Gospels and Tradition: Studies on Redaction Criticism of the Synoptic Gospels

196 Pages·1991·11.469 MB·English

by  Robert H. Stein

Gospels and
Tradition
Studies on Redaction Criticism
of the Synoptic Gospels
Robert H. Stein
D.
D.
BAKER BOOK HOUSE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516
Gospels and Tradition
Copyright 1991 by
Baker Book House Company
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stein, Robert H., 1935-
Gospels and tradition: studies on redaction criticism of the Synoptic
Gospels / Robert H. Stein.
p. em.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8010-8326-5
1. Bible. N.T. Gospels-Criticism, Redaction. 2. Bible. N.T. Mark
Criticism, Redaction. 1. Title.
BS2555.2.S727 1991
226'.06-dc20 91-37424
elP
To Professors:
BertH Gartner
J. Christiaan Beker
Bruce M. Metzger
Contents
Abbreviations 7
Preface 9
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction 13
1 What Is Redaction Criticism? 21
2 Luke 1:1-4 and Tradition Criticism 35
3 Ascertaining a Marean Redaction History: The Proper
Methodology 49
4 A Seam in Mark (1:21-22): A Redactional
Investigation 69
5 The Transfiguration in Mark (9:2-8): A Misplaced
Resurrection Account? 97
6 The Cleansing of the Temple in Mark (11:15-19):
Reformation or Judgment? 121
7 A Short Note on Mark 14:28 and 16:7 135
8 "Authentic" or Authoritative" Sayings: What Is the
/I
Difference? 147
9 The "Criteria" for Authenticity 153
Bibliography of Sources Cited 189
Index 201
Abbreviations
ATR Anglican Theological Review
BOF Blass, Oebrunner, Funk, Greek Grammar
BiL Bibel und Leben
BJRL Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of
Manchester
BR Biblical Research
BZ Biblische Zeitschrift
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
ExpT Expository Times
Greg Gregorium
Interp Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JBR Journal of Bible and Religion
JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JR Journal of Religion
JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament
ITS Journal of Theological Studies
LCL Loeb Classical Library
LXX Septuagint
NIV New International Version
NovT Novum Testamentum
NTS New Testament Studies
RGG Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart
RSV Revised Standard Version
SJT Scottish Journal. of Theology
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TLZ Theologische Literaturzeitung
TR Theologische Revue
TZ Theologische Zeitschrift
ZKG Zeitschrift fUr Kirchengeschichte
ZKT Zeitschrift fUr katholische Theologie
ZNW Zeitschrift fUr die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZTK Zeitschrift fUr Theologie und Kirche
7
Preface
The beginning of my interest in redaction criticism can be
dated to a doctoral seminar on the Gospel of Mark in which I
participated as a student at Princeton Theological Seminary.
As I read Willi Marxsen's Der Evangelist Markus, I realized that the
Gospel traditions did in fact contain three separate Sitze im
Leben and that the Evangelists were to be taken seriously as
theologians of the Gospel materials rather than as mere edi
tors. Nevertheless the particular problems associated with the
investigation of a Marean redaction criticism troubled me, for
neither Marxsen nor the other redaction critics had clearly
defined what a proper methodology for ascertaining a Marean
redaction criticism involved. As a result I chose as my disser
tation subject, "The Proper Methodology for Ascertaining a
Marean Redaktionsgeschichte." I had the unique privilege of
working under the supervision of Professors Bertil Gartner, J.
Christian Beker, and Bruce M. Metzger. Few doctoral students
have been as fortunate as I to work under such capable and
knowledgeable teachers. I shall always be indebted to these
men for what I learned from them.
Following graduation my interest in Marean redaction criti
cism continued unabated. Three articles distilled from my dis
sertation were published in successive years. The first (Chap
ter 1-liWhat Is Redaktionsgeschichte?" lBL 88 [1969]: 45-56)
was concerned with a definition of the new discipline, whereas
the other two discussed the methodology needed to apply this
discipline to the study of the Gospel of Mark (Chapter 4-flThe
'redaktionsgeschichtlich' Investigation of a Markan Seam [Mc
9
10 Preface
1:2lff.]," ZNW 61 [1970]: 70-94; Chapter 3-"The Proper
Methodology for Ascertaining a Markan Redaction History,"
NovT 13 [1971]: 181-98). Thereafter, due to my continued inter
est in the subject as well as the stimulation of the Markan Task
Force of the Sodety of Biblical Literature, I worked on several key
passages in Mark that were at the center of Marcan redaction
critical investigation (Chapter 5-"ls the Transfiguration [Mark
9:2-8] a Misplaced Resurrection-Account?" JBL 95 [1975]: 79-96;
Chapter 6-"The Cleansing of the Temple in Mark-Reforma
tion or Judgment?"; Chapter 7-" A Short Note on Mark XIV.28
and XVI.7," NTS 20 [1973]: 445-52). To these have been added
a paper on Luke 1:1-4 read at the annual meeting of the Evan
gelical Theological Society in 1982 in which I discuss the Evan
gelist's description of the various Sitze im Leben of the Gospel tra
ditions ("Luke 1: 1-4 and Traditionsgeschichte," JETS 26 [1983]:
421-30) and two essays involving the "quest" for the ipsissima
verba of Jesus. The first deals with the terminology used in the
discussion ("'Authentic' or 'Authoritative'? What Is the Differ
ence?" JETS 24 [1981]: 127-30), and the other seeks to orga
nize and discuss the various criteria being used in this "quest"
("The 'Criteria' for Authenticity," in Gospel Perspectives: Studies
of History and Tradition in the Four Gospels, ed. R. T. France and
David Wenham [Sheffield: JSOT, 1980), 1:225-63).
The reprinting of previously published articles is both flat
tering and encouraging to any author. The value of reprinting
such essays, however, is somewhat questionable, for as the years
go by, new insights are gained and past errors are more clearly
seen. Yet, although the bibliography of these essays is now
dated, I believe that the essential arguments and theses are still
sound and deserve repeating. There is another value in such a
collection in that it brings together into one place related
materials found scattered in various journals over a period of
years. I would like to thank Jim Weaver, Editor of Academic
and Reference Books, and Baker Book House for making this
collection of essays available.
Acknowledgments
Permission to reprint the following essays, which originally
appeared in the sources indicated, is gratefully acknowledged:
"What Is Redaktionsgeschichte?" lBL 88 (1969): 45-56.
Reprinted by permission of the Society of Biblical Literature.
IILuke 1:1-4 and Traditionsgeschichte./I lETS 26 (1983): 421-30.
Reprinted by permission of the Evangelical Theological Soci
ety.
"The Proper Methodology for Ascertaining a Markan Redac
tion History./I NovT 13 (1971): 181-98.
"The 'redaktionsgeschichtlich' Investigation of a Markan Seam
(Mc 1:2lff.)." ZNW 61 (1970): 70-94.
"Is the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8) a Misplaced Resurrection
Account?" lBL 95 (1976): 79-96. Reprinted by permisSion of
the Society of Biblical Literature.
"A Short Note on Mark XIV.28 and XV!.7." NTS 20 (1973):
445-52. Reprinted by permission of Cambridge University
Press.
'''Authentic' or 'Authoritative'? What Is the Difference?" lETS 24
(1981): 127-30. Reprinted by permission of the Evangelical
Theological Society.
"The 'Criteria' for Authenticity." In Gospel Perspectives, ed. R. T.
France and David Wenham (Sheffield: ]SOT, 1980), 1:225-
63. Reprinted by permission of Sheffield Academic Press.