Much of what we know about Jesus today comes from apocryphal sources rather than the Bible. The Apocryphal Jesus is your chance to learn about the early Christian world from a variety of sources-many of which have been considered heretical. Over 24 revealing lectures, Professor Brakke explores the stories and ideas that shaped the foundations of early Christian thought-and continue to influence Christianity today.
The Apocryphal Jesus
Gain a new perspective on early Christian life and history through non-canonical Christian literature led by an award-winning professor.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MLucilleS from
Eye-opening
I was amazed by the number and variety of apocryphal and other types of texts that were available in ancient times as well as more modern. I learned a great deal about how God was perceived, about what was left out of the Bible, and why. Fascinating. I could watch them all again. Thank you!
Date published: 2024-09-01
Rated 3 out of
5
by
bkbalke from
Scholarly, but Subtly Biased
For the first half of this series, I enjoyed Brakke's explication of the relationship between the Apocryphal writings and early Christian controversies and practices. Unfortunately, in the middle lectures, he lends his support to positions seemingly motivated by personal theology and political theorizing. The failure to explicitly declare "according to my understanding and/or beliefs" casts the entire project into doubt.
Examples include focusing blame on Pilate for the crucifixion, attempting to downplay to role of the Temple priests who organized Jesus' arrest and fomented a riot at his sentencing. Assigning culpability to Peter for asking "have you held anything back?" - s simple ritual of entry that led two applicants to die of shame (a phenomenon known to psychologists). Furthermore, there is his theorizinng concerning the Gospel of Nicodemus as a mechanism for cementing the legitimacy of Christianity independent of its Jewish origins. Finally, we have the concluding remarks on the Book of Thomas, echoed throughout, that seem to reflect a personal preference for a theology of individual grace. While I am receptive to this perspective, it seems to be something that Brakke should explicitly declare.
Date published: 2023-09-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Magyar from
Good overview of a complicated subject
Dr. Brakke clearly explains the wide variety of NT Apocrypha and provides summaries of their content He navigates between the extremes of "These are all heretical" and "The Church suppressed what it did not like". What I found helpful is how he followed the reception of these works. He is very knowledgable and even-handed. Bravo!
Date published: 2023-08-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
wisgold from
Found it fascinating!
Very interesting, well paced and full of amazing stories! Dr. Brakke does a great job of illuminating this subject!
Date published: 2023-07-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
BaruchCXX from
Salutary and rewarding for all
As far as I can gather fro the great variety of courses on Christanity, Jesus, Christan Culture and politics
1. Orthodoxy was a function of political power
2. Heresy is a departure from the authorised canons
3. Much of modern scholarship is concerned with the accidental finds of literature compiled concurrently with the Canon and many of the more recent findss should transform our concept of the teachings of Jesus
We are steared deftly through this myriad of texts aand what emerges is a fount of Christian thought that is in many respects 'modern'. For the study of Philosophy, Theology ad culture these recent studies are of considerable importance not only to and for belief and faith but to a study of how Christian Culture has developed, so that it becomes impossible to deny or pretend,, that by choosing agnosticism or Atheism, or Humanism we are set free from the obligation to learn more about Jesus, his life and times, and his consorts . In all this Dr. Brakke is a most important guide and I would recommend that all, regardless of their belief or disbelief should follow this course [amongst many] so as to understand the basis of our Ethics and morality
Date published: 2023-01-01
Rated 3 out of
5
by
Slimokie from
Good History
The instructor tried to give overviews of a lot of the relevant literature being presented. Presentation was good, kept things moving, but seemed to present similar themes throughout the course,
Date published: 2022-12-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JPM54 from
Good course
I enjoyed this course almost as much as the other 2 courses from Professor Brakke. However, in this case, while I appreciate the thoroughness with which the topic is presented, I also felt that it was sometimes a bit redundant and that some of the information covered could have been omitted without detriment to the quality and depth of the course.
Date published: 2022-11-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Doodlesandme from
I enjoyed this presentation. It's nice to know all different aspects of information concening the Bible. I recommend an open mind and consideration of the content represented in this lecture series.
Date published: 2022-10-09
Overview
About
Professor David Brakke is the Joe R. Engle Chair in the History of Christianity and Professor of History at The Ohio State University. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, his M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Yale University. He taught for 19 years in the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University.
