apocrypha
Examinations of apocryphal writings, their historical background, doctrinal themes, and relevance in biblical debates.
John Calvin & the Book of Baruch Paid Members Public
In his commentary on 1 Cor. 10:20, the Swiss Reformer John Calvin believed that the blessed Apostle borrowed the language of the following verse from the deutero-canonical writing Baruch: “For you provoked the one who made you by sacrificing to demons and not to God.” Baruch 4:7 New
Gelasian Decree Pope Damasus & the Canon Paid Members Public
The Gelasian Decree (Decretum Gelasianum) is a Latin document dating from the 6th century AD, and is believed to be based on the decree of Pope Gelasius I (492-496 AD). The document mentions the canon list ratified by the Council (Synod) of Rome under the authority of Pope Damasus in
Origen, Susanna & OT Canon Paid Members Public
I share Origen’s defense of the canonicity of the “History of Susanna,” which all the ancient apostolic communions accept as sacred Scripture. Origen refutes the objections raised against the book’s authenticity, and explains why the Jews rejected it. In his response, Origen shows his great familiarity with the
Hermas’ Trinitarianism Paid Members Public
In this post I revisit the theology of the book known as the Shepherd of Hermas in order to show that this is a very early Christian witness to the Church’s belief in the Trinity and the Son’s essential coequality with the Father. Many scholars date the writing
Hermas’ Mediating Angel Paid Members Public
The Shepherd of Hermas was a very popular work, which some Christians even wanted to include in the canon. An interesting aspect of this writing is that Hermas has an angel whom he beseeches or begs to assist him in understanding the parable that was being revealed to him. The
The Holy Spirit: Jesus’ Divine Mother? Paid Members Public
In his commentary on Isaiah, St. Jerome quotes a Gospel attributed to certain Jewish sects that identified the Holy Spirit as a female and thought that the Spirit was Jesus’ mother. This Gospel also claims it was the Holy Spirit who spoke to Christ at the latter’s baptism, where
SIRACH & THE TALMUD Paid Members Public
In this post I quote select passages from the Babylonian Talmud where the rabbis affirm the authority of Ecclesiasticus, also known as Ben Sirach, and even quote from it to establish doctrine. The rabbis even placed Sirach in the section called Writings (ketuvim). כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָ
RAPHAEL: A LYING ANGEL? Paid Members Public
In attempt to undermine the canonicity of the book of Tobit certain Protestants appeal to the following text where the archangel Raphael is alleged to have lied about his identity: “He replied, ‘I am Azariah, the son of the elder Hananiah, one of your relatives (ton adelphon sou).’” Tobit 5: