January 04, 2023

Episode 60 - What on earth are the gospels? with John Nelson

1 hour 25 minutes

Episode 60– Show NotesJohn Nelson returned as our guest to start off 2023. He’s been monitoring the debate about what literary genre we should consider the gospels to be and what the implications would be if they are taken as biography in the Greek & Roman tradition. The question fits with his studies for his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in Christian Origins.

John maintains that understanding biography allows us to avoid the crass literalism of fundamentalism (and its attendant overconfidence in our ability to recover the historical Jesus), on the one hand, and an equally flat dismissal of its historicity on the other. We chat about the different ways both apologists and counter-apologists misuse ancient biography for their historicising or mythologising agendas. I.e. we’re very much the pupils this episode. Links:

The Unbelievable? Show which sets up this discussion (With Mike Licona and Richard Burridge)It’s the episode of 16 June 2017 ‘Why are there differences in Gospels?’ Also find these in your podcast app:‘NT Review’ episode 6 on Burridge’s thesis - they aren't convinced‘NT Review’ episode 17 - on the Prologue to the gospel of Luke – it’s not history but the 'science' genre‘NT Pod’ episode 98 with guest Robyn Walsh The book “Gospel Fictions” by Randel Helms that Andrew discussed (again):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gospel-Fictions-Randel-Helms/dp/0879755725

Doubts Aloud Links:Please give feedback and ask questions using :

[email protected]

Join the Facebook Group discussions:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1023280847835278/

Meet us all in person again at the monthly “Unbelievable Christian and Skeptic Discussion Group” in central London, see:

https://www.meetup.com/Unbelievable-Christian-and-Skeptic-Discussion-Group-London If you see this soon after release ... John will be speaking on the topic on 9 Jan 2023

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