Class description:From its inception early Christian communities were informed, shaped, and sustained by stories about Jesus and his disciples. Many of these stories are found in the New Testament canon. However, in time many other stories about Jesus' followers and their exploits began to circulate among diverse Christian communities. These stories are known among many scholars as "apocryphal literature." In many instances these stories were designed to satisfy natural curiosities surrounding prominent figures that appear in the New Testament canon. In some cases they function as communal enjoyment, but they also provided catechetical formation, among other uses.Beginning May 9th we will look at some examples of early apocryphal literature. Specifically, we will consider its genre--What constitutes an "apocryphal" text? We will look at its textual content, rhetorical structure, the role of ancient novels in constructing apocryphal texts, historical context, and implied philosophical/theological worldview. Each week we will consider a different text. One week will be devoted to gnostic Christianity, another to stories about Mary and Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, martyrdom, etc. Short readings will be provided in advance and a short paper will be required (just kidding!)--no paper is required, but reading of the text is encouraged in order to gain a better understanding of these unusual texts and to facilitate class discussion.
