To: 
From: "Vern Humphrey" 
Reply-To: r_catholic-l{at}yahoogroups.com

To: seanmbrook{at}aol.com [mailto:seanmbrook{at}aol.com]
>
>  "The basic argument for Marcan priority is that it
>  solves more problems than any other theory.

It doesn't, you know.  That's why they had to invent the Q document.

>  It
>  offers the best explanation for why Matt and Luke
>  so often agree with Mark in order and wording, and
>  allows reasonable surmises for why Matt and Luke
>  differ from Mark when they do so independently.
>  For instance, neither evangelist liked Mark's redun-
>  dancies, awkward Greek expressions, uncompli-
>  mentary presentation of the disciples and Mary, and
>  embarassing statements about Jesus.  When using
>  Mark, both expanded the Marcan accounts in the
>  light of postresurrectional faith.

A simpler argument is that Mark was less educated, and found writing a
chore.  He copied Matthew, or what he had heard of it, but kept it brief.

>
>  However, even the mere possibility of there being
>  PHYSICAL evidence for Matthew's Gospel having
>  been written before the twelfth year of Nero's reign
>  upsets all this!

Yes, it does.

>  True.  But I see Muslims having similar difficulties
>  vis a vis the Bible.  One Muslim lady I recently talked
>  to dismissed the canonical Gospels because they are
>  "anonymous."  I tried to tell her she didn't understand
>  how Catholics regard the Bible.  The CHURCH was
>  guided by God into choosing for the canon those
>  books which He wanted there.  Thus, "authorship"
>  simply doesn't matter that much.

Just as Muslims cannot understand the Bible, and therefore cannot interpret
it, so Christians cannot understand and properly interpret the Koran.

You see how her problem with authorship is wrapped up in her view of the
Koran?  She comes to the Bible with certain assumptions she cannot shake.

>  Actually, I don't see that sort of thing very often.
>  Largely because, I think, Christians and Jews can
>  retort that Mohammed was no better.  E.g., guilty
>  of massacres himself and of plotting to have his
>  enemies assassinated.

Well, that's the technique every guilty person uses -- "Those other
guys did it too!!"
>
>  And I say the God of the OT is the same God as in
>  the NT.  Rather, the ancient Hebrews began with
>  primitive conceptions of God.  As time passed--from
>  both revelation and reflection--they advanced to a
>  far purer and advanced idea of God.

A very difficult concept to grasp.
>
>  I'm reminded of the Book of Jonah.  The Prophet was
>  commanded by God to preach doom to the wicked
>  city of Nineveh.  Jonah disobeyed God, trying to
>  flee to Tarshish, far to the west.  Why?  Because
>  Jonah was AFRAID the hated Assyrians would
>  REPENT.  After the Ninevites did repent due to
>  Jonah's preaching, he became angry and com-
>  plained to God: "I beseech you, LORD, is not this
>  what I said while I was still in my own country?
>  This is why I fled at first to Tarshish.  I knew that
>  you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger,
>  rich in clemency, loathe to punish" (Jon. 4.2).
>
>  A far more advanced conception of God than what
>  the Hebrews had when they invaded Canaan around
>  1200 BC.

But still a concept used in dealing with certain people. :-(


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