Pseudepigrapha#Biblical studies

Pseudepigraphy in biblical context, refers either to the error in the authorship of biblical texts ( = pseudepigraphy in the Bible) or the alleged extra-biblical writings drafted by biblical characters ( = pseudepigraphy to the Bible ). The making literary and religious works, coupled with deliberately false stated authorship was known as a phenomenon in antiquity. Since the early 18th century, some writings of the biblical canon has been classified as pseudepigraph or taken into consideration in the course of historical criticism. The detection of pseudepigraphy is methodically often difficult, such as the extended discussion around the Pastoral Epistles shows.

The classification of a document as " pseudepigraph " says nothing about the content or literary quality. Nevertheless, the question whether a biblical scripture comes from the specified author, give rise to a conflict of loyalty even among scientists and trigger fierce debate because it is about the canon of sacred and therefore authoritative writings.

Since the biblical canon, especially in the Old Testament is determined by several different churches, alone can therefore determine the extent of biblical pseudepigraphy out differently.

5.1 confusion: pseudepigraphical and apocryphal
5.2 Examples

6.1 psalms

8.1 Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament
8.2 Pseudepigrapha of the New Testament 8.2.1 Gospel texts and secret revelations of Jesus 8.2.1.1 infancy gospels
8.2.1.2 Partial traditional Gospels
8.2.1.3 Reconstructed Gospels

Definition

A font with wrong Responsibility means Pseudepigraph (from Greek: ψευδής, pseudes: " untruthful ", " wrong" and ἐπιγραφή epigraphs: "Name ", " inscription "; taken together. " Wrong title / titling " pseudonymity is, however, before then, when an author - mostly for safety reasons - having a strange, unknown name speaks up.

If the author's name specified by the author knowingly false ( circle ), it is called primary pseudepigraphy; the author's name has been added by another person falsely, it is called secondary pseudepigraphy (eg, the Didache was only later assigned to the twelve apostles ). One of the Pseudepigrapha can also include works that do not want to be explicitly written by a particular author, but this perfectly imitate and thus give the appearance of being written by him. In this way, can make a text pseudepigraphical a widely adopted and falsely attributed authorship.

In the Bible sciences with Pseudepigrapha those religious texts of Judaism and of the early Christianity refers to the roughly between 200 BC and 200 AD were written. In this case, not all in the formal sense pseudepigraphical. You will evangelischerseits of the deuterocanonical writings ( as the name Catholic and orthodoxerseits ) discriminated Apocrypha ( Protestant denomination) that appear in the Septuagint and Vulgate but not in the Hebrew Bible and the Protestant canon. The Roman Catholic Church distinguishes the other scriptures, which they call " Apocrypha ", are thus described by her the Pseudepigrapha only between Deuterocanonical and all.

The meaning of biblical pseudepigraphy

Pseudepigrapha were usually attributed to or foisted biblical characters, enjoying the high reputation. Their authority was used to spread or to enforce them their own ideas and ideas. In the biblical writings must be reckoned with the possibility that the inclusion in the Biblical canon, or in the liturgy was intended.

Criteria and probability

Criteria for pseudepigraphy

Determine the age of the documents ( radiological / paleographically )
Assessment of other writings of the Bible canon
Ideas about the history of religion developments
Assessment of the literary skills of biblical authors / figures
Estimate of the probability that a person has ever written something or that it has been handed down

Probability

In statements to the authorship of biblical writings are - as with all historical judgments - to probability judgments. The growing insight into historical context, the "understanding " of history, can be understood as a spiral process, which is essential and unavoidable determined by prejudices and their resolution. Example: During the writing of Ephesians by Paul many scholars (mainly from internal postage reasons) seems impossible, but some other quite possible, is the second letter of Peter after the " almost unanimous opinion of the New Testament " pseudepigraph.

Classic Antique Literature

Greek authors often refer to texts which claim to have been written by Orpheus or his pupil Musaeus, but were generally considered not written by them. So it was recognized, for example, in ancient times, the collection of hymns of Homer as pseudepigraphical, ie one was aware that they do not come from Homer. In secular literature, scientific studies began to a "pseudo " in front of the traditional author name if it could be shown that a font was pseudepigraphical. For instance, no longer Apollodorus, but the "Pseudo - Apollodorus " is the encyclopaedic compilation of Greek myths called " Libraries " often attributed.

Bible Science

In biblical texts, the term Pseudepigrapha specifically refers to works that purport to have been written by well-known authority of the Old or New Testament or from people who were involved in the research or Jewish or Christian history. These plants can also have as their object biblical themes. Often they are written so that they appear as authoritative as the works that were included in the Jewish or Christian canon of Scripture. The church father Eusebius points out that this practice at least to Serapion, bishop of Antioch, goes back, and he notes: "But those writings which are falsely labeled with their name ( ψευδεπιγραφία τα, ta pseudepigraphia ), we have, as experienced people back ... ".

