1	The Historical Veracity of the New Testament Documents Lecture 4 – Documents in Direct Support and Time 1: The Archko Volume and Apocryphal Gospels
2	The Archko Volume Rev. W. D. Mahan of De Witt, Missouri Visited by H. C. Whydamam of Germany 1856 Reported studying in the Vatican Library where among the 560,000 volumes there he found a record concerning Pilate He produced a translation for Mahan Through research, Mahan discovered potentially many similar documents in Vatican and Constantinople
3	The Archko Volume In 1883, Mahan traveled to Rome and Constantinople In the company of Dr. McIntosh and Dr. Twyman visited The Vatican The Jewish Talmuds at Constantinople Discovered manuscripts and translated them with McIntosh and Twyman
4	Bibliographical Test Bibliographical test Vatican has the manuscripts and won’t affirm or deny (is known to hold back questionable or embarrassing documents) Constantinople Talmunds are undiscovered Number of manuscripts is unknown (at least one each) Lapse between originals and manuscripts unknown (Mahan describes them as very old) Bibliographical problems
5	Internal Test No internal contradictions They are cohesive and comprehensible Degree of the witness Primary or secondary Geographically placed Chronologically present
6	External Test Nothing in any of the Archko documents is substantially contradicted by the report of Any other document in antiquity Any known archeological find Some problems based on style and presentation (historically not considered a problem)
7	Legal-Historical Tests Bibliographical – questionable Internal – pass External – pass
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9	The Archko Volume The Archeological Writings of the Sanhedrim and Talmuds of the Jews Constantine’s letter in regard to having fifty copies of the Scriptures written and bound Jonathan’s interview with the Bethlehem shepherds—Letter of Melker, Priest of the Synagogue at Bethlehem Gamaliel’s interview with Joseph and Mary and others concerning Jesus
10	The Archko Volume Report of Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim concerning the execution of Jesus Report of Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim concerning the resurrection of Jesus Valleus’s notes—”Acta Pilati,” or Pilate’s report to Caesar of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Herod Antipater’s defense before the Roman Senate in regard to his conduct at Bethlehem
11	The Archko Volume Herod Antipas’s defense before the Roman Senate in regard to the execution of John the Baptist The Hillel letters regarding God’s providence to the Jews, by Hillel the Third
12	Talmuds (Mishna) Constantinople documents Sketch of the Talmuds Documents of the Jewish people for instruction, training, study, and history Critical documents for Jewish people We will look at these in more detail later
13	External Proof Reports to and from officials in the Roman Empire were as common then as they are today in any bureaucracy Tertullian and Justin Martyr both speak of a report on the Crucifixion (not extant) sent in by Pilate to Tiberius, from which idea a large amount of apocryphal literature originated Other reports are known to exist, but are not extant
14	Constantine’s Letter Constantine’s letter in regard to having fifty copies of the Scriptures written and bound General letter that supports a 327AD Latin version of the Bible 50 copies produced in book form for the churches of the Empire Eusebius referred to the letter and the copies, “Ever mindful of the welfare of those churches of God, the Emperor addressed me personally in a letter on the means of providing copies of the inspired oracles.”
