A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume V: Probing the Authenticity of the Parables (The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library Book 5) by John P. Meier (PDF)

Description

Since the late nineteenth century, New Testament scholars have operated on the belief that most, if not all, of the narrative parables in the Synoptic Gospels can be attributed to the historical Jesus. This book challenges that consensus and argues instead that only four parables—those of the Mustard Seed, the Evil Tenants, the Talents, and the Great Supper—can be attributed to the historical Jesus with fair certitude. In this eagerly anticipated fifth volume of A Marginal Jew, John Meier approaches this controversial subject with the same rigor and insight that garnered his earlier volumes praise from such publications as the New York Times and Christianity Today. This seminal volume pushes forward his masterful body of work in his ongoing quest for the historical Jesus.

User’s Reviews

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⭐John Meier’s A Marginal Jew will probably go down as our generation’s most significant work on the historical Jesus. The first volume was published in 1991 and this (fifth volume) in 2016. A final volume is planned on the death of Jesus. This series is somewhat controversial. Meier is a Catholic priest and professor at Notre Dame. Although his views are moderate by today’s standards, they are liberal by historic standards. To take a couple examples, Meier denies the Catholic doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary and the historicity of much of the infancy narratives (he doubts Jesus was born in Bethlehem).The conclusions of this series thus far is that Jesus was an eschatological, miracle-working prophet which reflected the hopes and traditions surrounding Elijah. Using a rigorous application of various “criterion of authenticity,” Meier disputes the accuracy of much of the Gospel accounts but nonetheless finds a historical core to the Gospel portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth. For example, Jesus had a special core of 12 followers, but one can’t harmonize the Gospel lists of their names.Now Meier turns his attention to the parables. There is no doubt that Jesus taught in parables (as may be seen my Mark, Q, Matthew and Luke). So it’s often argued or assumed that most of the parables have a core in the historical Jesus. Well, in what is probably his most critical book in the series so far, Meier concludes that only four of the parables go back to Jesus (so long Good Samaritan, it was nice to know you). I won’t get into the details of Meier’s arguments, but it does seem to follow from his general approach to the Gospels. I find his approach unduly skeptical, but your mileage may vary. For more traditional readers, this book shows the strengths and limitations of the historical-critical approach (as Ratzinger said about A Marginal Jew in his series on the historical Jesus).In any event this book isn’t an exegesis of the parables, so if that’s what you are looking for there are books that fit the bill (Blomberg and Snodgrass for example).The book has a helpful review of the previous four volumes and the chapter end notes are mine of valuable insights. His discussion of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas is excellent. While Meier is no conservative, he also rejects this “Gospel” as being an independent source of the Jesus tradition.

⭐I was very pleased to see the fifth volume of “A Marginal Jew” published this year, particularly on such an interesting topic as the parables. I have read and poured over the four previous volumes and found them ALL to be of top-notch writing and reasoning. I eagerly churned through vol. 5. These books are quite literally master works, and result from years and years of Meier’s impressive and painstaking care, rigor, and analyses. What a lens to try to see history from 2,000 years ago!Working your way through vol.5 will remind you of the vast grasp of knowledge that Meier possesses on New Testament writings, prophetic Old Testament passages, early turn of the Common Era history, non-Canonical writings, other scholarship / scholars and Church history / Theology / Christology— There’s even a brief, pertinent discussion on Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” It is precisely Meier’s strong intellect, keen judgement, and dedication to historical critical analyses — regardless of where the findings may lead him — that make these books so valuable and separate him (at a great distance) from the rest of the pack of Bible scholars and historians.Vol. 5 is in keeping with all that has gone before it in Vols.1-4 and involves particularly sensitive (because it is beloved) but murky material — the historicity of the parables. Meier bravely blazes forward, anticipating and addressing in several places those readers that may grow increasingly uncomfortable with the slim number of “authentic” determinations as Meier shifts through the Gospel material. WARNING to readers of faith: Make every effort to carefully take in and then understand Meier’s points on the Historical Jesus, the “Real” Jesus and the Jesus of Christology and what his methodology yields and doesn’t yield. While Meier’s writing may “break the mold” in some ways, it doesn’t have to shatter your faith, in the slightest. Christians, volume 5 is worth working your way though, even if it “freaks you out” at first look. Non-Christians interested in the historical Jesus will appreciate Fr. Meier’s unflinching stare at the conclusions.Additionally, you will also be delighted with the shiny bits of wit and humor Meier has dropped in — always with great discretion and professional judgement… it’s terrific tongue in cheek stuff that you would expect to get from a brilliant, witty mind like Meiers.Where I personally find Meier particularly fascinating is when he follows up his conclusions on authenticity with EXCELLENT discussions of how these findings cohere with the much larger picture that has emerged in Vols. 1-4 and stands as the historical Jesus’ message and ministry. This is really, really good stuff and I hope that his concluding volume sums up the entire body of “authentic” findings from the whole Marginal Jew series and then articulates the entire ministry and message of the historical Jesus that emerges from Meier’s decades long effort. I may be putting too much into this, but it is when Meier talks about the “authentic,” coherent message from Jesus that I feel he lets a little of his “Father Meier” shine through! — although he carefully speaks from the “historical” side at all times.Lastly, I appreciate Meier’s decision to put Van Gogh’s painting of the Good Samaritan on the cover. He gives special treatment /discussion to the analysis of the Good Samaritan parable in the book, and it’s beautiful cover art! And beautiful scholarship deserves beautiful art.

