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Lucian, “True History” (written ca 180 CE)

Lucian, “True History” (written ca 180 CE).

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Lucian, “True History” (written ca 180 CE)

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  1. Lucian, “True History”(written ca 180 CE) "...as I have no truth to put on record, having lived a very humdrum life, I fall back on falsehood (τὸ ψεῦδος) -- but falsehood of a more consistent variety; for I now make the only true statement you are to expect, that I am lying (ὅτι ψεύδομαι). This confession is, I consider, a full defence against all imputations, for I am saying nothing that is true (ὁμολογῶν μηδὲν ἀληθὲς λέγειν). My subject is, then, what I have neither seen, experienced, nor been told, what neither exists nor could conceivably do so. I humbly solicit my readers' incredulity (μηδαμῶς πιστεύειν αὐτοῖς)."

  2. “the tyrrany of canonical assumptions" and "textual myopia" • Further on these subjects, see my 2006 SBL Presidential Address, "Para-Mania: Beside, Before, and Beyond Bible Studies" (at “image 20” in the electronic version).

  3. Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) 12.12 • MT-RSV My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books, there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. • OG My son, guard against making many books;There is no end, and much diligence is weariness of the flesh.

  4. Explicitly Mentioned “Books” • Book of the Covanant (Exodus 24.7; see 2 Kings 23.21, 2 Chronicles 34.30) • Book of the Wars of the LORD (Num 21.14) • Book of Jashar, "lament of the bow" (Joshua 10.13 and 2 Sam 1.18) • Book of the Law of God (Joshua 24.26 -- Joshua records things in) • Book of the Acts of David (1 Chronicles 27.24) • Book of the Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 11.41) • Book of the Acts of the Kings of Israel [23] (1 Kings 14.19 et passim) • Book of the Acts of the Kings of Judah [15] (1 Kings 14.29 et passim) • Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah [4] (1 Chronicles 9.1 et passim) • Acts of Samuel the seer (1 Chronicles 29.29) • Acts of Nathan the prophet (1 Chronicles 29.29) • Acts of Gad the seer (1 Chronicles 29.29) • Commentary [Midrash] on the Book of the Kings (2 Chronicles 24.27) • Acts of Hozai [or, of the Seers] (2 Chronicles 33.19) • Book of the Acts (Nehemiah 12.23) • Book of the Acts [of Persian Kings] (Esther 2.23 & 10.2) • “Many previous accounts” (Luke 1.1-4) • “I made you sorry with my letter” (2 Corinthians 7.8) • Letter to the Laodiceans (Colossians 4.16) • Letter purportedly from Paul's group (2 Thessalonians 2.2)

  5. Paraleipomena Titles(Greek = “leftovers” [Hebrew “diaries”]) • = Greek title for canonical books of Chronicles, already by the end of the second century (Melito, Origen) • Paraleipomena Jeremiou • Testament of Job40.14 the lament over Job’s wife can be found in the Paraleipomena41.6 Paraleipomena of Eliphas

  6. Polycarp-Barnabas • [Polycarp, Philippians 9.2a) For they did not love the present world, but him who died on our behalf, || having prepared the new people, he might show them while he is on earth that when he has made the resurrection, he will judge. [Barnabas 5.7b]

  7. The Two Ways • A Latin version exists as a separate work • Greek Barnabas has it as chs 18-21[But it is lacking in the Latin version]But let us move on to another gnosis and teaching: There are two ways of teaching and authority -- that of light, and that of darkness. • Greek Didache has it in chs 1-6There are two ways --one of life, and one of death.

  8. Jeremiah Corpus • Origen: Jeremiah with Lamentations and the Epistle in one book • Athanasius & Cyril of Jerusalem: Jeremiah and with it Baruch, Lamentations, Epistle (see also codex Alexandrinus) • Epiphanius: “book 22” = Jeremiah the prophet with Lamentations and the Epistle and Baruch • Treated as separate books in codex Vaticanus

  9. “2 Esdras” (AV, RSV, NRSV) • Chapters 1-2 = “5 Ezra”The word of the Lord came to me • Chapters 3-14 = “4 Ezra” (Apocalypse)I Salathiel, also called Ezra, …saw… • Chapters 15-16 – “6 Ezra”The Lord says, … speak

  10. Minor Prophets • MT: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah … • Vaticanus & Greek MSS: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah … • Melito: “the twelve prophets in one book”

