Identity, death, and ascension in the First Apocalypse of James and the Gospel of John

Journal article


Parkhouse, Sarah. (2021). Identity, death, and ascension in the First Apocalypse of James and the Gospel of John. Harvard Theological Review. 114(1), pp. 51-71. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0017816021000055
AuthorsParkhouse, Sarah
Abstract

In the Gospel of John, Jesus declares himself to be the way to the Father; in the First Apocalypse of James, Jesus explains exactly what this way entails. This article analyzes how 1 Apoc. Jas. uses the Johannine christological themes of identity, death and ascension and makes them applicable for human salvation. The identity of Jesus as a son of the Father, as opposed to the inhabitants of the world/cosmos, his autonomous death that conquers cosmic evils, and his immediate ascension and fleshly return are all Johannine motifs that are reformulated in 1 Apoc. Jas. Jesus reveals to James that he too is a son of the Father, and James must declare this identity during his postmortem journey through the celestial toll-collectors. He must not fear his impending stoning as, like other martyrdom literature, the martyr is immune to earthly concerns, and the real challenge lies in the cosmic sphere.

KeywordsGospel of John; First Apocalypse of James; Nag Hammadi; identity; death; ascension; martyrdom; monasticism
Year2021
JournalHarvard Theological Review
Journal citation114 (1), pp. 51-71
PublisherCambridge University Press
ISSN1475-4517
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0017816021000055
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85100891110
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range51-71
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online17 Feb 2021
Publication process dates
Deposited02 Jun 2022
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