1979 - Graham Stanton - Review of ‘Jesus and the Word’ by Rudolf Bultmann
Sources of Gospels - WordPress.com · 11/08/2012 · Old Attacks on Jesus Rudolf Bultmann • In...
Transcript of Sources of Gospels - WordPress.com · 11/08/2012 · Old Attacks on Jesus Rudolf Bultmann • In...
Sources of the Gospels
Q and the So-Called
“Search For the Historical Jesus”
Randy Broberg 2004
Class Theme Verse: 1 Thess. 2:13
• “For this reason we also constantly thank God that
• when you received the word of God
• which you heard from us,
• you accepted it
• not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God,
• which also performs its work in you who believe.”
ATTACKS ON THE
GOSPELS
Old Attacks on Jesus
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
The historical investigation of the life of
Jesus did not take its rise from a purely
historical interest; it turned to the Jesus of
history as an ally in the struggle against
the tyranny of dogma. …This dogma had
first to be shattered before men could
once more go out in quest of the
historical Jesus, …. That the historic
Jesus is something different from the
Jesus Christ of the doctrine of the Two
Natures seems to us now self-evident..
Old Attacks on Jesus
Rudolf Bultmann
• In the 1950s and 60s,
Rudolf Bultmann, argued
that most the Gospel
accounts of Jesus' life
grew out of the myths of
the early church.
•“All that remains of Jesus is an eschatological call to decision; the picture of His person and work has disappeared.”
New
Attacks
on
Jesus
Christ
Network TV Attacks
• In 2000, ABC’s Peter Jennings Reporting:
The Search for Jesus, had 16 million
viewers!
Time Magazine Attacks
THE GOSPELS:
ORAL SOURCES
Luke’s Oral and Written Sources Luke 1:1-4:
“In as much as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write (it) out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”
1. Written sources (1:1)
2. Oral sources (from
eyewitnesses) (1:2)
3. Luke confirmed this with his
own investigations (1:3)
4. Luke couldn’t “embellish,”
since the material was
already widely known in
the early church (1:4)
Apostolic Oral Tradition
As Source of Gospels
• 1 Thess 4:15-18
– For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Apostolic Oral Tradition
As Source of Gospels
• 1 Thess 5:1-2
– Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Apostolic Oral Tradition
As Source of Gospels
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
– For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Apostolic Oral Tradition
As Source of Gospels
• 1 Corinthians 11:3-25
– For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.“ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Apostolic Oral Tradition
As Source of Gospels
• 1 John 1:1-3
• That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
THE GOSPELS:
WRITTEN SOURCES
Evidence of Written Sources
of the Gospels
• The general scheme of the three
Synoptic Gospels is the same.
• Not only do Jesus’ words match,
but also the narrative events.
• There are passages that Matthew
and Luke have that Mark does not.
• Each Gospel has its own material.
Early Church Views of Order of
Gospels and Their Sources
• Early Church Tradition
– Matthew wrote first.
– Mark wrote his Gospel independently, using Peter as his source.
– Luke used Matthew to write his Gospel and was companion of Paul.
• Eusebius quotes a man named Papias who wrote early in the second century.
• Papias states that Matthew wrote down the “logia” (sayings, oracles) of Jesus in the “Hebrew dialect.”
Eusebius (c. 260 - c. 340) (Citing Clement
c 120): on the Order of the Gospels
"The Gospels containing the genealogies, [Clement] says, were
written first. The Gospel according to MARK had this occasion. As
Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the
Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark,
who had followed him for a long time and remembered his
sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel
he gave it to those who had requested it. When Peter learned of
this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it. But, last of all,
JOHN, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in
the Gospel, being urged by his friends, and inspired by the Spirit,
composed a spiritual Gospel." This is the account of Clement.
Irenaeus (120-203 AD) on the
Authorship of the Gospels
"Matthew published his Gospel among the Hebrews in
their own language, while Peter and Paul were
preaching and founding the church in Rome. After
their departure Mark, the disciple and interpreter of
Peter, also transmitted to us in writing those things
which Peter had preached; and Luke, the attendant
of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel which Paul
had declared. Afterwards John, the disciple of the
Lord, who also reclined on his bosom, published
his Gospel, while staying at Ephesus in Asia."