  11. Psalms and 11Q5 (Col. 18ff) • Col 18 = “Psalm 154” (see Syriac #2) • Col 19 = “Plea for Deliverance” • Cols 20-21a = Psalm 139, then 137-138 • Col 21b = Psalm // Sirach 51.13-19 + 30 • Col 22a = “Hymn to Zion” • Col 22b-23 = Pss 93 + 141 + 133 + 144 • Col 24 = “Psalm 155” (see Syriac #3) • Col 24b-26a = Pss 142-143 + 149-150 • Col 26b = “Hymn to the Creator” • Col 26b-27a = 2 Samuel 23.[1-]7 psalm • Col 27b = Pss 140 + 134 • Col 28 = Psalm 151 (longer form)

  12. David’s Compositions • 11QPsalmsa 27.4-11: David wrote 3,600 psalms, 364 daily liturgical songs, 52 sabbath liturgical songs, 30 festal liturgical songs, and 4 exorcistic songs – for a total of 4,050 – all through the spirit of prophecy.

  13. Jeremiah Order of Sections • 1.1 – 25.13 identical in MT = OG • 25.15 - 44.5 MT = 32.1 – 51.35 OG • 46 MT = 26 OG • 47-51 // 27-31 but with different order • 52 MT = 52 OG • MT 45.1 = OG 51.31, and the conclusion in MT 51.64 [cf OG 28.64 var] is followed by an appended contextualizing narrative much like Isaiah 39 -- Jeremiah 52 = 2 Kings 24.18 - 25.30)

  14. A Library of Proverbs • 1.1 The Proverbs of Solomon • 10.1 The Proverbs of Solomon • 22.17 The Words of the Wise • 24.23 More Words of the Wise • 25.1 Proverbs of Solomon by way of the men of Hezekiah • 30.1 Words of Agur, son of Jakeh • 31.1 Words of Lemuel, … which his mother taught him

  15. Evidence of Seams in Isaiah • There is an obvious narrative break at chapters 36 - 39 (= 2 Kings 18.13 - 20.19), interrupted by the lament/thanksgiving of king Hezekiah in Isaiah 38.9-20,and also a change of subject and perspective in what follows; • Did Kings use Isaiah, or vice-versa, or did both use a common source? • Where did the Hezekiah psalm come from?

  16. 1 Esdras (OG) = 3 Esdras (Vg) • Ch 1: see 2 Chronicles 35.1 – 36.21 • 2.1-5a = 2 Chronicles 36.22-23 = Ezra 1.1-3a • Ch 2: see Ezra 1.1-11 plus 4.7-24a • 3.1 - 5.3 (Darius’ three young bodyguards – see also Josephus Ant 11.[3.2-9].33-67 for another version of this section) • 5.(4)7-73: see Ezra 2.1 – 4.5 (4.24b) • 6.1 – 7.15: see Ezra 5.1 – 6.22 • Chs 8-9: see Ezra 7-10 and Nehemiah 7.73-8.12

  17. “1 Enoch” Library Indications • 1.1 The blessing of Enoch • 37.1 The vision which Enoch saw, the second time • 72.1 The book of the itinerary of the luminaries of heaven • 83.1 Now my son Methuselah, I will show you all the visions that I saw… • 92.1 That which is written by Enoch • 93.1 Enoch began to recount from the books • 108.1 Another book of Enoch

  18. Paraleipomena Jeremiou • Chs 1-4 Destruction of Jerusalem • Ch 5 Abimelech’s long sleep • Chs 6-7 Baruch’s letter to Jeremiah in Babylon • Ch 8 Jeremiah leads return from Babylon • Ch 9 Martyrdom of Jeremiah

  19. Some Synoptic Problems • Assuming some sort of relationship, which is earlier, Matthew, Mark, Luke? • Where did Matthew and Luke get their “sayings of Jesus” information? • Where did material unique to Matthew come from? (Note, e.g., “fulfillment” texts) • Where did material unique to Luke come from? (Note, e.g., opening explanation) • How does the existence of all three complicate the textual transmission through cross-fertilization, etc.?

  20. Some Transitions in Acts • 8.4: Now those who were scattered went about preaching … • 11.19: Now those who were scattered … traveled … • 16.6-40 (et passim): … They went down to Troas…. Setting sail from Troas, we voyaged. …We were met. … They departed.

