Understanding the Diverse Accounts in the Gospels: A Closer Look at Scholarly Analysis
The diversity of the Gospels has often raised questions among scholars and readers alike. Are the Gospels contradictory, or do they merely reflect the unique contexts and ideas of their respective authors and times?
Assessing the Textual Consistency of the Gospels
One common misconception is that the Gospels contain contradictions. However, a close examination reveals that the differences are not due to contradictions, but rather the presence of the same core set of events seen from different perspectives. One famous example is the beginning of the Gospels, which spell out the alphabet in a unique way: A C D G H I L M O Q R V W X B C D G H I L M O P T U X Y Z
Despite the differences in the order of the alphabet, both sets of letters contain the same letters. This demonstrates that the Gospels are not contradictory but rather present the same information from different angles.
Interpreting the Gospels as Hearsay
The reliability of the Gospels is often questioned due to the absence of direct evidence from people who knew Jesus, spoke with him, or witnessed his miracles. All we have are accounts written by individuals long after the events occurred. These accounts are best described as hearsay, as they are not direct firsthand accounts but rather interpretations and retellings of the events.
The Context and Purpose of the Gospels
A common misconception is that the Gospels were written as eyewitness accounts. However, scholars have carefully analyzed the texts and dates of the Gospels. The earliest Gospel, Mark, does not mention the virgin birth and was written between 65-73 CE, around 70 years after Christ's death. Later Gospels, such as Matthew (80-90 CE) and Luke (85-100 CE), do incorporate the virgin birth story, suggesting they were written to counter other Pagan religions that claimed their deities had been born of a virgin. The John Gospel (100-118 CE) was not written as an eyewitness account but in a Greek storytelling style known as chreiai.
The Earliest Gospels and Their Dates
The earliest fragment of any Gospel in existence is a fragment of John's Gospel, consisting of five verses, and dated between 125-150 CE. This fragment is only the size of a playing card. Additionally, the names of the four Gospel writers were not added until around 175-180 CE by Bishop Irenaeus, and thus are not authentic. This dating further emphasizes that these texts were written by anonymous authors and not as eyewitness accounts.
Many scholars argue that no authentic or original copies of the Gospels exist today. The texts we have are compilations by anonymous writers, and the names of these authors were only added during the early days of the Christian Church. Furthermore, any words attributed to Jesus, such as the famous "Sermon on the Mount," are likely not accurate and are not historical descriptions as traditionally taught.
The Diversity of Gospels and Their Selection
It is important to note that there were over 400 other gospels and texts that claimed to describe the life of Jesus. However, the church, particularly the future Catholic Church, chose only four to emphasize their belief that Christ should be seen as a god. These copies, reproduced by hand, have undergone further alterations. Scholars have found that many passages, particularly those that portray Jesus as a god, were added even after 312 CE, the year Constantine converted to Christianity.
In conclusion, the diverse accounts in the Gospels reflect the unique contexts and ideas of their respective authors and times. While they are not contradictory, they are not eyewitness accounts but rather hearsay and interpretations of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The process of selection and interpretation of these texts has been extensive and subject to numerous changes over time.