Transcript Form and Redaction Criticism

Form and Redaction Criticism
How the Gospels Came Together
Luke 1:1-4
• Luke tells us he got information from
eyewitness & “servants of the word”
• For at least a generation Jesus’ teachings
were handed down orally
• Miracle stories seemed to be collected
together
• Parables on similar topics were collected
(Mk 4, Lk 15, etc)
• As this information and these stories were
preserved they were put into particular forms
• Miracle stories follow the same basic format:
– Description of disease or condition
– Description of Jesus’ action
– Description of the individual’s or crowd’s reaction
• Sometimes more detail is added, but not often.
• Collections of controversy stories – Mk. 2:1-36
– Series of Jesus debating with leaders
• Several stories were collected together that told
of Jesus debating with Jewish leaders and
concluding with a significant statement of Jesus
– “Pronouncement” stories – Jesus ends the
conversation with a “punch line”
• The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath
• Here are my mother and brothers! Whoever does the will
of God.
• The passion narrative seems to have circulated as
a unit
• Parables on similar themes were transmitted
together
– Mk 4 // Mt 13 – parables of the Kingdom
– Luke 15 – parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, lost son
Assumptions of Form Critics
• Gospel tradition consisted of individual sayings
and stories
• Gospel writers were primarily collectors &
editors of the tradition
• Information about Jesus was transmitted orally
• For most of this period most of the material was
handed down individually, some exceptions
• All this information was used by early
teachers in appropriate settings in the Church
– Controversy stories were used to help with
struggles with Jewish leaders or others
– Pronouncement stories used to encourage
Christians in difficult situations
– Sitz im Leben – the “setting in life” in which the
story or saying was used by the early Christians
Situations in Which Jesus
Material Would be Used
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Problems of life within the Church
Polemical encounters with opponents of the Church
Instruction of newcomers to the Church
Missionary proclamation
Negative Assumptions
• Early Christians created many of these
stories to fit their needs
• The situation of the early Church influenced
the content of the story, not just the form
• When we study the gospels we discover
more about the needs of the early Church
than we do about Jesus himself
Positive Approach
• The early Christians preserved the stories
accurately
• They applied the teachings of Jesus and his
actions to their situation
• Their situation in life influenced which stories to
use from the oral tradition
• Only those that were pertinent
• Preserved the integrity of the stories & sayings
Redaction Criticism
• When the gospel authors wrote their books, they
were more than collectors of tradition
• The gospel authors chose material from the
sources (oral and written) that was useful for their
audiences
• They shaped the material into cohesive units
• The gospel authors were authors in their
own way
• They told the story of Jesus in such a way to
get their point across to their readers
• They used the historical material for
– Instructing new believers
– Polemical situations
– Encouragement in difficult circumstances
• They were “redactors” – put the information
together in order to tell the story from their
perspective
Assumptions of Redaction Critics
• Any saying of Jesus could have been created by
the gospel authors or others
• The genuine teaching of Jesus can be separated
from the material the authors created
• Their sources can be identified and compared
with their own additions by following “rules of
transmission”
• Mark main source of Mt and Lk
Difficulties With Assumptions
• Transmission rules were not as set as once thought
• Too often assumed that redaction means
composition – could mean shaping the material
• Redaction critics are often too subtle and
subjective in explaining differences between Mt,
Mk, and Luke
• Priority of Mark is itself an assumption
Positive Ideas in Redaction
Studies
• Treats the gospels as whole not just pieces/parts
• Helps us to have a better idea how the gospels
may have worked – as authors
• Helps us to see that the gospel authors had their
own purposes in writing for their audiences
• Helps us to identify themes developed throughout
each gospel
Form / Redaction Criticism
• Form
• Focuses on oral period
• Works with individual
units
• Focuses on needs of 1st
generation
• Gospel writers as
collectors
• Redaction
• Focuses on written gospel
• Works with gospel as
whole
• Focuses on needs of 2nd
or 3rd generation
• Gospel writers as authors
• Both form and redaction criticism can be helpful
if used in a positive manner
• Help us to realize that the gospel material did go
through several stages before being written
– Jesus’ own teachings
– Early days of the Church – many issues
• Identity – who are we?
• Relationship with Jewish heritage, Gentiles, etc.
– The written gospels – many issues
• Struggle with Jews, Romans, etc.
– Applying the gospels today