15	Letter of Melker Jonathan’s interview with the Bethlehem shepherds—Letter of Melker, Priest of the Synagogue at Bethlehem Sanhedrim, 88 B. Order No. 2 Position of shepherds is interesting in the Mishna based on described incident Letter of Melker - has some external test problems Purports to describe many events around Jesus early life—doesn’t appear to be influenced by heretical gospels
16	Gamaliel’s Interview Gamaliel’s interview with Joseph and Mary and others concerning Jesus Descriptions of Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Mary and Martha sisters of Lazerus Unflattering descriptions of Joseph and Mary Gives credence to Gamaliel’s statements found in Acts 5
17	Caiaphas: Execution of Jesus Report of Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim concerning the execution of Jesus Caiaphas’ accusations Knew the name of God Atonement through repentance (metanoeite instead of kaphar) Baptism (table) instead of circumcision Communion (bread and wine in place of Passover) Prophecy of the destruction of the Temple Messianic claim of Godhood
18	Caiaphas: Execution of Jesus Report of Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim concerning the execution of Jesus Caiaphas’ acknowledgements Healing miracles Doctrine of Hillel Teachings Singular God; claimed to be God Midrash teaching style Notes the illegality under Jewish law of death pronounced without the Sanhedrim
19	Caiaphas: Resurrection of Jesus Report of Caiaphas to the Sanhedrim concerning the resurrection of Jesus Sanhedrim, 89 by Siphri II, 7 Witness of soldiers John, Peter, Mary and Joanna Jesus appearance to Caiaphas Caiaphas’ resignation Report on the execution is more believable Report on the resurrection is questionable
20	Valleus’s Notes Valleus Paterculus, Roman historian, works thought to be lost, but referenced by Priscian and Tacitus, contemporary of Christ Known to have written Historia Romania – not extent Notes found in the Vatican Reports to have met Jesus Heals, raises the dead Dangerous as an army Jews divided
21	Acts of Pilate “Acta Pilati,” or Pilate’s report to Caesar of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus To Tiberius Caesar – correct title Many details—likely too many Pilate’s first sight of Jesus Interview with Jesus Too much introspection Historically known that Pilate wrote a report to the Roman Senate—this is not likely it
22	Herod: Bethlehem Herod Antipater’s defense before the Roman Senate in regard to his conduct at Bethlehem Found in the Vatican Negatively describes (proof of time/place) Essenes Priests Sadducees Pharisees Refers to Melker and shepherds Claimed took his actions to stop insurrection
23	Herod: John the Baptist Herod Antipas’s defense before the Roman Senate in regard to the execution of John the Baptist Records of the Roman Senate in the Vatican To Tiberius and the Roman Senate (correct) Herod’s defeat by Aretas, King of Arabia Reason for defeat attributed by the Jews—beheading of John the Baptist Herod’s response to this claim (reasonable)
24	Herod: John the Baptist Herod’s accusations against John the Baptist No authority Changes God’s place of worship Changes Jewish doctrines Changes modes of application Refers to Gamaliel, Hilderium, Shammai, and Hillel (key rabbinical leaders time/place) Execution at leader’s request not dancing girl Speaks of interview with Christ, other details Compelling and believable
25	Hillel the Third The Hillel letters regarding God’s providence to the Jews, by Hillel the Third (359 AD) Nothing new, but a call to the Jewish people concerning the coming of the Messiah Supports the concept of the Messianic Jews in the early church Supports the idea of Christianity of the Jewish priests following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD
26	Conclusions Worth reading Need the originals to draw any real conclusion on the historical documents Some external issues Can clearly see why they are not on the same historical footing as the Biblical Canon
27	Gospels Luke 1:1-2 The author to Theophilus: many writers have undertaken to draw up an account of the events that have happened among us, following the traditions handed down to us by the original eyewitnesses and servants of the Gospel. Many of these other accounts are called apocryphal Just what is apocryphal?
28	Apocryphal a·poc·ry·phal (ə-pŏk'rə-fəl) adj. Of questionable authorship or authenticity. Erroneous; fictitious: “Wildly apocryphal rumors about starvation in Petrograd . . . raced through Russia's trenches” (W. Bruce Lincoln). Apocryphal Bible. Of or having to do with the Apocrypha. apocryphally a·poc'ry·phal·ly adv. Just how many are there?
29	Apocryphal Gospels The Protevangelion (Infancy Gospel of James) The First Infancy Gospel Thomas’s Infancy Gospel The Gospel of Nicodemus (The Acts of Pontius Pilate) The Gospel of Peter Signs Gospel Gospel of Thomas
30	Apocryphal Gospels Gospel of Mary Secret Gospel of Mark Egerton Gospel Gospel Oxyrhynchus 840 Gospel Oxyrhynchus 1224 The Gospel of Judas
31	Apocryphal Gospels Additional mentioned up to 400 AD None are extant The Gospel of Andrew The Gospel of Apelles The Gospel According to the Twelve Apostles The Gospel of Barnabas The Gospel of Bartholomew The Gospel of Basilides The Gospel of Cerinthus
