1	The Historical Veracity of the New Testament Documents Lecture 5 – Documents in Direct Support and Time: Heretical Gospels, Q, and Apocryphal Works
2	Heretical Gospels The Gospel According to Thomas The Gospel of Phillip The Second Treatise of the Great Seth Gospel of the Ebionites Gospel of Barnabas Gospel of Bartholomew Gospel of Judas
3	Heretical Gospels Additional mentioned up to 400 AD None extant Gospel of the Twelve Apostles Gospel of Marcion Gospel of the Egyptians The False Gospel of Hesychius The False Gospels (published by Lucianus) The False Gospel of Peter
4	Heretical Gospels Reconstructed based on Luke, Mark, Matthew Q
5	Apocryphal vs. Heretical Those I have called Apocryphal could potentially be considered Gospels in the sense of OT Apocryphal literature and were in some degree accepted by the Church Heretical works have been rejected since they were known and have strong historical evidence against them In some cases literature is considered in both categories—they are Apocryphal and Heretical
6	Gospel of Thomas Complete text discovered Nag Hammadi 1945, fragment Oxyrhynchus 1898 Manuscripts: Greek 200 AD, Coptic 340 AD Written 50 AD or 100 AD (controversy) Didymos Judas Thomas author (not apostle) Could be primary or secondary Not Acts of Thomas, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, or Thomas the Contender 114 sayings of Christ
7	Gospel of Thomas Hippolytus and Origen (ca. 233) refer to a "Gospel of Thomas" among the heterodox apocryphal gospels, unclear whether they mean the Infancy Gospel of Thomas or this "sayings" Gospel of Thomas. 4^th century, Cyril of Jerusalem mentioned "Gospel of Thomas" in his Cathechesis V: "Let none read the gospel according to Thomas, for it is the work, not of one of the twelve apostles, but of one of Mani's three wicked disciples."
8	Gospel of Thomas Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Mystic Gnostic heresy Other bibliographical problems (1 manuscript, 1 fragment)
9	The Gospel of Phillip Nag Hammadi Text Written 180-250 AD Manuscript written 4^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Coptic Phillip identified as author Witness tertiary or none (cannot be 1° or 2°) Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Mystic Gnostic heresy Other bibliographical problems (1 manuscript)
10	The Gospel of Phillip What is God? "... Primordial Consciousness that dwells in the deepest and the subtlest primary plane of the multidimensional Universe..." What is man? "... Man is... consciousness, i.e. living energy, capable of self-awareness and that possesses mind and memory...“ The meaning of life "The question of the meaning of one’s life gets inevitably raised before any man who matures in his development..."
11	The Second Treatise of the Great Seth Nag Hammadi Text Written 120-130 AD Manuscript written 4^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Coptic Author believed to be Basilides Recognized Gnostic—started a Gnostic sect Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Mystic - Relates that Jesus did not die Gnostic heresy Other bibliographical problems (1 manuscript)
12	Gospel of the Ebionites Complete text discovered Nag Hammadi 1945 Written Greek 100-160 AD Manuscript mid 2^nd century Number of manuscripts 1 Greek Author unknown "The Gospel of the Ebionites gospel harmony preserved in a few quotations in the writings of Epiphanius Original title is unknown
13	Gospel of the Ebionites Probably from Ebionites, Greek-speaking Jewish Christians during 2^nd and 3^rd centuries Epiphanius alleges it is an abridged, truncated version of the Gospel of Matthew Extant fragments a harmony of the Gospels Matthew, Luke, and possibly Mark Irenaeus notes existence of gospel Problematic contents Omits infancy narratives John the Baptist and Jesus as vegetarians Polemic against the Jewish Temple (<70 AD)
14	Gospel of Barnabas Renaissance manuscripts Written after 650 AD Manuscript written 16^th century Number of manuscripts 2 (Italian, Spanish) Islamic document describing the life and origins of the Islamic Prophet Jesus Notable internal and external issues Does contradict some Islamic beliefs Apostolic fathers never saw the document
15	Gospel of Judas 26 page Codex discovered Egypt 1970 Written 150 AD Manuscript written 300 AD Number of manuscripts 1 Coptic Judas Iscariot claimed author - impossible Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Mystic Gnostic heresy Other bibliographical problems (1 manuscript) External problems based on claimed author
16	Gospel of Bartholomew Late manuscripts Written after 300-500 AD Manuscript written 5^th (6^th or 7^th) century Number of manuscripts 3 (2 Greek, 1 Latin) Jerome notes number of apocryphal Gospels: According to Egyptians, Thomas, Matthias, Bartholomew, the Twelve, Basilides, & Apelles Likely depends upon Origen Condemned in Gelasian Decree Dionysian writings two sentences quoted from 'the divine Bartholomew,‘ (questionable)
