Irenaeus Judas and Acts

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andrewcriddle
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Irenaeus Judas and Acts

Post by andrewcriddle »

Irenaeus quotes from Acts 1:16-20 in Against Heresies Book III
The Apostle Peter, therefore, after the resurrection of the Lord, and His assumption into the heavens, being desirous of filling up the number of the twelve apostles, and in electing into the place of Judas any substitute who should be chosen by God, thus addressed those who were present: Men [and] brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spoke before concerning Judas, which was made guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us: ... Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and, His bishoprick let another take; — thus leading to the completion of the apostles, according to the words spoken by David.
There is no allusion to the gruesome death of Judas in verses 18-19.

Irenaeus also discusses this passage in Against Heresies Book II in the context of the Gnostic understanding of Judas. There is no allusion here to verses 18-19 either.

Is it possible that Irenaeus' text of Acts lacked verses `18-19 of chapter one ?

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Re: Irenaeus Judas and Acts

Post by Ben C. Smith »

andrewcriddle wrote:Irenaeus quotes from Acts 1:16-20 in Against Heresies Book III
The Apostle Peter, therefore, after the resurrection of the Lord, and His assumption into the heavens, being desirous of filling up the number of the twelve apostles, and in electing into the place of Judas any substitute who should be chosen by God, thus addressed those who were present: Men [and] brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spoke before concerning Judas, which was made guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us: ... Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and, His bishoprick let another take; — thus leading to the completion of the apostles, according to the words spoken by David.
There is no allusion to the gruesome death of Judas in verses 18-19.

Irenaeus also discusses this passage in Against Heresies Book II in the context of the Gnostic understanding of Judas. There is no allusion here to verses 18-19 either.

Is it possible that Irenaeus' text of Acts lacked verses `18-19 of chapter one ?
Good question. Those two verses certainly comprise one of the most intrusive digressions in all the New Testament, completely interrupting Peter's speech in Acts 1.15-22:

15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘Let another man take his office.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

Interestingly, when Irenaeus does explicitly write of the death of Judas in Demonstration 81, the story is completely consonant with the Matthean version (Matthew 26.14-16, 47-50; 27.3-10). I detect no spillover from Acts 1.18-19 at all:

81 And again Jeremiah the prophet says: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was sold, whom they bought from the children of Israel; and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me. For Judas, being one of Christ's disciples, agreed with the Jews and covenanted with them, when he saw they desired to kill Him, because he had been reproved by Him: and he took the thirty staters of the province, and betrayed Christ unto them: and then, repenting of what he had done, he gave the silver back again to the rulers of the Jews, and hanged himself. But they, thinking it not right to cast it into their treasury, because it was the price of blood, bought with it the ground that was a certain potter's for the burial of strangers.

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Re: Irenaeus Judas and Acts

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What is our first attestation for Acts 1.18-19, anyway? Apostolic Constitutions 7.1.2 has a reference to the bursting open and the bowels gushing out.
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Re: Irenaeus Judas and Acts

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Acts 1:18
Athanasius Alexandrinus (3 work(s))
Athanasius
Alexandrinus
Epistula ad episcopos Aegypti et Libyae (1)
Date: ca.356 - ca.357
Genre: -
Theme: Dogma
Clavis: 2092
Biblio:
PG 25, 537-593.
§ 18 (p.581) BPH
Epistula ad Serapionem de morte Arii (1)
Date: ca.339
Genre: -
Theme: Ecclesiastical History
Clavis: 2125
Biblio:
OPITZ H.G., Athanasius Werke, 2,1, Berlin 1935-1941, 178-180.
§ 3 (p.179, l.26 - <) BPH
Historia Arianorum (1)
Date: ca.357 - ca.358
Genre: -
Theme: Ecclesiastical History
Clavis: 2127
Biblio:
OPITZ H.-G., Athanasius Werke, 2,1, Berlin - Leipzig 1935, 183-230.
57 (p.215, l.20 - <) BPH
Didymus Alexandrinus (2 work(s))
Didymus
Alexandrinus
Commentarii in Psalmos 35-39 (1)
Date: ca.350 - ca.398
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 2550
Biblio:
GRONEWALD M., Didymos der Blinde, Psalmenkommentar (Tura-Papyrus) 4, Kommentar zu Psalm 35-39 (Papyrologische Texte und Abhandlungen 6), Bonn 1969.
252 § 31 (p.96, l.31 - <) BP7
Commentarii in Psalmos 40-44,4 (1)
Date: ca.350 - ca.398
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 2550
Biblio:
GRONEWALD M., Didymos der Blinde, Psalmenkommentar (Tura-Papyrus) 5, Kommentar zu Psalm 40-44,4 (Papyrologische Texte und Abhandlungen 12), Bonn 1970.
294 § 1 (p.22, l.1) BP7
Anonyma (1 ancient author(s))

