<p>Already in the second century, the Church Father Irenaeus warned against reading the Gospel of Truth that was used among the so-called Valentinians. For more than one and a half millennium GospTruth was lost until in the 1950s a Coptic text was discovered that could be a translation of that work both loved and hated.</p><p>Since the discovery scholars have tried to determine whether the Coptic text represents the one mentioned by Irenaeus, and whether its author might even be the famous Gnostic teacher Valentinus of Alexandria.</p><p>The text is very complex and the present study the first attempt to use text linguistic tools for analysing GospTruth. A new and sometimes radically different translation is presented, and an hypothesis of date of redaction and authorship is put forward. Previously Gnostic texts have usually been read in light of the reports of the Church Fathers. In this study an attempt is made to detect topics that were interesting for the Valentinians and that have so far been neglected. The analysis presents a new ethical debate among early Christians regarding the Biblical law, and a hypothesis of how the author of GospTruth wanted his or her community to act towards the neighbouring communities is elaborated. In addition my investigation draws attention to an interpretation of the crucifixion that seems to have distinguished Valentinians from others.</p><p>For a long time scholars depicted the Gnostics as evil opponents to the church. During the last decades this view has been criticized, and today many scholars abandon the term Gnostic altogether, and instead only use the term Christian. In my opinion such an approach risks to conceal the unique features of Valentinianism, and the results of the present study will hopefully shed new light on a branch of Christianity which still is relatively unexplored.</p>

Already in the second century, the Church Father Irenaeus warned against reading the Gospel of Truth that was used among the so-called Valentinians. For more than one and a half millennium GospTruth was lost until in the 1950s a Coptic text was discovered that could be a translation of that work both loved and hated. Since the discovery scholars have tried to determine whether the Coptic text represents the one mentioned by Irenaeus, and whether its author might even be the famous Gnostic teacher Valentinus of Alexandria. The text is very complex and the present study the first attempt to use text linguistic tools for analysing GospTruth. A new and sometimes radically different translation is presented, and an hypothesis of date of redaction and authorship is put forward. Previously Gnostic texts have usually been read in light of the reports of the Church Fathers. In this study an attempt is made to detect topics that were interesting for the Valentinians and that have so far been neglected. The analysis presents a new ethical debate among early Christians regarding the Biblical law, and a hypothesis of how the author of GospTruth wanted his or her community to act towards the neighbouring communities is elaborated. In addition my investigation draws attention to an interpretation of the crucifixion that seems to have distinguished Valentinians from others. For a long time scholars depicted the Gnostics as evil opponents to the church. During the last decades this view has been criticized, and today many scholars abandon the term Gnostic altogether, and instead only use the term Christian. In my opinion such an approach risks to conceal the unique features of Valentinianism, and the results of the present study will hopefully shed new light on a branch of Christianity which still is relatively unexplored.

This thesis aims to investigate and discuss the possibility for women in the early Christian church to make music, which in the ancient Roman society was something complicated. Afemale musician was looked upon as decadent and dissolute. This idea, in combination with the music ideals of the church influenced by the Neoplatonic movement, and the Pauline statement (1 Cor. 14:34-36), cast women to be completely prohibited in participating even in the psalmody during the service. My purpose is to discuss how this was looked upon in different Christian regions, using the church fathers as the main material source, since this has not previously been well documented or studied.