⭐John P Meier is rigorous in his ambition to define a minimal core of authentic knowledge of Jesus as a historical figure, as opposed to the theological interpretation of later generations of Christian believers. He therefore subjects the gospel narratives to systematic criticism. His account of Jesus as a Jewish eschatological prophet who taught the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God is convincing, albeit now mainstream. In his volume however he goes possibly too far in arguing that the parables recorded in the synoptic gospels were probably not by Jesus, excepting four. He does so by classifying most parables as uncertain because we lack multiple attestation or some other reason (such as them being embarrassing to the early Church ) to believe them to be probably authentic. He correctly notes tat the later synoptic gospels by Matthew and Luke contain ever more parables, and is also right to conclude that some famous ones, such as the good Samaritan, are best understood in the context of the interests of Luke the evangelist. However, he underplays his own criterion of coherence, and the extent to which the fact that Jesus taught in parables became crucial to his legacy and teaching. Consider for example that the oldest gospel by Mark makes this a central issue, in order to explain why his disciples did not quite understand what Jesus was saying. Meier seems to agree with the idea that Mark’s major gospel theme, the “messianic mystery”, has little to do with the historical Jesus, but this leaves the whole gospel tradition on very shaky grounds as evidence for anything other than the rhetorical and polemical needs of particular Christian communities a few decades after the crucifixion. Meier is right to assert that he does not claim that the majority of the parables are false, he simply says that we cannot be confident that they are authentic. But he does not analyze many of the “uncertain” parables, spending much more effort debunking the historical value of the Coptic gospel of Thomas. At the same time he fails to explain what kind of picture emerges if we consider many of the uncertain parables as actually false, that is, not the result of oral transmission and interpretation, but the absolute creation of the gospel writers a few decades after the death of Jesus. Presumably this will become clear in later volumes. The book is no doubt salutary, but Meier needs to decide what he wants to do with all those sayings that may or may not be authentic.

⭐John P. Meier again hits a home run. The style of writing is engaging. The level of scholarship is superb. One does not need to agree with each point to benefit from this new volume.

⭐I have the whole series (5 volumes) of Father Meier’s book. The subject is of course extremeley intriguing, but as a busy layman I lack the energy to read through the complex and lengthy text. I also believe, based on my partial reading, that the purpose of this project, i. e. to give shape to the Historical Jesus, leeds to somewhat disappointing results, as we just do not have enough historically reliable sources about the historical Jesus. Paradoxically, I sometimes find that anti-Christian writers like Renan or Nietzsche bring you even closer to the true spirit of Jesus, but then, the Marginal Jew is a historcial study, not a spiritual work. I hope that one day when less busy, I can dig -into a micro-reading of some of the chapters, and I am almost certain that it will be very rewarding.

⭐A great read.

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