Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Stories about Jesus Before the Gospels: Oral Traditions in the Early Church.
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Sep 26, 2023 Discover how oral traditions shaped the narratives of the New Testament, influencing how stories about Jesus were passed down through generations. Dive into the complexities of storytelling and memory distortion, likening it to a game of telephone that raises questions about authenticity. Explore the authorship of the Gospels and challenge traditional views on who wrote them. Plus, engage with discussions on historical misconceptions about Jesus, urging thoughtful reflection and critical thinking in understanding these narratives.
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Nature of Early Oral Traditions
- Oral traditions are verbal stories about Jesus passed down by word of mouth before the Gospels were written.
- These traditions shaped both canonical and some non-canonical New Testament texts over decades.
Oral Traits in the Gospels
- Gospel stories have standard forms indicating they originated in oral culture.
- The Gospels reflect stories told and retold rather than verbatim transcriptions.
Inaccuracy in Oral Transmission
- Oral traditions often change substantially over time and are not preserved with exact accuracy.
- Memory and storytelling processes influence how stories about Jesus evolved before being written.