Biblical Time Machine

Pseudepigraphy: Forgery or Fan Fiction?


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Ancient authors had no problem writing texts in other people's names, and that includes plenty of biblical writers. If Paul only wrote 7 of the 13 Pauline epistles, for example, who wrote the other 6, and why did they stamp Paul's name on them?

The practice is called pseudepigraphy — from the Greek for "false inscription" — and a lot of biblical scholars will tell you it's straight-up forgery. But were ancient authors really trying to deceive their readers? Or were they using a standard literary practice in the ancient world of writing in the name of beloved figures (Paul, Peter, Moses, Enoch) to add new layers of meaning to their texts?

Our guest Kelsie Rodenbiker argues that pseudepigraphy in the Bible has more in common with fan fiction than forgery.

Winners of the Book Giveaway!

Congratulations to the winners of our very first book giveaway. These three lucky members of the Time Travelers Club will receive a copy of Jacob Wright's remarkable book, Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins.

  • Hellen Paulette
  • Tim Davies
  • Jason LaRue

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Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos

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