  21. 4th Gospel Problems • 1.1-18 Poetic Prologue • 7.53 – 8.11 (not found in some ancient witnesses; others have it after 7.36 or after 21.25 [end of text] or after Luke 21) The adulterous woman forgiven • Ch 21: Appended after the concluding words in 20.30-31

  22. Some Lost Books (Goodspeed-Grant) • Traditions of Matthias [quoted in Clem.Alex] • Gospel of Basilides [mentioned by Origen] • Questions of Bartholomew [Galasian Decree] • Gospel of Andrew [Galasian Decree] • Gospel of Apelles [mentioned by Jerome] • Gospel of Cerinthus [mentioned by Epiphanius] • Journeys of Peter [cited in ps-Clem. Homilies] • Ascents of James [cited in ps-Clem. Homilies]

  23. Pliny’s Author Lists(Natural History book 9) • book 9: • [Latin] Turranio Gracile. Trogo. Maecenate. Alfio Flavo. Cornelio Nepote. Laberio mimographo. Fabiano. Fenestella. Muciano. Aelio Stilone. Seboso. Melisso. Seneca. Cicerone. Macro Aemilio. Messala Corvino. Trebio Nigro. Nigidio. • [Greek] Aristotele. Archelao rege. Callimacho. Democrito. Theophrasto. Thrasyllo. Hegesidemo. Sudine. Alexandro polyhistore.

  24. DSS Categories • Traditional Jewish scriptural texts • Texts that parallel traditional scriptures • Texts that supplement traditional scriptures • Rules and other “way of living” texts • Commentaries and Excerpts • Texts with special eschatological focus • Psalms and Hymns • Liturgical and Calendric materials • Wisdom and mysteries

  25. Philo’s Moses-centric Authorities • The book entitled the Book of Judgment (Conf.Lang. 128-130 from Judg. 8.9 ) • The first book of the Kingdoms (1 Sam) • In the kingly books (unclear reference) • As Job says (Job 14.4) • One of the friends of Moses (Ps 30/31.19) • The Hymnographer, the Psalmist • In Proverbs (Prov 3.4) • One of the Prophets of old (Isa 5.7) • Jeremiah the prophet (Jer 3.4) • One of the companions of Moses (Zech 6.12)

  26. Philo’s Moses(Life of Moses 1.331-332 see Num 32?) • And Moses answered with a mild look and even still gentler voice, "If you speak the truth and behave honestly, the allotments which you have asked for shall remain assured to you. Leave behind you now, … your wives and children, and flocks and herds, and go across Jordan in your ranks with the rest of the soldiers in full armor, arrayed for battle…. And hereafter when all our enemies are destroyed, and when, … we have made ourselves masters of the whole country, and have begun to divide it among ourselves, then you also shall return to your families … and to possess the region which you have selected."

  27. Philo’s Therapeutae(On the Contemplative Life 28-29) • They interact with the holy scriptures … by allegorizing…. They also have writings of ancient men, the founders of their group, who have left behind them many memorials of the allegorical mode of thought, which they take as a kind of archetype, imitating the manner of their perspective; so they do not occupy themselves solely in contemplation, but they also compose psalms and hymns to God in every kind of meter and melody, which they inscribe necessarily in more dignified rhythms.

  28. Josephus on Jesus • Antiquities 18.[3.3].63-64: …Jesus, a wise man, if it is appropriate to call him a man, for he did marvelous deeds …. He was Messiah, and when Pilate … had condemned him to be crucified, those who loved him did not abandon him, for he appeared alive again to them on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold….

  29. Josephus’ Padded Pentateuch(Ant 2.[1].58-59 // Gen 4.11-16) • God made Cain accursed, and threatened his posterity in the seventh generation. He also cast him, together with his wife, out of that land. (59) And when he was afraid that in wandering about he should fall among Wild beasts, and by that means perish, God bid him not to entertain such a melancholy suspicion, and to go over all the earth without fear of what mischief he might suffer from wild beasts; and setting a mark upon him, that he might be known, he commanded him to depart.

