Is Jesus Athene or Odysseus?: Investigating the Unrecognisability and Metamorphosis of Jesus in his Post-Resurrection Appearances

Description

In this study, Max Whitaker investigates the intriguing accounts of Jesus' resurrection appearances through the lens of Greco-Roman narratives. In both canonical and apocryphal accounts of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, Jesus appears in an unrecognisable form to other characters, including people who knew him well just before his death. The motif of a character appearing in an unrecognisable form to people he or she knows well is one which exists in folk literature, and in Greco-Roman and Jewish literature from a range of genres. The author investigates a range of stories in which characters appear in an unrecognisable or metamorphic form, and summarises patterns and themes. This throws new light on how Jesus' post-resurrection stories would have been understood by their original audiences. Cover Titel Acknowledgements Table of Contents Chapter 1. Once Upon a Time 1.1 Introduction and outline 1.2 Review of previous studies 1.3 Methodology and tools of analysis 1.4 Concepts for analysis 1.5 Outline of the book Chapter 2. Folklore Stories 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Themes and motifs 2.3 Characters and their roles 2.4 Summary Chapter 3. Metamorphosis Stories 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Metamorphosis in Homer 3.2.1 Metamorphosis of gods 3.2.2 Metamorphosis of humans 3.2.3 Other metamorphoses 3.2.4 Summary 3.3 Metamorphosis in other literature 3.3.1 Metamorphosis in early Greek poets and mythographers 3.3.2 The burgeoning of metamorphosis stories 3.3.3 Metamorphosis stories after Jesus 3.3.4 Metamorphosis stories in Jewish literature 3.4 Summary Chapter 4. Disguised Hero Stories 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Introductory issues relating to the analysis ofhero recognition stories 4.3 Recognition of Odysseus 4.4 Structure and purpose of returning hero stories 4.5 Other disguised hero stories 4.5.1 The Odyssey 4.5.2 Tragedy 4.5.3 Other hero recognition stories 4.5.4 Hero recognition stories in Jewish literature 4.6 Analysis and criteria 4.7 Summary Chapter 5. Divine Visitor Stories 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Undisguised and unrecognised gods 5.3 Recognised or revealed hidden gods 5.4 Disguised supernatural beings in Jewish literature 5.5 Analysis and criteria 5.6 Summary 5.7 Comparison of unrecognisable gods and heroes Chapter 6. Canonical Jesus Stories 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Reception of stories 6.3 The Gospel worlds 6.4 The post-resurrection appearances 6.4.1 Tombs 6.4.2 Roads 6.4.3 Rooms 6.4.4 Shores 6.5 Summary Chapter 7. Apocryphal Jesus Stories 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Apocryphal Gospels 7.2.1 Gospel of Peter 7.2.2 Gospel of Judas 7.2.3 Gospel of Philip 7.2.4 Summary 7.3 Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles 7.3.1 Acts of John 7.3.2 Acts of Peter 7.3.3 Acts of Thomas 7.3.4 Acts of Andrew and Matthias 7.3.5 Summary 7.4 Tabulation and summary Chapter 8. Conclusions Bibliography Index of References Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects