The Historical Jesus: A Survey of PositionsRobertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Religion
The Historical Jesus: A Survey of Positions
Robertson, J. M. (John Mackinnon)
Jesus Christ -- Historicity; Jesus Christ -- Rationalistic interpretations
What now becomes of the two presentments of James and John? Both must
presumably have known most that was to be known, ex hypothesi. Yet
James has not a word of specifically Christian doctrine, and, save
in two sentences, one of which has every appearance of interpolation,
while the other is only less suspicious, no mention of Jesus. John, on
the other hand, as an apostle (whether or not the beloved one), must
on the theory have heard many of the sayings given in the synoptics,
which he does not report. Why does he not? Had he never heard of the
"Come unto me" allocution? Could he conceivably have put it aside
from a preposterous humility? If he had not heard that, had he not
heard the Sermon on the Mount, or any of the parable-solutions given
in the synoptics as specially addressed to the twelve disciples? Can
Mr. Wright, holding by the central tradition of Jesus and the twelve,
believe that John had heard none of the teachings which he does not
repeat? If, on the other hand, he admits wholesale suppression in
John's case, what becomes of the argument above cited?
It matters little that Mr. Wright credits John with evolving the
Logos doctrine out of his own profound meditation, and with having
"remoulded" the sayings of Jesus which he does give. That is a standing
device of exegesis, Unitarian and Trinitarian alike; and by his account
the general oral tradition did the same thing indefinitely. But all
the while Mr. Wright is going a great deal further. He alternately
insists that every evangelist told all he knew, and assumes that the
two evangelists who are alleged to have been apostles did not. If,
he writes--
If, as becomes increasingly probable, a Johannine course of
teaching was extant in comparatively early times, it is not
strange that, as S. John dealt chiefly with the Judæan ministry,
S. Peter should have refused to intrude into his brother Apostle's
domain. They may have agreed at the outset to divide the work
thus between them.
It is impossible to reconcile this with Mr. Wright's theory of the
inclusiveness of the evangelists. Why should not Mark do what Matthew
and John did in the terms of the case?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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