Comments on: More Christian Apocrypha http://www.TonyBurke.ca/apocryphicity/2009/12/14/more-christian-apocrypha/ A weblog devoted to the study of the Christian Apocrypha Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:23:15 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Ted http://www.TonyBurke.ca/apocryphicity/2009/12/14/more-christian-apocrypha/comment-page-1/#comment-25011 Ted Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:38:56 +0000 http://www.TonyBurke.ca/apocryphicity/?p=192#comment-25011 I just read the narrative of Jopseph of Arimathea. Very interesting. I was struck by its reliance on physical phenomena: the physical theft of the Law, the relationship of Judas to Caiaphas, the framing of Jesus, the letters written and read. It's quite a change from the mystery we find in Mark, for example. Perhaps that's what time does to a tradition. As the years go by, skepticism increases - hence the need for something more substantial. The figure of Demas is also interesting. His crimes are more vague than Gestas' crimes, and in some ways he mirrors Jesus himself. And so he undergoes a transformation from guilt by association to spiritual twin. I just read the narrative of Jopseph of Arimathea. Very interesting. I was struck by its reliance on physical phenomena: the physical theft of the Law, the relationship of Judas to Caiaphas, the framing of Jesus, the letters written and read. It’s quite a change from the mystery we find in Mark, for example. Perhaps that’s what time does to a tradition. As the years go by, skepticism increases – hence the need for something more substantial.

The figure of Demas is also interesting. His crimes are more vague than Gestas’ crimes, and in some ways he mirrors Jesus himself. And so he undergoes a transformation from guilt by association to spiritual twin.

]]>