Early Christian Writings

April 9, 2006 11:49 AM

A comprehensive list of early Christian writingsgives a list of, links to the online full text of, and articles detailing some of the alternative Christian writings that were and weren't canonized. Of note include the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Justin Martyr, the Didache, the Acts of Thomas , the Gospel of Thomas (which many link with the "Q" from the two-source hypothesis, which attempts to answer the Synoptic problem), and some early apocalyptic writings. [mi]
posted by charmston (16 comments total)

Apologies if this is too similar to recent posts to warrant an FPP; I thought this might be of interest, given the recent interest in early Christian writings, especially The Gospel of Judas.

Important for the uninitiated to note: scholars usually do not attribute the works to those that they are named after (e.g. the Gospel of Luke is generally not attributed to Luke, the companion of Paul of Tarsus).
posted by charmston at 11:49 AM on April 9, 2006

Great stuff. I'm reading Karen King's The Secret Revelation of John right now, an overview of The Apocryphon of John.

I have to say I've always been partial to the Gnostic view of God - that of an imperfect creator, an errant child amongst a secret pantheon of gods.
posted by vacapinta at 11:58 AM on April 9, 2006

vacapinta: Gnostic stuff is fascinating. In addition to Q, the Gospel of Thomas has been inked to Gnostic thought (pdf). Heres's a good overview of Gnostic thought, and Gnosis.org has some great information as well. Their explanation of the purpose of existence and the afterlife is a tough one to grasp, but oh so fascinating.
posted by charmston at 12:07 PM on April 9, 2006

Great links everyone. I am always fascinated by this topic. As one who long ago left the Catholic church, it never ceases to boggle my mind as to how much of "the bible" was edited out.

Here's another website that I find useful at times.
posted by bim at 12:15 PM on April 9, 2006

y2karl oldie:

I forgot to add Early Christian Writings--The New Testament, Apochypha, Gnostics and Church Fathers. the first two hundred years.

posted by matteo at 12:36 PM on April 9, 2006

I know it's Sunday and all but...

This will not keep me awake at work.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
posted by thefreek at 1:28 PM on April 9, 2006

Keeps me awake at work.
posted by sonofsamiam at 1:29 PM on April 9, 2006

Isnt this stuff supposed to be hidden under the vatican and guarded by nazi stormtroopers ?
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:23 PM on April 9, 2006

I know it's Sunday and all but...This will not keep me awake at work. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Don't worry. I'm sure someone will bring up Bush and politics before the day is out. All hell is bound to break loose then and liven your day up! ;)

...and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Bush may start a nuclear war!
posted by bim at 2:23 PM on April 9, 2006

sgt.serenity: Isnt this stuff supposed to be hidden under the vatican and guarded by nazi stormtroopers ?

Yes, but they're called the Swiss Guard ;)
posted by charmston at 2:31 PM on April 9, 2006

Great links. Thank you very much.
posted by blucevalo at 3:08 PM on April 9, 2006

I have to say I've always been partial to the Gnostic view of God - that of an imperfect creator, an errant child amongst a secret pantheon of gods.

Oh, that's just silly. Power Rangers were much cooler.
posted by Decani at 4:04 PM on April 9, 2006

Isnt this stuff supposed to be hidden under the vatican and guarded by nazi stormtroopers ?

This is just the stuff they let slip. Who knows what lies, forgotten, in the dark vaults, buried half a mile beneath the Holy See, guarded by elite teams of ninja nuns (and a balrog on alternate weekends)?

7And yea, Jesus spake unto the people, and he said "Dudes, like, get a life, will ye? 8I'll say it plainly for a change: don't follow the laws, but follow the mindset that the laws imply. Is that hard to understand? 9And don't be too fanatical about it, 10and oh yes, how about giving a damn about your fellow man, regardless of how 'low' or 'dirty' or 'sinful' or 'not you' he might be. 11As for all this stuff about kil- Paul, what are you doing? 12Hey, let go of me! I'm the Son of Man for My sake, what are-- 13Urmph! Mrmmrm!"

14And Paul stood before the holy goons 'annointing' Christ, and translated on the Lord's behalf for the crowd, 15"What he means to say is, um, that thing about 'It is easier to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?' 16Yeah, he meant a gate. G'night folks!"
posted by JHarris at 5:22 PM on April 9, 2006

Very nice, indeed, JHarris. :>

I don't know which I liked better --the ninja nuns concept or your editorial work on the bible.
posted by bim at 5:32 PM on April 9, 2006

Reading the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, I am led to think that Jesus was a major dickhead as a child.
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:58 PM on April 9, 2006

Ah Joey Michaels, is that the one where Jesus killed a kid for snoreing too loud throwing a rock at him?

From Disinformation's Book of Lists, under Gospel of Thomas (they say it's translated from the Greek text B):

"And after certain days, as Jesus passed through the midst of the city, a certain child cast a stone at him and smote his shoulder. And Jesus said unto him: Thou shalt not finish thy course. And straightaway he also fell down and died. And they that were there were amazed, saying: From whence is this child, that every word which he speaketh becometh a perfect work? But they also departed and accused Joseph, saying: "Thou wilt not be able to dwell with us in the city: but if thou wilt, teach thy child to bless and not to curse: for verily he slayeth our children: and every thing that he saith becometh a perfect work."

I think I can see why that one didn't make the cut.
posted by JHarris at 11:12 PM on April 9, 2006