Only recently have scholars given particular attention to the development of the racial discourse present in early Christian apologetics. This study is aimed at understanding the Latin and Greek literary antecedents to the development of a Christian discourse on race and identity and examining in detail the apex of this discourse in the work of third century apologist Origen of Alexandria. Origen’s work represented the apex of an evolving discourse that, while continuing to use traditional vocabulary, became increasingly universalizing with the growth of the Roman Empire. By understanding how Christians in the first three centuries shaped their attitudes on race and identity, scholars can better comprehend the place of Christianity within the cultural framework of the Roman Empire.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:02:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 850435 bytes, checksum: 9524c75f53756030a6b029f9ef8ba9f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Assuming that early Christianity was a complex place that housed ideological class struggle, look into evidence to prove these differences by studying the apocryphal text known as the Protevangelium of James, coming from the second century of our era. Attempts to demonstrate that the beliefs in this apocryphal text are not product of the imagination of its author, but are common elements to the Christian communities before orthodoxy. In early Christianity, there were several classes that had ideological divergent beliefs. With the passing centuries, emerging classes, the block termed proto-orthodox, by forces policies, prevailed over the remaining. This block then steadied itself then as the only truth, taking on the true apostolic succession and the true teaching of Jesus, was also enacted as the first church which all heresy arose in relation to their beliefs. The speech that block disregards the whole dialectical process that gave his statement. As the Protevangelium of James is a based text in the proto-orthodox, that is, part of its content is similar to what will become the orthodoxy, but also carries an offensive content to this, it is appropriate to question such speech. In the process of quest the aim of research, resorting on studies of Foucault, Bakhtin and Berger, it was necessary to understand the importance of speech for formation of the classes ideologically constituted, the process of legitimation of the discourse and the construction of truths. It is important to consider how to handsel the orthodoxies and heresies, the canonical and apocryphal in the religious systems and understand ,panoramically, how was the construction of the canon of Christian scriptures. The Protevangelium will be still compared with other Christian literature, such as the canonical Matthew and Luke's gospels and other apocryphal narratives, as well as works of early Christian writers to examine their scope and relevance. It is concluded that the Protevangelium of James initially served as raw material for orthodoxy, but with the development of this, it was deemed unacceptable. / Partindo da hipótese de que o cristianismo primitivo era um lugar complexo que abrigava lutas de classes ideológicas, procuram-se indícios que comprovem essas divergências por meio do estudo do texto apócrifo conhecido como o Protoevangelho de Tiago, oriundo do século II de nossa era. Tenta-se demonstrar que as crenças contidas neste texto apócrifo não são frutos da imaginação de seu autor, mas são elementos comuns às comunidades cristãs antes da ortodoxia. No cristianismo primitivo, havia varias classes ideológicas que apresentavam crenças divergentes entre si. Com o passar dos séculos, as classes emergentes, o bloco denominado proto-ortodoxo, por forças políticas, prevaleceram sobre as demais. Este bloco, então, firmou-se então como a única verdade, tomando para si a verdadeira sucessão apostólica e o verdadeiro ensino de Jesus, promulgou-se ainda como a primeira igreja e da qual toda a heresia surgiu em relação às suas crenças. O discurso desse bloco ignora todo o processo dialético que se deu para sua afirmação. Sendo o Protoevangelho de Tiago um texto de base proto-ortodoxa, isto é, parte de seu conteúdo é similar ao do que se tornará a ortodoxia, mas que traz também um conteúdo ofensivo a esta, é adequado para questionar tal discurso. No percurso de busca ao objetivo da pesquisa, recorrendo aos estudos de Foucault, Berger e Bakhtin, se fez necessário entender a importância do discurso para a formação de classes ideologicamente constituídas, o processo de legitimação do discurso e as construções das verdades. É importante refletir como se dão as ortodoxias e as heresias, o canônico e o apócrifo nos sistemas religiosos e entender, panoramicamente, como se deu a construção do cânon das escrituras cristãs. O Protoevangelho será comparado ainda com outras literaturas cristãs, tais como os evangelhos canônicos de Mateus e de Lucas, outros evangelhos e narrativas apócrifas, como também obras de escritores cristãos antigos para averiguar sua abrangência e relevância. Conclui-se que inicialmente o Protoevangelho de Tiago serviu de matéria prima para a ortodoxia, mas com o desenvolvimento desta, foi considerado inaceitável.

