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Contents
Contents
Table of Contents Acknowledgements Preface Dedication This Book’s Genesis Introduction Limitations of This Book The Book’s Objective Jesus and Judaism Notes about Style Conclusion Section I - Disparate Views About Jesus CHAPTER 1 - The Development of Jesus Scholarship Earlier Modern “Historical Jesus” Studies An Example: Adolf von Harnack’s Civilized Jesus The Apocalyptic Jesus of Weiss and Schweitzer Bultmann The Existential Jesus De-Judaizing Jesus? Jesus the Revolutionary? Was Jesus a Revolutionary? Popular Views about Jesus Jesus on Nonresistance Conclusion CHAPTER 2 - Jesus the Cynic Sage? Marketable Relevance The End for the End-Times? Ignoring Jewish Environment Crossan’s “Peasant Cynic” Peasants in the Ancient Mediterranean World Was Jesus a Peasant? Was Jesus a Cynic? What Kind of Sage? Either Sage or? A Cynic Kingdom? Jesus’ Gentile Movement Became Jewish? Pagan Origins Again Conclusion CHAPTER 3 - Jesus and Judaism Some Third Quest Views Jesus as Charismatic Healer, Prophet and Sage Jesus as Jewish Charismatic Healer Jesus as Charismatic Sage Honi and Hanina Elijah’s Model Jesus in Context Forced Choices? Repentance and Conflict Jesus and Eschatology Conclusion CHAPTER 4 - Other Gospels? Constantine’s Canon? The Genre of the Apocryphal Gospels Examples from the Apocryphal Gospels Gnostic Gospels A Sign of Lateness The Gospel of Thomas Mixing Types of Gospels Still Later Gospels A Twentieth-Century Forgery “Q” as a Lost Gospel? Are Wise Sayings Incompatible with Everything Else? A Non-eschatological Wisdom Source? Arguments from Silence Forced-Choice Logic More Dependable “Noncanonical” Sources Why We Must Look Elsewhere Conclusion Section Ii - The Character Of The Gospels CHAPTER 5 - The Gospels as Biographies Premeditated Literary Works Suggestions about Gospel Genre Unique Genre? Folk Literature? Memoirs? Drama or Mythography? Novels? Biographies Greco-Roman Biography and History Different from Modern Biography Conclusion CHAPTER 6 - Luke-Acts as History Luke-Acts as History Luke’s Preface Luke’s Claim of “thorough knowledge” (Lk 1:3) Did Luke Travel? More on “thorough familiarity” Confirmation (Lk 1:4) Apologetic Historiography Conclusion CHAPTER 7 - Ancient Historiography as History Concerns for Historical Information Historians’ Concern for Accuracy? Historians and Critical Thinking Polybius’ High Ideal Standard Earlier Versus Later Sources Limited Analogies with Josephus Conclusion CHAPTER 8 - Ancient Historiography as Rhetoric Modern Versus Ancient Historiography Ancient Expectations Historians and Rhetoric Gospels Distorted by Rhetoric? Historical Perspectives, Tendenz, and Purpose History and Agendas Historians’ “Theology” Is Theological Tendenz Compatible with “True” History? Ancient History as Non-history? Conclusion CHAPTER 9 - The Gospels’ Written Sources Using Sources Ancient Historical Writers’ Use of Sources Luke’s Relation to Earlier Sources Gospel Sources Expanding and Condensing Sources Redaction Criticism Conclusion CHAPTER 10 - The Gospels’ Oral Sources Orality Oral Traditions Besides Written Sources Sayings Traditions Memorization in Antiquity Memory Studies More Generally Skilled Memory in Antiquity Disciples and Teachers Note-Taking Jewish Academic Memory Limited Adaptation Early Christian Creativity? Traditional Form Criticism The Criteria of Multiple Attestation and Coherence The Criteria of “Dissimilarity” (Uniqueness) and Embarrassment Palestinian Environment Aramaisms Narratives about Jesus Conclusion Jesus’ Story in the Gospels CHAPTER 11 - John the Baptist John in Josephus John’s Mission in the Wilderness Announcing the Coming One? John’s Doubts, Jesus’ Praise (Matt 11:2-11//Lk 7:19-28) Jesus’ Repudiation of John? John’s Execution Jesus’ Baptism by John John as the Source