How the Gospels Became History : Jesus and Mediterranean Myths / M. David Litwa.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Litwa, M. David, Author.

Series:

Synkrisis.

Yale scholarship online.

Synkrisis

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Gospels--Historiography.

Bible.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (311 pages).

Place of Publication:

New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, [2019]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A compelling comparison of the gospels and Greco-Roman mythology which shows that the gospels were not perceived as myths, but as historical records Did the early Christians believe their myths? Like most ancient-and modern-people, early Christians made efforts to present their myths in the most believable ways. In this eye-opening work, M. David Litwa explores how and why what later became the four canonical gospels take on a historical cast that remains vitally important for many Christians today. Offering an in-depth comparison with other Greco-Roman stories that have been shaped to seem like history, Litwa shows how the evangelists responded to the pressures of Greco-Roman literary culture by using well-known historiographical tropes such as the mention of famous rulers and kings, geographical notices, the introduction of eyewitnesses, vivid presentation, alternative reports, and so on. In this way, the evangelists deliberately shaped myths about Jesus into historical discourse to maximize their believability for ancient audiences.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

Introduction. The Gospels, Mythography, and Historiography

Chapter One. Jesus Myth Theory

Chapter Two. A Theory of Comparison

Chapter Three. Incarnation

Chapter Four. Genealogy

Chapter Five. Divine Conception

Chapter Six. Dream Visions and Prophecies

Chapter Seven. Magi and the Star

Chapter Eight. Child in Danger, Child of Wonder

Chapter Nine. The Righteous Lawgiver

Chapter Ten. Miracles

Chapter Eleven. The Pharmakos

Chapter Twelve. Empty Tombs and Translation

Chapter Thirteen Disappearance and Recognition

Chapter Fourteen. Ascent

Chapter Fifteen. Eyewitnesses

Conclusion. The Myth of Historicity

Notes

Index of Subjects

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Ancient Sources

Notes:

Previously issued in print: 2019.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 06. Apr 2020)

ISBN:

0-300-24948-9

OCLC:

1111801550