Matthew First Theory
Matthew
50s
Luke
60s Mark
60s John
70-95
Paul Peter
Eyewitnesses of Jesus
27-30 AD
Mark First Theory
• The percentage of Mark found in the other Gospels.
• Assumption that we should not expect Mark to cut so
much of the sayings material
• order of events used.
– Sometimes, Matthew and Mark have a different order
than Luke.
– Sometimes Luke and Mark differ from Matthew.
– But Matthew and Luke never differ from Mark.
• Matthew exhibits consistent patterns in the ways he
abbreviates Mark
• Matthew mixes use of Greek & Hebrew versions in his OT
quotations--except where he agrees with Mark (suggesting
he follows Mark)
Mark First Theory
Mark
Matthew Luke
John
Exclusive Common
Mark 7% 93%
Matthew 42% 58%
Luke 59% 41%
John 92% 8%
Gospels’ Overlap
Mark 8:12 Matt 16:4 Matt 12:39-40
Luke 11:29
Why does this
generation seek
a sign? Truly, I
say to you, no
sign shall be
given to this
generation.
An evil and
adulterous
generation seeks
for a sign, but no
sign shall be
given it except
the sign of
Jonah.
An evil and
adulterous
generation seeks
for a sign, but no
sign shall be
given to it except
the sign of the
prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah
was three nights
in the belly of the
whale, so will the
Son of man be
three days and
three nights in
the heart of the
earth.
This generation
is an evil
generation; it
seeks a sign but
no sign shall be
given to it except
the sign of
Jonah.
The Second Source Theory
1. Some stuff in Matthew and Luke is similar, but not
identical, so probably Matthew did not copy Luke or
Luke copy Matthew
2. Often the common material in Matthew and Luke
diverges from Mark
3. There are extra passages that Matthew and Luke both
have but Mark does not.
4. Matthew/Luke common material often in the same
sequence
The Second Source Theory
Mark
Matthew
?
Luke
“Q” Hypothesis
• Matthew and Luke used (1) Mark and (2) an unknown source called “Q.”
• From the German Quelle meaning “source.”
• Collection of 250 verses, mostly sayings with very little narrative found in Matthew and Luke but not Mark.
• ca. 30-70 AD
• Q has no passion account.
• Portrays Jesus as itinerant prophet and wisdom teacher, but not Son of God/Redeemer
• Actual text of Q is unknown – no one has ever found it.
Arguments for Existence of Q
• Exactness in Wording in Matthew and Luke
• Doublets in Matthew and Luke – (Same wording,
different context)
Looking For Q!
Gnostic Gospel of Thomas • From the Publisher "In 1945, twelve ancient books
were found inside a sealed jar at the base of an Egyptian cliff. One of those texts was the Gospel of Thomas, one of the most important religious archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. While illuminating the origins of Christianity, it raises the question whether the New Testament's version of Jesus' teachings is entirely accurate and complete." "Written at the same time as the canonical Gospels, the Gospel of Thomas portrays Jesus as a wisdom-loving sage. The aphoristic sayings emphasize the value of the present, teaching that the Kingdom of God is here and now, rather than a future promise or future threat. It presents a new way of looking at the challenging and intriguing figure of Jesus, and reminds us that the Divine can be found right here on earth." This Skylight Illuminations edition …. and gives you deeper understanding of Thomas' innovative message; that self-knowledge and contemplation of the nature of this world are the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Looking for Q:
Gnostic Gospel of Thomas
• John Dominic Crosson’s Theory
– Thomas belongs to what he calls the “First Stratum” which dates from 30-60 AD with Q
– No canonical gospels appear in the first stratum but some epistles do.
• John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew,
– “With all due hesitation, I am inclined to the view that the Gospel of Thomas is dependent on the Synoptics tradition.”
Arguments Against Existence of “Q”
• It has never been found
• It was never mentioned by the Church Fathers
• Similarities between Luke and Mathew can be explained alternatively
– Speeches, catchphrases, slogans, etcetera, were probably repeated on more than one occasion and in multiple locations
• Not Enough Time For Q
– Mark – Before 70 AD Dead Sea Scrolls (?)
– Matthew – c. 50 AD (Magdalen Fragments)
– Luke – Before 68 AD (Luke stops writing when Paul was still alive)
Establishing the Gospels’ Dates
4 B.C.
Jesus born
B.C.
