Gospels Cut from Jewish Scriptures

(Vridar) – Neil Godfrey:

The work of checking every scriptural reference has impressed upon me just how totally the gospels are very likely pastiches of Jewish scriptures and some non-canonical writings. There appears to be nothing left over requiring explanation as if from any other source. Jesus walking on water was not an exaggerated retelling of a biographical event where Jesus happened to be walking on a sandbank (as some have said); nor were the healing miracles exaggerations of some real-life psychological power Jesus had over those with ailments. . . . they, everything, was written as a renewal of a sacred saying or scripture. Nor is there anything new about the teaching of Jesus: everything he is narrated as having taught is a re-writing of Scriptural or proverbial teachings of the time of the evangelists. …

There is no historical person of Jesus behind the narrative. If there had been then there would be some indication of a real person that the narrative had to adapt somehow to scriptures. What we find instead, however, is a figure entirely, entirely, made up of scriptures. Scriptural rewriting is the warp and woof of what he does, what happens to him, and what he says and teaches. …

vridar jewish-scriptures-5

Jesus Christ as a Sublime Paper Persona

(Vridar) – Neil Godfrey:

Nanine Charbonnel, emeritus professor of philosophy and specialist in hermeneutics, about her book Jésus-Christ, Sublime Figure de Papier:

No sooner is the issue of the historical Jesus’ existence considered than, amazingly, it is immediately dismissed as off-topic. Nobody would say so… Atheists, themselves, do not question the existence of historical Jesus… The times are over when you could doubt… which nicely implies that you have to be a stupid nitwit or a complete ignoramus to indulge in such a preposterous assertion. To put it bluntly, it reminds us of what the judge said at Zola’s trial during the Dreyfus affair, “It is out of point to broach the issue of Dreyfus’ guilt…”. Last but not least, the matter is deemed ridiculous. And yet this fascinating question cannot be overlooked or left aside.

My concern is not how to cope with faithful believers, their various denominations or Christianity as such. On the other hand, as a philosophy professor, I always put emphasis – in my lectures as well as in my books – on the close link between the history of western metaphysics and the progress of theology. I wonder how to undermine the lukewarm consensus of nonbelievers who would rather bypass one of the most inspiring adventures of the human spirit. Far from considering the gospels as legendary tales from which we could leave aside whatever we consider questionable or due to the faulty memory of awkward disciples, I claim that they should be thoroughly examined and scrutinized.

It is the necessary condition to read them as Jewish Midrashic literature, intended to feature the coming of the latter-day Messiah. They are sophisticated masterpieces, not only because of the traits of the central persona but also because of the skills of those who could delve into the subtleties of Hebrew texts.

…

vridar 2020/03/06 paper-persona

Jésus-Christ, Sublime Figure de Papier

(Vridar) – Neil Godfrey:

My routine was interrupted this week with the arrival of a new book in the mail, Jésus-Christ, Sublime Figure de Papier by Nanine Charbonnel. She is an emeritus professor of philosophy who describes herself as a specialist in hermeneutics.

This book proposes to read the Gospel tales as midrashim, reminding us rightly that it is impossible to read the New Testament texts without locating them in their relation to the Old Testament (in Hebrew and Greek). As a midrash, an exegesis and reinterpretation of earlier texts, evangelical tales set up a theology of fulfillment through narratives, drawing largely on the texts and themes of the Hebrew Bible. Nanine Charbonnel shows it in pedagogical tables indicating the different borrowing and rewriting that can be found behind the tales of the Gospels. She then details the function of the characters appearing in the Gospels, like the twelve apostles, representing the twelve tribes of the new Israel, and Mary, the Jewish people who begets the Messiah. Jesus is the new Adam, the new Moses, the new Elijah and the new Elishah, but also the new Joshua and the incarnation of the “suffering servant”, a messiah who brings together different messianic traits. The Gospels no longer appear as compilations but as creative works repeating and transforming statements in the Hebrew Bible.

To understand the figure of Jesus Christ as a sublime invention of the human mind is the main thesis of this book. …

vridar 2019/05/23 mythicist-book