Brakke on the Gospel of Judas

THE BENNINGTON BANNER: Panels and lectures at Williams College.

DAVID BRAKKE TO PRESENT BICENTENNIAL CROGHAN LECTURE

David Brakke, Croghan Bicentennial Visiting Professor in Biblical and Early Christian Studies at Williams College, will present a lecture titled "The Gospel of Judas: Gnostic Truth and Apostolic Heresy in Early Christianity." The event will take place on Nov. 11, at 5:30 p.m. It will be held in Griffin Hall, room 7, and is free and open to the public.

Brakke's work involves the history and literature of ancient Christianity from its origins through the 5th century. In particular, he studies asceticism, monasticism, "Gnosticism," biblical interpretation, and Egyptian Christianity. He has written several books on these subjects, including The Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity, which argues for a social and cultural approach to the definition of "Gnosticism." In 2011, it was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title.

Brakke is the Joe R. Engle Chair in the History of Christianity at Ohio State University. Previously, he taught at Indiana University. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a M.Div. from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University. Currently, Brakke is a member of an international team of scholars that is producing the first unified critical edition and translation of the works of Shenoute of Atripe, the leader of a monastic community in Upper Egypt. He serves as the president-elect of the International Association for Coptic Studies and on the Board of Consultants of the Journal of Religion.

The Croghan Bicentennial Professorship in Biblical and Early Christian Studies was established by John and Rosemary Croghan for a visiting professor to teach one course in Christianity and/or Judaism as well as to give public lectures. Brakke is one of two professors to hold the position this academic year.

The lecture is sponsored by the Croghan Fund, the Department of Religion, and the Dean of the Faculty Office.

David Brakke was one of the students in the second-year Biblical Hebrew course I taught about thirty years ago when I was a doctoral student at Harvard. That was a great class, out of which came a number of fine scholars. Past posts on Professor Brakke's work are here, here, and here. Also, I have many past posts on the Gospel of Judas. Start here and follow the links.