Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2007 Shaping Christian Identity: The False Scripture Argument in Early Christian Literature Kevin M. (Kevin Michael) Vaccarella Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact
[email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SHAPING CHRISTIAN IDENTITY: THE FALSE SCRIPTURE ARGUMENT IN EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE By Kevin M. Vaccarella A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded Summer semester, 2007 Copyright © 2007 Kevin M. Vaccarella All Rights Reserved The members of the committee approve the dissertation by Kevin M. Vaccarella defended on June 7, 2007. ___________________________ Nicole Kelley Professor Directing Dissertation ___________________________ John Marincola Outside Committee Member ___________________________ David Levenson Committee Member Approved: ______________________________________ John Corrigan, Chair, Department of Religion ________________________________________________ Joseph Travis, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and confirmed the above named committee members. ii For Jenness iii ACKNOWLEGMENTS My dissertation began with an exploration of texts and a setting with which I was not very familiar. My eventual proficiency with the subject matter was due to a combination of my growing interest in the material and the patient guidance of my dissertation director, Nicole Kelley. It was she who first suggested I investigate the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies. Dr. Kelley’s enthusiastic direction through the Pseudo-Clementines has always been coupled with the freedom to explore comparisons with other writings – a freedom that eventually led me to the Didascalia Apostolorum and Ptolemy's Letter to Flora.