Submitted by Noeme Timbo (noeme.timbo@metodista.br) on 2018-03-20T16:13:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RobsonAlmeida.pdf: 950170 bytes, checksum: e52e90d091990a500d026e77e72d94ae (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-20T16:13:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RobsonAlmeida.pdf: 950170 bytes, checksum: e52e90d091990a500d026e77e72d94ae (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This written work aims to addres the theme of Magic in the Mediterranean World at the period of Early Christianity. The Magic, wich, by its supernatural caracther, arouses interest and show the ways of relationship between human and sacred, at the same time that reveals several tensions and comprehensions about the popular religion´s practice. So, we construe the relationship between Magic and Miracle as so as the relationship of Magic and Religion. For this, we approach texts of Magic duels at canonical narratives, like Acts Of The Apostles 8. 4-25, that show common elements with the imagination of Early Christianity wich increase the tensions beteween Magicians and Apostles and enrich the presence and importance of the themeof Magic in the Mediterranean culture at the first centuries of the Christian Era. Especially in the face of this rivarly between thaumaturges, we can see the danger that Magic represented to the nascent Christianity and its identity in formation and the stratchs that the Magic bring for the teaching of the Apostles. So, after to broach the Magic elements at different narratives, we turn our attention to the Acts of Apostles, looking for the understanding of the importance of Luke´s narrative for the community of Early Christianity, especially in relation to the stricking and historical figure of Simon, The Magician. Simon was identified, historically, like the prototype heretic, Gnosticism´s father and Christianity´s corrupter, having borrowed his identity to represent all the way of corruptions of the apostolic teatching and ethical and moral deviations in the course of ecclesiastical history / Este trabalho tem como objetivo abordar o tema da magia no mundo mediterrâneo no período do Cristianismo Primitivo. A magia que, por seu caráter sobrenatural, desperta interesse e apresenta as formas de relação entre o humano e o sagrado, ao mesmo tempo em que revela diversas tensões e compreensões a respeito da prática da religiosidade popular. Deste modo, analisamos a relação entre magia e milagre e, também, sua relação com a religião. Para isso, abordamos textos de duelos mágicos tanto em narrativas canônicas, como Atos dos Apóstolos 8.4-25, quanto apócrifas, como Atos de Pedro, que apresentam elementos comuns ao imaginário cristão primitivo reforçando a tensão entre magos e apóstolos, e valorizando a presença e importância do tema na cultura do Mediterrâneo nos primeiros séculos da era cristã. Especialmente, diante dessa rivalidade entre taumaturgos, observamos o perigo que a magia representava em relação ao cristianismo nascente, para sua identidade em formação e o risco que esta oferecia para o ensino dos apóstolos. Assim, após abordar os elementos mágicos em diversas narrativas, voltamos nossa atenção ao texto canônico de Atos dos Apóstolos buscando compreender a importância da narrativa lucana para a comunidade do cristianismo nascente, especialmente em relação à figura marcante e histórica de Simão, o Mago. Simão, historicamente, foi identificado como o protótipo do herege, pai do gnosticismo e corruptor do cristianismo, tendo sua identidade “emprestada” para representar toda forma de corrupção dos ensinamentos apostólicos e desvios éticos e morais no decorrer da história eclesiástica.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-03T12:19:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KellenAraujo.pdf: 1529695 bytes, checksum: 095167119ba0c9624180097471cad0ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-04-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The purpose of this research is to analyze the work the Acts of Paul and Thecla, focusing on the importance of sexual abstinence for womens leadership. A topic that was essential for women to conquer their space and power in society and this way get to make their voice heard, even though not as considerable. By examining the Apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla, its main characteristics and composition can be observed, also with its origin and interpretation by communities and leaders in the beginning of Christianity. Sought to portray this research, justifying the Greek romance, presenting their similarities with the Acts of Paul and Thecla and thus highlight the influence of Greek writing on the apocryphal text in its way of structuring. It was presented the definitions of sexual abstinence, leadership and martyrdom always stressing themes with the figure of the woman, addressing the issue of the body and society and demonstrating how these themes inspired speeches in early Christianity. Referring to the writings of Acts Apocrypha, we present the origin of communities of celibate women who influenced the writing of texts, reporting why the Acts were written and how they were disseminated in other communities. About martyrdom it was described its origins and how Christians saw in this action an approach to God and how martyrdom prepared Theclas life to become an agent of Gods word. / O propósito desta pesquisa é analisar a obra os Atos de Paulo e Tecla, focando na importância da renúncia sexual para a liderança da mulher. Tema este que se tornou fundamental para que as mulheres conseguissem conquistar seu espaço e poder diante da sociedade e assim conseguir fazer com que sua voz fosse ouvida, mesmo que de forma não tão considerável. Ao examinar os Apócrifos Atos de Paulo e Tecla, pôde-se observar suas principais características e composição, apresentando sua origem e interpretação pelas comunidades e pelos líderes do início do cristianismo. Buscou-se nesta pesquisa retratar e fundamentar o romance grego, apresentando suas similaridades com os Atos de Paulo e Tecla, e desta maneira destacar a influência do escrito grego sobre o texto apócrifo em sua forma de estruturação. Apresentamos as definições sobre a renúncia sexual, liderança e martírio sempre destacando os temas com a figura da mulher, abordando a questão do corpo e a sociedade e demonstrando como estes temas inspiraram os discursos no início do cristianismo. Referente aos escritos dos Atos Apócrifos, apresentamos a origem das comunidades de mulheres celibatárias, que influenciaram a escrita dos textos, relatando o motivo pelo qual os Atos foram escritos e como foram disseminados nas outras comunidades. Sobre o martírio, descrevemos suas origens e como os cristãos viam nessa ação uma aproximação com Deus, e como o martírio preparou a vida de Tecla para que ela se tornasse uma anunciante da palavra de Deus.