Professor Brakke has published extensively on the history and literature of ancient Christianity, especially Egyptian Christianity, early monasticism, the formation of the biblical canon, and Gnosticism. His books include The Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity; Demons and the Making of the Monk: Spiritual Combat in Early Christianity; and Introduction to Christianity, with Mary Jo Weaver. He has co-edited six volumes of scholarly essays and contributed nearly 40 articles to professional journals and volumes. From 2005 to 2015, he served as editor of the Journal of Early Christian Studies.
At Indiana University, Professor Brakke received recognition for his teaching and research, including the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award. He has held several important fellowships, including ones from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is currently preparing a revised edition of Bentley Layton's The Gnostic Scriptures.
Trailer
01: The Influence of Apocrypha
The term "apocrypha" comes from the Greek and means "hidden" or "secret." The apocryphal writings of early Christians have a reputation for being heretical because they are not part of the New Testament's 27 canonical books. But as you will learn in this first lecture, these early Christian writings have contributed greatly to Christian culture and doctrine.
33 min
02: Jesus and Mary in the Proto-Gospel of James
Begin your foray into the early Christian apocrypha with an extended reflection on the Virgin Mary. You may think you know her from the New Testament gospels, but you might be surprised to find out that much of her life's story actually comes from the Proto-Gospel of James, which fills in many of the gaps from the canonical gospels.
28 min
03: Young Jesus in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas is considered a bizarre book, offering what some see as troubling insight into the childhood of Jesus, portraying him as both amazingly divine but also troublingly human. Delve into some of the scholarly debates around this book and find out why it was so popular in the Middle Ages....
30 min
04: Joseph and the Magi in the Apocrypha
The New Testament gospels leave many questions on the table: Why was Mary a virgin if she was married to Joseph? How did Joseph feel about his wife bearing the child of the Lord? In this lecture, see how many early Christian apocryphal works humanize Joseph and resolve some of the questions-and contradictions-of the New Testament....
30 min
05: The Apocrypha and the Cult of Mary
While Mary is present in the canonical gospels, it's really in the early Christian apocrypha that she becomes the leader among the saints. Explore several key texts to uncover what we know about Jesus' mother, her relationship with the disciples, and what makes her unique among New Testament figures. Better understand her special place in Christianity today....
32 min
06: Lost Gospels and Fragments
Not all apocryphal works have survived, and many of the ones we have today exist only as fragments. Survey several important fragments and lost gospels-how we discovered them and what they say-to gain a fascinating glimpse of early Christian beliefs and controversies that we would not know about otherwise....
32 min
07: Sayings of Jesus from the Gospel of Thomas
The Gospel of Thomas is the most famous-even infamous-apocryphal gospel, suppressed by the Church for its supposed heresy. As you'll find out in this lecture, the gospel compiles the sayings of Jesus and is modeled on the wisdom books from the Old Testament. This "living Jesus" provides a radically different angle on the meaning of Jesus' life and teachings....
32 min
08: Jesus's Statements beyond the Gospels
Not all of Jesus' words come directly from the canonical gospels. These words-known as "agrapha"-come from numerous sources: books of the New Testament other than the gospels, the works of early Christian authors such as Origen, and alternative manuscripts of the New Testament gospels. Examine several of these sources to gain new insights into Jesus....
31 min
09: Conversations with the Living Jesus
The gospel writers recorded much of Jesus' life, but they also acknowledged that they didn't record everything. Much of what he said is recorded in so-called "dialogic gospels," accounts of Jesus in lengthy conversations with one or more of his disciples. Study three of these unique works and gain new theological insight into Christianity.
30 min
10: The Gospel of Judas's Gnostic Vision
Judas Iscariot is one of the most infamous figures in the Christian Bible, but the Gospel of Judas gives us a new perspective on this traitorous disciple. In this lecture, Professor Brakke introduces you to Gnosticism and shows how, in this gospel, Judas' betrayal of Jesus points to a greater truth about divinity and the material reality of the world.
32 min
11: The Gospel of Peter and the Talking Cross
Jesus designated Peter as the founder of the Church, which arguably makes him one of Christianity's most important disciples. The Gospel of Peter, however, adds some complexity to Peter's story-and it reframes the story of the Crucifixion to help make Christianity more compatible with the politics of the Roman Empire....