50
A.D.
150 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 120 140
30 A.D.
Jesus
crucified
Dead
Sea
Scrolls
Oral Tradition Period
30-50 AD
Last John Date
100 AD
Last Luke
Date
Last
Mark
Date
Matthew
WHERE DOES Q FIT?
THE GOSPELS:
EMBELLISHMENT THEORIES
Jesus: A
Revolutionary
Biography
John Dominic Crossan
“…if you read them horizontally and
comparatively, focusing on this or that
unit and comparing it across two, three,
or four versions, it is disagreement
rather than agreement that strikes you
most forcibly. And those divergences
stem not from the random vagaries of
memory and recall but from the
coherent and consistent theologies of
the individual texts.”
The “Q” Embellishment Theory
Mark
Matthew
Q
Luke
70 AD Jewish
Messianic
Expectations
Oral Traditions of Jesus Sayings
Hellenistic
God Man
Expectations &
Miracle Stories
Paul’s
Sacrifice/
Redemption
Theology
Q and Embellishment Theories
• The Gospels’ miracles and Passion accounts, not found in Q were all added later by the church for polemical purposes.
• Q Theorists argue that we need to strip the layers from Gospels to get to the “real Jesus” and “the real words of Jesus.”
• This lead to the so-called “search for the historical Jesus.”
“Historical Jesus”
Embellishment Theory
“Jesus”
• 30-70 AD
• Saw Jesus
as a wise
teacher
• No need for
a messiah
• No Cross, No
Resurrection,
No “Gospel”
“Christ”
• 70-100 AD
• Added narrative myths
upon Q sayings
• Proclamation of the
death and resurrection
of Jesus
Embellishment Theory
Presuppositions • Naturalism:
– Miracles aren’t possible so stories must be embellishments
– Desire to reject Divinity of Christ while preserving him as a prophet or philosopher.
• Post Modern Tolerance Bias: – Wisdom of Jesus applicable and accepted by all but Gospel
implies hell and damnation
• Political Correctness Bias:
– Desire to preserve “Jewishness” of Jesus
• Chronological Circular Logic – Assume Gospel Writers didn’t have first hand knowledge of events
• It’s just plain easier to believe in a “Jesus of history” than “Christ, the Son of God”
Jesus Seminar Presuppositions
Confessed
• John Dominic Crossan:
– I do not believe in a God who
could forgive gratuitously but
actually does so only after
Jesus has been beaten to a
bloody pulp in our place. If I
accepted--as I emphatically
do not--Gibson's vision of
this savage God, I hope I
would have the courage to
follow Mrs. Job's advice:
"Curse God, and die" (2:9).
Arguments Against
Embellishment Theory
• Speed Problem-- A little more or less than a
generation separates Mark from the event
• Eyewitness Problem--Ignores the memory of men
who were eyewitnesses
• Oral Tradition Alternative -- Makes insufficient
allowance for the existence of an authentic tradition
of Christ's words
Circular Logic Problem
What’s left is
non-miraculous
wise
philosopher Jesus
Conclude Miracles,
Passion, & Divinity
added later as Jesus
evolved Into Christ
Strip Out Christ’s
Miracles,
Passion, & Divinity
from Gospels
Our Team:
Historical Jesus
A quote from N. T. Wright • The guild of NT studies has become so used to operating with a
hermeneutic of suspicion that we find ourselves trapped in our own subtleties. If two ancient writers agree about something, that proveS one got it from the other. If they seem to disagree, that proves that one or both are wrong. If they say an event fulfilled biblical prophecy, they made it up to look like that. If an event or saying fits a writer's theological scheme, that writer invented it. If there are two accounts of similar events, they are a "doublet" (there was only one event); but if a single account has anything odd about it, there must have been two events, which are now conflated. And so on. Anything to show how clever we are, how subtle, to have smoked out the reality behind the text. But as any author who has watched his books being reviewed will know, such reconstructions again and again miss the point, often wildly. If we cannot get it right when we share a culture, a period, and a language, it is highly likely that many of our subtle reconstructions of ancients texts and histories are our own unhistorical fantasies, unrecognized only because the writers are long since dead and cannot answer back.
– In _The Meaning of Jesus_ (HarperSanFrancisco 2000), 18.