From Good News to Gospels: What did the first Christians say about Jesus?

David Wenham

- One minute read - 184 words

An argument in favour of a greater place for oral tradition than source criticism has allowed.

Ch 5 oral tradition of gospels

  • 'rise of form criticism helped kill of the idea of such a strong oral tradition'

  • form critics have valid observations

  • shaped for purpose of proclaiming and teaching

  • variation between narratives, eg lost sheep in Luke in context of associating with sinners in Matt with problems in church community

  • wenham argues literary freedom

  • Matt 12:28, Luke 11:20 if by the finger of God both agree 'against Mark'; they have used both sources.

  • wenham argues this is not evidence for a written and lost q but for oral tradition. The reply is apparently they are two similar for Italy transmission. Countered by the accuracy of transmission in non or seems literary cultures

  • Mark and Q overlaps

  • then 'minor agreements' eg adding who struck you to the goad 'prophesy!' (Matt 26:68; Luke 22:64)

Ch 6 two examples of oral tradition

a labourer worth his hire

Luke 10:7,1 Timothy 5:18,Matthew 10:10,Leviticus 19:13,Deuteronomy 24:15

If Paul knew the saying from oral tradition why not Matt and Luke?