Barnstone: Infancy gospel of James, Arabic infancy gospel, Secret gospel of Mark
Theissen: pp. 191-117
Web: Toldot Yeshu, Gospel of Peter, Egerton gospel
Handout: Robinson, ch. 4, Nativity parallels (Luke & Matt), Gospel parallels, pp. [161]-191
Textual criticism
Rich textual base
Contrast most classical works
Textual corruption (sources of textual variants)
Haplography (Adulterer's Bible)
dittography
reading and hearing error (Rev. 1:5)
gloss (1 Jn 5:7f)
grammatical / spelling correction
theological correction (Matt 28.19, Rom 16:7, Luke 22:19)
remembered quotes (copied from memory rather than from the text) (Matt 6:13)
missing pages (ending of Mark?)
supply from other traditions (ending of Mark, John 7:53-8:11)
Textual family trees
Autograph
Byzantine vs. Alexandrian
"Western"
Tools for decoding
Principle of the more difficult reading (problems...)
Older text (problems...)
Better attested text (problems...)
Conjectures (problems...)
Translation
distinguished from 'variant' or 'redaction' (edition)
'version' as a technical term
retroversion
Nativity stories
Commonalties
Mary = virgin mother of Jesus
Joseph = Mary's fiancée
Jesus born in Bethlehem
Jesus grew up in Nazareth
Genealogy from David (but not the same one)
Attempts to harmonize genealogies
One could be genealogy of Mary, but requires textual conjecture
Differences
Matthew
Joseph/Mary from Bethlehem
Escape to Egypt, then move to Nazareth
Magi
Herod's involvement
Slaughter of the innocents
Genealogy through royal line, but has counting problems (14,14,13)
Luke
Birth of John the Baptist
Annunciation to Mary
Joseph/Mary from Nazareth
Travel to Bethlehem
Census
No room in guest room (inn), manger
Shepherds
Presentation in temple
Genealogy through non-royal line of David
Proto-gospel of James
Combines Matthew & Luke & adds own stuff
Toldoth Yeshu
Mary engaged to Yohanan (John)
Raped by Joseph Pandera
Mary from Bethlehem
Moves to Nazareth when details of Jesus' conception come to light
Protogospel (Infancy Gospel) of James
Miraculous birth of Mary
Problem of Jesus' "brothers"
Purity of Mary
Menstruation question
Even after birth of Jesus
Possible docetic connection
Toldoth Yeshu
Time difference
Different Yeshu ~100 BC?
Joseph Pandera (Pantera)
Jesus as son of niddah
Note complete inversion of Mary's purity in James
Miracles
Judah's defilement of Jesus
Jesus' death & fate of body
Miracles
definitions:
a) everything
-- babies, etc.
transcendentalism, deism, Hollywood, etc.
b) intervention of g/God within natural parameter where timing suggests intentionality
-- toddler & train story
g/God is willing/able to participate/intervene in normal course of events
c) violation of laws of nature
-- most Bible miracles
g/God is willing/able to violate laws of nature
laws of nature for us not necessarily same as for God
rationalism & historical miracle claims
(presupposes miracles that involve the violation of the laws of nature)
a) nature is historically consistent
b) no miracles today
c) --> no miracles in past
possible refutation:
a) Dispensationalism (no need for miracles in church age)
archaism (increasing sin hinders miracles)
cultural dependency (faith needed for miracles)