The Historical Apostles

The lecture begins with a historical exploration of the apostles, following the popularity of a previous lecture on the historical Jesus. The speaker aims to reconstruct the historical basis of the apostles, starting with the story of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a significant pilgrimage site since the 11th century. The journey, known as the Camino de Santiago, continues to attract pilgrims and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The speaker discusses the historical and modern significance of this pilgrimage, its relation to the concept of tourism, and its connection to the medieval practice of pilgrimage which evolved into modern tourism.

The narrative shifts to focus on James the Apostle, known as Santiago in Galician. According to medieval tradition, after James' execution, his body was miraculously transported to Galicia by angels in a rudderless boat. The tomb of Santiago became a significant religious attraction, with a shrine built in 814 following its rediscovery. However, historical evidence for this tradition only dates back to the 700s, indicating a lack of basis for these claims prior to that time. The speaker discusses the context of the shrine's invention during the period of rebuilding in the central and later Middle Ages, where relics and saints' bodies were crucial for the holiness of new churches.

The lecture delves into the role and definition of apostles in early Christianity. Apostles, from the Greek 'apostolos,' are messengers or ambassadors sent to spread the teachings of the Jesus movement. The speaker discusses the apostolic role as described in the Gospels of Mark and Luke, emphasizing their mendicant lifestyle, healing and exorcism activities, and the proclamation of the kingdom of God. The instructions given by Jesus to the apostles, as recorded in the Bible, highlight their mission to travel light, rely on local hospitality, and spread the message of repentance and spiritual awakening.

This section examines the inconsistencies between the apostolic instructions provided in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. While both gospels convey the idea of apostles as itinerant preachers and healers, there are differences in the details of their mission. Mark emphasizes the apostles' mendicancy and the casting out of demons, while Luke focuses on sharing peace, proclaiming the kingdom of God, and the conditions under which the apostles should operate. The speaker also references the Gospel of Thomas and the Didache, early Christian texts that provide additional insights into the apostolic role and its evolution over time.

The lecture discusses the evolution of apostolic practices and the need for regulation as the Christian movement grew. With the rise of false prophets and the abuse of the apostolic system, early Christian leaders established rules to distinguish between true and false apostles. The speaker describes how the original apostles were both male and female, and how the practice of sending apostles in pairs may have been influenced by the need for male-female pairings for legal and safety reasons. The transition from a mendicant apostolic lifestyle to a more institutionalized form of Christianity is also highlighted.

The speaker identifies historical apostles, including Paul, who is recognized as a significant figure in early Christianity. Paul's letters, which are considered authentic, mention other apostles and companions, providing a historical context for these figures. The lecture distinguishes between apostles who knew the historical Jesus and those who did not, with a focus on the apostles who received personal revelations from the risen Christ. The speaker also addresses the historical basis for the number of apostles, noting that the concept of twelve apostles is symbolic and that there were likely many more apostles in the early Christian movement.

This section explores the concept of the twelve apostles, their purpose as described in early Christian texts, and their individual identities. The speaker references the lost Q source, which suggests that the twelve were meant to serve as judges for a spiritually renewed Israel. The lecture also discusses the variations in the lists of the twelve apostles found in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, as well as the Gospel of John, highlighting the differences and the level of historical attestation for each apostle mentioned.

The lecture examines the historical basis of individual apostles, starting with those who are least known and have the least biblical stories or traditions attached to them. The speaker discusses the challenges in determining the historicity of apostles like Thaddeus, Bartholomew, and James the son of Alphaeus, who are mentioned in the Gospels but have little to no historical evidence beyond those references. The section also touches on the later traditions and legends that developed around these apostles, often without a strong historical foundation.

Continuing the examination of the apostles, the speaker looks at those with a bit more historical evidence, such as Matthew, Simon the Canaanite (or Zealot), and Philip. While these figures are mentioned in the Gospels and have some stories associated with them, the historical evidence beyond the biblical accounts is limited. The speaker discusses the challenges in distinguishing between historical facts and later traditions or legends that have been attached to these apostles, emphasizing the need for critical analysis of the sources.

The lecture explores the global impact and legacy of the apostles, particularly focusing on Andrew, Thomas, and Judas Iscariot. Andrew, known as Peter's brother, has a significant following in places like Scotland, where the Saltire, a symbol of Saint Andrew, is featured on the flag. Thomas, often called 'Doubting Thomas,' has a strong association with India, particularly the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala. Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is a central figure in the Passion narrative, with his actions having multi-attested traditions in early Christian writings.

The speaker addresses the question of authenticity regarding the relics of apostles found in Catholic churches today. It is highlighted that not all claimed relics can be authentic due to the abundance of overlapping claims and the historical inconsistencies in the accounts of their discovery and preservation. The discussion also touches on the practices of preserving the bodies of Christian martyrs from early centuries and the distinction between these and the relics of named figures from the New Testament era.

The lecture delves into theories surrounding the identity of the 'Beloved Disciple' mentioned in the Gospel of John. The speaker disagrees with the notion that the disciple Jesus loved is the author of the Gospel of John, instead suggesting that the character might be a literary device to engage the reader or represent an anonymous disciple within the Johannine community. Other theories propose that the disciple could be Lazarus, due to his close relationship with Jesus as depicted in the Gospel.

The speaker discusses the role of Mary Magdalene as an apostle, particularly in the context of her being the first or among the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus. Mary Magdalene is traditionally considered an apostle to the apostles, as she was sent to deliver the news of the resurrection to the male apostles. The lecture also explores the possibility of Mary Magdalene being a wealthy patron of the early Christian movement, supporting the mendicant followers of Jesus.

The lecture examines the historical context of the apostles' mendicant lifestyle, drawing parallels with the practices of Greek philosophical mendicants like Diogenes and the Cynics. The speaker suggests that the teachings and practices of the apostles, such as the overturning of social norms and the preaching of the kingdom of God, may have been influenced by or resonated with the contemporary Hellenistic philosophical movements. The discussion also touches on the geographic and cultural mix in Galilee, where the Jesus movement originated.

The speaker discusses