Jesus and Scholarly Knowledge

From: Edgar M. Krentz (emkrentz@mcs.com)
Date: Tue Jul 09 1996 - 22:49:03 EDT


>I have been reading the recent messages on "what New Testament
>scholars need to know" with great interest. As a theological
>librarian trying to build a good collection, the discussion
>has been most useful. I wonder if others are struck by the
>same irony that haunts me, however, and that is that the central
>figure of the NT, Jesus, would not have qualified for admission
>to any of these programs. I've no particular axe to grind by
>saying so, but there might be a great deal of difference in
>saying that we know something about the NT and following the
>one we have come to love through the literature of the NT. Well,
>my proper role on this list is probably as a "lurker" and to
>that role I now return.
>
Intreresting Fred! Of course, the only NT writers who might have been
admitted to the ranks of scholarship might be the auctor ad Hebraeos, the
author of Luke-Acts, and, p[ossibly, Paul.

On the other hand, much of what we have to learn mit ach und krach, Schweiz
und Traenen, blood, sweat and tears they absorbed vom Haus aus, with their
mother's milk, to heap up a series of tired metaphors. They knew, I think,
Hebrew and Greek, were aware of the geography and the social codes of their
various cultures, did not need to read about honor and shame, purity codes,
and the political divisions of their time. What is scholarship for us was
yesterday's news for them, in many respects.

I had one NT teacher, a very consevative Lutheran, who looked forward to
heaven, as he put it, so he could converse with Plato and find out what he
really meant. I hope for some conversations with Paul, Justin Martyr, and a
few others.

What questions would you like to put to some in the hO AIWN jO ERCOMENOS?

Peace, Ed Krentz

Edgar Krentz <emkrentz@mcs.com>
Prof. of New Testament
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615
Off: 312-256-0752 H: 312-947-8105



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