  30. Josephus’ Parabiblical Moses • Antiquities 2.[10].238-253: Moses’ first adult act: as an Egyptian general he overcomes serpents, defeats the Ethiopians and takes the king’s daughter as his bride [in place of Exod 2.11-15a, where Moses kills the Egyptian!] • Bonus: Uzziah’s earthquake in Ant 9.[10.4].222, also alluded to in Amos 1.1 and Zech 14.5, but not mentioned in 2 Chron 26.16-21

  31. Josephus on Maccabees(Ant 5.[3].246 // 1 Macc 1.20-28) • King Antiochus returning out of Egypt  for fear of the Romans, made an expedition against the city Jerusalem; and when he was there, in the hundred and forty-third year of the kingdom of the Seleucids, he took the city without fighting, those of his own party opening the gates to him. And when he had gotten possession of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposite party; and when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, he returned to Antioch.

  32. Josephus on Solomon(Ant 8.[2.5].44-46) He also composed books of odes and songs a thousand and five, of parables and similitudes three thousand; for he spoke a parable about every sort of tree [and] creature …. And in like manner God also enabled him to learn that skill which expels demons,  which is a science useful and healing to men. He composed such incantations also by which distempers are alleviated. And he left behind him the manner of using exorcisms, by which they drive away demons, so that they never return; and this method of cure is of great force unto this day.

  33. Ps-Philo, LAB (sample) • 3.9 [after Noah’s flood]: And God said, “I will never again … destroy all living creatures at one time as I have done. But when those inhabiting the earth sin, I will judge them by famine or by the sword or by fire or by death; and there will be earthquakes, and they will be scattered to uninhabited places. But no more will I destroy the earth by the water of the flood. And in all the days of the earth, [order] … will not cease until the appointed times are fulfilled.”

  34. The Main Jewish “Apocrypha”(also known as “Deuterocanonical’) • 1 Esdras • Tobit & Judith • Wisdom of Solomon • Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira (= Sirach) • Baruch & Letter of Jeremiah • Supplements to Esther and Daniel • 1-2 Maccabees, 4 Maccabees • 3 Maccabees • Prayer of Manasseh & “2 Esdras”

  35. Semitic “Matthew” • Papias (ca 130) [in Eusebius HE 3.39.16]: Matthew wrote down the oracles (logia) in Hebrew and each person translated them as he was able • Irenaeus AH 3.1.1 (ca 180): Matthew published a written gospel for the Hebrews in their own tongue • Pantaenus (ca 180; similarly) [in Eusebius HE 5.10.3] • Origen (ca 220; similarly) [in Eusebius HE 6.25.4]

  36. Acts of Pilate • Justin Apology 35 & 48: you may learn from the "Acts" which were recorded under Pontius Pilate. That He performed these miracles you may easily be satisfied from the "Acts" of Pontius Pilate. • Tertullian Apology 21: Pilate [now a believer] sent word of [Jesus] to the reigning Caesar, who was at the time Tiberius • Eusebius HE 9.5.1 (forged recently, under the emperor Maximin)

  37. Other Letters Attributed to Paul • 2 Corinthians 2.3-4: I wrote you … with many tears …. (possibly chs 10-13) • 2 Thessalonians 2.1-2: Don’t get all hyped up … because of a spirit or message or letter claiming to be from us…. • Colossians 4.16: Cause this letter also to be read in the church of the Laodiceans, and read also the letter from Laodicea. • Also extant: Laodiceans, 3 Corinthians; and not preserved “To the Alexandrians.”

  38. So What? Now What? • What became of such materials? • Might we have such early lost materials reflected or even embedded in what we know as parascriptural locations (known texts) or elsewhere (comments, exerpts)? • Have we lost sight of that world full of books, and traditions, and thus weakened or distorted our scholarly endeavors?

  39. “Deuterosis” • Eusebius, Demonstration of the Gospel 6.18.36: This is what the Book of Kingdoms presents [sic; see 2 Chron 26.16ff]. But Josephus [Ant. 9.(10.4).224f] also carefully studied the "outside" Judaic "deuteroseis" [pl] accurately, being a Hebrew of the Hebrews, so hear his description of the events of those times …. • Epiphanius, Panarion 1.(2).33.9.2-6: the traditions of the elders are called "deuteroseis" among the Jews. And these are four: (1) that passed along in the name of Moses, (2) that of so-called Rabbi Akiba, (3) Adda or Iouda, (4) of the sons of Asmonaios. . . .

  40. Some Ways Information Survives • Mouth to ear only (“oral transmission”) • Ear to writing (recorded report/tradition) • Writing to eye to mouth (reported record) • Writing to eye to writing (direct copy) • Writing to eye to ear to writing (dictation)

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