Redaction criticism

what could the differences that we have noted in the birth Narratives be attributed to?

Matthew and Luke's different theological perspectives

what do many scholars believe?

That the Gospel writers edited preexisting material to suit their own purposes. They not only collected material about Jesus; they also interpreted it to address a particular situation or to reach a particular audience

what is the study of how Gospel writers did this, known as?

Redaction criticism

what is Redaction Criticism?

The science of examining how source material has been edited (redacted) by editors to reflect their point of view

what do Redaction critics of the birth Narratives argue?

Matthew and Luke shared a common story, but told it in ways that reflected their concerns and audiences

what do Redaction critics note?

The many references to the Hebrew scriptures in Matthew's account infer he was a Jewish beliiever writing for Jews who needed to be convicted that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Jewish prophecy

contrasting Matthew, what did Luke write for?

A non-Jewish audience, thus emphasising Jesus as a universal saviour (‘a light to lighten the gentiles’)

what are the three ‘settings’ (Sitze im Leben) that the Gospels may have taken shape?

• First in the teaching of the historical Jesus

• Secondly in the life of the early Church

• Thirrdly in the thought of the evangelists

why is the third setting a useful insight?

the Gospel wroters’ own understanding and a new and decisive forward movement in the transmission of the Gospel tradition becomes apparent

what is possible to discover when we look at the individual comments of the evangelists, their editorial links and summaries and the expansion and modification they use?

Each writer understood and interpreted (as well as edited) the tradition he recieved. This is Redaction Criticism

what is the difference between the Gospel of Mark and Matthew and Luke?

The Birth Narratives of Luke and Matthew contain stories arranged (redacted) for a theological purpose. In contrast, the earliest Gospel of Mark, written around 70 AD, contains no reference to birth stories at all

what issue arises from this?

How do we find out the author's purpose in writing the Gospels? Why did Matthew and Luke insert birth Narratives when Mark does not?

what is argued about Matthew's Gospel?

It was aimed at Jewish readers. H tells the story of Jesus’ birth from Joseph's viewpoint. He is at pains to prove that Jesus was connected, through Joseph, with Israel's King David, and that he was the fulfillment of the Old Testament revelation of God

what does Matthew's account contain?

Four quotations from the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and Hosea) and one each from two other Old Testament books, 2 Samuel and possibly, the Book of Judges

What is Matthew convinced of?

That Jesus has come into the world not only for the Jews but for all people, and expresses that conviction by recording that his very first visitors were foreigners, Wise Men from the ‘east’

what is Luke convinced about?

Jesus has universal significance. As Simeon's song puts it, he is a light to lighten the Gentiles’, but Luke's emphasis differs from Matthew’s

who is Luke's Gospel aimed at?

His Gosepl, which is a prologue to his second book, the Book of Acts, appears to be aimed specifically at Gentiles, both books are dedicated to a man with a Greek name, Theophilus, some believe that this may be a general term for those who follow Jesus

What does Luke do in comparison to Matthew?

Focus on the Old Testament less, while Mathew does, and when he does, he quotes not from the Hebrew but the Greek version, the Septuagint

why might Luke tell the story from Mary's viewpoint?

Less anxious than Matthew to establish a connection between Jesus and King David. Also shows his sympathy for those, including women, who were marginalised in the society of his time

What does Luke emphasis throughout his Gospel?

Jesus brought salvation to the poor and the needy and that the grsce of God is bestowed especially on the underprivileged and down trodden

what is noted in Luke's Gospel?

The good news of Jesus’ birth is brought for the first time not to sophisticated Wise Men, who could afford expensive gifts, but to the poor shepherds