Comments for PEJE IESOUS

Comment on Ratzinger on Jesus (Or: Sometimes We All See What We Want in the Text, Even If It’s Not Really There) by Casey

Casey — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:02:10 +0000

One thing about the Pope, or pretty much any Pope, is that he doesn’t write within the community of scholars who subject one another’s work to critical scrutiny. This is analogous to his manner of dress: you never see the Pope wearing anything but papal vestments so as to maintain the aura of otherworldliness and authority that his position must project. Similarly, the Pope does not take up in detail the arguments of other writers. I noticed that he failed to mention by name the scholars he refers to in the quoted passage. Perish the thought that they might be prompted to reply! Scholarly exchange has too much the quality of mud-slinging for the average Vicar of Christ. This is a common feature of papal writings in saecula saeculorum. I have come to believe that what it gains him in sheer authority by conjuring an aura of “above the fray” pronouncement, it negates in terms of persuasive power, at least to the eyes of a critical reader. The truth is that if the Pope entered into substantive exchange, his knowledge would be shown to be deficient relative to scholars specializing in the field. He would, at any rate, be called on things such as the inconsistency you called him on. This could never be allowed, since it would puncture the reputation of the papal office. Kudos to those who throw themselves headlong into the dialectic, I say.

Comment on Final Page Proofs Are In! by Christopher Skinner

Christopher Skinner — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:04:34 +0000

Thanks, James.

Comment on Final Page Proofs Are In! by James F. McGrath

James F. McGrath — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:13:02 +0000

Great news – congrats!

Comment on Interview with Simon Gathercole on the Gospel of Thomas (Part I) by Interview with Simon Gathercole on the Gospel of Thomas (Part II) « PEJE IESOUS

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:33:42 +0000

[...] view on Thomas’s relationship to the Synoptic Gospels? (SJG) Part of it I’ve already given away in what I said about about Luke. I expand the argument to include Matthew as well. Matthew is an interesting case because the [...]

Comment on Dramatized Irony, Markan Intercalations, and the Godfather by Ryan Bradshaw

Ryan Bradshaw — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:35:03 +0000

Anytime you can work in a Godfather reference, it’s gold!

Comment on Dramatized Irony, Markan Intercalations, and the Godfather by Jim F.

Jim F. — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:33 +0000

The Baptismal scene in the Godfather is one of my favorites in the movie – although I think you knew that because we have discussed it before. This is a really great example.

Comment on The Theological Purpose of the Parables: Matthew v. Mark by Christopher Skinner

Christopher Skinner — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:01:51 +0000

Matthew,

In my reading, the Gerasene Demoniac is an “outsider” who correctly perceives who Jesus is. This would be fairly consistent with what I wrote. I’m not sure if you are referring to the fact that Jesus does not silence the man, but allows him to speak(?). Perhaps you could explain in a little more detail. As for the parable of the wicked tenants, I don’t find this problematic because the Passion week is already under way. Mark’s Jesus has pronounced the temple “fruitless” in the fig tree-temple-fig tree intercalation. The secrecy motif is no longer functioning at this point. Jesus is no longer seeking to keep his identity a secret. During the passion week, he is now open about his identity and mission (as evidenced by the temple cleansing which becomes the impetus for his death). Does that make sense?

Comment on The Theological Purpose of the Parables: Matthew v. Mark by Matthew Ryan Hauge

Matthew Ryan Hauge — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:44:00 +0000

Hey Chris,
Thanks for the post! Given your model for reading the secrecy motif in Mark how do you account for the Gerasene Demoniac and the επιμυθια appended to the parable of the Wicked Tenants?

Hauge

Comment on The Theological Purpose of the Parables: Matthew v. Mark by Christopher Skinner

Christopher Skinner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:10:48 +0000

Judy, I can’t say that I came across anything on a possible link between the two. In fact, the idea never even occurred to me until just now. Maybe there’s an article in there for you somewhere?

Comment on The Theological Purpose of the Parables: Matthew v. Mark by Judy Redman

Judy Redman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:57:18 +0000

Chris, as I was reading this, I wondered if anyone had done anything on a possible link between the ‘messianic secret’ in Mark and the ‘secret sayings’ that are presented in Thomas? Did you see anything in your work for ‘What are they saying?’