Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries PMIN 206 The Synoptic Gospels Dr. Catherine Murphy NARRATIVE & REDACTIONAL THEMES IN MATTHEW 1 Two Critical Approaches Returning to Narrative Criticism Narrative Criticism Redaction Criticism Study how the later editor Study episode plotting for (Matthew) edited his source clues about the design of the (Mark). narrative. This will yield some sense of This too will yield some sense the gospel’s core themes. of the gospel’s core themes. 2 Kernels & Satellites in the Plot of Matthew Carter’s Outline Kernels Satellites major branching points or hinges minor events that elaborate or flesh that advance the plot in the plot; outtakes that can be removed without damaging the plot’s outcome 3 1
Kernels & Satellites in the Plot of Matthew Carter’s Outline Kernels Satellites 1:18-25 God initiates Jesus’ story 1:1–4:16 genealogy, birth, baptism, and commission temptation, Capernaum 4:17-25 Jesus begins his mission 4:17–11:1 2 teaching blocks, healings – and community the kingdom enacted 11:2-6 John the Baptist asks, are 11:2–16:20 opposition: Pharisees, you the messiah? Herod Antipas kills JBap 16:21-28 Jesus begins to predict 16:21–20:34 crucifixion predicted; the death and resurrection cost of discipleship 21:1-27 Temple tables overturned 21–27 passion and death 28:1-10 resurrection 28:1-28 leaders reject; disciples believe, Jesus commissions 4 Two Critical Approaches Returning to Narrative Criticism Narrative Criticism Redaction Criticism Study how the later editor Study episode plotting for (Matthew) edited his source clues about the design of the (Mark). narrative. This will yield some sense of This too will yield some sense the gospel’s core themes. of the gospel’s core themes. 5 Topics to Look For The theme is the meaning Matthew assigns, the answer he offers § Christology How Matthew defines the significance of the Christ § Ecclesiology How Matthew describes the followers of Jesus and their life together § Eschatology How Matthew understands the “end times” and the place of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection within them 6 2
Christology The Significance of the Christ Narrative Critical Clues Redaction Critical Clues § Jesus represents the fulfillment of scripture 40+ allusions § 47, 111, 113 to prophecy § Messiah, Son of the living God, Son of Man, § 158, 254 Structure of genealogy; Immanuel (God with us), Jesus (God saves) chiastic infancy/passion § David Christology § 117, 151 1–2; 21:1-11; 27:11-31 § Moses Christology 2:13-23; 5–7; 17:1-9 § 161, 284 § Jesus as divine Wisdom 11:19-27 Discourses, Q § Earliest Trinitarian formulation (28:19) 7 Ecclesiology The Nature of the Church Narrative Critical Clues Redaction Critical Clues § Jewish law is fulfilled, but Gentiles are § 85, 339 2:1-12; 25:31-46 also included § Church is founded; Peter is rock on which § 158, 147 it’s built § Characteristics of community life are Discourses 2 & 4 § 219 described (mission and community) § The kingdom ≠ the church, but the church 7:21-23; 25:31-46 chiastic pattern of is where Jesus is confessed as Lord the 5 discourses § The kingdom of heaven is transferred Matthew’s unique § 341 to a people who will bear fruit framing of Jesus’ cru- cifixion as a permanent sacrifice effecting atonement in place of the lost temple 8 Eschatology Jesus’ Role in the End Times Narrative Critical Clues Redaction Critical Clues § Natural phenomena signal the decisive 2:2 § 347, 352 change that Jesus’ life and death inaugurate § Many precepts are MORE difficult than § 55-56 See M and Q material added Jewish law = an end-time ethics? at § 57-59 9 3
Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries PMIN 206 The Synoptic Gospels Dr. Catherine Murphy INTRODUCING SOCIAL-SCIENTIFIC CRITICISM 10 Social Scientific Criticism Definition Social scientific criticism analyzes the social and cultural dimensions of a text and of the environment that produced the text using concerns and methods developed in the social sciences. § Anthropology § Archaeology The focus § Economics will usually be one, not all, of these § Political Science § Religious Studies (as distinct from theology) 11 Social Scientific Criticism Choices in Designing a Project 1. Focus Social system or Cultural System Family Values such as marriage patterns, kinship honor and shame networks, gender roles personality structure hospitality Politics perception of access to institutions, processes, culture, goods legal/military mechanisms purity and pollution Economics land tenure, industry, commerce, trade, occupational patterns, classes, social relations, property Religion organization, mythology, ideology, ritual behavior Group formation & maintenance education/socialization, patron-client relations, processes of cooperation competition & conflict, strategies to establish group identity 12 4
Social Scientific Criticism Choices in Designing a Project 1. Focus Social system or Cultural System 2. Scope Macro or Micro Roman economic system of Tax collection in first- production and redistribution century Palestine 13 Social Scientific Criticism Choices in Designing a Project 1. Focus Social system or Cultural System 2. Scope Macro or Micro 3. Entry Point Text or Context Literary, archaeological or Social and cultural patterns epigraphic evidence presumed to shape world 14 Social Scientific Criticism Choices in Designing a Project 1. Focus Social system or Cultural System 2. Scope Macro or Micro 3. Entry Point Text or Context 4. Direction of Inductive or Deductive Inquiry Start with data and build Start with model or expla- hypothesis to explain it nation and read data 15 5
Social Scientific Criticism Choices in Designing a Project 1. Focus Social system or Cultural System 2. Scope Macro or Micro 3. Entry Point Text or Context 4. Direction of Inductive or Deductive Inquiry 5. Temporal Range Diachronic or Synchronic Development of pheno- Static view of phenomenon menon across time at one time, in relation to other contemporary phenomena 16 7 Generalizations for Reading Matthew How social-scientific exegetes view the NT world 1. All goods are limited; social interactions outside one’s group are win/lose 2. The subsistence economy resulted in a present (not future) orientation 3. There was no sense of history, as something qualitatively different from the present 4. The supernatural was not regarded as super natural, but as an aspect of the natural 5. Religion and economics were not free-standing institutions; they were embedded in kinship and politics 6. Domestic religion was characterized by remembering ancestors; to some extent, this characterizes political religion as well. 7. People were defined by the collective, not by individualism or introspection; that is one reason there were no authors of the gospels 17 Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries PMIN 206 The Synoptic Gospels Dr. Catherine Murphy THE KINGDOM OF GOD & THE KINGDOM OF CAESAR 18 6
A Social-Scientific Project The Kingdom of God & the Kingdom of Caesar 1. Focus Social System Politics: ideologies of power 2. Scope Macro Imperial ideology 3. Entry Context Roman world Point 4. Direction Deductive Model ➞ text of Inquiry 5. Temporal Synchronic Range one moment in time 19 A Social-Scientific Project The Kingdom of God & the Kingdom of Caesar § Describe and explain a model of Roman imperial theology • Use description to “read” Matthew’s presentation of the Kingdom of God/heaven 20 Our Model of Roman Imperial Theology In the ancient world, religion and politics were fused; there was a single continuum of power that ran hierarchically from god(s) to rulers to lower officials 95-96 CE 136 CE 174 CE 21 7
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