32	Apocryphal Gospels Additional mentioned up to 400 AD (cont) The Gospel of the Ebionites The Gospel of the Encratites The Gospel of Eve The Gospel according to the Hebrews The False Gospel of Hesychius The Gospel of Jude The False Gospels (published by Lucianus) The Gospel of Marcion
33	Apocryphal Gospels Additional mentioned up to 400 AD (cont) The Gospel of Matthias The Gospel of Merinthus The Gospel according to the Nazarenes The Gospel of Perfection The False Gospel of Peter The Gospel of Philip The Gospel of Scythianus The Gospel of Titan The Gospel of Thaddaeus
34	Apocryphal Gospels Additional mentioned up to 400 AD (cont) The Gospel of Truth The Gospel of Valentinus The Gospel According to the Egyptians
35	Gospels 13 extant 23 not extant but known in history 36 known apocryphal Gospels 4 historically accepted Gospels 40 total known Gospels Can there be any doubt that Jesus Christ radically affected the world
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38	The Protevangelion James’ Infancy Gospel Written too late (140) for attribution to James Too late (140) to be primary or secondary Heretical incidents Misbehavior by Jesus Misuse of miracles Rejected by early church Popular in Middle Ages and Renaissance
39	The First Infancy Gospel Arabic Infancy Gospel Written too late for attribution to Caiaphas Too late to be primary or secondary Heretical incidents similar to Protevangelion Rejected by early church Popular in Middle Ages and Renaissance Episodes copied by Mohammed in Qur'an
40	Thomas’s Infancy Gospel Syrian Infancy Gospel Written too late for attribution to Thomas (80) Could be primary or secondary Heretical incidents similar to Protevangelion Rejected by early church Popular in Middle Ages and Renaissance
41	The Gospel of Nicodemus The Acts of Pontius Pilate Written too late (200) for attribution to Pilate or Nicodemus Too late to be primary or secondary Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Other bibliographical problems Believed by some to be a reaction to the Acts of Pilate written in 311 (Eusebius) Pilate did write a report (not extant)
42	The Gospel of Peter 9 page Codex discovered in a Monk’s grave in 1886, small fragment Oxyrhynchus, Egypt Written too late (70) for attribution to Peter Could be primary or secondary Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Strongly anti-Semitic (Peter was a Jew) Claims Herod as Jesus’ executioner Other bibliographical problems (1 manuscript, 1 fragment)
43	Gospel of Peter Origen refers to it in his Commentary on Matthew Eusebius records negative opinion expressed by Bishop Serapion of Antioch after he read a copy of this apocryphal gospel: ... most of it is indeed in accordance with the true teaching of the Savior, but some things are additions to that teaching, which items also we place below for your benefit. Classifies Gospel of Peter as a heretical writing and refers to 'Docetists‘ sect
44	Signs Gospel The “Q” (Quelle) of John’s Gospel No extant manuscripts No references in other documents Reconstructed from “signs” in John’s Gospel Modern “Turbingen” apocryphal construction Has more support than “Q” More basis than “Q” Less basis than any actual document in history
45	Gospel of Thomas Complete text discovered Nag Hammadi 1945, fragment Oxyrhynchus 1898 114 sayings of Christ Didymos Judas Thomas author (not apostle) Could be primary or secondary Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Mystic Gnostic heresy Other bibliographical problems (2 manuscripts)
46	Gospel of Mary Fragment discovered in 1896, Akhmim Codex, 3 known complete from 3^rd and 5^th C Written too late (120) for attribution to any 1^st century Mary Cannot be primary or secondary Rejected by early church based on authorship, historical relevance, and heretical positions Mortality and the origin of mortality as a result of the demi-urge (Greek creation god) Ascension of Jesus Ascent of the soul (in accordance with gnosticism)
47	Secret Gospel of Mark Morton Smith discovered letter (1958) of Clement (150? – between 211&216) to Theodore Contained fragments of Secret Mark Supported Smith’s controversial ideas Jesus as homosexual Church rewrote scripture to suit own purposes Letter was conveniently lost and not found Photographed by Smith Writing similar to Smith’s Indications of forgery
48	Egerton Gospel Papyrus Egerton 2 Second oldest Gospel manuscript Fragment Author undetermined Close to John, but independent of 4 synoptic Possibly Signs Gospel, but doesn’t match Bibliographical problems Singular manuscript Incomplete
49	Gospel Oxyrhynchus 840 & 1224 Oxyrhynchus 840 Fragment Author undetermined 5 short paragraphs on washing and spiritual cleanliness Gospel Oxyrhynchus 1224 Fragment Author undetermined 4 sayings
50	Conclusions Not historically acceptable documents Notably fail bibliographical test or are fragments Worth reading Tell as much about early church as Dickens does about Victorian England Can clearly see why they are not on the same historical footing as the Biblical Canon
51	Next Time Heretical Gospels and the proposed Q document Apocryphal works Look at the historicity and general content