A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Vol. 5: Probing the Authenticity of the Parables

by John P. Meier

Publisher:

Yale University Press

, 2016

Overview

Since the late nineteenth century, New Testament scholars have operated on the belief that most, if not all, of the narrative parables in the Synoptic Gospels can be attributed to the historical Jesus. This book challenges that consensus and argues instead that only four parables—those of the Mustard Seed, the Evil Tenants, the Talents, and the Great Supper—can be attributed to the historical Jesus with fair certitude. In this eagerly anticipated fifth volume of A Marginal Jew, John Meier approaches this controversial subject with the same rigor and insight that garnered his earlier volumes praise from such publications as the New York Times and Christianity Today. This seminal volume pushes forward his masterful body of work in his ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.

Key Features

• Argues for a new critical perspective on Jesus' teaching
• Examines the authenticity of Jesus' parables
• Proposes a much narrower view of what in the Synoptic Gospels can authentically be sourced to the Historical Jesus

Contents

• Introduction to Volume Five: The Parables: How do They Fit into the Quest for the Historical Jesus
  • The Overall Strategy of A Marginal Jew
  • The Special Problem of the Parables
  • Methodology: A Refresher Course of the Rules of the Road
• The Parables of Jesus: Seven Unfashionable Theses
• The Problem of Allegory
• Parables and the Problem of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas
• Searching for Likely Candidates: A Survey of the Synoptic Parables
• The Few, The Happy Few
• Conclusion to Volume Five: From Unfashionable Theses to Contrarian Conclusions: Farewell to a First Foundation
• Appendix: An Introductory Bibliography on the Parables of Jesus

Top Highlights

“In most instances, no criterion of historicity can argue convincingly for the origin of a given parable in the mouth of the historical Jesus. Needless to say, this does not automatically prove that this or that parable does not come from Jesus. All that is being claimed is that there are no strong positive arguments in favor of historicity, and a default presumption that most parables are authentic is a methodological deus ex machina. Hence, in my opinion, many of the parables attributed to Jesus should be assigned to the frustrating no-man’s-land of non liquet. In a few cases, though, I will contend that there are positive arguments for claiming that some parables are actually creations of the early church or the evangelists.” (Page 5)

“eschatological, miracle-working prophet who reflected the traditions and hopes surrounding the prophet Elijah” (Page 1)

Product Details

• Title: A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume V: Probing the Authenticity of the Parables
• Author: John P. Meier
• Publisher: Yale
• Publication Date: 2016
• Pages: 464
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Topic: Historical Jesus

About John P. Meier

John P. Meier is William K. Warren Professor of Theology (New Testament) at the University of Notre Dame and the author of A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. He has also written six other books and over seventy articles. At various times he has been the editor or associate editor of The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, New Testament Studies, and Dead Sea Discoveries.