Mark G. Bilby – författare

This is the first work ever published to show that the classical Greek myths of Orestes, Iphigenia, and Electra profoundly shaped the artistic character portraits of numerous figures in Acts, most notably Paul, but also Stephen, Ananias of Damascus, Aquila and Priscilla, Trophimus, and others. Similar mythical characterizations are also evident in the canonical redaction of Luke, especially in the Infancy, Passion, and Ascension of Jesus. Early Christian apocrypha about Jesus, Mary, Paul, and Thecla echo and confirm these imitations.Building on ten years of completely original research, the work features generous quotations and fresh, expert translation of the Greek primary sources throughout. Highly relevant works of art complement and bolster the arguments of nearly every chapter. The table of contents and brief description of each chapter follows.1. Ancient Dramas & Modern MoviesOverview of plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, & Euripides on House Atreides (Iphigenia, Electra, Orestes, and their parents, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra), and their influence on movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Dune, and others.2. Epic Reunions & Dramatic ReturnsThe Emmaus Road story (Luke 24:13-35) enacts a miniature retelling of Euripides' Iphigenia at Taurica.3. Echoing Oracles & Movable FestivalsThe opening chapters of Acts recall the connection of Orestes with Delphi and his paradigmatic role in "e;Greek messianism."e;4. Hellenic Crowns & Regicide RobesThe character and death of Stephen / "e;Crown"e; evoke Orestes royal mythology, and the introduction of the murderous Saul with "e;robes at his feet"e; evokes Clytemnestra's entrapment and murder of Agamemnon.5. Chasing Rancour & Breathing MurderA comprehensive statistical analysis of the phrase, "e;breathing threat and murder"e; (Acts 9:1), shows it be to a clear echo of the Furies pursuing Orestes.6. Flying Carcass & Blinding MadnessSaul being struck blind by the heavenly Christ after the murder of Stephen retells the famous story of Orestes being blinded by the Furies in revenge for his murder of his mother, Clytemnestra.7. Leading Hands & Healing BandsPaul's treatment by Ananias of Damascus recounts the role of Pylades and Electra welcoming, tending, and healing Orestes.8. Lethal Compacts & Narrow EscapesMurder conspiracies against Saul, and his narrow escapes from them, echo Atreidean murder plots and related narrow escapes.9. Chthonic Vengeance & Heav'nly JusticeThe trial of Paul on the Areopagus in Athens restages the famous, foundational trial of Orestes on the Areopagus.10. Barbaric Riots & Symbolic RitesPaul provoking riots in Philippi and especially Ephesus are satirized, miniature retellings of Iphigenia at Taurica.11. Temples Cursed & Votives CleansedPaul's head-shaving in Cenchreae, aborted Nazirite vow, and riot provocation in Jerusalem recall Orestean temple profanation, purification from murder, and rites of passage into adulthood.12. Binding Heroes & Loosing CaptivesSaul's mission to "e;bind"e; early Christians and karmic reversals to be bound by his opponents, all recall famous traditions of the Furies binding Orestes and Orestes and Pylades being bound.13. Canonical Sequels & Apocryphal PrequelsThe infancy narrative in Luke 1-2 and the Protoevangelium of James, the fable of the Prodigal Son, the Passion and Ascension of Jesus, and the Acts of Paul and Thecla all evoke numerous themes and characterizations associated with House Atreides.14. Historical Quarries & Hysterical QuestsReflections on the historical value of the canonical Acts of the Apostles and its portrayal of Paul, with an eye to ancient and modern Jewish-Christian relations.

Marcion of Sinope's Apostolos (or Apostolikon or Apostle), an early collection of ten letters attributed to the Apostle Paul, has been reconstructed using data-mining methods for the first time in history by an international team of scholars (Markus Vinzent, Mark G. Bilby, Jack Bull, and K. Lance Lotharp). This companion volume to the TANZ German critical reconstruction is designed for any and every English-speaking reader, presenting the Greek text in a simplified form, together with a new, facing English translation of the Apostolos. It also includes parallel Greek text and a fresh English translation of these ten letters as found in the Canonical New Testament. The custom format and layout, with careful attention to detail on every line of every page, makes it easy to compare every Greek word and every corresponding English word between these two rival versions of the Pauline letters. This second edition is being made available in epub, pdf, paperback, and hardback formats.Receptions:"e;In his Apostolos Reader's Edition: Greek-English, Mark G. Bilby offers a masterclass in making technical scholarship accessible. Based on a three-volume critical reconstruction of Marcion's text of the Pauline Letters by Markus Vinzent with the assistance of Bilby, Jack Bull, and K. Lance Lotharp, this handy book conveys the research results most salient for a wider readership in a clear, easy-to-use format. Comparative Greek texts of the Marcionite and Canonical versions of Paul's letters occupy one page facing another with English translations of both. The translation deliberately tends towards "e;interlinear"e; style, generally following the Greek word order, to permit readers without a mastery of Greek to identify the original wording that underlies the English. But this approach does not go so far as to violate English syntax, resulting in a translation can be used alone beneficially. Various typographic elements code key information from the underlying research into the translation. A succinct twelve-page introduction explains everything the reader needs to know to understand the book's content and how to use it. A set of appendices cover various technical matters. With the Apostolos Reader's Edition, the general reader will be able to catch up on the latest developments in an exciting period of advancing research on the origins of the New Testament, and reflect upon its significance for their own understanding of the Bible and early Christianity."e; -- Jason BeDuhn, author of The First New Testament: Marcion's Scriptural Canon"e;The text of Marcion's Apostolos is far from settled, and scholars have yet to delve into the details of the critical edition by Vinzent, Bilby, Bull, and Lotharp. But for scholars and a curious public, this companion edition allows readers to compare for themselves the proposed reconstruction with the standard NT texts. Its clear presentation and translation, unencumbered by lexical notes and commentary, was made with care to represent the character and nuances of the Greek texts."e; -- Tony Burke, York University