Heading to Regensburg for a conference on Christian apocalyptic literature, part of a multi-year project with conferences in several countries. My own contribution looks primarily at a little-studied apocalypse of John: www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-chr...

What did the early medieval English think about hell? About guardian angels? About wizards? I talk about these topics and more in today’s interview with UVA’s @phil-lol-ogist.bsky.social on his recent book about medieval apocrypha. Check it out ⬇️

I've been working for far too long on a far-too-large introduction to Christian Apocrypha for the Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library. Today, I am at the point where I have one text left to write on: the Gospel of Thomas. Wish me luck. Any recommendations on new & interesting scholarship to cover?

Apocrypha alert! New article in Catholic Historical Review on canonical and noncanonical views of St Joseph in Santa Maria Maggiore muse.jhu.edu/article/993519

It's been a long time coming (six years since the paper was presented in Regensburg) but "Apocryphal Nazareth: The Childhood Home of Jesus in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas" has now been published (if interested in reading, PM me). Book info: www.mohrsiebeck.com/buch/extraca...

Anyone know a good introductory “patristics” survey to recommend to a student? He is interested mostly in 2-4th cent.

Grad students and early career scholars, nominate your work for the NASSCAL Sisters of Sinai prize for outstanding scholarship in Christian apocrypha. Nominations close Sept. 1. Details here: www.nasscal.com/the-sisters-...

Added to e-Clavis: Christian apocrypha ~ Miracle of Michael the Archangel at Chonae, compiled by Jonah Bissell. www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-chr...

Monier includes some comments about the book curse in Codex Alex. which I just discussed at CSBS in my paper on Jesus in book curses and curse tablets/papyri. So this will be helpful for my revisions.

Murder. Theft. Tischendorf. Codex Alexandrinus. GA 81. What brings those together? A journey to Alexandria, a trail of manuscripts, and a mystery with more twists than expected, hidden in the story of a grieving library: futureofthepastlab.com/2026/05/27/c...

Chance Bonar reports on the 2026 NASSCAL meeting at the University of Virginia. www.nasscal.com/meetings/con...

I’m on sale!

The Pericope Adulterae and the Gospel of Thomas. An eleventh century manuscript of the Gospels features a curious marginal reference to the Gospel of Thomas. To my knowledge, this reference is rarely mentioned in scholarship (please correct me if I’m wrong!).

Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1539 (10/11 c.) feat. Acts Andrew and Matthias and Martyrdom of Andrew. www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...

Announcing the Sisters of Sinai Prize for Outstanding Scholarship in Christian Apocrypha. Two prizes are awarded every year: one to graduate students and one to early career scholars. Deadline for nominations is Sept. 1. www.nasscal.com/the-sisters-...

Shameless book promotion time! Why buy my book? + Missionary lumberjacks (St Boniface) 🪓 + A demon in an outhouse + Miltonic gloomy Satan + Jesus melting the gates of hell + A monastery built by a giant from hell manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526175038/

Added to e-Clavis: Manuscripta apocryphorum ~ Cambridge, Trinity College, R. 13. 49 (16th cent.) featuring 1 Apocr. Apoc. John, Apoc. Paul, and others. www.nasscal.com/manuscripta-...

My third First Friday workshop. Do I get a jacket when I reach five?

Jacob Lollar opens his workshop on Working with Manuscripts from the Mediterranean World. Thanks for hosting us @jalollar.bsky.social

In Durham (UK) for a workshop. Found a faded ca. 1300 martyrdom cycle in the cathedral. From left: John in oil, Peter on an upside down cross, and Paul losing his head.

Check it out: volume 35 of the journal Apocrypha is now available! www.brepols.net/products/IS-...

The Epistle of Christ from Heaven in an 7th/8th or 9th cent. inscription once embedded in wall in the Church of S. Maria Assunta in Piazzo (Italy). Now in the Museo diocesano of Brugnato.

Join us March 6 for the latest First Friday Christian Apocrypha Workshop with Jeremiah Coogan (Jesuit School of Theology).

