Owing to the abrupt beginning of the work, it is thought the acts of paul. The acts of paul and thecla is an alternate name for a secondcentury apocryphal writing also known as the acts of thecla. Theclathe saint even lionesses loved mark carlsonghost. Paul is come to the city of iconium, and receives a friendly reception from the family of onesiphorus who also mentioned in 2 timothy 4.
This book, tertullian tells us, was composed shortly before his time in honour of paul by a presbyter of asia, who was convicted of the imposture and degraded from his office. According to a popular second century tale, acts of paul and thecla, she was a native of iconomium who was so impressed by the preaching of st. Paul on virginity that she broke off her engagement to marry. Theclas exploits are recounted in a secondcentury novelistic work called the acts of paul and thecla. What do you know about the acts of paul and thecla.
Acts of paul, one of the earliest of a series of pseudepigraphal noncanonical new testament writings known collectively as the apocryphal acts. The acts of paul and thecla is a 2ndcentury text circa ad 180 which forms part of the acts of paul but also circulated separately. And paul sent away onesiphorus and all his house to iconium. The book opens with paul being on his way up to iconium after leaving antioch. The acts of paul and thecla, a single episode which has been preserved complete in greek and many versions. Thecla joined paul on his journey to antioch where she ran afoul of the magistrate of the city when she refused to sleep with him. The next episode has paul in antioch whether syrian or pisidian is not clear, where he apparently raises up a boy, but also arouses the hostility of the jews.
Almost from the beginning, several church fathers i. The story of these acts begins abruptly, which suggests that it was part of a larger work, or that the beginning was lost. The magistrate ordered thecla to be killed several times, but. According to the book of acts, pauls first convert in philippi was a. Tertullian says that this piece was forged by a presbyter of asia, who being convicted, confessed that he did it out of respect of paul, and pope gelasius, in his decree against apocryphal books, inserted it among them. All of the following are true descriptions of philippi except a. And as they were going in, a certain syriarch, alexander by name, seeing thecla, became enamoured of her, and tried to gain over paul by gifts and presents. The correspondence with the corinthians, partly preserved in the coptic, and current separately in armenian and latin. Paul gave his sermons in the house of onesiphorus cp. In this work, a young woman named thecla hears paul preaching in iconium and. Owing to the abrupt beginning of the work it is thought the acts. The acts of paul and thecla is part of a pauline tradition that provided apostolic blessing for womens leadership roles in the church. She sat by her window for three days, listening to st.
Acts of paul and thecla by billy r fincher, paperback. According to the text, thecla was a young noble virgin from iconium who listened to paul s discourse on virginity, espoused the teachings and became estranged to both her fiance, thamyris, and her mother. Probably written about ad 160180, the acts of paul is an. Translated probably by jeremiah jones, 16931724 thecla s story is one of many in the apocryphal acts which portray women giving up riches and sexual activity to. Judaism the hebrew religion encompasses the philosophic transition from polytheism to monotheism. Published within the lost books of the bible and the forgotten books of eden read for free at this weblink. Though the book is called the acts of paul and thecla, paul plays a very minor role in the book.
Primary sources the acts of paul and thecla from jesus to. Full text of the acts of paul and thecla internet archive. Acts of paul encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Acts of paul and thecla reading and study guide acts of paul and thecla and barr chapter 6, pp. The acts of paul and thecla contains several nonbiblical. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. In the oxford encyclopedia of the books of the bible. The message that attracts her to paul is his teaching on chastity and celibacy. The acts of paul and thecla is actually from a secondcentury book called, the acts of thecla. Thecla is a woman who allegedly heard the apostle paul preach and becomes a. Owing to the abrupt beginning of the work it is thought the acts of paul. Paul and thecla add comment edit tertullian says that this piece was forged by a presbyter of asia, who being convicted, confessed that he did it out of respect to paul, and pope. Thecla was a young virgin who was engaged to a wealthy and powerful man in the city of iconium. Paul specifically told her to return to iconiun for the expressed purpose.
It is really a book about thecla and as tertullian notes it is obviously a book designed to promote women. One of the writings of the new testament apocrypha, the acts of paul and thecla was widely read in the early christian churches and survives in numerous. He resided at the house of onesiphorus where he preached the word of god. The acts of paul and thecla is an article from the biblical world, volume 17. Theclas story is one of many in the apocryphal acts which portray women giving up riches and sexual activity to follow the apostles. Some such believers told tales of pauls own female companions, women like thecla, who renounced. She supposedly helps paul break out of jail by bribing the jailers, and by the way, where scriptures or church historians are silent on. Thecla is a woman who allegedly heard the apostle paul preach and becomes a convert. Paul and thecla traveled to antioch where a syrian named alexander became smitten with her. The acts of paul and thecla was written around 150 ce when there was a growing body of work attributed to the apostle paul. The acts of paul and thecla a captioned audiobook youtube. Narrative, emotion and identity in the acts of paul and thecla mclarty, j.
Barrier provides a thorough introduction and commentary to a second century christian apocryphal writing. Goodspeed called it a religious romanceof paul the apostles influence on a young virgin named thecla. Paul and thecla, acts of oxford biblical studies online. Goodspeed called it a religious romance of paul the apostles influence on a young virgin named thecla. When she heard paul preaching about chastity, however, she refused to marry the man and was. Tertullian, ca 190 spoke against these texts primarily for their advocacy of women as able to preach or baptize. On one side were those who urged a complete equality between men and women in the churches. Jstor is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. When alexander tried to win over paul, perhaps to purchase. Primary sources the acts of paul and thecla from jesus.
This is the first modern book, which studies the most important aspects of this early christian treatise, of which especially the acts of thecla and the martyrdom of paul were immensely popular in the. Compare and contrast the beatitudes in sections 5 and 6 with those in the gospel of matthew. It is one of the writings of the new testament apocrypha. In this work, a young woman named thecla hears paul preaching in iconium and becomes a zealous convert. The acts of paul and thecla acta pauli et theclae is an apocryphal storyedgar j. Tertullian says that this piece was forged by a presbyter of asia, who being convicted, confessed that he did it out of respect of paul, and pope gelasius, in his decree.