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Showing papers in "New Testament Studies in 1976"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The contention that the Christian conception of Jesus as a descending-ascending saviour figure was derived from the gnostic redeemer myth faces serious problems as discussed by the authors. But, despite its popularity, the contention is not supported by the available evidence.
Abstract: In spite of its popularity, the contention that the Christian conception of Jesus as a descending-ascending saviour figure was derived from the gnostic redeemer myth faces serious problems. Three are widely noted; another needs attention. (I) The sources from which our knowledge of the gnostic myth comes are late: e.g. the Naassene hymn, the hymn of the Pearl, the Mandean materials, the Manichean evidence, the accounts in the church fathers, and the Nag Hammadi documents. Sources from Chenoboskion like the Paraphrase of Shem, the Apocalypse of Adam, and the Second Logos of the Great Seth do contain a myth of a redeemer that is only superficially christianized. Hence the gnostics may not have derived their myth from Christians. It does not follow, however, either that Christians got it from gnostics or that it is pre-Christian. (2) A redeemer myth is not essential to gnosticism. Though gnosticism may contain a redeemer myth (e.g. the Naassene hymn), it may exist without one. In Carpocrates' system, for example, Jesus' soul remembered what it had seen in its circuit with the unbegotten God. The Ophites in Origen's Against Celsus know of no descending-ascending redeemer. They look to an earthly being who fetches gnosis from heaven. In Poimandres, the writer is the recipient of a vision in rapture. He then teaches the way of salvation. Indeed, the proto-gnosticism of Paul's opponents in I Corinthians apparently did not contain a redeemer myth. Such evidence demands that a distinction be drawn between two issues: (a) whether or not there was a pre-Christian gnosticism, and (b) whether or not there was a pre-Christian gnostic redeemer myth. Since a redeemer myth is not constitutive for gnosticism, the existence of a pre-Christian gnosis is no guarantee for the presence of a gnostic redeemer myth. (3) In the Christian sources where the gnostic myth has been assumed to be influential (e.g. the Fourth Gospel), there is no ontological identity between Christ and the believers as in gnosticism. There is, in the Christian writings, no pre-existence of the soul or redeemed redeemer. Given these difficulties, why the attractiveness of the gnostic hypothesis?

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a series of presentations visant a faire connaitre le Evangile de Verite, puis des traductions, quelques-unes accompagnees d'un commentaire suivi, tentant, jusqu'a un certain point, de rendre compte des difficultes de la version copte.
Abstract: L'Evangile de Verite est sans doute un des textes les plus etudies de tous les manuscrits coptes decouverts pres de Nag Hammadi. La somme des travaux publices depuis pres de trente ans ne saurait laisser indifferent. Peu apres la decouverte parurent une serie de presentations visant a faire connaitre le texte, puis des traductions, quelques-unes accompagnees d'un commentaire suivi, tentant – jusqu'a un certain point – de rendre compte des difficultes de la version copte. Mais l'interet philologique restait toujours au second plan. Ce qui motivait la recherche, c'etait les resonances historiques du texte. On proceda selon deux directions: d'une part on rassembla systematiquement tous les paralleles des grands heresiologues comme Irenee, Tertullien ou Epiphane, ou des textes deja publices appartenant au meme ensemble copte. D'autre part, on scruta l'histoire anterieure du texte pour aboutir a la conclusion que certaines expressions ou idees appartenaient soit au Nouveau Testament soit a l'un ou l'autre courant philosophique bien connu. Tout ce materiel rassemble fait apparaitre le texte de l' Evangile de Verite, par dela la difficulte du copte, comme quelque chose de connu, de deja vu ou entendu. Et pourtant, si l'on entreprend la lecture de l' Evangile, tout verse que l'on soit dans les commentaires, comment n'etre pas surpris de se trouver malgre tout depayse, avec une impression d'etrangete que rien, dans l'etat actuel de la recherche, ne permet de surmonter?

