The First Apocalypse of James

Martyrdom and Sexual Difference

by Mikael Haxby

Book cover: The First Apocalypse of James

Extent: 174 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Ancient Egypt, Religious Studies

Series: Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe

Series volume number: 591

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(August 2023)

ISBN: 9783161625602

9.09 x 6.06 inches

Price: $93.00

In stock

In this study, Mikael Haxby offers a new analysis of a little-studied early Christian text. He uses recently recovered manuscript evidence to place the First Apocalypse of James in ancient debates about political violence and sexual difference.


In this study, Mikael Haxbyoffers a comprehensive reading of a little-studied ancient Christian text, making use of recently discovered manuscript evidence. This text was originally found in the Nag Hammadi Codices and has historically been classified as Gnostic or heretical. Using new manuscript evidence, the author shows that the First Apocalypse of James intervenes in ancient Christian debates about martyrdom, ritual practice, scriptural interpretation, and questions of gender in both theology and social order. By bringing the First Apocalypse of James back into dialogue with other Christian texts, whether later classified as heretical or not, this study offers new insights into how Christians responded to the threat of political violence, engaged with holy texts, and produced new social formations in which women might hold authoritative positions.

  • By (author) Mikael Haxby

The First Apocalypse of James. Martyrdom and Sexual Difference. By Mikael Haxby. WUNT 2/591. Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2023. "[B]oth specialists in gnostic studies and students of early Christianity will find provocative new insights in this study." - Pheme Perkins, Boston College, Church History (Volume 93, Issue 2, June 2024)