Oral Tradition and the New Testament: A Guide for the Perplexed
Overview
The last three decades have seen an explosion of biblical scholarship on the presence and consequences of the oral expression of tradition among Jesus’ followers, especially in the earliest decades of the Common Era. However, this scholarship is abstract and technical and, to date, no introductory discussion exists to introduce students to these complex issues being discussed at higher levels of scholarship. Rafael Rodriguez fills that gap in this helpful volume.
Rodriguez adopts a fourfold structure to cover the topic. He begins with the essential elements of oral-tradition research and defines key terms. Next, he discusses the key players in the field. Then, he examines the methods involved in oral-tradition research among New Testament scholars. Finally, Rodriguez provides examples of the ways in which oral-tradition research can bring texts into clearer focus. The result is a comprehensive introduction to this key area in New Testament studies.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
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- Explores the essential elements of oral-tradition
- Discusses the key players in the field of oral-tradition and biblical scholarship
- Provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of oral-tradition
Top Highlights
“no flexibility (for proverbs and poems), some flexibility (for parables and historical accounts), and total flexibility” (Page 49)
“certain features of the written text suggest that the Gospel ‘was composed for a listening, not a reading, audience” (Page 40)
“he assumes a fixed oral tradition that was more stable and unchanging than even the written Jesus tradition” (Page 36)
“Horsley focuses his attention on the intersection of media criticism and the social distribution of power” (Page 50)
“Achtemeier’s essay rightly senses that reading, as a cultural activity, varies from culture to culture” (Page 43)
Rafael Rodríguez is associate professor of New Testament at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN. He received his PhD from the University of Sheffield.