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On March 23, 1998, director James Cameron made an indelible mark on Academy Award history. It wasn't because his film, Titanic, captured so many Oscars. Nor was it because of the movie's unprecedented box-office success. Rather, Cameron will forever be remembered in Hollywood's annals because, upon accepting his award for Best Director, he enthusiastically declared, "I am the king of the World!"Taken literally, Cameron's exclamation denotes a claim to absolute sovereignty. Understandably, public derision followed. What Cameron's critics failed to consider, however, was the premise behind his expression. The line is borrowed from Titanic. In that context, it has an altogether different meaning. Rather than self-adulation, it speaks of joy in the face of such good fortune. Undoubtedly, that is what Cameron meant to convey, but his point escaped those unfamiliar with his premise.This real-life analogy sets the stage for Getting the Gospels. As Cameron drew upon Titanic, early Christians drew similarly upon their religious and literary backgrounds to communicate their Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet without this background, modern readers may misinterpret certain Biblical texts.Getting the Gospels examines what the evangelists knew and how their presuppositions inform, enrich, and transform their writings. The book follows Jesus' life through twelve case studies selected from each of the four Gospels. Each chapter blends scholarly research and contemporary comparisons to underscore the imperative role that such premises play in the interpretation of the New Testament.

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Publié par	Baker Publishing Group
Date de parution	01 juillet 2004
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781441237118
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0490€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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© 2004 by Steven L. Bridge
Published by Baker Academic a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakeracademic.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Ebook edition created 2011
ISBN 978-1-4412-3711-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Scripture quotations marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 (2d ed., 1971) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NJPS are taken from TANAKH, The Holy Scriptures, copyright 1985, The Jewish Publication Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
NIHIL OBSTAT Monsignor Charles M. Murphy, STD, Censor Deputatus
IMPRIMATUR Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, ThD, Bishop of Portland
July 9, 2004
The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
To Leonard and Gerrie Bridge,
the greatest teachers I’ve ever had,
and
To Kamal, Heather, Erica, and Emily Bridge,
for their patience and encouragement throughout this project.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication Page
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction From James Cameron to Jesus Christ: Why Premises Matter
S ECTION I T HE E ARLY Y EARS
Chapter 1 Jesus’ Genealogy
Chapter 2 Jesus’ Nativity Stories
It’s a Wonderful Carol
Matthew’s Nativity
Luke’s Nativity
Assessing the Nativities’ Similarities and Differences
Chapter 3 John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism
John the Baptist
Jesus’ Baptism
S ECTION II J ESUS ’ P UBLIC M INISTRY
Chapter 4 Ministerial Frameworks
Mark
Matthew
Luke
John
Conclusion
Chapter 5 Jesus’ Parables: The Good Samaritan and the Dishonest Steward
The Good Samaritan
The Dishonest Steward
Chapter 6 Jesus’ Teachings: The Bread of Life Discourse
Chapter 7 Jesus’ Works: The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Cleansing of the Temple
Mark’s Version
Matthew’s Version
S ECTION III J ESUS ’ P ASSION , D EATH, AND R ESURRECTION
Chapter 8 Jesus’ Passion: The Gethsemane Scene
Matthew’s Version
Luke’s Version
John’s Version
Mark’s Version
The Naked Young Man as a Historical Figure
The Naked Young Man as a Symbolic Figure
Chapter 9 Jesus’ Death: The Lamb of God
Chapter 10 Jesus’ Resurrection: Considering the Alternatives
Wrong or Empty Tomb
Disciples’ Theft
An Apparition
Botched Execution
Conclusion
Endnotes
Recommended References
Index of Ancient Sources
Index of Subjects
Back Cover
List of Figures
Elements of the First Christmas
Nativity Stories Compared
Sea of Galilee Journeys in Mark’s Gospel
Literary Structure of Matthew’s Gospel
Gender Symmetry in Luke’s Gospel
Literary Structure of Mark 11:11–27
Jerusalem Temple
Passion Timetables Compared
Preface
I n order to make this book accessible to a wide audience, I have deliberately downplayed some of the more technical aspects of biblical studies, including scholarly jargon, critical methodology, Greek and Hebrew vocabulary, and direct engagement with the secondary literature. Although facets of these elements have certainly influenced the conclusions drawn here, for the sake of brevity and lucidity I have endeavored to keep them largely out of view. At the back of this book I have provided a list of recommended resources for those readers who are interested in examining the gospels in greater depth or breadth. Included in that list is a recently published work of my own, a more sophisticated study of the premises behind Luke 17:37 (“Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together”).
I have also ventured to write this book in an ecumenical spirit. For this reason, all of the biblical quotations that appear here have been drawn from one of three translations: the (traditionally Catholic) New American Bible, the (traditionally Protestant) Revised Standard Version, and the (traditionally Jewish) Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text. My goal is not to confuse my audience, but to impress upon us all the relevance of this information for anyone who wants to understand Jesus as the evangelists did.
Acknowledgments
I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those individuals who helped make this book a reality. First and foremost, I’d like to thank Shirley Decker-Lucke, Dawn C. Harrell, and the other editors at Hendrickson Publishers who assisted in this project. Because much of the content here has been developed and refined in the context of the classroom, I am also extremely grateful for the teaching positions extended to me over the years at Hackett Catholic Central (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Mount Mary College (Milwaukee, Wis.), Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wis.), and St. Joseph’s College (Standish, Maine). The chain of events that brought this work into being may never have come about without the support of St. Joseph’s College in general, and its Vice President for Academic Affairs, Daniel Sheridan, in particular. I owe perhaps the greatest debt of gratitude to my wife, Kamal. She and Melissa Ransom (a former student of mine) read through earlier drafts of my manuscript and offered some helpful suggestions. More importantly, Kamal shouldered many of the additional responsibilities created by my absence as I worked on this book. She has repeatedly proven herself to be my “suitable helpmate,” and in that spirit I consider this to be the product of our collaborative effort. I thank God for her and for the blessing this project has been for me.
As an expression of my gratitude, I have agreed to commit the majority of my royalties generated from this book to humanitarian projects benefiting the poorest of the poor. On several occasions, I have had the privilege of working among such people in Haiti and elsewhere. I have come to discover that the things I tend to take for granted (food, clothing, shelter, clean water, medicine, education, and employment) are, for many people throughout the world, rare commodities. In some small way, I’d like to make these necessities a little more prevalent. On behalf of the beneficiaries, I thank you, the reader, for enabling this to happen. Soli Deo Gloria. To God alone be the glory.