of Baptism for the Jesus Movement Conclusion CHAPTER 12 - Jesus the Galilean Jew Jesus from Jewish Galilee Galileans and the Law Galileans and Jesus vs. Pharisees? Galileans and the Zealot Jesus? Life in Galilee Jesus Was from Nazareth Jesus Ministered among Fishing Villages Jesus Called Fishermen Conclusion CHAPTER 13 - Jesus the Teacher Jesus as a Sage Jesus and Sages’ Style The Teller of Jewish Parables Story Parables as a Jewish Form Limited Adaptation, not Wholesale Creation Parable Settings in the Gospels Parable Interpretations in the Gospels “Allegorical” Interpretations Galilean Imagery in Jesus’ Parables Conclusion CHAPTER 14 - Kingdom Discipleship Preaching the Kingdom Background for Jesus’ Kingdom Preaching Present or Future? Balancing Present and Future Aspects Jesus’ Community for the Kingdom Son of Man Radical Demands of Discipleship Jesus Summons Disciples Relinquishing Family Ties Let the Dead Bury Their Dead Relinquishing Belongings A Needle’s Eye Taking Up the Cross Eschatological Inversion Welcoming Tax-collectors Supping with Sinners Conclusion CHAPTER 15 - Jesus’ Jewish Ethics Jesus on Possessions The Love Command (Mk 12:29-31) Divorce Korban Teaching Beatitudes Some Other Sayings Supported by the Jewish Environment Criterion Purity Practices CHAPTER 16 - Conflicts with Other Teachers Doubting Conflict with Pharisees Authenticity of the Conflict Accounts Coherence of the Conflict Tradition Differing Interpretations of the Sabbath Conflicts about the Sabbath Why Conflicts with Pharisees? Impure Purists A Hyperbolic Pharisee Unwashed Hearts Corpse-impurity Relationship to Jesus’ Kingdom Message Killing the Prophets Jesus the Wounded Prophet Conclusion CHAPTER 17 - Jesus the Prophet Sign-prophets Jesus as Healer and Exorcist Limited Parallels with “Charismatic Sages” Elijah-like Signs The Model of Moses Prophetic Acts Challenging the Temple Section 219 Jesus’ Community on the Rock? Judging the Twelve Tribes (Matt 19:28//Lk 22:30) Judgment on Israel Prophetic Sayings, Especially Regarding the Temple End-time Sayings Conclusion CHAPTER 18 - Jesus as Messiah? Jesus’ Self-Identity Early Belief in Jesus as Messiah “King of the Jews” and the Disciples’ Perspective Qualifying “Messiahship”: The Triumphal Entry Why a Messianic Secret? Views of Messiahship in Antiquity Conclusion: Jesus as a King CHAPTER 19 - More Than an Earthly Messiah? The Eschatological Judge in “Q” David’s Lord in Mk 12:35-37 Jesus’ Special Relation to God God as Father 28 “Abba, Father” The Son’s Knowledge Limited The Son’s Special Relation to the Father “Son of God” in Judaism Who Did Jesus’ Movement Think He Was? Who Did Mark Think Jesus Was? Who Did Matthew Think Jesus Was? Who Did Luke Think Jesus Was? Who Did Paul Think Jesus Was? Exalted Figures in Early Jewish Thought Conclusion CHAPTER 20 - Confronting and Provoking the Elite The Parable’s Authenticity The Hallel and Authenticity (Mk 12:10-11) Threatening Judgment on the Elite Challenging Israel’s Guardians Did Jesus Foreknow His Death? Provoking Martyrdom Describing Jesus’ Action Why Jesus Challenged the Temple Jesus and Politics The Last Supper Suggested Comparisons for the Last Supper A Passover Seder Jesus’ Words (Mk 14:22-25; 1 Cor 11:23-25) The Sacrificial Purpose for Jesus’ Death Martyrdom and Atonement in Early Judaism Conclusion CHAPTER 21 - Jesus’ Arrest and Execution Historical Tradition in the Passion Narratives Genre of Passion Narratives The Historical Foundation for the Passion Narratives The Abandonment of Jesus’ Disciples The Betrayers The Heinousness of Betrayal Peter’s Denials The High Priests and Jerusalem’s Elite Annas and Caiaphas in the Passion Narrative Historical Tradition in the Trial Narrative? Violation of Legal Procedures? Speculation or Source? Involvement from the Jewish Elite? The Plausibility of Pilate’s Role