Search Results for: acts marcion

The diverse Jewish religious environment of Paul outmatches the imagination of Borg and Crossan

Following on from this previous post . . . . . Borg and Crossan (B and C) (The First Paul) attempt to argue that despite Paul’s clear assertions that he sought to preach only “Christ crucified” and that “Jesus is Lord”, that this could not possibly have been true: [W]e think the notion that Paul’s … Continue reading “The diverse Jewish religious environment of Paul outmatches the imagination of Borg and Crossan”

How the Gospels are most commonly dated (and why?)

From Bart Ehrman’s Jesus, Interrupted, pp. 144-145 (number formatting is mine): Even though it is very hard to date the Gospels with precision, most scholars agree on the basic range of dates, for a variety of reasons . . . . I can say with relative certainty — from his own letters and from Acts … Continue reading “How the Gospels are most commonly dated (and why?)”

The “oral tradition” myth of gospel origins

Bart Ehrman (BE) in Jesus, Interrupted, summarizes the standard view of how a long period of “oral tradition” preceded the writing of the first gospels. The Gospels of the New Testament, he writes, were written thirty-five to sixty-five years after Jesus’ death by people who did not know him, did not see anything he did … Continue reading “The “oral tradition” myth of gospel origins”

Gospel of Luke, reconciler of the Herod and Pilate gospel narratives?

Further thoughts from earlier post on rival gospel traditions. . . . . It is easy to overlook that the gospels of John and Luke say that the Jews themselves, not Roman soldiers, crucified Jesus with Pilate’s permission. This is as is narrated in the Gospel of Peter and elsewhere, as per the above post. … Continue reading “Gospel of Luke, reconciler of the Herod and Pilate gospel narratives?”

Reasons for Luke to change Mark’s account of the calling of the disciples

Someone on a discussion list recently drew attention to how the Gospel of Luke changes the position of the call of the disciples to a period later than that found in the Gospel of Mark, so that it appears awkwardly out of place. Mark first describes Jesus calling Peter and others before going into Peter’s … Continue reading “Reasons for Luke to change Mark’s account of the calling of the disciples”

Vridar makes it to the God Fearin’ Forum

As an atheist and social-political activist I’ve long had a soft spot for Catholics when it comes to social justice causes, so it was a flattering surprise to see a nice commendation of my recent series on Luke-Acts in relation to Marcionism in the Patristic Carnival XIII section of The God Fearin’ Forum [scroll over the … Continue reading “Vridar makes it to the God Fearin’ Forum”

Another reason for Luke to have broken up Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount

If the author of the Gospel of Luke knew Matthew’s gospel then how can one explain his decision to break up the aesthetic and noble unity of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount? There are responses to this question that do not persuade everyone. (The idea that Luke did not like long sermons runs into a … Continue reading “Another reason for Luke to have broken up Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount”

Ignatius and the Gospel of Luke: In a relationship or just distant cousins?

In an earlier post outlining notes from Tyson’s Marcion and Luke-Acts: A Defining Struggle I mentioned Tyson’s reference to Andrew Gregory’s conclusion that Ignatius did not make use of The Gospel of Luke: Ignatius? The passage in Smyrnaeans 3:2 has striking resemblances to Luke 24:39. See the table on Glenn Davis’s site. Tyson refers here … Continue reading “Ignatius and the Gospel of Luke: In a relationship or just distant cousins?”

The Date of the Canonical Gospel of Luke

As discussed in previous posts from Marcion and Luke-Acts: A Defining Struggle (Joseph Tyson), if the Book of Acts is to be dated so late, and was written as a response to the Marcionite challenge, then what of the Gospel of Luke? Irenaeus wrote that the same author composed both Luke and Acts. The Muratorian … Continue reading “The Date of the Canonical Gospel of Luke”

Resurrection: Response to Wright, 4

Revised May 8 2008 Continuing from a previous post: Wright argues that the narratives of the resurrection appearances in our canonical gospels are based on traditions that were set and hardened well before the gospels came to be written. Discussed one in previous post and attached comments. Two more to go: the different gospel accounts … Continue reading “Resurrection: Response to Wright, 4”

Pentecost, belated birthday of the church

Christianity was surely up and running at least a hundred years before someone thought to assign a special day for its birthday. And one might well read the evidence in a way that indicates “orthodox” theologians hijacked Pentecost from the Jews to use it as a hostage in their campaign against “heretical” — Marcionite — … Continue reading “Pentecost, belated birthday of the church”

The fallacy of argument ad verecundiam (to modesty?)

The quaint Latin term might mean appeal to modesty but in plain English it refers to the fallacy of an appeal to authority. This form of error is an egregious but effective technique which puts an opponent in the awkward position of appearing to commit the sin of pride if he persists in his opposition. … Continue reading “The fallacy of argument ad verecundiam (to modesty?)”

Tracing the evolution of the Twelve Apostles from monkey rejects to angelic pillars.

The three rejects — Paul Paul in his letter to the Galatians equates the namesakes of the three leading apostles in Mark (Cephas/Peter?, James and John) as holding an unimpressive rank in his eyes (Gal. 2:6), and who became the leaders of the hypocrites at Antioch (Gal. 2:13), and were thus cursed teachers of “another … Continue reading “Tracing the evolution of the Twelve Apostles from monkey rejects to angelic pillars.”

Luke — his first appearance as author and companion of Paul

The gospels and book of Acts do not contain the names of their authors. The first evidence we have that Luke, a companion of Paul, was the author of the canonical gospel and Acts is found in Irenaeus, AH 14.4.1: But that this Luke was inseparable from Paul, and his fellow-labourer in the Gospel, he … Continue reading “Luke — his first appearance as author and companion of Paul”