Understanding these issues make me appreciate the human element, the power of myth and legend, the importance of Midrash to have discernment and choosing wisely against competing Bible stories. This isn’t just getting back to the Jewish roots of the Scriptures, it’s reading the Scriptures like ancient Jews who would understand these biblical stories better than our modern Enlightenment systematic readings of these biblical stories.
Oh, and.... I hope I'm not cluttering up the comments too much, but thanks also for the discussion of how this is just textual criticism--the same kind we do for Antigone or whatever. In my case, the same things I do with 7th-12th-century Byzantine texts. People are so sure that we "pick on the Bible".... It's just textual criticism, darn it.
Great post! As I was reading it, I kept thinking, "And then there's this issue...." And then you covered it in the next paragraph. I teach the New Testament at Rutgers University, and I always tell my students that I am open to argument about pretty much anything EXCEPT respect for the Biblical literalist position. MAYBE you can mash Matthew's and Luke's birth stories together and claim they don't contradict one another, but two creation stories? Did Jesus die on or before the Passover? Come on, people.
I wish I could learn from you in that class. It sounds interesting. If I could go back in time, I'd change my electives in college to theology classes!
You'd be a great student! It sounds like you are already studying like crazy and learning a lot, so you don't need me. I'm guessing you've already found Bart Ehrman's blog and such? I also use his textbook when I teach NT. And I'm always happy to chat. Teaching is my joy. Why have I collected such a miscellaneous set of information in my brain if it's not to share it?
Understanding these issues make me appreciate the human element, the power of myth and legend, the importance of Midrash to have discernment and choosing wisely against competing Bible stories. This isn’t just getting back to the Jewish roots of the Scriptures, it’s reading the Scriptures like ancient Jews who would understand these biblical stories better than our modern Enlightenment systematic readings of these biblical stories.
Very good 😎
I really want to read more on how the Jews wrestled with their older scripture. Do you have any recommendations on literature that described this?
Sandy Sasso, Midrash; F. Timothy Moore, Practicing Midrash; Chaim Betorah, What the Rabbis Know.
These are really good.
It seems like I’m forgetting another good one???
Oh, and.... I hope I'm not cluttering up the comments too much, but thanks also for the discussion of how this is just textual criticism--the same kind we do for Antigone or whatever. In my case, the same things I do with 7th-12th-century Byzantine texts. People are so sure that we "pick on the Bible".... It's just textual criticism, darn it.
Agreed! I wish people knew how many text critical choices went into the translation they are using. That fact might blow their mind. 😂
Great post! As I was reading it, I kept thinking, "And then there's this issue...." And then you covered it in the next paragraph. I teach the New Testament at Rutgers University, and I always tell my students that I am open to argument about pretty much anything EXCEPT respect for the Biblical literalist position. MAYBE you can mash Matthew's and Luke's birth stories together and claim they don't contradict one another, but two creation stories? Did Jesus die on or before the Passover? Come on, people.
I wish I could learn from you in that class. It sounds interesting. If I could go back in time, I'd change my electives in college to theology classes!
You'd be a great student! It sounds like you are already studying like crazy and learning a lot, so you don't need me. I'm guessing you've already found Bart Ehrman's blog and such? I also use his textbook when I teach NT. And I'm always happy to chat. Teaching is my joy. Why have I collected such a miscellaneous set of information in my brain if it's not to share it?