17	Gospel of the Egyptians Not Extant Written 80-150 AD Manuscript written N/A Number of manuscripts 0 Mentioned by Hippolytus Epiphanius Clement of Alexandria – most citations Reference in Excerpts of Theodotus Used in Egypt in 2^nd and 3^rd centuries
18	Gospel of Marcion Not Extant Written 130-140 AD Manuscript written N/A Number of manuscripts 0 Marcion author – cannot be 1° or 2° Anti-Semite Founder of Gnostic sect Taught god of the Old Testament not true God True and higher God revealed only in Jesus Wrote the Antitheses show differences between OT god and true God
19	Gospel of Marcion Marcion Excommunicated c. 144 AD Established sect, rivaled Church 2 centuries Established first explicit canon-included: The Euangelion, or the Gospel of the Lord The Apostolikon Ten epistles of Paul, not including the pastorals Marcion truncated Luke and Paul Derogatory references from contemporaries Justin Martyr Irenaeus of Lyons
20	Gospel of the Twelve Apostles Not Extant Written 100-150 AD Manuscript written N/A Number of manuscripts 0 Mentioned by Origen, Ambrose, Jerome, Philip of Side, Venerable Bede, and Theophylactus Identified with Gospel of the Ebionites Fragments quoted by Epiphanius survive Synoptic type gospel
21	Q Scholars before enlightenment marveled at similarity of Matthew, Mark, and Luke Scholars since enlightenment wondered at similarity Turbingen School scholars concluded Matthew and Luke are plagiarized from Mark and another “sayings” Gospel – “Q” “Quella” means source in German (also Logia) Mark is a narrative-shares commonality with Matthew and Luke “Q” is a sayings Gospel
22	Q No evidence of Q in history Chronology is dubious Of necessity would have to be written prior to Matthew and Luke - 50 to 75 AD Yet Mark may be a contemporary (or later than) Matthew and Luke - 65 to 70 AD Although plagiarism was common in ancient world, to put together or rewrite a document so close to the source is unusual
23	Q No accepted evidence from early church or Apostolic Fathers (or Apostolic Heretics) Turbingen school, Schleiermacher in 1832 interpreted statement Papias of Hierapolis, c. 125 AD "Matthew compiled the oracles (Greek: logia) of the Lord in a Hebrew manner of speech.“ Instead of traditional interpretation that Papias was referring to Matthew’s style of writing, he divined Papias was actually meant a sayings collection available to early Church
24	Q Until Gospel of Thomas was discovered idea of Q was discounted by almost every major scholar After Gospel of Thomas many have seen possibility of “sayings” Gospel Q revived Problem is still evidence and witness No manuscript No evidence No witness More evidence for apocryphal/heretical works
25	Conclusions Most heretical and apocryphal early Christian writings have stronger bibliographical evidence than other works in antiquity Bibliographical, internal, external issues In history, Q is a figment of the imagination All worth reading Points to Christ in history No two “reconstructed” Qs the same! Can clearly see why they are not on the same historical footing as the Biblical Canon
26	Apocryphal Works The Apocalypse of Peter The Gospel of the Birth of Mary The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa Secret Book of James Dialogue of the Savior Paul’s Epistle to the Laodiceans Paul’s Epistle to Seneca and Seneca’s Epistle to Paul The Acts of Paul and Thecla
27	Apocryphal Works Letters of Pilate and Herod The Epistle of Pontius Pilate The Report of Pilate the Governor The Report of Pontius Pilate The Trial and Condemnation of Pilate The Death of Pilate
28	Apocryphal Works Additional mentioned up to 400 AD None extant The Acts of Andrew The Writings of Bartholomew the Apostle The Revelation of Cerinthus An Epistle of Christ to Peter and Paul An Epistle of Christ A Hymn, which Christ taught his Disciples The Acts of the Apostles (Ebionites) The Book of the Helkesaites
29	Apocryphal Works Additional mentioned up to 400 AD The Book of James The Acts of the Apostles by Leucius The Acts of the Apostles by Lentitus The Books of Lentitus The Acts under the Apostles’s Name by Leontius The Acts of the Apostles by Leuthon The Acts of the Apostles (Manichees) The Traditions of Matthias
30	Apocryphal Works Additional mentioned up to 400 AD The Acts of Paul and Thecla The Acts of Paul The Preaching of Paul and Peter The Revelation of Paul The Acts of Peter The Doctrine of Peter The Judgment of Peter The Preaching of Peter The Revelation of Peter
31	Apocryphal Works Additional mentioned up to 400 AD The Acts of Philip The Acts of the Apostles by Seleucus The Revelation of Stephan The Catholic Epistle of Themison the Montanist The Acts of Thomas
32	The Apocalypse of Peter Akhmim fragment 1887 Written 175-200 AD Manuscript written 8^th or 9^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Greek 1 Ethiopic Peter identified as author Witness tertiary or none (cannot be 1° or 2°) Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Bibliographical problems Contains 4 Esther (written 100 AD)
