With caroline vander stichele, he cowrote contextualizing gender in early christian discourse. Theclas mother, alarmed about the devotion of her daughter to the preaching of st. Further examples of eschatology in the acts of paul and thecla. These are indicated by roman numeral followed by a comma, and then the paragraph e. The life of the great martyr thecla of iconium the acts of. Acta pauli online greek text no apparatus in unicode. Since then, the tale of the apostle paul, along with his strong heroine coworker named thecla, has received much attention as an independent source of information about earliest christianity for what it might tell us about the role of women in ministry and the relationship women may. And paul sent away onesiphorus and all his house to iconium. Acts of paul ix, 10 ephesian episode, 10 paragraph. The volume studies 1 the readership of the acts, 2 important themes such as the resurrection, possible gnostic elements, the role of women with a detailed study of the acts of thecla, paul s encounter with the lion, his physiognomy, the events after paul s martyrdom, the relationship with the canonical acts and the text of the famous. View acts of paul and thecla research papers on academia. Thecla, wait with patience, and thou shalt receive the water. Comparing canonical acts with the acts of paul and thecla. The apocryphal correspondence between paul and the corinthians greek, bodmer papyrus x.
In this work paul is pictured as traveling from city to city, converting gentiles and proclaiming the need for a life. Alexander, a magistrate, falls in love with thecla. The correspondence with the corinthians, partly preserved in the coptic, and current separately in armenian and latin. Sondheim sara bareilles ahrens and flaherty john mayer stephen schwartz gabe dixon lopez and marx rob mathes john bucchino stevie wonder bock and harnick ben folds. Almost from the beginning, several church fathers i. Social and personal motives there seems to be a widespread assumption throughout much of the western intellectual community that belief in god is based on all kinds of irrational immature needs and wishes, but atheism or skepticism is derived from a rational, no nonsense appraisal of the way things really are. The acts of paul and thecla present an ascetic, antimarriage, antifamily. The acts of paul and thecla acta pauli et theclae is an apocryphal story edgar j. Sometime in the second century, an early christian text began to circulate called the acts of paul and thecla. Kudos to richard pervo for the first english translation of the entire extant acts of paul. Comparing canonical acts with the acts of paul and thecla prezi.
Apocryphal christian literature in an english translation oxford. Then thecla arose, and said to paul, i am going to iconium. Mar 17, 2014 kudos to richard pervo for the first english translation of the entire extant acts of paul. Todd penner is the author of numerous essays on the acts of the apostles, including the book in praise of christian origins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the rss 2. The acts of paul and thecla has a narrative quite similar to those in ancient grecoroman novels. Then paul took her and led her to the house of hermes, and thecla related to paul all that had befallen her in antioch, insomuch that paul was greatly amazed, and all who heard were confirmed in the faith and prayed for thecla s happiness. The religious romance known as the acts of paul and thecla has of late become the object of peculiar interest through the discovery of the longlost acts of paul. What do you know about the acts of paul and thecla. By remembering paul as theclas mentor and subsequent colleague in the apostolic ministry, the acts of thecla make the pauline ministry relevant and accessible for those whose unmasculine bodies. The acts of paul and the pauline legacy in the second century. The acts of the apostles camp hill church of christ. Thamyris, this man will overturn the city of the iconians, and thy thecla too besides.
Richard paul there is nothing more practical than sound thinking. Paul answered, thecla, wait with patience, and you will receive the gift of christ. The acts of paul and thecla acta pauli et theclae is an apocryphal storyedgar j. In your opinion, why should the acts of paul and thecla be. Paul, the pastorals, and women the bart ehrman blog. Probably written about ad 160180, the acts of paul is an account of the apostle pauls travels and teachings.
Pervo opens with a comprehensive introduction and then proceeds with a translation, commentary, bibliography, and notes for each section. Notwithstanding this, a large part of the history was credited, and looked upon as genuine among the. Thecla becomes enamored of paul and they share a number of adventures. Contained in this site are the notes free and downloadable that i use to teach algebra, calculus i, ii and iii as well as differential equations at lamar university. Goodspeed called it a religious romance of paul the apostles influence on a young virgin named thecla. Goodspeed called it a religious romance of paul the apostle s influence on a young virgin named thecla. Translated probably by jeremiah jones, 16931724 thecla s story is one of many in the apocryphal acts which portray women giving up riches and sexual activity to. The message that attracts her to paul is his teaching on chastity and celibacy. The acts of paul and thecla is a legendary account of the escapades of thecla, a woman converted to the christian faith through the preaching of the apostle. The acts of paul and thecla university of chicago press. The apostle paul i make no personal claim to the word or work of god, any or all of this book may be copied and freely distributed. The acts of paul and thecla, a single episode which has been preserved complete in greek and many versions. New testament apocrypha acts of paul and thecla genius. The acts of paul and the pauline legacy in the second century summary part one is an introduction to the question of the actpl and the pauline legacy.
Acts of paul and thecla as paul was going up to iconium after the flight from antioch, his fellowtravellers were demas and ermogenes, full of hypocrisy. An approximate date given to the acts of paul is 160 ce. This problem was solved by viewing the page in ms internet explorer 7. This text will be indispensible for situating the acts in its literary, historical, and theological context. The westminster dictionary of new testament and early christian literature and rhetoric. And as they were going in, a certain syriarch, alexander by name, seeing thecla, became enamoured of her, and tried to gain over paul by gifts and presents. Primary sources the acts of paul and thecla from jesus to. The acts of paul and thecla is an article from the biblical world, volume 17. Mar 20, 2009 this entry was posted on friday, march 20th, 2009 at 9.