Anonyma apocrypha (2 work(s))
Anonyma
apocrypha
Acta Thomae 1' (1)
Date: ca.201 - ca.300
Genre: -
Theme: Apocrypha
Clavis: 245
Biblio:
§ 33 (p.150, l.18) BP2
Didascalia apostolorum (1)
Date: ca.201 - ca.300
Genre: -
Theme: Discipline
Clavis: 1738
Biblio:
CONNOLLY R.H., Didascalia apostolorum..., Oxford 1929.
6 (p.44, l.2 - /) BP2
Antioch, Syria (1 ancient author(s))

Iohannes Chrysostomus (4 work(s))
Iohannes
Chrysostomus
Expositiones in Psalmos (3)
Date: ca.371 - ca.398
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 4413
Biblio:
PG 55 (1862), 39-498.
7 (p.101, l.23 - /) BPH
7 (p.103, l.34 - /) BPH
47 (p.210, l.45 - /) BPH
Homiliae 1-90 in Matthaeum (1)
Date: ca.386 - ca.403
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 4424
Biblio:
MIGNE J.-P., Sancti Joannis Chrysostomi Commentarius in sanctum Matthaeum evangelistam, PG 57 et 58 (1862).
9 (p.184, l.22 - /) BPH
In Acta apostolorum homiliae 1-55 (2)
Date: ca.386 - ca.403
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 4426
Biblio:
PG 60 (1862) 13-384.
3 (p.35, l.10 - <) BPH
3 (p.37, l.34 - <) BPH
In epistulam ad Romanos homiliae 1-32 (1)
Date: ca.386 - ca.403
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 4427
Biblio:
MIGNE J.-P., Sancti Joannis Chrysostomi Commentarius in epistolam ad Romanos, PG 60 (1862).
25 (p.636, l.50 - <) BPH
Apocrypha (1 ancient author(s))

Anonyma apocrypha (2 work(s))
Anonyma
apocrypha
Acta Thomae 1' (1)
Date: ca.201 - ca.300
Genre: -
Theme: Apocrypha
Clavis: 245
Biblio:
§ 33 (p.150, l.18) BP2
Didascalia apostolorum (1)
Date: ca.201 - ca.300
Genre: -
Theme: Discipline
Clavis: 1738
Biblio:
CONNOLLY R.H., Didascalia apostolorum..., Oxford 1929.
6 (p.44, l.2 - /) BP2
Greece, Minor Asia (3 ancient author(s))

Gregorius Nazianzenus (4 work(s))
Gregorius
Nazianzenus
Carmina historica de se ipso et quae spectant ad alios (1)
Date: ca.381 - ca.390
Genre: -
Theme: Christian poetry
Clavis: 3036
Biblio:
PG 37, 969-1029 ; 1166-1381 ; 1384-1451 ; 1451-1577.
1 13 (p.1232, l.61 - >) BP5
Carmina theologica A (1)
Date: ca.381 - ca.390
Genre: -
Theme: Dogma
Clavis: 3034
Biblio:
PG 37, 397-507 ; 508-510 ; 518-520 ; 521-632 ; 640-649 ; 680-786 ; 789 ; 790-884 ; 908-915 ; 927-967.
2 15 (p.774, l.107) BP5
Orationes 20-23 (1)
Date: ca.364 - ca.381
Genre: -
Theme: Pastoral
Clavis: 3010
Biblio:
MOSSAY J., SC 270 (1980).
21 § 13 (p.134, l.3 - )) BP5
Orationes 24-26 (1)
Date: ca.379 - ca.381
Genre: -
Theme: Pastoral
Clavis: 3010
Biblio:
MOSSAY J., SC 284 (1981).
25 § 8 (p.174, l.19 - )) BP5
Gregorius Nyssenus (1 work(s))
Gregorius
Nyssenus
Encomium in quadraginta martyres 2 (1)
Date: ca.379 - ca.394
Genre: -
Theme: Hagiography
Clavis: 3189
Biblio:
LENDLE O., Gregorii Nysseni opera, 10,1, Sermones, Leiden 1990, 159-169.
(p.164, l.18 - /) BP5
Papias Hierapolitanus (1 work(s))
Papias
Hierapolitanus
Explanationes uerborum dominicorum (1)
Date: ca.101 - ca.150
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 1047
Biblio:
FUNK F.X., BIHLMEYER K., Die apostolischen Väter, Neubearbeitung der Funkschen Ausgabe, 2e éd., Tübingen 1956, 133-140.
(p.136, l.25) BP1
Greek historians (1 ancient author(s))

Eusebius Caesariensis (1 work(s))
Eusebius
Caesariensis
Demonstratio evangelica (1)
Date: ca.314 - ca.322
Genre: -
Theme: Apologetics
Clavis: 3487
Biblio:
HEIKEL I.A., GCS 23 (1913), 2-496.
3 5 § 66 (p.123, l.1 - /) BP4
Greek-speaking West (1 ancient author(s))

