apocrypha
Examinations of apocryphal writings, their historical background, doctrinal themes, and relevance in biblical debates.
THE CHRISTOLOGY OF ADAM AND ISAAC Paid Members Public
In this post I will be looking at specific early Christian apocryphal and pseudepigraphic writings, which give us an idea of the early Christological views held during that period. Some of these sources are believed to have originally been Jewish works that subsequently underwent revision and redaction by Christian scribes.
Prayers of Jews to Angels and Other Intermediaries Paid Members Public
During the First Centuries of the Common Era MEIR BAR-ILAN I. Introduction It has been claimed that angels with divine power have no place in Judaism, a monotheistic religion, as the strength of such a religion lies in the exclusivity of the divinity.1 Angels can thus be no more
JEWISH PRECURSORS TO THE TRINITY, EUCHARIST & MARY Paid Members Public
In this post I will provide some extra-biblical Jewish support which demonstrates that there were certain Jews who were aware of a second divine Power existing alongside of God. I will further highlight that these Jews even believed in a female spirit creature who is dead to God loved and
TWO REMARKABLE PROPHECIES: THE SON OF GOD IS SLAIN Paid Members Public
In the Deutero-canonical writings, there is a remarkable prophecy of God’s righteous Son being hated and put to death by his enemies: “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law,
JESUS CELEBRATES HANUKKAH Paid Members Public
This will be a very short post. According to John’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus celebrated Hanukkah (Hebrew for dedication): “The feast of the Dedication[a] was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.(B) [b]And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
SHEPHERD OF HERMAS: REFUTING THE HERETICS Paid Members Public
In this post I will be citing from the “Shepherd of Hermas”, an early Christian writing that was highly esteemed and quite popular among Christians of the first few centuries. It was such an influential document that there were many Church writers/fathers that even considered it to be canonical.
EXTRA-BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR THE TRINITY Paid Members Public
In this somewhat brief post, I will be citing from a diverse range of Christian writings, dating from as early the first century. Some of these works include snippets from the Apostolic fathers, e.g. the men who knew the Apostles and/or were commissioned by them, as well as
METATRON: ISRAEL’S SECOND GOD REVISITED Paid Members Public
In this post I will be quoting from another Jewish source in regards to the heavenly mythical being known as Metatron, a figure which various Jewish traditions identify as the second God or “Lesser YHVH,” as well as the transformed and metamorphosed Enoch. Some of these traditions even go as