Theclas story is one of many in the apocryphal acts which portray women giving up riches and sexual activity to follow the apostles. Then thecla arose and said to paul, i am going to iconium. Tertullian, ca 190 spoke against these texts primarily for their advocacy of women as able to preach or baptize. Chapter one argues that scholars neglect the actpl as a source for the study of the second. A study of the acts of the apostles page 1 lesson one preparations for the beginning of the church a. It is one of the writings of the new testament apocrypha. This paper attempts to carry out such a task, exploring the community and the world behind the acts of paul and thecla apth. Bible library interlinear bible bible commentaries bible concordance topical bible bible summary bible outline bible timeline childrens bible bible hub. Tertullian found it heretical because it encouraged women to preach and baptize. Chapter one argues that scholars neglect the actpl as a source for the study of the second century pauline legacy, though they generally accept that a polemical relationship exists. Musical theatre class of 2006 popradio musical theatre. A 2dcentury christian writing recounting the missionary career and death of the apostle paul and classed among the nt apocrypha. Though the book is called the acts of paul and thecla, paul plays a very minor role in the book. Acts of paul and thecla paul the apostle jesus free.
The life of the holy martyr thecla of iconium, equal to the apostles translated by jeremiah jones, 1693 1724 note in the 1820 edition edited by william hone tertullian says that this piece was forged by a presbyter of asia, who being convicted, confessed that he did it out of respect of paul, and pope gelasius, in his decree against apocryphal. The acts of thecla is interesting as one of the few early books to include a physical description of the apostle paul. Acts of paul and thecla internet history sourcebooks project. However, the acts redirects eroticism towards a belief in a gospel of purity and asceticism. The apocryphal correspondence with the corinthians and the acts of paul gerard luttikhuizen in an essay written in 1905, one year after the publication of the coptic heidelberg papyrus, adolf harnack claims that the so called corinthian correspondence is the most important component. In this work, a young woman named thecla hears paul preaching in iconium and becomes a zealous convert. A scholarly resource for the study of womens religious communities from 400 to 1600 ce.
Purvis atlanta, georgia sometimes he was gentle, like a nurse tenderly caring for her children 1 thess 2. The acts of paul is one of the major works and earliest pseudepigraphal series from the new testament apocrypha also known as apocryphal acts. The martyrdom, the concluding episode of the acts, preserved separately as in. Acts of paul, one of the earliest of a series of pseudepigraphal noncanonical new testament writings known collectively as the apocryphal acts. Stephen and the hellenists in lukan apologetic historiography bloomsbury, 2004. She is still revered as a saint in some parts of the world today, yet few today know her name. The acts of paul and thecla seems to have been popular in its day, but the leaders of early christianity rejected it as false. It includes, among others, an episode reminiscent of the greek fable of androcles and the lion, in which paul escapes from the wild. Acts of paul and thecla episodes iii, iv over 50 manuscripts in greek, coptic, latin, syriac, and armenian versions 3 corinthians episode x a. Comparing the acts of paul and thecla to canonical acts bibliography aune, david e. Paul sent away onesiphorus and all his house to iconium.
The volume studies 1 the readership of the acts, 2 important themes such as the resurrection, possible gnostic elements, the role of. On the other side were those who urged women to be in complete submission to men. Philip sellew writes the anchor bible dictionary, v. University of groningen the apocryphal acts of paul and. I reserve the exclusive right to make changes to this study course. The texts include the hamburg papyrus, acts of paul and thecla lipsius, the. Frank loesser rodgers and hammerstein cy coleman first song. The life of the great martyr thecla of iconium the acts. Thecla, wait with patience, and you shall receive the water. The acts of paul and thecla is an alternate name for a secondcentury apocryphal writing also known as the acts of thecla. As a result of this account, pope gelasius therefore placed the acts of paul and thecla in with the list of apocryphal books that for various reasons did not make it into the final selection of.
Monastic matrix is an ongoing collaborative effort by an international group of scholars of medieval history, religion, history of art, archaeology, religion, and other disciplines, as well as librarians and experts in computer technology. But paul, looking only to the goodness of christ, did them no harm, but loved them exceedingly. It is really a book about thecla and as tertullian notes it is obviously a book designed to promote women preaching. The notes contain the usual topics that are taught in those courses as well as a few extra topics that i decided to include just because i wanted to. The story of these acts begins abruptly, which suggests that it was part of a larger work, or that the beginning was lost. Some such believers told tales of pauls own female companions, women like thecla, who renounced marriage and sexual activities, led ascetic lives, and to taught male believers in church. Nov 11, 2011 rordorf divides the acts of paul into 14 acts.
No matter what your circumstance or goals, no matter where you are, or what problems you face, you are better off if your thinking is skilled. I am interested as to how the original story as we can read it in the acts of paul and thecla athe was transfor med and how its meaning changed. I was confused about this website because for some reason, the unicode greek fonts did not appear correctly in firefox. This is the first modern book, which studies the most important aspects of this early christian treatise, of which especially the acts of thecla and the martyrdom of paul were immensely popular in the christian church, from armenia to anglosaxon england.
346 349 12 407 535 564 1266 992 593 702 1051 844 874 982 93 1075 147 530 616 90 634 793 1269 1024 776 317 752 669 36 323 1018 1262