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- Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
- Path: sparky!uunet!europa.asd.contel.com!emory!wupost!csus.edu!netcom.com!sheaffer
- From: sheaffer@netcom.com (Robert Sheaffer)
- Subject: Re: Harmony Of The Gospels?
- Message-ID: <1992Nov14.044128.3896@netcom.com>
- Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
- References: <12NOV199213240516@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu> <roelle.721608957@uars_mag> <13NOV199212394983@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu>
- Distribution: world,local
- Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1992 04:41:28 GMT
- Lines: 34
-
- >>lippard@skyblu.ccit.arizona.edu (James J. Lippard) writes:
- >>
- >>>Eyewitnesses don't get everything right (unless, of course, they are
- >>>being divinely guided so that their every word is accurate). But when
- >>>there are conflicts between eyewitnesses, it is clear that *at least
- >>>one of them is wrong*. This conclusion is not one which a biblical
- >>>literalist is willing to draw.
-
- The problem is worse than this discussion hints. The differences between
- the Gospels (especially the Synoptics) are not merely those between
- eyewitnesses. Rather, they are transparent efforts to "clean up" errors
- or problems in the earlier text. For example, Mark quotes his prophecy in the
- Septuagint approximately correctly, from memory; Matthew quotes it
- exactly right. Matthew is aware of the implication in Mark's
- baptism scene that Jesus was a sinner, and hence needed baptism by
- John to make him pure enough for a divine mission; hence, he adds the
- passage having John tell Jesus that he has no *need* of baptism.
- Matthew is aware of the implication of Jesus' illegitimacy in Mark 6:3,
- and hence softens the insult to Jesus' paternity; Luke rewrites it,
- removing the insult completely. These are not mere 'differences
- between eyewitnesses', this is a sophisticated attempt to tidy up the
- loose ends of a messy story. It's like Nixon cleaning up his damn
- Watergate tape.
- --
-
- Robert Sheaffer - Scepticus Maximus - sheaffer@netcom.com
-
- Past Chairman, The Bay Area Skeptics - for whom I speak only when authorized!
-
- "Beware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet.
- Then all things are at risk. It is as when a conflagration has
- broken out in a great city, and no man knows what is safe, or
- where it will end."
- - Emerson: Essay, "Circles"
-