I have to admit that I chose this breakout session partly because I read one of the books Darrell Bock edited ☺. Despite the lame motive, Bock did not disappoint. He turned on the fire hose and quickly dismembered the arguments for an elitist gospel that wrongfully excluded numerous “lost” or Gnostic gospels. The crux of his argument focused on four criteria for a gospel to be considered legitimate. These criteria capture the earliest forms of Christianity espoused by those Jews who accepted the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Views of Christ, the relationship of God and Creation, the person of Jesus, and the nature of salvation are all the criteria used to validate the gospels. Bock pointed out that early Christianity did not have a completed canon until the third or fourth century. Therefore, Christianity was something passed along through oral tradition via OT Scripture, schooling, hymns, and the sacraments. If a writing fell out of favor with the four views, then it was not considered orthodox Christianity.
Bock continued with dissection of various errant gospels including those by Thomas, Rheginus, and the Apocryphon of John. Each of these failed on the aforementioned criteria. Additionally, each of these writings contained consistent errant themes aligning themselves with Gnosticism. Gnosticism contends a set of dualisms where matter is evil and spirit is good. There is also a model polytheistic angle whereas a hierarchy of deities exists.
Bock was the consummate professor complete with a hint wit and sarcasm sprinkled into a lecture full of content and solid theology. I look forward to picking up his book tomorrow that covers this topic in more detail.
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