2020-06-08

“The Ascension of Isaiah” and Paul – a case made by James Barlow

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by Neil Godfrey

James Barlow has granted permission for his full argument to be posted here. The best way to summarize his thesis is to quote a section of an email he sent me last year:

I no longer remember when I began this project— sometime between eighteen months and two years ago. But it all began while coming across what Mr Doherty had to say about Asc. Is. back in 2010 when I was a Cathedral Dean in British Columbia. When I read Mr Parvus’ suspicion that this work was a kind of Urgospel I felt vindicated in feeling intuitively that it is indeed what is behind Paul (and not JUST Paul!). For not only is it quoted by Paul at I Cor.2:9 (a solemn fact no one wants to delve into the consequences of, for whatever reason), but it is also referred to (I believe) by Paul in I Cor. 15, there too as Scripture as well. Throw in the impossibility of xi. 2-22 being germane to the original text of the Vision, which is dateable (if quoted by Paul) to before c. 50 c.e. and voila, the case for an ahistorical Jesus being the subject of Paul’s letters is undeniable—once the language of the Vision is scrutinized side by side with that of Paul. — James Barlow, 2019

In the discussion Barlow regularly refers to different manuscript lines of the Asc.Is. Since trying to follow references to E, L1, L2, S, G1, G2, G, Greek Legend, can be daunting for a while, the following simplified table may be of use to readers not familiar with the labels:

James Barlow’s files (refresh browser if they do not appear) Look for the “Download (PDF…)” link below each of the two popouts.

Download (PDF, 304KB)

Download (PDF, 300KB)

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PAUL SIMMINGER on Permanently banned from the Biblical Criticism & History Forum – earlywritings.com: “Sounds like Peter Kirby is using Orwell’s famous quote from his book, “Animal Farm.”” Sep 2, 05:29
Neil Godfrey on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “I have no problem with various letters of Paul being written before 144, by the way. I certainly don’t try…” Sep 1, 19:18
Gordon Rouse on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “I certainly can imagine creative bursts, and the 1st war as a Cambrian explosion does make sense. I am reading…” Sep 1, 11:34
Gordon Rouse on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “I doubt I am more up to date on this, apart from having read Carrier’s article about the relationship between…” Sep 1, 11:17
Neil Godfrey on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “Or maybe if you are thinking in terms of a gradual flowing “evolution” spaced out over time as opposed to…” Sep 1, 05:28
Neil Godfrey on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “My “preferred theory now” is nothing more than “what I happen to be pondering at the moment” — and no…” Sep 1, 04:57
Gordon Rouse on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “Perhaps you can share your views on the two issues that I think constrain the dating of the earliest letters…” Sep 1, 03:42
ABuddhist on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “I concede that I did not remember that verse. But 2 things are notable about that verse within GMark. 1stly,…” Aug 30, 02:14
Neil Godfrey on Questioning the Identity/Historicity of the Apostle Paul: “Mark 4:34 does say “But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything” — but curiously the…” Aug 29, 22:28

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