Answer

1. Article Review: The ‘Gospel According to the Hebrews’ in the Apostolic Fathers”

   Pier Franco Beatrice’s article, The ‘Gospel According to the Hebrews’ in the Apostolic Fathers” is an article that addresses two unknown Gospel passages in the letter of Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans and a fragment of the treatise of Papias of Hierapolis an explanation of the Lord’s proverbs (Beatrice, 2006). The author attempts to reveal that these passages are the two oldest recognized by critically assessing accessible Patristic evidence and the Judea-Christian Gospel customs as well as the passages from the Gospel regarding the Hebrews. The author depicts possible consequences for an enhanced perception of the development of the Gospel culture from its beginnings to the second century’s end.

   According to the article, the Epistle to the Smynaeans, Ignatius of Antioch argues against unknown rivals who alleged that Christ barely experienced suffering in appearance. To deny this Christological concept with a blameless introduction, Ignatius emphasizes that Christ really experienced suffering and defeated death. According to Beatrice (2006), His response is fundamentally founded on a precept of the risen Christ guided to Peter and the other apostles that “stretch out, feel me, and discern I am not an evil spirit.” The source of this quotation has long been argued. Paget (2019) indicates that the Gospel of the Hebrews is preserved in fragments summarized or quoted by several Church Fathers.

   The article has several strengths, for instance, the author utilizes simple English and examples that a reader can understand and relate with the topic. Moreover, the article emphasizes the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 11:2, in Christ’s baptism, but also adopts Jewish Wisdom of the Gospel. The article appropriately translates the original gospel according to a list of canonical and apocryphal works drawn during the 2^nd century. The author incorporates a narrative life of Christ, which comprises baptism, temptations, transfiguration, Last Supper, crucifixion, and resurrection.  The author presents possible results to be attained for enhanced comprehension of the development of the Gospel story from its beginnings. The article can be considered as a leading article of the study of the New Testament and associated subjects. Paget (2019) indicates that it incorporates textual and literary critique, analytical understanding, faith, and the traditional and literary history of the New Testament and ancient Christians.

   The article also has several weaknesses. For instance, it does not explain why there was resistance in accepting the Gospel of the Hebrews. Moreover, there are several explanations that the author fails to further explain early Hebrew textual Gospel remains. For example, the article does not critically explain the bias against the Gospel written in Hebrew, during the lifetime of Christ and after His death, denying the significance of the Hebrew language in the first decade of Christianity and more extensive early Jewish literacy. Furthermore, it seems that in scholarly consensus on something, contrary evidence presented in the article seems to be automatically reduced or ignored.

   Conclusion

   Pier Franco Beatrice’s article, The ‘Gospel According to the Hebrews’ in the Apostolic Fathers” is an article that addresses two unknown Gospel passages in the letter of Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans and a remnant of the treatise of Papias of Hierapolis an Exegesis of the Lord’s precepts. The article has several strengths, for instance, the author utilizes simple English and examples that a reader can understand and relate with the topic. However, it does not explain why there was resistance in accepting the Gospel of the Hebrews.