32 min
12: The Apocrypha and Pilate's Sanctification
In the early centuries, Christianity became a Roman religion, which created awkwardness given that the Roman Pontius Pilate crucified Jesus. Find out how certain apocryphal texts-including the Gospel of Nicodemus, also known as the Acts of Pilate-dealt with this problem by recasting Pilate as a sympathetic figure and, ultimately, a Christian saint....
33 min
13: Dialogues with the Risen Jesus
The New Testament tells us Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the apostles before ascending into heaven. While the canonical gospels left Jesus' words a mystery, many apocryphal writers filled in the gaps. Examine several of these dialogic gospels to learn what Jesus told his followers after the resurrection....
34 min
14: Hope and Adventure in the Acts of John
Many of the apocryphal gospels were essentially novels written during the early Christian era, and they were filled with adventurous tales of shipwrecks, necrophilia, self-mutilation, and other wild stories. Dive into the Acts of John to consider this fascinating genre of literature and what it offered audiences of the time-as well as historians today....
33 min
15: Social Disruption in the Acts of Paul
Historians agree that this fragmentary work presents us a largely invented character, yet the Acts of Paul also gives us a remarkable challenge to the basic structure of Roman society-the household, the city, the empire, and even the Church. Examine this subversive book and discover a version Christianity that completely upends the reigning social order....
33 min
16: Thecla: Independent Woman of the Apocrypha
Continue your study of the Acts of Paul and turn to his disciple, Thecla, who is one of the most interesting women in early Christian writing. Although she likely did not exist in real life, she represents many women who did, and her story gives us a powerful look at the role of women in early Christian society....
31 min
17: Miracles and Magic in the Acts of Peter
As you have seen, Peter may have been the first leader of the Church, but he was a flawed leader. The fragmentary Acts of Peter builds on his story from the canonical gospels and shows us a fascinating, if somewhat troubling, figure. Learn more about Peter and his miracles, and find out why he was crucified upside down....
31 min
18: Peter versus Paul in the Pseudo-Clementines
Each of the surviving apocryphal acts of the apostles make one apostle its hero, but they don't disparage the other apostles. However, the Pseudo-Clementine texts present a dramatic fight surrounding the early Church. This theological mess may pose a problem for historians, but it is nonetheless an important piece of early Christian literature.
31 min
19: The Acts of Thomas and the Mission to India
How did Christianity get to India? Did Thomas really travel across the Middle East and preach the gospel in South Asia? Historians debate these questions and more, but regardless of the literal truth, the Acts of Thomas provides spiritual guidance about humanity's place in the world and challenges us to liberate ourselves....
30 min
20: Spiritual Love in the Acts of Andrew
While it was not the most profound of early Christian writings, the Acts of Andrew contains some of the strangest stories in all of early Christian literature, including tales of cannibals, myriad seductions, jilted husbands, and a human-killing giant serpent. Learn about some of these exciting stories, consider the book's genre, and reflect on the role of women....
31 min
21: Forged Letters of Jesus and the Apostles
The letter is one of the most important forms of Christian communication, from the New Testament letters of Paul through today's Papal addresses. In the early Christian world, apocryphal letters abounded, many of them forged. Examine the content of some of these letters, including ones purportedly written by Jesus....
31 min
22: Revelations That Didn't Make the Bible
The New Testament Book of Revelation is not the only apocalypse narrative from the first centuries of the Common Era. In this lecture, you'll explore the content and theology of several other Christian apocalypses and consider why the Revelation to John made it into the canon while the many other apocalypses did not....
30 min
23: Tours of Hell before Dante
You might be surprised to learn the canonical New Testament does not present a single consistent picture of the afterlife in general or hell in particular, yet visions of damnation exist in much of the early Christian apocrypha, including the Apocalypses of Peter and Paul. Take a tour of hell through several of these works and review their continued influence....
30 min
24: Apocrypha after the New Testament
Although the New Testament was codified in the fourth century, apocryphal books continued to be written into the Middle Ages. Round out the course by surveying the later Christian apocrypha and witness the way the creative flourishing of Biblical writing continued through the Middle Ages and even into the present....
33 min
