New Testament: Biblical Criticism

Criticising the sources of the Gospels e.g. where the information was from

Testimonia: Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament

Logia: Sayings about Jesus, his teachings and his miracles

Mark's Source: Simon Peter (Papias told Mark was 'Peter's interpreter')

Matthew's Source: Mark, Matthew and Quelle

Luke's Source: Mark, Luke and Quelle

Quelle: Shared sources

It is believed that both Luke and Matthew used Mark as a source as well as using 'Q' and their own sources 'M' and 'L': B. H. Streeter

Focuses on the Oral Period, investigating the forms that circulated during the oral period.

It identifies each individual unit that makes up Gospel text

Part of Sitz im Leben 2: The Early Church of First Christians

Oral Tradition: from word of mouth

Periocope: Individual Units

Scholars:

K.L. Schmidt: the individual sections were 'pearls on a string'

Schmidt shows the lack of connection from one pericope to another

Hermann Gunkel: 'Bible not written in a cultural vacuum'

It is relevant to compare to other authors

Types of Form:

Sayings of Jesus:

• Pronounced stories
• Legal sayings/ church rule
• Christological sayings 'Man made for Sabbath not the Sabbath for man'
• Wisdom sayings
• Parables

Stories of Jesus:

• Miracles
• Legends
• Myths
• Passion Narratives

Rudolf Bultmann: 'Miracles show Jesus' superiorty over other miracle workers'

Sitz im Leben 3 - The Evangelists

Redaction criticism sees the Gospels as edited material created from their own purpose

Mark: William Wrede (Messianic secret)

Matthew: Gunter Bornkamm

Luke: Hans Conzelmann

Detecting redaction criticism:

• Sources chosen
• Arrangement of sources
• Significant additions or omissions to pericope
• Changes in expression
• 'Seams' used to join material

Key Features of the Gospels:

Mark:

• Messianic Secret
• Apologetic: defend the faith
• Wrote to persecuted church
• Mentions himself in Jesus' arrest

Matthew:

• Wrote to the Jews
• Testimonia
• Ephasises supernatural in Son of God

Luke:

• Universalism
• Accurate are ordely