The (Remarkable) State of Jesus Research (with Craig Blomberg)
Oct 5, 2023
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Leading New Testament scholar, Dr. Craig Blomberg, discusses the development of Jesus scholarship and new trends in research. Topics include the distinction between the real, canonical, and historical Jesus, the controversial Jesus seminar, discoveries about the gospel of John, and exploring Jesus' psychological state in scholarship.
The distinction between the real Jesus, the canonical Jesus, and the historical Jesus is essential for understanding the different perspectives on Jesus' life and teachings.
The Gospel of John, previously seen as less historically significant, has gained recognition for providing valuable insights into the life of Jesus through archaeological validation of its accounts.
Deep dives
The Progress in Study on the Historical Jesus
The podcast discusses the progress made in the study on the historical Jesus and how it has evolved over time. The guest, Dr. Craig Blomberg, a renowned New Testament professor, emphasizes the positive developments in scholarship and the increased knowledge we now have about Jesus through historical research. He highlights the need for awareness of these trends, as everyday Christians may encounter skepticism and questions about the historical Jesus in conversations and online. Dr. Blomberg encourages Christians to be equipped with reasonable answers that go beyond blind faith.
Understanding the Three Perspectives: The Real, Canonical, and Historical Jesus
In this part of the podcast, Dr. Blomberg explains the distinction between the real Jesus, the canonical Jesus, and the historical Jesus. The real Jesus refers to everything that happened in Jesus' life, experienced by him alone and known only to God. The canonical Jesus encompasses the information we have about Jesus from the scriptures. The historical Jesus is a selection of information about Jesus that has historical support and can be considered as part of his life. Dr. Blomberg provides a valuable analogy using intersecting circles to illustrate how these perspectives relate to one another.
Reevaluating the Gospel of John for Historical Insights
The podcast highlights the shifting perspective on the Gospel of John in terms of its contribution to understanding the historical Jesus. In the past, this gospel was often viewed as less historically significant compared to the Synoptic Gospels. However, recent historical discoveries have challenged this perception. For example, the mention of real locations like the pools of Bethesda and Siloam in the Gospel of John aligns with archaeological findings, validating the accuracy of these accounts. Dr. Blomberg emphasizes that John provides valuable historical insights, and scholars now recognize its importance in our understanding of the life of Jesus.
Can we actually discover the real Jesus? Could the disciples have remembered the teachings of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels decades later? Sean and Scott welcome Dr. Craig Blomberg, a leading New Testament scholar, to discuss how Jesus scholarship has developed over the past few decades and some remarkable new trends.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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