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June 29, 2025 5 mins

As acceptance of The Very First Bible of 144 A.D. begins to go mainstream, the world of academia is trying to keep pace with the underlying theological implications. Are they getting it right? In this clip from In-Depth With Academia we find a warm but somewhat guarded review of the first Christian canon.


Notes & Links:

https://www.academia.edu/

https://www.theveryfirstbible.org/


More episodes on PreNicene Radio:

https://www.pre-nicene.org/PreNicene-Radio.html

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:02):
The following is a clip from In Depth with Academia as they
explore the very first Bible of 144 AD and an accompanying paper
submitted by presbyter Darren Kalama.
Welcome, dear listeners, to another episode of In Depth with
Academia. I'm your host, Richard Price,
and as always, it's a genuine pleasure to have you joining me.
Today. We're diving into a fascinating

(00:23):
corner of religious academia, sobuckle up for an engaging
exploration. Today we're talking about a
paper by Darren Kellima. Now if that name sounds
familiar, it might be because Darren has been doing some
fascinating work as the Outreachdirector for the Pre Nicene
Christian Ecclesia, which is allabout going back to the roots of

(00:43):
Christian faith. But before I ramble on, let's
hone in on the core question this paper tackles.
This paper asks what if the foundations of Christian
doctrine aren't what you think they are?
What if there's a much earlier version of the Christian Bible
that paints a different picture of the faith, before the layers
of history and editorial choiceswere added in?

(01:06):
This is precisely what Darren Kalama's paper delves into,
focusing on the very first Biblepurportedly transcribed in 144
AD. This theme is so significant
because it challenges centuries of religious understanding and
invites us to rethink how faith has been historically shaped.

(01:27):
Through Darren's exploration, weencounter the very first Bible
with its crisp simplicity. One gospel and 10 epistles
claimed to be the revelation received by Apostle Paul on the
road to Damascus. Now, can you even imagine how
different that is from what we know as the Bible today?
A compilation of four gospels and 73 books, this proposition

(01:48):
alone makes a bold statement about what early Christians
might have believed and how they've practiced their faith.
Now let's talk about methods fora moment.
As Darren delves into the pre Nicene era, we see an emphasis
on historical texts, ecclesiastical history, and
theological reflection. This kind of work often involves
evaluating historical narrativesand considering potentially lost

(02:10):
or destroyed documents, almost like being a religious detective
trying to piece together what might have been.
So if you're into solving historical mysteries, this angle
might be fascinating. But you may wonder, what's the
big deal about revisiting these old texts?
Isn't theology supposed to evolve?
The paper suggests that there's a current fascination with
reconnecting to original doctrine, A thirst for the

(02:32):
unaltered narrative of Christianity.
This is especially resonant for those who feel mainstream
denominations have become distant from the faiths core
tenets. It's like, you know, finding a
hidden treasure or suddenly discovering your family tree has
branches you never knew about. Now what truly caught my
attention was some of the tangible insights offered.

(02:54):
Darren's work highlights how scholars and faithful alike are
engaging with this very first scripture.
Individuals, even outside the Christian fold find themselves
drawn to the ideas presented by this pre Nicene text.
Perhaps it's the curiosity or the longing for authentic
spiritual connections unclouded by subsequent doctrinal
overlays. This also stirs up a dialogue

(03:15):
about inclusion in religious history, with certain narratives
or books deliberately sidelined.And if so, how am I
understanding these decisions shape our contemporary faith
practices? It's a bit like wondering how a
classic novel could look if certain chapters were missing.
Or maybe wondering if famous folk stories have different

(03:36):
endings in other languages. Yeah, you know I'm rambling
again. Let's pull it back a notch.
And amidst all this scholarly adventure, let's remind
ourselves that academic researchis an invitation, not an edict.
The freedom here is for readers and listeners to engage,
question, and reflect on these myriad possibilities.

(03:56):
This paper doesn't provide absolute religious certainty,
but offers a sounding board for engaging theological
introspection. It's more about opening
conversations than closing them.So what do we as listeners take
away from this? For one, we have a clearer view
of how early Christian doctrinesare perceived through the lens
of academic research, and perhaps consider how religious

(04:20):
identities have shifted over time.
It introduces A crucial, perhapsradical perspective into
theological discourse, one that comes with both risks and
rewards in the broader landscapeof faith.
And as we wrap up today's enlightening adventure, I'm left
pondering the significance of finding purpose and meaning
within ancient texts and, well, thinking.

(04:43):
Maybe it's like people rediscovering vinyl records in
the age of Spotify. There's something about touching
the roots of a treasured object or belief that reignites our
passions. Thank you for joining me today
on In Depth with Academia. Remember that the joy of
academic exploration is not justin the search for answers, but

(05:03):
in discovering new questions too.
Until next time, when we delve into yet another revolutionary
idea, I'm Richard Rice. Wishing you all engaging
readings and thoughtful pondering.
Stay curious everyone.
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