Telling the Christian Story Differently Counter-Narratives from Nag Hammadi and Beyond
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Francis Watson holds a Research Chair in Early Christian Literature in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, UK.
Sarah Parkhouse is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Manchester, UK.
This volume examines the ‘counter-narratives’ of the core Christian story, proposed by texts from Nag Hammadi and elsewhere. A noteworthy body of highly respected scholars examine material that is sometimes difficult and often overlooked, contributing to the ongoing effort to integrate Nag Hammadi and related literature into the mainstream of New Testament and early Christian studies. By retracing the major elements of the Christian story in sequence, they are able to discuss how and why each aspect was disputed on inner-Christian grounds, and to reflect on the different accounts of Christian identity underlying these disputes.
Together the essays in this book address a central issue: towards the end of the second century, Irenaeus could claim that the overwhelming majority of Christians throughout the world were agreed on a version of the core Christian story which is still recognisable today. Yet, as Irenaeus concedes and as the Nag Hammadi texts have confirmed, there were many who wished to tell the core Christian story differently. Those who criticized and rejected the standard story did so not because they were adherents of another religion, ‘Gnosticism’, but because they were Christians who believed that the standard account was wrong at point after point. Ranging from the Gospels of Judas and Mary to Galatians and Ptolemy’s Letter to Flora, this volume provides a fascinating analysis of how the Christian story as we know it today developed against counter-readings from other early Christian traditions.
List of Contributors
List of Abbreviations
Introduction - Francis Watson, Durham University, UK and Sarah Parkhouse, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Chapter 1: The Curse of the Creator: Galatians 3.13 and Negative Demiurgy – M. David Litwa, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Chapter 2: The Hypostasis of the Archons and Re-imagining Genesis – Mark Goodacre, Duke University, USA
Chapter 3: Jesus versus the Lawgiver: Narratives of Apostasy and Conversion – Francis Watson, Durham University, UK
Chapter 4: Why are the Disciples “Like the Angels”? Redemption Through Sin in the Gospel of Judas – Jonathan Cahana, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Chapter 5: “Surely These are Heterodox Teachings”: The Gospel of Mary and Tertullian in Dialogue – Sarah Parkhouse, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Chapter 6: Attempting the Impossible? Ptolemy’s Letter to Flora as Counter-Narrative – Joseph Verheyden, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
Chapter 7: Counter-Narratives or Competing Voices? Early Christians and the Resurrection of the Flesh – Outi Lehtipuu, University of Helsinki, Finland
Chapter 8: Resurrection in the Exegesis on the Soul (NHC II,6) – Kimberly A. Fowler, Durham University, UK
Chapter 9: Losing the Plot: Irenaeus, Biblical Narrative, and the Rule of Truth – Devin L. White, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Bibliography
Author Index
Subject Index
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Francis Watson holds a Research Chair in Early Christian Literature in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, UK.
Sarah Parkhouse is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Manchester, UK.