Catalin Necsa: Extra-biblical literature in the Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis

This paper will analyse the extra-biblical literary sources used by Epiphanius of Salamis in his Panarion. First, the analysis will focus on three main categories of such literature: apocrypha, pseudoepigrapha and gnostic literature (a special attention will be given to Manichaean and Marcionite texts), using a quantitative method.
In the second part, I will focus on the quality and accuracy of these texts as we found quoted in the Panarion, using a comparative method of the original text and the quoted text.
The last part will be concentrated on hermeneutical issues in the Panarion, and it will answer at the questions of how and why Epiphanius uses these texts in his compendium of heresies.