A passagem dos séculos I e II d.C. assistiu ao desenvolvimento de um cristianismo dinâmico na província romana da Ásia Proconsular, na costa egeia da Ásia Menor. Concomitante à ascensão política e econômica da região no contexto do Mediterrâneo em pleno Alto Império Romano, as comunidades cristãs locais apresentam um prolífico quadro doutrinal e ritual, o qual lhes confere destaque e as torna destinatárias da maior parte do curto epistolário de um personagem histórico tão marcante quanto enigmático: Inácio de Antioquia, que afirma ser o supervisor da igreja presente na grande metrópole síria, e que passa pela Ásia acorrentado a um pelotão de soldados, rumo à capital romana, para lá ser supostamente executado na arena. As cartas de Inácio sugerem a existência, em comunidades presentes em centros urbanos importantes da província, de um corpo de líderes fixos, dentre os quais destacando-se a figura de um único supervisor, do qual o prisioneiro defende a autoridade sobre todos os cristãos de uma mesma cidade. Uma análise de documentos datados de antes da composição do breve epistolário inaciano não oferece, contudo, bases para a afirmação de uma perenidade de tal forma de governo das comunidades cristãs asiáticas. Ao invés, uma leitura atenta das fontes aponta para um processo social de ligeira alteração dos referenciais de autoridade, de modo que, sobretudo após a morte do apóstolo Paulo de Tarso (principal fundador do cristianismo na Ásia Proconsular), um valor singular é dado a líderes homens que sejam reconhecidos publicamente como bons chefes de households. Nesse processo Inácio de Antioquia procura tomar parte, de modo a solidificar a autoridade do supervisor por meio de um incremento do alcance de seu controle social: ele prega, com autoarrogada autoridade profética, que o encarregado da supervisão da comunidade seja visto como a própria representação da figura divina e patriarcal de Deus Pai, e que apenas sob ele uma reunião ritual pode ser considerada válida. / The transit from the first to the second century CE saw the development of a dynamic Christianity in the Roman province of Asia Proconsularis, on the Aegean Asia Minor coast. Concomitant to the political and economic ascension of the region in the context of the Mediterranean, in plain Early Roman Empire, the local Christian communities show a prolific doctrinal and ritual frame, which give them highlighted status, and make them the recipients of most of the short epistolary of a historical character so outstanding as enigmatic: Ignatius of Antioch, who claims to be the overseer of the church in the great Syrian metropolis, and which goes through Asia bonded to a band of soldiers in way to the Roman capital, where he should, supposedly, be executed in the arena. The letters of Ignatius suggest the existence, in communities existent in the provinces main urban centers, of a group of fixed leaders, from which is detached the figure of the sole overseer. This overseers authority, the prisoner says, is extended over all the Christians living in a same city. However, an analysis of the documents dated from before the composition of the short Ignatian epistolary, do not offer basis to the affirmation of perennial status of such a way in governing the Asiatic Christian communities. To the contrary, a careful reading of the sources directs to a slight social process of change in the references of authority, in such a way that, especially after the death of the apostle Paul of Tarsus (main founder of Christianity in Asia Proconsularis), a special value is given to men leaders publicly recognized as good household chiefs. Ignatius of Antioch attempts to have a part in this process with the aim of solidifying the authority of the overseer by incrementing the range of his social control; he preaches, with selfproclaimed prophetic authority, that the one charged with community overseeing should be seen as the very representation of the divine and patriarchal figure of God the Father, and that only under him a ritual reunion could be considered as valid.

The four canonical Gospels describe the synagogues of the Land of Israel as the primary locus of the public activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite the prominence of synagogues in the extant accounts of Jesus’ life and career, academic research on early synagogues has not yet played a significant role in the study of the historical Jesus. This project incorporates the findings of recent research on ancient synagogues into the study of the historical Jesus. So doing helps to recover a piece of Jesus’ early Jewish context that has been frequently neglected or misunderstood in previous scholarship. This thesis has two related goals. The first is to contextualize Jesus’ activities in synagogues in light of current research on ancient synagogues. The second is to determine the role that the institution of the synagogue played in the aims of Jesus. I argue that the evidence indicates that the synagogue was intrinsic rather than incidental to Jesus’ mission, and that it was both the vehicle and the means by which he intended to realize his aim of the restoration of Israel. The historical investigation in this project helps to clarify our understanding of Jesus’ mission and also helps us to better understand the data involving synagogues in the Gospels. My examination of the evidence finds that the narratives involving synagogues in the Gospels accurately reflect an ancient synagogue setting, and can be better understood in light of current scholarship on synagogues. This speaks in favour of the historical plausibility of these narratives, and highlights the importance of the institutional setting of the synagogue for the interpretation of this data. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The four canonical Gospels describe the synagogues of the Land of Israel as the primary locus of the public activities of Jesus of Nazareth. Despite the prominence of synagogues in the accounts of Jesus’ life and career, academic research on early synagogues has not yet played a significant role in the study of the historical Jesus. This project has two related goals. The first is to contextualize Jesus’ activities in synagogues in light of current research on ancient synagogues. The second is to determine the role that the institution of the synagogue played in the aims of Jesus. I argue that the evidence indicates that the synagogue was intrinsic rather than incidental to Jesus’ mission, and that it was both the vehicle and the means by which he intended to realize his aim of the restoration of Israel.

No description available.