Quest For The Historical Apostles: Tracing Their Lives and Legacies
Overview
The stories and contributions of the apostles provide an important entrée into church history. However, the legends of the apostles after the New Testament are confusing and steeped in myth. This historical and literary introduction uncovers the apostles’ lives and legacies, underscoring their impact on the growth of the early church.
While a good bit of the available information on the apostles comes from the biblical texts, there are important extrabiblical sources from the first and second centuries that have only recently emerged that shed light on these figures and their legacies. Quest for the Historical Apostles brings all of these sources together to offer a comprehensive analysis. This work explores biblical and apocryphal material, the witness of early church historians, the iconography of church art and liturgy, and contemporary scholarship to uncover the journey of each apostle, and it locates figures such as Paul, Peter, and John in the broader context of the history of the apostles. The author also explores the continuing story of the gospel mission and the twelve disciples beyond the New Testament, showing how their ministry encounters can provide inspiration for all students of the early church.
Key Features
- Focuses on the individual legacy of each apostle as well as their collective quest to spread the gospel
- Draws from a variety of sources to present complete apostolic biographies
- Separates reality from myth in the lives of the apostles
Contents
- Introduction: The Quest
- The Path
- Peter: The Rooster
- Andrew: The Saltire
- James: The Scallop Shell
- John: The Eagle
- Philip: The Bread
- Bartholomew: The Knife
- Thomas: The Builder
- Matthew: The Publican
- James: The Lesser
- Jude: The Exorcist
- Simon: The Zealot
- Matthias: The Elected
- Paul: The Sword
- The Discovery
Top Highlights
“It is no coincidence that Jesus chose twelve disciples as special protégés. The twelve tribes of Israel embodied the notion of the people of God. Daniel Pfeifer explains, ‘There is general scholarly consensus that Jesus’s choice of twelve distinct followers evoked the symbolism of the twelve tribes and thereby the implication of restoration for all Israel.’23 Not only is the number a historical reference, but it also promotes an expectation of a new covenant for Israel. After all, Jesus said that his followers would ‘sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’ (Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30).” (Page 30)
“there is no compelling requirement to distinguish between two Johns, as the chapter on John will demonstrate” (Page 24)
“but also contribute to place him squarely in Rome.” (Page 73)
“Biblical and extrabiblical historical records of Peter testify to his marriage and at least one daughter. In the year 53 Paul mentions Peter’s marriage (1 Cor. 9:5). According to popular culture his wife’s name was Perpetua, but this finds no early church substantiation.” (Page 62)
“Simon as ‘Peter,’ referring to his function as the rock on which the kingdom is built. Cephas is the Aramaic of the Greek word Petros, and both are used to refer to Peter.” (Page 62)
Praise for the Print Edition
Shelton combines a historian’s knowledge of the sources, a scholar’s respect for learning, a journalist’s eye for detail, and a believer’s awe before the transcendent. Here is a full accounting of the few brave men Jesus of Nazareth used to rock the world in ways still unfolding. It will inform and inspire all who seek to understand and connect with the early Christian legacy as preserved in historical sources, ancient literature and legends, art and artifacts, and critical reconstruction. This recovery of the apostles’ full humanity in history enhances their testimony to the Savior who sent them forth.
—Robert W. Yarbrough, professor of New Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary
Just as there have been quests for the historical Jesus, so now Brian Shelton leads us on a quest for the historical core within the many apostolic legends. More than just a work of scholarship, this book takes readers by the hand and guides us through the minefield of ancient mythmaking to help us meet the actual disciples of Christ, the real men who walked with the Savior and sat at his feet. Never gullible or credulous, yet never unconcerned about the edification of the church, Shelton gives us the bottom line when it comes to the apostles: their actual historical biographies and their enduring significance for today.
—Bryan Litfin, author of Getting to Know the Church Fathers
This book is a treasure trove for those who wonder what happened to the twelve apostles of Jesus. Brian Shelton provides a sympathetic but critical reading of the evidence for the missionary activity of the apostles by patiently sifting through biblical texts, early church witnesses, and later legends. I am especially grateful that the Quest for the Historical Apostles narrates how each apostle has been received in the life and faith of the church.
—Daniel A. Keating, professor of theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Product Details
- Title: Quest For The Historical Apostles: Tracing Their Lives and Legacies
- Author: W. Brian Shelton
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Publication Date: 2018
- Pages: 328
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Apostolic Era
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
2/18/2019
I quite enjoyed the journey the Author took me on, as we waded through History, Legend and Myth in a search for the fate of Jesus' disciples. From my youth, I have always "wished" that Luke had given us more info about what happened to them - even with Paul at the end of Acts, we have him under house arrest and still carrying on his ministry. I also enjoyed how the Author frequently relates some of the more colourful "acts" that are written in various Apocryphal and Pseudepigraphical works - and I also appreciated the fairness with which he treated many of these works. It would've be nice to have a few more chapters (or a followup book) that covered people such as James (the brother of Christ), Mary (the mother of Christ), Barnabas, Luke, John Mark, Apollos, etc... This book is well referenced and indexed - which I always like :)