Overview

The New Testament contains four accounts of the life of Jesus. To some people in antiquity, four was too many. Disagreements in the Gospels over what Jesus said and did triggered debate between insiders and drew criticism from outsiders. To other people, four was not enough. As early as the first century, Christians wrote additional gospels, each with their own portrayal of Jesus and depictions of his relationships with his family, his followers, and his Father. While these gospels were not included in the New Testament canon, many continued to be important for Christian thought and practice; all these texts, moreover, are significant for the study of emergent Christianity. This short, accessible introduction draws on current scholarship on the various noncanonical (or apocryphal) gospels to present this fascinating literature to readers eager to learn more about their origins, contents, and meaning. The book begins with a discussion of the distinction between gospels that became canonical and those that came to be regarded as apocryphal. Then, the gospels are presented in chapters arranged according to Jesus' ministry: from Infancy Gospels to texts about Jesus' earthly career to his passion, resurrection, and postresurrection appearances. This book demonstrates how early Christians confronted crises in their communities through story, crafting new accounts of Jesus' life that expanded upon and sometimes challenged the Gospels that became canonical. The apocryphal gospels are not Scripture, but they are no less valuable for understanding Christianity in its formative centuries and beyond.

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9781666706703

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Reviews

This is a small book with a big payoff. In six highly focused chapters, laden with fascinating facts and lucid reflection, Schroter introduces readers to the collection of early Christian texts known as the apocryphal gospels. One could not wish for a more learned guide to this material. This is an essential introduction to the topic, written by a world-leading scholar. --Paul Foster, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh In this masterfully written, encompassing survey, Schroter offers readers not a bird's- but an eagle's-eye view on the ancient apocryphal gospels, addressing all relevant introductory as well as methodological questions these writings pose and paying due attention to the diversity in genre, content, and theological message they display. --Joseph Verheyden, University of Leuven I do not know a better guide through the fascinating world of the apocryphal gospels than Schroter. His learned book is very well written, easily accessible, and at the same time absolutely up-to-date--a wonderful introduction into almost-unknown yet important writings which offer different views on Jesus and the varied worlds of his early followers. Students and scholars will read it with great profit. --Tobias Nicklas, Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Regensburg

Author Information

Jens Schröter is Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Theology and Ancient Christian Apocrypha at Humboldt University, Berlin. He is the author of numerous books and articles on early Christian literature, both canonical and noncanonical.

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