Welcome video
Hi. I'm Shirley Paulson, your instructor for this course. Take a look at this video to see what lies ahead.
Why is the Secret Revelation of John so Important?
This ancient text, a rather new discovery from Nag Hammadi, Egypt, was probably the best known in antiquity and most the important in the entire collection of 52 manuscripts. It is the first Christian text to give a full narrative of the nature of God, the origin of the world, and human salvation. It expands our view of the Christian savior(s), both male and female.
Although it was written sometime in the 100s at a time when Jesus’s followers were facing devastating defeats and the threat of annihilation, readers today find it is a powerful message of hope and healing. Even with a good English translation, the book is hard to follow without a guide. It is deep, complex, and full of allusions to second-century culture. But in this course, you will feel the way this book speaks through the ages with its gems of healing wisdom.
We may speculate as to why its example of egalitarianism, healing, and freedom might have been suppressed by the church centuries later.
Shirley Paulson, PhD
Shirley Paulson, PhD is the founder and principal producer of Early Christian Texts: The Bible and Beyond. This website features her online teaching, blog, discussions, and podcasts highlighting the work of other scholars. Shirley’s academic work focuses on early Christian writings, especially those relating to healing practices and theology. Her book is Illuminating the Secret Revelation of John: Catching the Light, and she contributed to a chapter in Westar’s After Jesus Before Christianity. She currently serves on the Westar Institute’s Board of Directors. Prior to this work, Shirley served as the first Head of Ecumenical Affairs for the global headquarters of the Christian Science Church and served on the Board of the North American Academy of Ecumenists.
Early Christian Texts:
The Bible and Beyond
Those who have immersed themselves in these texts have been strengthened, shocked, inspired, and healed by relating to them. They contain extraordinary gems of wisdom, but also challenge preconceived notions about what it meant and what it means to identify as a follower of Jesus.
https://earlychristiantexts.com
What is meant by texts that "go beyond the Bible"?
There are over one hundred texts that, for varying reasons, did not make it into the canon (the traditional Bible). They were circulated among the followers of Jesus for hundreds of years, right along with the texts you might be more familiar with in the Bible. Most of these have re-surfaced due to modern discoveries such as those in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt. Other books have shown up in antiquities markets or even in scholars’ offices. And, to add to the drama, many of them were ‘found’ but unable to be translated into English or made available to the average reader for many decades.
Example Curriculum
- 30. Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Omnipotence (8:05)
- 31. Our Struggle with Quantum Physics (6:17)
- 32. Does Healing Involve Mental Power? (5:14)
- 33. Reality or Fancy? (6:19)
- 34. Ecumenical and Interfaith Possibilities (5:21)
- 35. Welcoming Transformation (5:50)
- Optional Ungraded and Private Quiz #2
- 36. Conclusion (4:32)