The Anti-Father and His Silent Sons: Disability, Healing, and Critique in the Acts of John
This article analyzes the second-century Acts of John 56-57, in which Antipatros seeks healing for his twin sons whom he claims he cannot support as he ages. I argue that this passage turns on a layered critique of Antipatros. First, the text censures medical commerce. Second, it uses his threat of...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
2024
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| In: |
Harvard theological review
Year: 2024, Volume: 117, Issue: 1, Pages: 113-137 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Acts of John 56-57
/ Handicap
/ Healing
/ Commerce
/ Father
/ Child murder
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| IxTheo Classification: | KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NCB Personal ethics NCC Social ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
narrative prosthesis
B Antipatros B Impairment B Acts of John 56–57 B speaking names B Infanticide B falling sickness B Wealth |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | This article analyzes the second-century Acts of John 56-57, in which Antipatros seeks healing for his twin sons whom he claims he cannot support as he ages. I argue that this passage turns on a layered critique of Antipatros. First, the text censures medical commerce. Second, it uses his threat of murder, economic circumstances, and name to undermine Antipatros as both father and inquiring disciple. The episode thus leverages criticism of a character whose negative attitudes lead him to contemplate destruction of those with infirmities. However, it retains a mixed message: while the character of the apostle John comes to focus on the sons, the narrative silences them. Ultimately, the text emphasizes what the critique means for the flawed male, elite father, rather than the experience of the impaired sons. Such dynamics warrant close attention as we continue to expand our understanding of attitudes to disability in sources from antiquity. |
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| ISSN: | 1475-4517 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Harvard theological review
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0017816023000391 |