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Homebrewed Christianity
Mythologizing Jesus with Dennis MacDonald
Jun 14, 2017
Dennis MacDonald, a New Testament professor at Claremont School of Theology, dives into the fascinating interplay between Jesus and Greek literature. He explores how early Christians crafted narratives that positioned Jesus as a heroic figure, drawing parallels with characters like Odysseus. Discussion includes the significance of mythologizing in the New Testament, the connections between the Gospel of Mark and the Q source, and the literary influences that shaped early Christian identity. Expect intriguing insights on the prodigal son parable through a mythic lens and echoes of the Odyssey in Gospel narratives.
01:03:56
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Quick takeaways
- Dennis MacDonald discusses how early Christian texts, especially the Gospels, parallel Greek mythology to depict Jesus as a superior hero.
- The podcast highlights the importance of understanding the Greco-Roman literary context to enrich interpretations of early Christian narratives.
Deep dives
Exploring Mythological Parallels
The conversation highlights the author's exploration of how early Christian texts, particularly the Gospels, mirror Greek mythology. The author focuses on examples from the Gospel of Mark, revealing that events in Jesus's life are often parallel to the heroic feats of characters like Odysseus. For instance, Jesus's ability to calm storms and restore the possessed can be seen as echoing Odysseus's encounters with mythical creatures. This approach not only illuminates the narrative techniques of early Christians but also suggests that these mythological parallels were purposeful, aiming to depict Jesus as a superior hero in a Greco-Roman context.
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