Out of the Shadows: The Acts of [Paul and] Thecla
A New Translation & Commentary
By Bernard Brandon Scott & Perry Kea

Join us  for an engaging event exploring one of Christianity's most intriguing and rebellious figures, Thecla. She defied societal norms by embracing continence, facing beasts in the arena, cross-dressing, baptizing herself, and becoming a preacher. Once silenced by figures like Tertullian and buried in the Apocrypha, Thecla’s story is emerging again to challenge conventional views of early Jesus communities.

This new translation and commentary bring her story to life. Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into her world with renowned scholars Bernard Brandon Scott and Perry Kea!

Bernard Brandon Scott and Perry Kea have written a book called Out of the Shadows, the Acts of [Paul and] Thecla A New Translation and Commentary. Here's what it's about. Thecla is one of the strangest characters from Christianity's past. She falls in love with the apostle Paul's teaching on continence, twice faces martyrdom, fights with beasts in the arena, cuts her hair, cross-dresses, baptizes herself, and becomes a preacher. Tertullian tried to silence her story and the Pastoral Epistles warned about women like her. The Acts of Paul and Thecla was widespread and popular but then was hidden away in the Apocrypha. In recent years, Thecla has come out of the shadows. Her story reframes conventional views of second-century Jesus communities. Out of the Shadows offers a vibrant and accessible modern translation and commentary

About the Authors

Bernard Brandon Scott

Institute Affiliation

Darbeth Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament

Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Credentials

Ph.D., Vanderbilt University M.A., Miami University A.B., St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology

Biography

Bernard Brandon Scott is the author and editor of many books, including The Real Paul: Recovering His Radical Challenge and The Trouble with Resurrection. A charter member of the Jesus Seminar, he was a co-Chair of Westar’s Christianity Seminar. He served as chair of the Bible in Ancient and Modern Media Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, as well as a member of several SBL Seminars including the Parable Seminar and Historical Jesus Seminar. He holds an A.B. from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, an M.A. from Miami University, and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University.

Perry Kea

Institutional Affiliation

Associate Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies

University of Indianapolis, Indiana

Credentials

Ph.D., University of Virginia M.A., Vanderbilt University B.A., University of South Carolina

Biography

Perry Kea has been a Fellow of the Westar Institute since 1987. He has participated in several seminars, including the Jesus Seminar, the Acts Seminar, and the Christianity Seminar. Perry served as the Chair of the Board of Directors from 2014 – 2019. During his tenure as Chair, Perry guided Westar through staff changes, organizational re-structuring, and program revision. As a Fellow, Perry has contributed to Westar publications and seminars, and he co-Chaired the recent and first Westar Mini-seminar on the Bible and Human Sexuality. Perry is Associate Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at the University of Indianapolis, Indiana.