Here's a link to an interview with Prof. Bart Ehrman (UNC Chapel Hill) on his new book published by HarperOne, Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them). A discussion ensues focusing (amongst other things) on Jesus' last words on the cross which in Mark are "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" and in Luke, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." To conflate these two accounts does justice to neither gospel since a different portrait of the dying Jesus exists in each gospel. In Luke, Jesus exercises self-control and addresses remarks to another person crucified next to him. In Mark, Jesus' anguish is palpable. In John's gospel, Jesus' death is his exaltation to God.
3 comments:
Dear Dr Good, thanks for the link. I am ever-grateful to you for your teaching on close reading of actual texts. These kinds of distinctions figure in my forthcoming volume "Reasonable and Holy" -- the particular "flavors" of the evangelists, the tensions between those evangelists and Paul, and between Paul and Paul and "Paul" him/themselves! All the while holding fast to the canonical principle that this is the text with which we have to deal. So thanks again for the reminder of the richness that dissonances and distinctions can bring. We rejoice not in a solitary voice, but a cloud of witnesses...
Tobias,
When can we expect your book?
It was to have gone to press this past week, so if that happened (?) I expect it should be out of the bindery in fairly short order. Remembering always the slips betw cup and lip, of course.
Thanks again.
Tobias
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