Confusion: pseudepigraphical and apocryphal

Many of the aforementioned works were called " Apocrypha ," which originally meant " secret writing " meant, namely those who were rejected for public use in worship. The Odes of Solomon are an example of both pseudepigraphic and apocryphal text: pseudepigraphical because he did not come from King Solomon, but was probably written around 130 AD, and apocryphal, because this collection of hymns not in the Tanakh nor in the Christian Bible was recorded. The Protestant churches use the term " Apocrypha " for fonts that are in the canon of the Catholic or Orthodox churches, but are not found in the Hebrew canon. In more recent times they refer to these works as a neutral " later writings of the Old Testament ." Catholics refer to them as " deuterocanonical ". Therefore, it came under some Protestant Bible scholars to a wide-ranging use of the term Pseudepigrapha for extra-canonical works, where it seemed because of them attributed authorship, as they should be a part of the biblical canon, which are, however, outside the Protestant or Catholic Bible. Therefore, the term " pseudepigraphical " as he is now often used among Protestants and Roman Catholics (supposedly in order to create clarity in the discussion ), make it difficult to a lay audience questions pseudepigraphischer authorship " canonical " writings impartially and objectively discuss. Even more confusing is the fact that Orthodox Christians accept some books as canonical, which are considered by the Western churches as pseudepigraphical or at best be regarded as possessing little authority. There are also churches who reject some biblical scriptures that are accepted by Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants as canonical.

The term " Pseudepigrapha " is avoided in works that have emerged after 300 AD and relate to biblical themes. Nevertheless, there are from this period classic examples of pseudepigraphy: the texts drawn up in the late medieval Gospel of Barnabas, the Apocalypse of Pseudo- Methodius, the Pseudo- Apuleius ( Author of a book on herbs from the 5th century, the Apuleius attributed ) and the author, who traditionally is referred to as "pseudo - Areopagite ". In the 5th century the moralist Salvian published the book "Against the Greed" (Contra avaritiam ) under the name of Timothy; the letter in which he his former pupil, Bishop Salonius, describes his motives, has been preserved.

Examples

Clear examples of the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha with " author ":

The Ethiopian Enoch ( canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church )
Jubilees ( Book of Jubilees, sometimes called: Little Genesis) ( canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church )
The life of Adam and Eve
The Pseudo- Philo (Latin: Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum )

Clear examples of the New Testament Pseudepigrapha with " author ":

Gospel of Peter
Gospel of Barnabas
Laodizenerbrief
3 Letter to the Corinthians ( canonical in the Syriac Orthodox Church )

Pseudepigraphy in the Old Testament

Psalms

In many psalms attributed to King David, is expected to pseudepigraphy. However, the Hebrew term " ledawid " is (Hebrew: לְדָּוִיד ) in the psalm headings not necessarily with " David " to translate. It can also mean " for David " hot, then that is meant " the King David dedicated ". Even the mention of Moses and Solomon as a psalmist emphasizes the authority and meaning of the texts and places them in the tradition of Israel.

Pseudepigraphy in the New Testament

The following letters are often referred to by historical-critical theologians as Pseudepigrapha:

Ephesians
Colossians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
1 Peter
2 Peter
Epistle of James
Jude

The three Epistles of John are a subject in itself. The tradition has assigned to the Apostle John. In the letters the authorship is not explicitly asserted by the apostle. So there may be a confusion before a presbyter of the same name.

Extracanonical Pseudepigrapha

Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament

Between 200 BC and 200 AD created numerous religious works, the important personalities of the Bible were attributed. Most are Jewish, in terms of origin and character, some may have come from Christians. A special case is Psalm 151 is, which is recognized by the Eastern Churches as canonical.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church recognizes the following six headings as canonical:

Ethiopian Book of Enoch ( 1 Enoch )
Jubilees
Prayer of Manasseh
1 Meqabyan
2 Meqabyan
3 Meqabyan

Generally considered außerkanonisch applicable headings:

2 Enoch, or: Slavonic Book of Enoch
3 Enoch
2 Baruch, or: Syrian Apocalypse of Baruch
3 Baruch, or: Greek Apocalypse of Baruch
4 Baruch
3 Ezra
4 Ezra
5 Ezra
6 Ezra
3 Maccabees
4 Maccabees
5 Maccabees
6 Book of the Maccabees
7 Maccabees
8 Maccabees
Adam Octipartitus
Apocalypse of Abraham
Apocalypse of Adam
Apocalypse of Daniel (Greek )
Apocalypse of Elias
Apocalypse of Ezekiel
Apocalypse of Moses - > Life of Adam and Eve
Apocalypse of Sedrach
Apocalypse of the Seven Heavens
Apocalypse of Zephaniah
Apocryphon of Ezekiel
Apocryphon of James and Joseph
Apocryphon of Jeremiah, also include Coptic Apocryphon of Jeremiah
Apocryphon of Melchizedek
Apocryphon of the Ten Tribes
Aristeas
Assumptio Moses → Assumption of Moses
Letter of Rehoboam
Book Assafs (Hebrew )
Book of cave treasures
Book Noah
Exposition of Shem
Eldad and Modad
Elias supplication
Questions of Ezra
Prayer of Jacob
Prayer of Joseph
Of Discipline
Story of Joseph
History of the Rechabites
Greek Apocalypse of Ezra
Henochisches Book of Giants ( other name: " Ogias, the giant " )
Ascension of Isaiah
Assumption of Moses, lat Assumptio of Moses, also: Testament of Moses
Jacob's Ladder (Hebrew: Sulam Yaakov, סולם יעקב )
Jannes and Jambres
Joseph and Aseneth
Life of Adam and Eve
The life of the Prophet
Psalms of Solomon
Psalms 152-155
Sibyllinisches oracle
Testament of Abraham
Testament Adams
Testament of Job
Testament of Isaac
Testament Jacob
Testament of Solomon
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Vision of Ezra
Visions of Heaven and Hell
Wisdom of Solomon
Words of Gad the Seer
Sign of judgment

