The “Nugget” Theory

by Neil Godfrey

[S]ound historical method must lead a scholar to distrust any source much of which can be shown to be false — unless truly reliable material exists outside that source as a check.

Sometimes, however, we find that a scholar writes history

on the principle that a historian can safely mine “nuggets” out of otherwise worthless ore.

Both quotations are from Chester G. Starr in “The Credibility of Early Spartan History”, (Historia: Zeitschrift fur Alte Geschichte Bd. 14, H. 3 (Jul., 1965), pp. 257-272) …. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4434883

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Neil Godfrey

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Neil Godfrey on Comments: “I only see one video by Braun, but at two different sites: one at youtube and the other at biblicalstudiesonline.…” Jan 22, 09:23

Neil Godfrey on Bible Scholars Who Get History Right: “One often hears it said that Paul or the evangelists could not have written falsehoods about Jesus or the origins…” Jan 22, 07:22

db on Comments: “Braun, Willi (2017). "Christian Origins and the Gospel of Mark". In Führding, Steffen. Method and Theory in the Study of…” Jan 22, 06:35

db on Comments: “Kok, Michael J. (2015). The Gospel on the Margins: The Reception of Mark in the Second Century. Augsburg Fortress Publishers.…” Jan 22, 06:03

Peter Grullemans on Bible Scholars Who Get History Right: “Thanks Neil, I think we can apply your analysis to the early church fathers. In Tertullian's "Apology", dated 197, at…” Jan 22, 06:02

Greg G. on Mark: failed geography, but great bible student: “Mark has the Feeding of the 5000 in the wilderness so it is necessary to feed the masses because it…” Jan 22, 02:44

Neil Godfrey on Bible Scholars Who Get History Right: “Yes and thanks for adding the details. I have seen the literary analysis of the sources to be a first…” Jan 22, 02:22

Russell Gmirkin on Bible Scholars Who Get History Right: “Beyond the broad minimalist questioning of the credibility of the biblical historical narratives on methodological grounds, strictly within the discipline…” Jan 22, 00:57

Neil Godfrey on Scholarship and “Mythicism”: When the Guilty Verdict is more important than the Evidence or Argument: “I did once ask a German friend if she could translate something for me but her eyes glazed over and…” Jan 22, 00:07

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2017-11-22