http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/224128/april-09-2009/bart-ehrman?xrs=share_copy
If you checked out the video from the link above (and I hope you have), then you saw an interesting dialogue between funnyman Colbert (apparently a devout Catholic), and agnostic scholar Erhman (formerly a Christian theologian!).
Erhman is professor at UNC Chapel Hill, just down the road from my seminary, and I have several friends who studied New Testament under him during undergrad. He's not just a smart man, he's a really really smart man. And in this interview with Colbert, he certainly makes several points worth considering if one is going to claim to "follow Jesus". How do we know the Bible, and what is says about Jesus, is true? Who of us hasn't asked or encountered this question before?
Erhman points out that the four gospels give differing perspectives Jesus' crucifixion, and he also mentions that the first three gospels don't claim that Jesus is the son of God. What Erhman does not acknowledge, however, is the degree of similar and repeated material between the gospels. They all chronicle his birth, life, death, and relationships with disciples and friends in like ways. They repeat stories that occurred throughout his ministry, and they connect to the Old Testament in a way that the public would have recognized at the time. Not only that, but as the gospels make Old Testament references, they expect that their readers will recognize this as a claim that Jesus is the messiah, or the son of God, that Israel has been waiting for. So, these four books by written by four men at four times have a lot in common. I would actually love to find a neutral reader to pick up the gospels, read through them, and tell me if they felt these books were telling the same story about Jesus or not. Any takers?
Colbert's response brings to light another logical reality - people tell stories differently because they interpret things uniquely. The parable of the four blind men and the elephant illustrates the point he's getting at. In fact, one may ask the question, shouldn't we be more worried if all four were exactly the same in every way? Because this would imply that the gospel writers had either gotten together first to decide on a story, or that they were repeating a potentially fictitious story that had been crystallized into a myth or parable. I don't know, but that's just a thought.
All this to say, I enjoyed the dialogue, particularly because Colbert is hilarious, but also because he is able to have a smart conversation with Erhman without getting offended, flustered, or perturbed. Conversations like this should happen more often, eh? Additionally, if you're interested in learning about how the Bible was put together, I recommend the book "Reinventing Jesus", which tackles head on the major issues that Erhman and other scholars have raised about the Bible. It's full of intelligent information but is written in a really down to earth way.
Erhman points out that the four gospels give differing perspectives Jesus' crucifixion, and he also mentions that the first three gospels don't claim that Jesus is the son of God. What Erhman does not acknowledge, however, is the degree of similar and repeated material between the gospels. They all chronicle his birth, life, death, and relationships with disciples and friends in like ways. They repeat stories that occurred throughout his ministry, and they connect to the Old Testament in a way that the public would have recognized at the time. Not only that, but as the gospels make Old Testament references, they expect that their readers will recognize this as a claim that Jesus is the messiah, or the son of God, that Israel has been waiting for. So, these four books by written by four men at four times have a lot in common. I would actually love to find a neutral reader to pick up the gospels, read through them, and tell me if they felt these books were telling the same story about Jesus or not. Any takers?
Colbert's response brings to light another logical reality - people tell stories differently because they interpret things uniquely. The parable of the four blind men and the elephant illustrates the point he's getting at. In fact, one may ask the question, shouldn't we be more worried if all four were exactly the same in every way? Because this would imply that the gospel writers had either gotten together first to decide on a story, or that they were repeating a potentially fictitious story that had been crystallized into a myth or parable. I don't know, but that's just a thought.
All this to say, I enjoyed the dialogue, particularly because Colbert is hilarious, but also because he is able to have a smart conversation with Erhman without getting offended, flustered, or perturbed. Conversations like this should happen more often, eh? Additionally, if you're interested in learning about how the Bible was put together, I recommend the book "Reinventing Jesus", which tackles head on the major issues that Erhman and other scholars have raised about the Bible. It's full of intelligent information but is written in a really down to earth way.
Maybe in the future Colbert will interview the Dahlia Lama or Bin Laden, and then I'll really have something to blog about.
Nat, you're on top of it. The gospels are tough. It takes the Spirit to discern much of what is going on in the text... You've raised tough questions that are not easily answered in a 30 minute comedy or on a blog. Some folks question it their whole lives.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly insightful... love the book Reinventing Jesus! keep writing!!
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