This Handbook primarily focuses on issues and themes that arise in the study of Early Christian Apocrypha. Part One consists of authoritative surveys of the main branches of apocryphal literature (gospels, acts, epistles, apocalypses, and related literature) and Part Two considers key issues that they raise.

• List of Contributors


• List of Figures


• Part I: Introduction and overview


• 1: Christopher Tuckett: Introduction


• 2: Jörg Frey: Texts About Jesus: Non-canonical Gospels and Related Literature


• 3: Charlotte Touati and Claire Clivaz: Apocryphal Texts About Other Characters in the Canonical Gospels


• 4: Richard Pervo: Narratives About the Apostles: Non-canonical Acts and Related Literature


• 5: Andrew Gregory: Non-canonical Epistles and Related Literature


• 6: Richard Bauckham: Non-canonical Apocalypses and Prophetic Works


• Part II: Key Issues and Themes


• 7: Tobias Nicklas: The Influence of Jewish Scriptures on Early Christian Apocrypha


• 8: L. W. Hurtado: Who Read Early Christian Apocrypha?


• 9: Jens Schrter: The Formation of the New Testament Canon and Early Christian Apocrypha


• 10: François Bovon: 'Useful for the Soul': Christian Apocrypha and Christian Spirituality


• 11: Pheme Perkins: Christology and Soteriology in Apocryphal Gospels


• 12: Paul Foster: Christology and Soteriology in Apocryphal Acts and Apocalypses


• 13: Stephen J. Patterson: The Gospel of Thomas and the Historical Jesus


• 14: Simon Gathercole: Other Apocryphal Gospels and the Historical Jesus


• 15: J. K. Elliott: Christian Apocrypha and the Developing Role of Mary


• 16: Robin M. Jensen: The Apocryphal Mary in Early Christian Art


• 17: Richard I. Pervo: The Role of the Apostles


• 18: Petri Luomanen: Judaism and Anti-Judaism in Early Christian Apocrypha


• 19: Outi Lehtipuu: Eschatology and the Fate of the Dead in Early Christian Apocrypha


• 20: Harald Buchinger: Liturgy and Early Christian Apocrypha


• 21: Candida R. Moss: Roman Imperialism: The Political Context of Early Christian Apocrypha


• 22: Judith Hartenstein: Encratism, Asceticism, and The Construction of Gender and Sexual Identity in Apocryphal Gospels


• 23: Yves Tissot: Encratism and the Apocryphal Acts


• 24: Tony Burke: Early Christian Apocrypha in Popular Culture


• 25: Tony Burke: Early Christian Apocrypha in Contemporary Theological Discourse

Andrew Gregory is Chaplain and Fellow of University College, Oxford.
Christopher Tuckett was Professor of New Testament Studies at University of Oxford.

Consultant Editors

Tobias Nicklas is Professor of New Testament Exegesis and Hermeneutics at the University of Regensburg.
Joseph Verheyden is Professor of New Testament at the University of Leuven.