Exploring the Origin and Nature of the Gospels: Historical-Critical Methods of Gospel Research

1. Exploring the Origin and Nature of the Gospels: Historical-Critical Methods of Gospel Research

2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRADITION • Four Major Stages • Historical Events – studied through historical Jesus research • Oral Tradition – studied through form criticism • Written Sources – studied through source criticism • Gospels – studied through redaction criticism

3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRADITION Luke 1:1-4 “Many have undertaken to draw up an accountof the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus…” ─ Stage 3: Written Sources ─ Stage 1: The Events ─ Stage 2: Oral Tradition ─ Stage 4: Written Gospel

4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRADITION “Historical criticism seeks to trace the traditions about Jesus from the earliest preaching of the apostles to the completion of the written Gospels.”

5. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRADITION • Historical Jesus Research • Examines nature and historicity of Gospel traditions • Form Criticism • Analyzes oral “forms” behind units of thought

6. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRADITION • Source Criticism • Works to determine written sources behind the Gospels and their relationship to each other • Redaction Criticism • Seeks out authors’ intent and emphases based on analyzing their “redaction,” or editing, of the text

7. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • What Is the “Synoptic Problem”? • The Synoptic Gospels share striking similarities

8. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Matthew 19:13-14 “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Mark 10:13-14 “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Luke 18:15-16 “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”

9. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Matthew 19:13-14 “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Mark 10:13-14 “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Luke 18:15-16 “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”

10. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Matthew 19:13-14 “Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” Mark 10:13-14 “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Luke 18:15-16 “People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”

11. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • What Is the “Synoptic Problem”? • The Synoptic Gospels share striking similarities • But they are also unique • The “Synoptic Problem” is the question of their relationship • Are the Gospels dependent on one another? • If so, which came first and which are dependent?

12. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Evidence for Literary Dependence • Common material • Over 90% of Mark’s material appears in Matthew or Luke • Over 90% of John’s material is unique to that Gospel

13. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Evidence for Literary Dependence • Verbal agreement • Sayings of Jesus and narrative • Gospels written in Greek, but oral tradition was originally transmitted in Aramaic • Frequent agreement in order

14. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Evidence for Literary Dependence • Parenthetic comments and narrative asides • Parenthetic comments located in the same place within the narrative • Examples: • Matthew 9:6/Mark 2:10-11/Luke 5:24 • Matthew 24:15/Mark 13:14 • Mark 5:8/Luke 8:29 • Matthew 27:18/Mark 15:10

15. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Evidence for Literary Dependence • Identical alterations of Old Testament Quotes • Not only do all three Synoptics follow the LXX, they alter it identically! (LXX – “make straight paths for our God”) Matthew 3:3 “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” Mark 1:2-3 “It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘…a voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” Luke 3:4 “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’”

16. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • The Goals of Source Criticism • Identify the written sources for the Gospels (especially the Synoptic Gospels) • Determine their relationship to one another, including the order in which they were written and how they borrowed from each other

17. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Traditional Solutions to the Synoptic Problem • Augustine proposed Matthean priority • Mark wrote second and used Matthew • Luke wrote third and used Matthew and Mark Matthew • Augustine seems to have been influenced largely by canonical order Mark Luke

18. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Evidence for Markan Priority • Matthew and Luke differ considerably, but most of Mark is found in one or the other, with greater detail in Markan accounts • Mark does not include significant parts of Matthew and Luke (so probably not using them) • Birth stories • Temptation account • Sermon on the Mount

19. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Evidence for Markan Priority In the triple tradition (stories in all three Synoptics), readings in Matthew and Luke do not generally agree with each other when one or the other differs from Mark This suggests dependence on Mark for common material rather than each other

20. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Evidence for Markan Priority Mark’s order of events seems to be original, since wherever Matthew departs from Mark’s order, Luke supports it, and vice versa Mathew and Luke tend to smooth out Mark’s less-polished Greek style Matthew/Luke tend to alter material in Mark that may seem offensive or theologically questionable

21. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Evidence for Markan Priority Mark occasionally preserves Jesus’ Aramaic words; Matthew and Luke replace them with a Greek translation; Mark’s Aramaic words seem more probably original Most New Testament scholars have been convinced that Mark was written first and was used as a source for Matthew and Luke.

22. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • The Two-Source Theory: Mark + Q • Matthew and Luke used Mark and a source known as the Synoptic Sayings Source, or “Q,” which accounts for the “double tradition” (material in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark). Mark Q Matthew Luke

23. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • The Four-Source Theory: Mark + Q + M and L • B. H. Streeter suggested two additional sources to account for material unique to Matthew and Luke individually. L M Mark Q Matthew Luke

24. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • The Four-Source Theory: Mark + Q + M and L • The nature, and even existence, of these additional sources is debated, but most New Testament scholars currently believe Matthew and Luke each used Mark, a source accessible to both (Q), and additional unique material (designated M and L respectively). L M Mark Q Matthew Luke

25. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • What is Q? • Four views: • A figment of scholarly imagination • A variety of sources, written and oral • A single written source • Evidence for a heterodox community of Christianity

26. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Matthean Priority: The Griesbach or Two-Gospel Hypothesis • J. J. Greisbach supported a theory that Matthew was written first • This is also called the “two-gospel hypothesis” because Matthew and Luke are said to be sources for Mark Matthew Luke Mark

27. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Key Evidence for Matthean Priority: • Church tradition favors Matthean priority • Matthew-Luke agreements against Mark • Lack of physical evidence for Q

28. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Synoptic Problem: Observations and Cautions • Source theories are theories, not certain solutions • Most scholars find that Markan priority best explains the evidence • The nature of other sources, like Q, M, and L, remains uncertain

29. SOURCE CRITICISM AND THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM • Synoptic Problem: Observations and Cautions • Importance of eyewitness testimony, strong oral tradition, and overlapping sources make a complete solution unlikely • Church tradition is important, but not infallible

30. FORM CRITICISM: SEEING THE SPOKEN WORD BEHIND THE WRITTEN WORD • Assumption of Form Criticism • Oral traditions preserved the sayings and stories of Jesus between the time of Jesus and the writing of the Gospels

31. FORM CRITICISM • Goals of Form Criticism • Classify forms (mini-genre, or type of story) • Determine the church context (SitzimLeben) in which that form originated • Trace the history of its development and transmission in the church

32. FORM CRITICISM • Sample Form: Pronouncement Story • Mark 2:15-17

33. FORM CRITICISM • Sample Form: Miracle Story • Mark 1:23-28

34. FORM CRITICISM • Positive Contributions • Form criticism rightly recognizes the importance of: • Preaching the Gospel in the early church • Genre identification • Individual pericopae

35. FORM CRITICISM • Weaknesses • Form criticism has been used to draw unwarranted conclusions: • Assumption of non-historicity • Anti-supernatural bias • Underlying exclusively oral period

36. FORM CRITICISM • Weaknesses • Form criticism has been used to draw unwarranted conclusions: • Oversimplified classification • Subjective speculation in identifying setting in life and tracing transmission history

37. REDACTION CRITICISM: STUDYING THE EVANGELISTS AS PURPOSEFUL EDITORS • Goals of Reaction Criticism • Analyze how the Gospels writers “redacted” or edited their sources • Discern from this redaction the theological emphases of each writer • Determine each author’s purpose in writing • Identify their SitzimLeben (“setting in Life)

38. REDACTION CRITICISM • Origins • Arose in the mid-twentieth century as a reaction against form criticism • Emphasizes Gospel writers as theologians with particular emphases and purposes • Builds on source and form criticism to include questions of SitzimLeben, use of sources, and authorial intent

39. REDACTION CRITICISM • Origins • Arose in the mid-twentieth century as a reaction against form criticism • Emphasizes Gospel writers as theologians with particular emphases and purposes • Builds on source and form criticism to include questions of SitzimLeben, use of sources, and authorial intent

40. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Individual comments and editorial links

41. REDACTION CRITICISM Matthew 3:11 “‘I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I.’” Luke 3:15-16 “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come.’”

42. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Individual comments and editorial links • Summaries

43. REDACTION CRITICISM Methods of Redaction Criticism Luke 3:21 “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened” Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 6:12 “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

44. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Individual comments and editorial links • Summaries • Additions and omissions of material

45. REDACTION CRITICISM Methods of Redaction Criticism Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” Luke 4:1-2 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.”

46. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Individual comments and editorial links • Summaries • Additions and omissions of material • Arrangement of material

47. Rejection in Nazareth Mark 6:1-6 Mark Galilean Ministry Rejection in Nazareth Luke 4:14-30 Luke Galilean Ministry REDACTION CRITICISM

48. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Individual comments and editorial links • Summaries • Additions and omissions of material • Arrangement of material • Use of additional source material

49. REDACTION CRITICISM • Methods of Redaction Criticism • Some material in Luke not found in other Gospels: • Luke 13:10-17 • A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath • Luke 14:7-14 • The Parable of the Great Banquet • Luke 15:11-32 • The Parable of the Lost Son

50. REDACTION CRITICISM • Positive Contributions • Affirms that the Evangelists were purposeful writers and not mere compilers of material • Treats the Gospels as complete units and so corrects the approach of form criticism • By comparing the Gospels, affirms the unique theological contribution of each