Pilate’s Reticence How Did Pilate View Jesus? Jesus’ Scourging Simon of Cyrene The Certainty of Jesus’ Execution Jesus’ Cry of Abandonment Women Followers at the Cross Jesus’ Burial Historical Support for Jesus’ Burial Burial Preparations (Mk 15:42-47) The Site of the Tomb Conclusion CHAPTER 22 - The Resurrection The Traditions Pagan Origins for the Christian Resurrection Doctrine? Mystery Cults as Background? Dying-and-Rising Deities? Jewish Teaching about Resurrection Historical Support for the Resurrection Tradition? The Missing Body Resurrection Appearances Early Christian Faith Jesus’ Mission and the Resurrection Conclusion Conclusion APPENDIX 1 - Zealots and Revolutionaries APPENDIX 2 - Mack’s Case for aWisdom Q APPENDIX 3 - Jewish Biographical Conventions Some Palestinian Jewish Literature Degrees of Adaptation in Palestinian Works Differences from the Gospels APPENDIX 4 - Jesus’ Sayings about the End Other Lists of Eschatological Sufferings Birth Pangs (Mk 13:7-8) A Comparison with an Early Christian Source The Common Source Conclusion APPENDIX 5 - John and the Synoptics on Passover Chronology APPENDIX 6 - Roman Participation in Jesus’ Arrest? APPENDIX 7 - Capital Authority APPENDIX 8 - What Really Happened at the Tomb? Must One Rule Out the Possibility of Divine Activity? A Legitimate Question? My Own Journey Concluding “Unscientific Postscript” to Appendix 8 APPENDIX 9 - Some Postresurrection Teachings A Gentile Mission Jesus’ Galilean Teachings Movement Beyond These Sayings Postresurrection Teaching about a Gentile Mission God’s Spirit Notes to the Preface Notes to the Introduction Notes to Section I Notes to Chapter 1 Notes to Chapter 2 Notes to Chapter 3 Notes to Chapter 4 Notes to Section II Notes to Chapter 5 Notes to Chapter 6 62 Polyb. 3.33.17-18 (citing here a bronze tablet of Hannibal). Notes to Chapter 7 Notes to Chapter 8 Notes to Chapter 9 Notes to Chapter 10 Notes to Section III Notes to Chapter 11 25 See Webb, Baptizer, 87-88, helpfully. Notes to Chapter 12 Notes to Chapter 13 Notes to Chapter 14 Notes to Chapter 15 Notes to Chapter 16 Notes to Chapter 17 78 Eve, Miracles, 274. Notes to Chapter 18 Notes to Chapter 19 Notes to Chapter 20 Notes to Chapter 21 164 Ant. 20.181. Notes to Chapter 22 Notes to Appendix 1 Notes to Appendix 2 Notes to Appendix 3 Notes to Appendix 4 Notes to Appendix 5 Notes to Appendix 6 Notes to Appendix 7 Notes to Appendix 8 Notes to Appendix 9 Bibliography of Sources Cited Evans, “Messianism.” • Evans, Craig A. “Messianism.” 698-707 in DNTB. Keener, “Marriage.” • Keener, Craig S. “Marriage.” 680-93 in DNTB. Porton, “Sadducees.” • Porton, Gary G. “Sadducees.” 1050-52 in DNTB. Section 377 Aalders, G. C. Bagatti, B. Cadbury, H. J. Dahood, M. Fabry, H.-J. Gafni, I. M. Haacker, K. Kaesser, C. Lach, J. McArthur, H. Packer, J. W. Rabello, A. M. Safrai, S. Tabor, J. D. Wacholder, B. Z. Palestinian environment. See Jewish environment; Galilean context Rabbi, Jesus as Sabbath HEBREW BIBLE APOCRYPHA New Testament Jewish Sources Rabbinic Literature Amoraic And Later Rabbinic Sources Early Christian And Gnostic Sources Other Greco-Roman Sources Isocrates Inscriptions And Papyri Bookmarks
Impure Purists
Impure Purists
Pharisees were known for their concern for purity in matters such as tithing and eating. It is presumably here that, as in the Gospel traditions, Pharisees found Jesus’ different behavior most objectionable. One may note, for example, the complaints against disciples eating with unwashed hands (Mk 7:1-2). It is also here that Jesus particularly lambasts them, emphasizing inward purity more than outward purity (comprising most of the heart of the “Q” material in Matt 23:23, 25-27//Lk 11:39-44).121 ← Previous Why Conflicts with Pharisees? Next → A Hyperbolic Pharisee ↑ Back to top
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