33	The Gospel of the Birth of Mary The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew Edited version of Protevangelion of James and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas Written 140-170 (150) AD Earliest Manuscript written 350 AD Number of manuscripts 130 various Matthew identified as author Based on other works (cannot be 1° or 2°) Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical issues (First reference to ox and ass at the manger)
34	The Epistles of Jesus Christ and Abgarus King of Edessa Abgarus V of Edessa 13-50 AD Supposed letters between Abgarus and Christ Discovered 4^th century Eusebius (325 AD) Letters likely fabricated 3^rd century Abgar IX of Osroene fabricated to legitimize rule Written 3^rd century AD Earliest Manuscript written 4^th century AD Number of manuscripts few various Not mentioned in any ancient source Not in any list of NT documents No mention prior to Eusebius
35	Secret Book of James Apocryphon of James – sayings document Nag Hammadi Codex III Written 100-150 AD Manuscript written 4^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Coptic James identified as author Witness tertiary or none (too late for 1° or 2°) Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Gnostic mysticism Internal inconstancies
36	Dialogue of the Savior Nag Hammadi Codex III Written 120-180 AD Manuscript written 4^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Coptic Author unknown Witness tertiary or none (too late for 1° or 2°) Rejected by early church based on authorship and historical relevance Sayings consistent with John and Thomas Appears to be a baptismal instruction
37	Paul’s Epistle to the Laodiceans Fulda Manuscript 546 AD Written ? AD not mentioned until 4^th century Manuscript written 546 AD Number of manuscripts 100 all Latin Paul identified as author Mentioned in Colossians 4:16 Witness tertiary or none (too late for 1° or 2°) Never seen by early church Accepted by later church Included in many NT collections until 17^th century Council of Florence (1439-43) excluded
38	Paul’s Epistles to Seneca and Seneca’s Epistles to Paul Seneca the younger 4 BC to 64 AD 8 epistles from Paul, 6 from Seneca Incerti Avctoris, Epistvlae S. Pavli et Senecae Written ? AD not mentioned until 4^th century Manuscript written 14^th century Number of manuscripts 1 Latin Paul and Seneca identified as authors Rejected by early church Little ancient evidence Writing not similar to Paul’s or Seneca’s
39	The Acts of Paul and Thecla Heidelberg manuscript Written 160 AD (according to Tertullian) Manuscript written 6^th century Number of manuscripts at least 6 various Tertullian: Composed in honor of Paul by Asian presbyter Was convicted of imposture and fired Rejected by early church Historical issues Author known and refuted Mystic premise
40	Letters of Pilate and Herod Numerous documents manuscripts unknown Written ? AD (not known until middle ages) Letters of Pilate and Herod The Epistle of Pontius Pilate The Report of Pilate the Governor The Report of Pontius Pilate The Trial and Condemnation of Pilate The Death of Pilate Manuscript written ? Number of manuscripts many
41	Letters of Pilate and Herod Authors identified by text Not known by early church Archko docs claim manuscripts in Vatican Lack of historical evidence makes acceptance problematic
42	The Epistle of Pontius Pilate Numerous documents manuscripts unknown Written ? AD (not known until middle ages) Manuscript written ? Number of manuscripts many Authors identified by text Not known by early church Archko docs claim manuscripts in Vatican Lack of historical evidence makes acceptance problematic
43	Non-extant Documents Bibliographical test Without a manuscript it is impossible to use bibliographical test Lack of manuscript evidence of lack of relevance Note choices made in case of attributed NT documents – no disagreement between most historians and choices
44	Non-extant Documents Internal tests Internal contradictions unknown (no manuscripts) Cohesiveness and comprehensibility unknown (no manuscripts) Degree of the witness unknown Primary or secondary Geographically placed Chronologically present
45	Non-extant Documents External test Substantive evidence in antiquity that these works were not accepted due to: Historical issues Authorship not accepted Known Gnostic/mystic input (implies lack of evidence, 4° source) Documents may come to light If documents were substantive many would have fought to save and protect Maricon etc.
46	Non-extant Documents Legal-Historical Tests Bibliographical – unknown Internal – unknown External – significant problems
47	Conclusions Worth reading Need the originals to draw any real conclusion on the historical documents Significant bibliographical, internal and external issues Can clearly see why they are not on the same historical footing as the Biblical Canon
48	Next Time Documents in time Jewish documents Talmud Look at the historicity and general content