of as the same God.
Is There Any Such Thing as a ‘Gnostic’ Gospel?
Irenaeus and others claimed that certain books contained "gnostic" heresy. ... "Gnosis" simply means "knowledge," and in fact, many considered having "gnosis" a good thing.
The Big Questions about Jesus, God, Christians, and the Rest of Us
These ancient books and gospels, written by people who wanted to understand and follow Jesus after he was gone, fill in many of the gaps from what we find in the New Testament writings and church teachings.
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