Some of Christianity’s most famous stories (like Peter being crucified upside down) aren’t actually in the Bible. They come from the “apocrypha,” ancient Jewish and Christian texts that have shaped tradition for centuries, even if not every church considers them holy scripture.

I watched it, so you don't have to. The Carpenter's Son, an adaptation (of sorts) of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. www.apocryphicity.ca/2026/02/07/m...

Added to e-Clavis: Christian apocrypha ~ Revelation of the Blessed John, Apostle and Evangelist (a seventh-century text composed in Greek but extant in a single Latin manuscript). www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-chr...

I haven't published a blog post since October last year. It was mostly preparing presentations that kept me from blogging, but my preoccupation with "AI" also seriously paralysed productivity and creativity. Anyway, here's a new post about an early Christian Arabic manuscript. I hope you enjoy it!

How many Magi were there and were they descended from Seth? Check out this piece that draws on essential work by @brentlandau.bsky.social and @evandeneykel.bsky.social ial www.nationalgeographic.com/history/arti...

Do you need last minute gift ideas for an enemy or antagonistic family member? Look no further: manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526175038/

I will be doing a live interview via Zoom Dec. 22 on apocryphal Christmas traditions. Join in and ask me some skill-testing questions! See the image and link below for information.

The Hired Hand and the Lost Gospel www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

"The Bible says little about Jesus’ childhood – but that didn’t stop medieval Christians from enjoying tales of him as holy ‘rascal’" - CMS Alum Mary Dzon writes for @ca.theconversation.com. theconversation.com/the-bible-sa...

My baby is finally getting published! ...aaaand it's almost as expensive as a literal baby! 🥹❤️🐣

NASSCAL, AELAC, and Beyond Canon are collaborating on a conference/workshop to take place in Regensburg, 8-10 July 2025. The theme is "Early Christian Apocalypticism (II-V saec.): Contours, Contexts, and Social Functions." If you are interested in taking part contact [email protected].

I think (and hope) you tagged the wrong guy.

Shopping for new books at SBL 2025? Here are some suggestions for titles related to Christian apocrypha. www.apocryphicity.ca/2025/11/16/c...

The Carpenter's Son, Nicolas Cage's take on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, debuts tomorrow in the US. Not sure when it will make it to Canada. The Associated Press interviewed me for background in this preview article: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/entertainmen...

Another year, another SBL annual meeting. Here is my usual list of all the Christian apocrypha papers on this year's program (including my own session on the Apocrypha of Symeon Metaphrastes). www.apocryphicity.ca/2025/11/12/c...

sale still ongoing! get you some Thecla on the cheap!

Join us Friday for the November 2025 First Friday workshop with Ivan Miroshnikov (University of Helsinki). Register at the email in the image below for the pre-circulated paper and Zoom link.

Final reminder to submit an abstract by tomorrow for our apocryphal Christian literature conference at UVA this spring! Come join us! www.nasscal.com/meetings/

My interview on the Better Questions podcast. I came on to talk about Christian apocrypha but things took a turn when the host discovered I am an atheist. Oops. It was a fun conversation. pod.link/1812806980/e...

The first two books of our 'Coptic Gospels & Associated Texts' series with @universitypress.cambridge.org are now available to read online. The series provides thematic introductions & new translations to non-canonical gospels. www.cambridge.org/core/series/...

Added to e-Clavis: Christian apocrypha ~ the Gospel of Eve. www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-chr...

Announcing the launch of the open-access Journal of Christian Apocryphal Literature (JCAL). Sign up if you are interested in being a contributor or reviewer! journals.aperio.press/jcal/submiss...

The new volume in NASSCAL's Early Christian Apocrypha series, The Martyrdom of Daniel and the Three Youths by Alexey Somov, is now available to order: wipfandstock.com/979838524779...

Added to e-Clavis: Christian apocrypha ~ the Questions of Mary. www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-chr...

I was interviewed by the AP last week about Nicolas Cage’s new film based on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. First interview of many? My years of study on this text may finally pay off! youtu.be/3GSUbJB0oOg?...

NASSCAL's October First Friday workshop will feature Ian Mills, with his paper "Canonizing Paul's Epistle to the Laodiceans." See the poster below for details on how to join.