Theological
Research Archive
THEOLOGY · SCRIPTURE · HISTORY

A place for
serious inquiry.

Explore theological scholarship, trace its sources and engage with the questions that shape Christian thought.

123research records

Searchable scholarship.
Original sources.
Enduring questions.

Discover the archive ↗

Search results

7 records
Journal article

From Aēšma to Asmoday: The Transformation of Asmodeus from Iranian Demonology to Jewish Literature and Western Occult Tradition

Grace, Daniel J.

This article examines the historical transformation of Asmodeus across Iranian, Jewish, Christian, and early modern European religious literature. Beginning with the possible relationship between the Zoroastrian figure Aēšma and the demon Asmodeus in the Book of Tobit, it traces the development of the…

Early ChristianityView record
Preprint

The Gospel of Thomas and the Problem of Secret Christianity: Sayings, Knowledge, Salvation, and the Limits of the “Hidden Gospel” Narrative

Grace, Daniel J.

The Gospel of Thomas is frequently described in popular culture as a suppressed secret gospel that preserves an alternative Christianity based on hidden knowledge. This article argues that such descriptions flatten a far more complicated text and scholarly debate. Thomas is a collection…

Biblical Studies & InterpretationView record
Preprint

Casting Out Demons Before Constantine: Exorcism, Christian Identity, and the Contest for Religious Authority in the Early Church

Grace, Daniel J.

Exorcism was one of the practices through which early Christians publicly distinguished their religious claims from surrounding ritual cultures. This article surveys Christian exorcistic discourse before Constantine, concentrating on Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen. It argues that exorcism functioned simultaneously as pastoral…

Christian History & ArchaeologyView record