To be fair to you, John2, you're not the only one who gets this feeling here. Similar impressions are frequently noted in the literature. There's something to be said for the gravitational weight that the story in Hegesippus holds for some people. Hegesippus and/or Josephus is generally someone's first encounter with the story of the death of James. Hegesippus is quoted prominently by Eusebius, the church historian, together with Clement of Alexandria and Josephus. Hegesippus is thus part of the tradition of the church fathers. For some, Hegesippus is history; for others, at least the church's story. Unlike Ascents of James or the Second Apocalypse of James, he is much closer to what is considered orthodoxy. It might possibly be true that Hegesippus was being read as a source for many of the other accounts, but it also wouldn't be hard for someone to form a false impression here if it isn't true.
Statistics: Posted by Peter Kirby — Wed Mar 27, 2024 2:04 pm