New Testament History and Literature with Dale B. Martin — Season 1, Episode 20: The "Anti-household" Paul: Thecla

Episode synopsis

The Acts of Paul and Thecla has a narrative quite similar to those in ancient Greco-Roman novels: Thecla becomes enamored of Paul and they share a number of adventures. However, the Acts redirects eroticism towards a belief in a gospel of purity and asceticism. The Acts of Paul and Thecla present an ascetic, anti-marriage, anti-family message that would break the cycle of sex, birth, death, and decay that was so obvious in the ancient world. Given that Thecla emerges from the story as the true hero (and not Paul), is it possible to read the story as a feminist one?

About New Testament History and Literature with Dale B. Martin

Yale Courses - This course approaches the New Testament not as scripture, or a piece of authoritative holy writing, but as a collection of historical documents. Therefore, students are urged to leave behind their pre-conceived notions of the New Testament and read it as if they had never heard of it before. This involves understanding the historical context of the New Testament and imagining how it might appear to an ancient person.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Introduction: Why Study the New Testament?
• E2From Stories to Canon
• E3The Greco-Roman World
• E4Judaism in the First Century
• E5The New Testament as History
• E6The Gospel of Mark
• E7The Gospel of Matthew
• E8The Gospel of Thomas
• E9The Gospel of Luke
• E10The Acts of the Apostles
• E11Johannine Christianity: The Gospel 92,407 views
• E12Johannine Christianity: The Letters