Hippolytus Romanus (1 work(s))
Hippolytus
Romanus
In Ruth (1)
Date: ca.220 - ca.250
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 1880
Biblio:
ACHELIS H., GCS 1,2 (1897), 120.
(p.120, l.23) BP2
Italy (2 ancient author(s))

Ambrosiaster (1 work(s))
Ambrosiaster
Quaestiones Veteris et Noui Testamenti (numero CXXVII) (1)
Date: ca.363 - ca.390
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 185
Biblio:
SOUTER A., CSEL 50 (1908), 3-416.
(p.10, l.26 - >) BP6
Ambrosius Mediolanensis (2 work(s))
Ambrosius
Mediolanensis
De fide ad Gratianum (2)
Date: ca.377 - ca.380
Genre: -
Theme: Christian life
Clavis: 150
Biblio:
FALLER O., CSEL 78 (1962).
1 19 § 123 (p.52, l.7) BP6
1 19 § 124 (p.53, l.13 - <) BP6
Explanatio super psalmos XII (1)
Date: ca.374 - ca.397
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 140
Biblio:
PETSCHENIG M., CSEL 64 (1919).
37 § 31 (p.160, l.11) BP6
Palestine and Cyprus (2 ancient author(s))

Epiphanius Constantiensis (Salamiensis, Cypriota) (3 work(s))
Epiphanius
Constantiensis
(Salamiensis,
Cypriota)
Epistula ad Theodosium imperatorem (1)
Date: ca.394 - ca.394
Genre: -
Theme: iconoclasm
Clavis: 3750
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OSTROGORSKY G., Studien zur Geschichte des byzantinischen Bilderstreites (Historische Untersuchungen 5), Breslau 1929, 71-73.
(p.72, l.8) BP4
Panarion 34-64 (1)
Date: ca.377 - ca.377
Genre: -
Theme: Heresy
Clavis: 3745
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HOLL K., GCS 31 (1922), 5-210 ; 215-524.
38 8 § 3 (p.71, l.2 - <) BP4
Panarion 65-80 (1)
Date: ca.377 - ca.377
Genre: -
Theme: Heresy
Clavis: 3745
Biblio:
HOLL K., GCS 37 (1933), 2-229 ; 232-414 ; 416-526.
68 6 § 9 (p.147, l.1) BP4
Eusebius Caesariensis (1 work(s))
Eusebius
Caesariensis
Demonstratio evangelica (1)
Date: ca.314 - ca.322
Genre: -
Theme: Apologetics
Clavis: 3487
Biblio:
HEIKEL I.A., GCS 23 (1913), 2-496.
3 5 § 66 (p.123, l.1 - /) BP4
Unknown place (1 ancient author(s))

Hippolytus Romanus (?) (1 work(s))
Hippolytus
Romanus
(?)
In Prouerbia (1)
Date: ca.220 - ca.250
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 1883
Biblio:
RICHARD M., Les fragments du commentaire de S. Hippolyte sur les Proverbes de Salomon, Le Muséon 79 (1966), 75-94.
(p.77, l.14) BP2
Acts of the Apostles 1, 19

Acts 1:19
Alexandria (1 ancient author(s))

Didymus Alexandrinus (1 work(s))
Didymus
Alexandrinus
Commentarii in Psalmos 40-44,4 (1)
Date: ca.350 - ca.398
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 2550
Biblio:
GRONEWALD M., Didymos der Blinde, Psalmenkommentar (Tura-Papyrus) 5, Kommentar zu Psalm 40-44,4 (Papyrologische Texte und Abhandlungen 12), Bonn 1970.
294 § 1 (p.22, l.1) BP7
Antioch, Syria (1 ancient author(s))

Iohannes Chrysostomus (1 work(s))
Iohannes
Chrysostomus
In Acta apostolorum homiliae 1-55 (2)
Date: ca.386 - ca.403
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 4426
Biblio:
PG 60 (1862) 13-384.
3 (p.35, l.22 - <) BPH
3 (p.37, l.42) BPH
Greece, Minor Asia (3 ancient author(s))

