Loading...As I have done before, I would like to offer blog members an opportunity to read a draft of my forthcoming book in exchange for a major blog donation.
Many of you know that I’ve been spent the last four years working on a scholarly monograph that will be related to, but completely different from, my recently published trade book, Heaven and Hell. I have just finished the draft and am sending it out to experts to read for comments, before preparing the final copy for the press. (It is to be published by Yale University Press.) I’m not sure of the title yet, but just now I’m calling it “Journeys to Heaven and Hell in the Early Christian Tradition.”
It’s a scholarly book, not directed mainly to a popular audience. It focuses on several texts not well known to the general populace and, frankly, not even to most scholars (even NT scholars, the vast majority of whom have never read these texts, let alone studied them): The Apocalypse of Peter, the Apocalypse of Paul, the Acts of Thomas, and the Gospel of Nicodemus, all of them in relation to each other but also to similar tours of the afterlife in Greek, Roman, and Jewish sources. They all narrate a visit to the realms of the dead by a mortal, who then gets outta there, usually to tell the tale. Some of them involve Near Death Experiences. Others are set up differently. My thesis in the book is that these accounts were never really meant to be purely instructional – giving factual information about what it is like down there and up there – but were always meant to put life into perspective and to encourage certain attitudes, beliefs, perspectives, lifestyles, ethics, etc. They all do so differently from one other.
Even though it’s a scholarly book, I have written it to be accessible to layfolk as well. I’ve translated all the Greek and Latin, generally not gone crazy on the jargon, and explained things that wouldn’t be obvious to most regular folk. And so, in addition to expert opinions that I’ve solicited, I would like some non-expert opinion as well. Not hundreds of opinions, but a few.
So here’s the deal. For a donation of $1000 to the blog – every bit of which will go directly to charity — I’ll allow anyone on the blog to read the manuscript and make comments on it. Or just to read it without making comments. As I understand such recondite matters, the donation would be tax deductible.
I know it’s a lot of dosh. Most people would not be interested anyway; and most of those who are would prefer not shelling out the money, thank you very. But if you are and you would, here’s your chance!
Do not reply as a comment here on the blog. Send me a private email at [email protected], and I’ll send you an electronic copy of the manuscript.
In your monograph, do you include any discussion of Paul’s Third Heaven and Paradise Journey?
Not at any length, since he doesn’t tell us anything about it. But there was a later Apocalypse of Paul that *did* describe it, and I do analyze that.
This is off topic as it relates to the blog design. But I find the new red hue a bit off putting. I love the color Red, but Red seems to indicate caution, stops and warnings. I found the older blue/ gray hue more welcoming.
(Of course from a UX standpoint color shouldn’t be used as a point of direction as some users are color blind.)
It’s Just my observation! Love the blog overall!
Interesting. Thanks.
Dr. Ehrman,
Per our email, would you say that, based upon the early church father’s background, they were pretty ignorant when it came to Jewish matters (such as Jewish culture, customs, and linguistics) since none of them were Jewish and they were converted out of paganistic Greek thought? Have you written specifically on this?
I have been studying more of the ECF and the way they read Scripture and came to some of their conclusions seems very out of the Jewish context (e.g., Tertullian and Hermas believing you cannot repent after baptism/believing you can only do it once, etc.)
NO, I don’t think I have! But it’s fairly common knowledge among scholars in the field (that may be why I’ve never much talked about it)
Dr. Ehrman,
So, to the original question, would you say that most (if not all) early church fathers were ignorant when it came to Jewish matters?
Of the ones who wrote, yes, probably so — at least to some extent. Many, for example, assume that the Judaism of their time was the religion of the Hebrew Bible, adn they even misundersand that.
Dr. Ehrman,
That is what all my studies led me to conclude, but since you are my favorite scholar on early Christianity, I wanted to hear it from you to make sure I had not missed anything! 🙂
My question is has there been any discussion how first century politics played into the writings in the nt and of the apostolic fathers and how significant these political views were? I am referring to the political strife within the jewish religion (sanhedrin vs. pharisees etc) and the the roman politics interfacing with the development of christianity. Also geographical political divisions must have played a significant role in the ancient writings. When future historians write about the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st centuries political writings may have a significant impact on their views of these times.
How long does a posting sit in “awaiting moderation”? Maybe I need a lession in how to properly post.
Normally a day or two, but never to my knowledge more than that. But sometimes things slip through. Again I’ll look to see if I can find it.
Ah, I found the comment! Not sure why it didn’t show up before!
It’s a good question. Yes, scholars have deeply examined political connections of these writings. It looks like the internal Jewish struggles did not much affect the NT authors, since they all opposed most kinds of non-Xn Jews and do not clearly differentiate among them, except ina few places (as in Acts where Paul uses his agreements with the Pharisees against the Sadducees to split the Council). Jesus and Paul agreed with Pharisees against the Sadducees on the resurrection. But Rome had no policies about Christians in the NT period, so these did not affect tihngs. Anti-Roman sentiment, however, was of major importance, especially for hte book of Revelation which is vitriolic in its opposition to Rome.
what does “moderation” mean?
It depends on whether you are approving comments on the Internet or downing a few at the bar! What are you wondering?
My question of Jan 6 states that it is awaiting moderation and i have received no answer to it.
That’s weird. I’ll look to see. I believe I’ve responded to all the comments I’ve received. Every now and then I won’t post one because it deals with something not relevant to the blog (such as presidential preferences) or is snarky (again, often dealing with presidential preferences.). But that rarely happens. I’ll check. If I find it, I’ll post it!