Chapter 11
The Other Gospels:
Additional Portraits of Jesus
Key Topics/Themes
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Diversity of Gospels produced in early
Christian period
Reflect great diversity of views about nature
of Jesus and his message
Three classes of early, noncanonical Gospels
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Introduction
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The composite portrait of Jesus assumed by
casual readers of the four canonical Gospels
The actual uniqueness of each canonical
Gospel
Other Gospels produced in first three
centuries CE
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Introduction (continued)
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A reflection of the early fluidity of Christian
belief and practice
Early use of edited versions of canonical
Gospels:
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Gospel of the Nazoreans
Marcion’s canon
Tatian’s Diatessaron
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The Gospel of Thomas
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Introduction to the Gospel of Thomas
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Discovery among the Nag Hammadi
documents
Consists of 114 sayings of Jesus
The ostensible author: the apostle Didymos
Thomas
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Thomas’s Diverse Contents
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79 of 114 sayings resemble Synoptic material
Possible Gnostic orientation of some sayings
Lack of highly developed Christology
Jesus as wisdom sage rather than savior who
dies for sins of the world
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Independence from the Synoptic
Gospels
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Strong possibility of Thomas preserving
forms of Jesus’ sayings earlier than Synoptic
accounts
Negative attitude toward women
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Significance of the Gospel of Thomas
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Scholars uncertain of historical authenticity of
its materials
Demonstrates existence of early Christian
communities that saw Jesus only as wisdom
sage
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The Gospel of Judas
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New discovery portraying Judas very
differently from other accounts
Irenaeus denounced as heretical in 180
Expresses a form of Gnostic dualism
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The Case of Secret Mark
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Many teachers reserved special teachings for
closest followers
Clement of Alexandria: special version of
Gospel of Mark reserved for Jesus’ secret
teachings
Copy discovered 1958. Some scholars say a
forgery; other say genuine.
Parallels with raising of Lazarus in John 11
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Gospel of Peter
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Version of the Passion of Jesus
Close parallels with Matthew
Includes scene of Jesus’ actual resurrection
Scholarly debates about document’s origin
and significance
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12
Gospels About Jesus’
Infancy and Childhood
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Infancy Gospel of Thomas
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Dated c. 150 CE
Portrays child Jesus using divine power
selfishly and vindictively
Jesus grows in maturity and awareness of
the need to use powers for good
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Infancy Gospel of James
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Also known as Protoevangelium of James
Personal history of Mary, mother of Jesus
Mary the result of miraculous birth
Mary a descendant of King David
Joseph Mary’s guardian, not husband
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Infancy Gospel of James (continued)
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Mary a perpetual virgin
Contributed significantly to Mariology in
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches
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Summary
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Demonstrates that early Church did not settle
quickly on single view of Jesus
Demonstrates early competition between
competing views about Jesus
Debate settled in fifth century with
establishment of doctrinal orthodoxy that
condemned competing views about Jesus
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