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Acts of Paul and Thecla

Thecla baptizes herself in the arena, and Paul sends her to teach.1 2 3

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M. R. James, Acts of Paul (1924) ↗

Alexander Walker, Acts of Paul and Thecla (1886) ↗

At a glance

Written
Second century AD; M. R. James suggests about 160, the Catholic Encyclopedia about 180.4 5
Part of
The Acts of Paul; the Thecla episode also circulated separately.6
Author
Tertullian says a presbyter in Asia composed the writing under Paul's name.7

Summary

A lioness defends Thecla, and rain and hail save her from execution by fire. These rescues follow her decision to refuse marriage after listening from a window as Paul preaches chastity in Iconium. At Antioch, she baptizes herself in the arena. After her release, she finds Paul at Myra. He sends her to teach; she later goes to Seleucia and enlightens many.6 sources6 sources8. Paul9. Paul10. Paul1. Paul2. Paul3. Paul

Contents

  1. A listener at the window

    Thecla episode, chapters 3–9

    In Iconium, Thecla listens to Paul's preaching from a window for three days and refuses marriage to Thamyris.8

  2. The fire goes out

    Thecla episode, chapters 20–22

    Iconium's governor has Paul whipped and expelled and condemns Thecla to burn. Rain and hail extinguish the fire.9 10

  3. A lioness and a baptism

    Thecla episode, chapters 26–35

    After rebuffing Alexander at Antioch, Thecla is condemned to the beasts. A lioness defends her; in the arena she leaps into water and baptizes herself in Jesus' name.9 10 1

  4. Thecla becomes a teacher

    Thecla episode, chapters 41–43

    Released, she finds Paul at Myra and tells him she will return to Iconium. He sends her to teach. She later reaches Seleucia, where she enlightens many before her death.2 3

Stories

  • The lioness defends Thecla

    Thecla episode, chapter 33

    The animal meant to threaten her becomes her defender in the arena.9 10

  • Thecla baptizes herself

    Thecla episode, chapter 34

    Earlier Paul had asked her to wait for baptism. Facing death in the arena, she enters a tank of water and declares her own baptism.1

Connections to the Bible

Shared figures

Contrasts

  • 1 Timothy 2:12 · Thecla episode, chapter 41

    This verse restricts women's teaching and authority over men; the Thecla narrative has Paul send her to teach. Tertullian's objection also invokes 1 Corinthians 14:34–35.15 7

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29–31 · Paul's preaching on chastitymedium confidence

    Evangelical scholar W. Edward Glenny argues that the story's demand for sexual abstinence is closer to Paul's opponents than to Paul's own teaching in this passage.16 17

Why honor Thecla without treating the Acts as Scripture?

Tertullian, an early Latin Christian writer, reports that the author confessed to composing the work from love for Paul and lost his office. Eusebius places the Acts of Paul among rejected writings, a category distinct from his heretical works. The pilgrim Egeria nevertheless visited Thecla's memorial. Athanasius's distinction between canonical authority and other reading helps explain how a saint's story could matter without becoming Scripture.6 sources6 sources7. Tertullian19. Eusebius20. 1912)21. McClure22. McClure23. Payne-Smith) 1892

Why her story mattered

Orthodox

The Orthodox Church in America honors Thekla as Equal of the Apostles because she converted many to Christ, and invokes her when women enter monastic life.24

Catholic

Johann Peter Kirsch's Catholic Encyclopedia article regards the narrative as legendary but allows that a real Thecla could have been converted by Paul; it records strong veneration at Seleucia.5 25

Objections to the book's authority

Early church: Latin

Tertullian rejects the writing's claimed Pauline authority and its use to justify women teaching or baptizing. His account of its author is an allegation reported by Tertullian.7

Early church: Latin

Jerome calls it apocryphal and argues that Luke, Paul's companion, could not have been ignorant of these events. He also repeats Tertullian's account of the author.26

Further reading

Sources

27 sources from 19 works

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