34 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The current profusion of form critical studies of the Pauline letter received its impetus from the work of Paul Schubert on the thanksgiving section as discussed by the authors, which was made earlier, especially by Martin Dibelius, but they remained largely unheeded.
Abstract: The current profusion of form critical studies of the Pauline letter received its impetus from the work of Paul Schubert on the thanksgiving section.1 Suggestions were made earlier, especially by Martin Dibelius,2 but they remained largely unheeded. Also Schubert's work did not receive an immediate response, but now work is fully under way.3

17 citations




Journal ArticleDOI

13 citations


Journal ArticleDOI

12 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article ausgiebigen Diskussion ist offensichtlich bis heute noch keine Einigung daruber erzielt worden, ob der historische Jesus selbst Wunder vollbracht hat oder ob es sich bei den Wundertraditionen des Neuen Testamentes um eine nachtragliche Titulierung Jesu als eines Wundertaters durch die Gemeinde handelt.
Abstract: Trotz einer jahrhundertelangen ausgiebigen Diskussion ist offensichtlich bis heute noch keine Einigung daruber erzielt worden, ob der historische Jesus selbst Wunder vollbracht hat oder ob es sich bei den Wundertraditionen des Neuen Testamentes um eine nachtragliche Titulierung Jesu als eines Wundertaters durch die Gemeinde handelt.2

9 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The various questions which are raised by the opening chapters of I Corinthians have been extensively examined in recent years as discussed by the authors, among the problems is that of Paul's reference to "the rulers of this age" in relation to wisdom.
Abstract: The various questions which are raised by the opening chapters of I Corinthians have been extensively examined in recent years Among the problems is that of Paul's reference to ‘the rulers of this age’ in relation to wisdom It is with this phrase in its context that the present paper is concerned Why did Paul insert it here? To whom does he refer? What does the mention of the archons contribute to the argument of these opening chapters of the letter?

8 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Novi Testamenti Societas n'echappe pas a la regle as discussed by the authors, a sociologia which consists in analysing les lois de cohesion ou de repulsion qui regissent les groupes, identifier interets, ideaux, totems ou principes qui aimantent les assemblages.
Abstract: ‘Qui se ressemble s'assemble’: le proverbe exprime bien les forces d'attirance et de convenance mutuelles qui agglomerent peuples, societes et communautes. Ces forces sont bien connues des sociologues dont la science consiste precisement a analyser les lois de cohesion ou de repulsion qui regissent les groupes, a identifier interets, ideaux, totems ou principes qui aimantent les assemblages. Sur ce point la Novi Testamenti Societas n'echappe pas a la regle.



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In der Exegese des NT uberdurchschnittlich haufig behandelt worden ist der Abschnitt Matth. xvi.o. 17-19.
Abstract: o. Der Abschnitt Matth. xvi. 17–19 ist in der Exegese des NT uberdurchschnittlich haufig behandelt worden. Selbst die zusammenfassenden Arbeiten gehen uber das gute Dutzend weit hinaus. Auch innerhalb der neueren Untersuchungen zum Petruswort divergieren die sprachliche, die historische und die formgeschichtliche Einordnung so sehr, das eine erneute Untersuchung lohnt.














Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the recits synoptiques de l'agonie de Gethsemani are discussed, and two ouvrages considerables dus respectivement a M. Galizzi et a J. Warren Holleran ont ete rediges sur ce meme sujet.
Abstract: Ces temps derniers, sans parler des commentaires generaux des Evangiles, de nombreuses recherches ont ete consacrees aux recits synoptiques de l'agonie de Gethsemani. Mentionnons notamment celles de G. Kuhn, Th. Lescow, E. Linnemann, R. S. Barbour, W. H. Kelber, W. Mohn.Deux ouvrages considerables dus respectivement a M. Galizzi et a J. Warren Holleran ont ete rediges sur ce meme sujet. Tous les deux etudient separement les trois recits de Marc, Matthieu et Luc et s'efforcent de mettre en evidence ce qui caracterise chacun d'entre eux. L'un et l'autre sont admirablement informes. Celui de J. Warren Holleran est plus analytique, celui de M. Galizzi plus synthetique et, semble-t-il, plus personnel.