Pseudepigrapha of the New Testament

Gospel texts and secret revelations of Jesus

Gospel of Thomas (partial Gnostic )
Gospel of Truth Gospel Veritatis ( Gnostic )
Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians ( gnostic sethianisch )
Acts of Pilate, Latin: Acta Pilati ( other name: Gospel of Nicodemus )
Gospel According to Gamaliel
Apocryphon of John ( Gnostic sethianisch )
Apocryphon of James ( to Gnosis tending )
Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians ( gnostic sethianisch )
Three Multifarious Protennoia ( gnostic sethianisch )
Pistis Sophia Coptic ( Gnostic )
Thomas book (also: Book of athletes Thomas )
Sophia of Jesus Christ ( Gnostic )

Infancy gospels

Gospel of the Birth of Mary, Libellus de Sanctae Mariae Nativitate
Pseudo-Matthew 's Gospel
Infancy Gospel according to Thomas
Protevangelium of James
Arabic Infancy Gospel ( Syrian )
Armenian Infancy Gospel (Armenian )
Syrian Gospel of the childhood of our Lord Jesus, or: History of Joseph the Carpenter

Partial traditional Gospels

Gospel of Judas ( Gnostic )
Gospel of Peter
Gospel of Mary
Gospel of Philip
Gospel of Eve ( Gnostic )
Gospel of Mani
Unknown Berlin Gospel (also: Gospel of the Savior ) ( gnostic, 6th century? )
Gospel according to St. Bartholomew's
Gospel of the Twelve

Reconstructed Gospels

Ebioniterevangelium
Greek Gospel of the Egyptians
Gospel of the Hebrews
Secret Gospel of Mark
Gospel according to Matthias
Nazaräerevangelium
Gospel of Barnabas ( Islamic influenced 14th - 16th century)

Acts of the Apostles

Acts of Andrew, Acta Andreae
Barnabas files
Acts of John, Acta Ioannis
Acts of the Martyrs
Acts of Paul
Acts of Paul and Thecla, Acta Pauli et Theclae
Acts of Peter
Acts of Peter and Andrew
Acts of Peter and Paul
Acts of Peter and the Twelve
Philip acts, Acta Philippi
Acts of Pilate
Acts of Thomas, Acta Thomae (also: Acts of Thomas )
Timothy file
Acts of Xanthippe, Polyxena, and Rebecca

Letters

Laodizenerbrief
Letter from the Corinthians to Paul
3 Letter to the Corinthians ( canonical in the Syrian Orthodox Church? ), Part of the Acts of Paul
Letters of Paul to Seneca, 4th century

Apocalypses

Apocalypse of Paul ( also: Revelation of Paul, or Visio Sancti Pauli )
Apocalypse of Peter (also: Apocalypse of Peter or Revelation of Peter )
Apocalypse of Pseudo- Methodius
Apocalypse of Thomas
Apocalypse of Stephen
1st Apocalypse of James (also: Revelation of James )
2nd Apocalypse of James ( Gnostic )

Apostolic Constitutions, Latin: Constitutions Apostolorum
Book of Nepos
Apostolic canons
Syrian Treasure Trove or "Book of Treasure Cave " and "The Treasure Trove "
Clementines or pseudo - Clementines
Didache (oldest catechism )
Liturgy of St. James
Prayer of the Apostle Paul, Latin: Precatio Pauli ( Gnostic )

Extra-canonical writings (no author )

Fonts or font fragments that present biblical material and neither carry an author name nor give the impression want to have been written by someone certain (see without the section definition ), are independent of the authenticity and historicity of the traditional words as apocryphal or ausserkanonisch to call. These are to include:

Fayyum fragment
Oxyrhynchus fragment 840
Oxyrhynchus fragment 1224
Papyrus Egerton 2
Papyrus Cairensis 10 735
Strasbourg Coptic Papyrus
Gospel of Jesus woman ( Coptic fragment questionable authenticity )

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