AUC Theologica is a peer-reviewed journal for theology published twice a year. As we publish original papers in English, German, French, and Italian, our mission is to serve as a platform both for Czech researchers, who can present their research results in these languages, and for international contributors, who are invited to enter the academic theological discussion in the heart of Europe.
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Each issue consists of two sections. The thematic section presents papers of the same focus. The section called ‘Varia’ invites papers dealing with various theological themes from the perspective of all Christian traditions. Our current and past issues are approachable for free on this website in the form of Open Access.
AUC THEOLOGICA, Vol 4 No 2 (2014), 247–258
Apocrypha as Texts That Had No Future? Reflections on Christian Texts of the Past
Elisabeth Hernitscheck
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23363398.2015.7
published online: 10. 12. 2014
abstract
In contemporary Biblical Hermeneutics, the perception of a gulf between past and present mind-set has led scholars to seek for a transcending and universal moment within authoritative scriptures of Christianity (Schneiders, Bieringer). While authoritative texts are broadly accepted within Christianity on the basis of the conception of revelation and inspiration, the multitude of Early Christian Apocrypha has been broadly neglected in hermeneutical considerations so far. However, Apocryphal texts deserve our attention not only because of the quantitative aspect of the bulk of preserved Early Christian apocryphal literature but also because these scriptures reflect a certain dialogue with other texts, probably including texts that are regarded as canonical today. By this mirrored dialogue and commitment to Christian faith, a future perspective of hope and salvation is documented, which unites Christians of the past and today. Therefore, as testimonies of faith, Early Christian Apocrypha are necessarily relevant and crucial to hermeneutical attempts to bridge the gap between past and present. Apokryfy – texty určené k zapomnění? Zamyšlení nad křesťanskými texty minulosti Současná biblická hermeneutika se zabývá otázkou, jakým způsobem je možné překlenout propast mezi minulostí a současností. Badatelé v této oblasti (Schneiders, Bieringer) přišli s přístupem, který hledá transcendentální a univerzální moment v křesťanských textech. Zatímco autorita těchto textů není na základě konceptu zjevení a inspirace křesťanských písem nikterak zpochybňována, množství raně křesťanských apokryfních textů bylo doposud z hermeneutických zkoumání vyloučeno. Tyto texty však zasluhují naši pozornost nejen proto, že je jich velké množství, ale zejména proto, že reflektují dialog s jinými texty, které jsou dnes součástí křesťanského kánonu. Právě díky dialogu s kanonickými texty a oddanosti křesťanství je v apokryfech zdokumentována víra v budoucnost v naději a spáse, která spojuje křesťany minulosti a současnosti. Křesťanské apokryfy nám tedy pomáhají překonat propast mezi minulostí a přítomností, a jsou proto nezbytnou až zásadní součástí hermeneutických zkoumání.
keywords: Normativity of the Future; Biblical Hermeneutics; Early Christian Apocrypha; Early Christianity; Christian communities; Hypotexts; Testimonies of Faith; Sinngebung normativní charakter budoucnosti; biblická hermeneutika; raně křesťanské apokryfy; rané křesťanství; křesťanská společenství; „hypotexty“; svědectví víry; Sinngebung
Apocrypha as Texts That Had No Future? Reflections on Christian Texts of the Past is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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ISSN: 1804-5588
E-ISSN: 2336-3398
