Hermeneutics and Early Christian Gospels

In this hermeneutical study, Todd Brewer examines two contrasting interpretive methods to the Jesus tradition: narrative and non-narrative sayings. The early Christians composed both narrative Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and non-narrative sayings Gospels (e.g., the Gospel of Thomas). What happens to Jesus' teachings when they are either understood within an unfolding story of his life or as isolated sayings? By studying the same parables across narrative and non-narrative interpretive settings, the inherent tendencies of these two methods can be ascertained. These contrasting hermeneutics are not only operative in early Christian Gospels, but also exemplified by modern interpreters such as Hans Frei and Rudolf Bultmann. A sayings approach is significantly different from a narrative approach, especially in relation the questions of history and Christology.1.1 Clement of Alexandria and John Chrysostom
1.2 Rudolf Bultmann, the Analyst of the Jesus Tradition
1.3 Hans Frei and the Recovery of Biblical Narrative
1.4 Recent »Data« and »Mural« Approaches to the Parables
1.5 Conclusion
2.1 Thomas' Composition: A »Family Tree« Model
2.2 A More Orthodox Thomas (P.Oxy. 654)
2.3 Stable, Migrant, and Rewritten Sayings (P.Oxy.1)
2.4 A Significant Difference and a Dependent Saying (P.Oxy.655)
2.5 Beyond Oxyrhynchus: The Genre and Title of Thomas Through Time
2.6 Conclusion
3.1 The Father's Care for »Little Ones«: Matthew 18.12-14
3.2 Jesus' Journey Toward the Reader: Thomas Saying 107
3.3 The Parable of the Lost Tax Collectors-Sinners: Luke 15.3-7
3.4 Luke, Matthew, and Thomas: Three Methods of Mediation
4.1 The Murderous, Unworthy Tenants: Thomas Saying 65
4.2 The Rejection of the Son of God: Mark 12.1-11
4.3 The Christological Parable of the Tenants, Version 2.0
4.4 Luke's Parable and the Fate of Jerusalem
4.5 Christological Possibilities of »Murals« and »Data«
5.1 Implications