|
Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
The gospel writers edited
- even censored - each other
and did not view each other's
writings as "holy."
return to the main-page article on "Bible"
Preview and Summary: The gospel writers did not see eye-to-eye on many issues and would subtly attack each other, in terms of strategic editing and censoring. There was no mutual sense among them of creating "infallible" scripture.
Much of "Luke" and "Matthew" is merely a borrowing from "Mark." This is common knowledge in scholarly circles. A long time ago, as a young ministerial student, I understood that the gospel writers - quite often, actually - would differ in their various accounts of the activities of Jesus.
Those who "harmonized" such discrepancies would say that the gospel writers were like news reporters, each writing of the same event, but focusing on different aspects. For example, how many people spoke to Jesus on a certain occasion? - was it two or three? The gospel writers might differ on such things, but, it was said, only because of a particular story emphasis - three people, it was asserted, spoke to Jesus, but one account of the story might mention only two. Fair enough.
And for a long time I thought that such explanation satisfied claims of biblical discrepancy. I continued in this uncritical view until I came across a book by Bishop John Shelby Spong: Rescuing The Bible From Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks The Meaning of Scripture.
Dr. Spong points out that the gospel writers did not merely engage in harmless "was it two or was it three?" theological disparities. Far from it. These writers freely edited each other; sometimes, majorly - and not in a kind way.
Often the editing would produce a meaning in direct conflict with that of the other gospel writer. It is beyond the scope of the present paragraph to allow for details, so you'll need to read Dr. Spong's book for yourself. But when I saw that, it was, for me, the beginning of the end regarding "biblical infallibility."
Because, as you will discover, the gospel writers did not consider each other to be divinely inspired. They were not so impressed with each other - even though the unscholarly and too-credulous typical believer, 2000 years after the fact, might swear by them.
|