Steven L. Bridge
Abbreviations
G ENERAL BCE Before the Common Era ca. circa CE Common Era cf. confer , compare ch(s). chapter(s) lit. literally Midr . Midrash NAB New American Bible NIV New International Version NJPS Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text NT New Testament OT Old Testament RSV Revised Standard Version v(v). verse(s) vol(s). volume(s)
H EBREW B IBLE /O LD T ESTAMENT Gen Genesis Exod Exodus Lev Leviticus Num Numbers Deut Deuteronomy Josh Joshua Judg Judges 1–2 Sam 1–2 Samuel 1–2 Kgs 1–2 Kings 1–2 Chr 1–2 Chronicles Neh Nehemiah Ps Psalms Eccl Ecclesiastes Isa Isaiah Jer Jeremiah Ezek Ezekiel Dan Daniel Hos Hosea Mic Micah Hab Habakkuk Mal Malachi
A POCRYPHA 1–2 Macc 1–2 Maccabees Tob Tobit
N EW T ESTAMENT Matt Matthew Rom Romans 1–2 Cor 1–2 Corinthians Phil Philippians Heb Hebrews Rev Revelation
M ISHNAH m. tractate of the Mishnah Ker . Keritot Pesah. Pesahim Seb . Shevi’it
J OSEPHUS Ag. Ap. Against Apion Ant . Jewish Antiquities J.W. Jewish War
O THER A NCIENT W RITERS Philo Virt . On the Virtues Pliny the Elder Nat . Natural History Tacitus Ann . The Annals of Imperial Rome
Introduction

From James Cameron to Jesus Christ
W HY P REMISES M ATTER
O n March 23, 1998, the motion picture industry’s most renowned celebrities gathered together in Los Angeles for the presentation of The 70th Annual Academy Awards . Shrine Auditorium, the site of the black-tie extravaganza, was lavishly awash in all of the elegance and glamour one would expect from Hollywood’s biggest night. As the stars arrived and made their way through throngs of fans, press reporters, and security personnel, the excitement grew in anticipation of the evening’s outcomes. Dominating the buzz was Titanic , the historically based film that had cost 20th Century Fox/ Paramount an unprecedented $200 million to produce. The studio’s financial gamble had already netted its payoff. In the thirteen weeks since its debut, Titanic had earned some $471.4 million in domestic box office receipts and another $693.3 million in foreign sales to displace Star Wars as the top-grossing movie of all time.
What remained to be seen was whether Titanic could also capture the industry’s highest critical honor the Oscar. Actually, the question was not whether the film would win an Oscar, but rather, how many Oscars Titanic would claim. With its fourteen Academy Award nominations (tying the record set by All about Eve in 1950), this dramatic epi