Tony Burke is professor of humanities at York University. His academic interests include the study of Christian biographical literature of the second century (infancy gospels), children and the family in Roman antiquity, curses, and noncanonical Jewish and Christian writings.
Catholic Biblical Quarterly
"A superb introduction to a broad range of early Christian
non-canonical texts. . . . [Burke] writes with the skill of an
expert and the communicative ability of a great teacher." Bart D.
Ehrman
-- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"Tony Burke has long established himself as a master of the
Christian apocrypha, writings that did not make it into the New
Testament. With Secret Scriptures Revealed he has made his massive
knowledge of the field available to a broad general audience in a
readable, informed, and enjoyable overview that will be long
cherished by both beginners and devotees." Nicola Denzey Lewis
-- Brown University
"A fabulous new resource for undergraduates and nonspecialist
readers. Written in accessible language with helpful references to
modern reuses of Christian apocrypha such as Dan Brown's novel The
Da Vinci Code, this book delivers what its title promises -- a
state-of-the-art introduction to some of Christianity's most
delightful, surprising, and even shocking works of ancient
literature, which a wide audience of early Christians knew and
enjoyed but modern readers rarely encounter." Stephen J.
Shoemaker
-- University of Oregon
"This excellent introduction to Christian apocryphal literature
will be of use not only to scholars and students of the Bible and
Christianity but to the general public as well. In particular,
Burke is to be thanked for his convincing response to some
unfortunate misrepresentations of early Christian apocrypha that
have recently appeared in popular fiction and apologetic
literature. Anyone looking for a historically reliable description
of Christian apocrypha and their significance would do well to read
this book." Brent Landau
-- University of Texas at Austin
"An immensely valuable resource. . . . There are only a few other
introductions to this literature currently available, all of which
are either limited in the genres of texts they consider or overly
technical. Burke's book does not shy away from introducing students
to the complexities of manuscripts and languages of transmission,
but he does clearly explain why these topics are so essential for
fully appreciating the challenges of studying this literature."
Charles W. Hedrick Sr.
-- Missouri State University
"An informative survey of an extensive corpus of Christian
apocryphal texts. Burke's prose, written in an engaging and
comprehensible style, is particularly accessible to beginning
students, but specialists in other aspects of the historical study
of religion will also benefit from his succinct description of the
field." Publishers Weekly
"In this fine work, Burke offers a wonderfully readable and
accessible introduction to the Christian Apocrypha. . . . This
excellent volume is a welcome addition to the existing literature,
and is highly recommended." Choice
"This excellent, accessible introduction to early Christian
Apocryphal literature should appeal to a broad audience. Drawing on
his extensive knowledge of the subject, Burke does a superb job of
presenting the noncanonical gospels, letters, apocalypses, and the
like in an approachable style. For those who are unfamiliar with
this fascinating literary corpus from the Christian tradition and
would like to know more, this study marks an excellent place to
start." Catholic Library World
"For anyone unfamiliar with apocryphal writings, Burke's work
provides a thorough summary of the scholarship behind it. It would
a good resource for any lay person desiring to know more about
various non-canonical texts." Ecumenism
"Instead of dismissing the Christian Apocrypha, the author shows
how these ancient texts can contribute to a better understanding of
early Christian communities and the canonical Bible." Reading
Acts
"One of the few books to introduce the Christian Apocrypha to the
general reader without engaging in sensational claims. . . . This
short introduction provides the background the average reader needs
to read this diverse literature properly." Southwestern Journal of
Theology
"A somewhat brief but informative primer on the Christian Apocrypha
that defines terms clearly, gives a good description of these
writings, and tells their stories in an interesting narrative
fashion." Review of Biblical Literature
"A readable, engaging introduction to noncanonical texts and
debates about them. Nonspecialists are gently introduced to
significant scholarly issues, and texts are described in such
intriguing ways that readers will surely be motivated to follow the
helpful recommendations for further reading and peruse texts for
themselves. . . . Provides a fascinating window into the intriguing
world of noncanonical texts for a general audience."
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