Basilius Caesariensis (1 work(s))
Basilius
Caesariensis
Epistulae (t. I) (1)
Date: ca.357 - ca.378
Genre: -
Theme: Christian life
Clavis: 2900
Biblio:
COURTONNE Y., Saint Basile, Lettres, 1 (Collection des Universités de France), Paris 1957.
53 § 2 (p.139, l.17) BP5
Gregorius Nazianzenus (1 work(s))
Gregorius
Nazianzenus
Carmina historica de se ipso et quae spectant ad alios (1)
Date: ca.381 - ca.390
Genre: -
Theme: Christian poetry
Clavis: 3036
Biblio:
PG 37, 969-1029 ; 1166-1381 ; 1384-1451 ; 1451-1577.
1 13 (p.1232, l.61 - >) BP5
Gregorius Nyssenus (1 work(s))
Gregorius
Nyssenus
In Canticum canticorum homiliae XV (1)
Date: ca.391 - ca.394
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 3158
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LANGERBECK H., Gregorii Nysseni opera, 6, In Canticum canticorum, Leiden 1960.
14 (p.409, l.7) BP5
Greek historians (1 ancient author(s))

Eusebius Caesariensis (2 work(s))
Eusebius
Caesariensis
Commentarii in Psalmos (PG 23) (1)
Date: ca.300 - ca.339
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 3467
Biblio:
PG 23 (1857), passim 76-1393.
(p.1068 - /) BP4
Onomasticon (1)
Date: ca.300 - ca.320
Genre: -
Theme: Onomastics
Clavis: 3466
Biblio:
KLOSTERMANN E., GCS 11,1 (1904, réimpr. 1966).
(p.102, l.16) BP4
Palestine and Cyprus (1 ancient author(s))

Eusebius Caesariensis (2 work(s))
Eusebius
Caesariensis
Commentarii in Psalmos (PG 23) (1)
Date: ca.300 - ca.339
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 3467
Biblio:
PG 23 (1857), passim 76-1393.
(p.1068 - /) BP4
Onomasticon (1)
Date: ca.300 - ca.320
Genre: -
Theme: Onomastics
Clavis: 3466
Biblio:
KLOSTERMANN E., GCS 11,1 (1904, réimpr. 1966).
(p.102, l.16) BP4
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Re: Irenaeus Judas and Acts

Post by Secret Alias »

I would say that the Acts of Thomas would seem to be the earliest (if Papias is discounted) but when you look at the actual reference it has a snake which 'bursts' when confronted by Judas Thomas - https://books.google.com/books?id=MuVHh ... 22&f=false
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Re: Irenaeus Judas and Acts

Post by Ben C. Smith »

Acts of Thomas 33:

33 And when that serpent had spoken these things in the hearing of all the people, the apostle lifted up his voice on high and said: Cease thou henceforth, O most shameless one, and be put to confusion and die wholly, for the end of thy destruction is come, and dare not to tell of what thou hast done by them that have become subject unto thee. And I charge thee in the name of that Jesus who until now contendeth with you for the men that are his own, that thou suck out thy venom which thou hast put into this man, and draw it forth and take it from him. But the serpent said: Not yet is the end of our time come as thou hast said. Wherefore compellest thou me to take back that which I have put into this man, and to die before my time? for mine own father, when he shall draw forth and suck out that which he hath cast into the creation, then shall his end come. And the apostle said unto him: Show, then, now the nature of thy father. And the serpent came near and set his mouth upon the wound of the young man and sucked forth the gall out of it. And by little and little the colour of the young man which was as purple, became white, but the serpent swelled up. And when the serpent had drawn up all the gall into himself, the young man leapt up and stood, and ran and fell at the apostle's feet: but the serpent being swelled up, burst and died, and his venom and gall were shed forth; and in the place where his venom was shed there came a great gulf, and that serpent was swallowed up therein. And the apostle said unto the king and his brother: Take workmen and fill up that place, and lay foundations and build houses upon them, that it may be a dwelling-place for strangers.

I understand the footnoting of this to Acts 1.18-19, but I would not count it as an actual allusion.

The purported date of the Didascalia rivals that of the Acts of Thomas, but the parallel is no closer:

VI .... Each one therefore of the laity is to render an account of his own sins; and a man is not hurt by reason of the sins of others. For neither did Judas harm us at all when he was praying with us, but he alone perished.

This makes Hippolytus of Rome the earliest potential witness (according to the Biblindex):

Hippolytus Romanus (1 work(s))
In Ruth (1)
Date: ca.220 - ca.250
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 1880
Biblio:
ACHELIS H., GCS 1,2 (1897), 120.

This reference is to an alleged fragment of Hippolytus of Rome on the book of Ruth (refer to line 23 of page 120), which actually quotes the words, πρηνὴς γενόμενος ἐλάκησεν μέσος, from Acts 1.18. The attribution to Hippolytus seems to come from an eleventh century manuscript found on Mount Athos. The Biblindex gives another Hippolytan passage that I have not yet looked up:

Hippolytus Romanus (?) (1 work(s))
In Prouerbia (1)
Date: ca.220 - ca.250
Genre: -
Theme: Exegesis, Scripture Commentaries
Clavis: 1883
Biblio:
RICHARD M., Les fragments du commentaire de S. Hippolyte sur les Proverbes de Salomon, Le Muséon 79 (1966), 75-94.

Ben.
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