What Do the Gospels of Mary, Philip, and Thomas and the Protevangelium of James, Actually Tell Us?

Open leather-bound papyrus codex with two worn pages of dark script on a linen cloth

Four writings that still shape popular imagination, none of which replace the four Gospels There are several genres of apocryphal writings, just like the canonical books: epistles, such as the Epistle to the Laodiceans; acts of the apostles, such as the Acts of John and the Acts of Peter; apocalypses, such as the Apocalypse of Peter; and, of course, gospels.… Read More What Do the Gospels of Mary, Philip, and Thomas and the Protevangelium of James, Actually Tell Us?

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Has the Church Hidden Other Gospels Besides the Four We Know?

Scribe of the early Christian era copying a manuscript by hand

Why the apocryphal writings were not included in the New Testament canon In the New Testament, twenty-seven writings eventually came to form the canon of Christian Scripture. However, there are other writings that did not make it into the canon. These are called apocryphal texts, a term that in common usage means unauthentic or suspect, but which comes from the… Read More Has the Church Hidden Other Gospels Besides the Four We Know?

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A Common Misconception: Was Jesus Really Against the Pharisees?

A theological reading of Matthew 3:1–12 and Mark 1:1–8 The Gospels do not tell the same story in the same way. These differences are not mistakes, but signs of each author’s theological perspective. A clear example appears in the preaching of John the Baptist. Mark’s Perspective: No Attack on the Pharisees In the earliest account… Read More A Common Misconception: Was Jesus Really Against the Pharisees?

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Jesus, the New Moses

A reflection on Matthew 5:1–12 (The Beatitudes) The Gospels are not biographies but theological narratives. Every factual difference between them can reveal a deeper meaning intended by each author. A striking example is the Sermon of the Beatitudes, found in both Matthew and Luke. In Luke, Jesus speaks on a level place (Luke 6:17). In Matthew, the setting is a mountain (Matthew 5:1).… Read More Jesus, the New Moses

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The Magnificat: From Liturgical Hymn to the Heart of Jesus’ Message

A reflection on Luke 1:46–55 A Universal Prayer… and Universally Sung For centuries, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) has been at the heart of Christian prayer, especially in Vespers. Its poetic beauty and spiritual depth have also inspired the greatest composers: Bach, Vivaldi, Bruckner, Rachmaninov… But beyond its liturgical use and musical splendour, the Magnificat expresses a theological… Read More The Magnificat: From Liturgical Hymn to the Heart of Jesus’ Message

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From the Mountain of Glory to the Garden of Agony

A reflection on the Transfiguration and Gethsemane scenes In the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), Jesus chooses only three disciples to accompany him during certain intimate moments: Peter, James, and John. Three times, they are his privileged companions: at the raising of Jairus’s daughter, on the mountain of the Transfiguration, and in the Garden… Read More From the Mountain of Glory to the Garden of Agony

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