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If an account is written to “make the writer look good” or to “please the intended readers,” it is to be expected that events are portrayed through tinted glasses. This behavior is seen almost continuously in modern day political speeches or debates, but also in many ancient non-Biblical historical authors such as Josephus who wrote for his Roman masters (and himself). In the words of Dr. Paul Barnett: [1] “His [Josephus’] Jewish War is thinly veiled propaganda. His Antiquities of the Jews and Against Apion are romantic apologetics for Judaism. His Life is sickeningly self-serving.” How do the New Testament accounts compare? Are its writers self-serving, or do they cast a realistic, at times even negative image on themselves? If the “heroes” of Christianity are portrayed as normal people with common flaws and given to occasional stumbling, this would be a good indicator of honesty and a solid basis for trustworthiness, because it would show the Bible is recording real events as they happened to real people. No more than a casual reading of the gospels is sufficient for many readers to notice abundant evidence of self-deprecating descriptions of Jesus’ followers. They seem not to miss any chance to give a wrong answer when quizzed by Jesus. Asked to make a choice, theirs is often wrong. Also there are numerous examples of “politically incorrect” events, and even quite confusing statements and actions from Jesus. Just a sampling of illustrations:
Table 16- 3 : Self-Damaging Information in the New Testament These last two illustrations require more explanation. The Jewish world in the first century was “a man’s world.” Although numerous positive statements about women are found in the Old Testament, first century Jewish men generally considered their wifes to be inferior to them because men were by nature women’s superiors. Many Jews believed women had to cover their mouth, legs, and hair at all times. They believed a woman’s mouth could speak folly and embarrass her husband. With her legs she could seduce men, and any wife who appeared in public with loose hair was believed to be challenging her husband’s authority. Jewish law would not even accept a woman’s testimony in court as women were considered unreliable witnesses. Perhaps that is why, for instance, in Paul’s testimony about the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) he names only men to whom Jesus appeared and seems deliberately to ignore the women. The Mishna, a collection of Jewish oral traditions and laws compiled around the third century of the Christian era, forbids women to study the law with men. One rabbi even said that a woman was like a piece of meat with which a man could do as he pleased. Also in the Graeco-Roman world, where women were generally more emancipated than in the Jewish world, the husband was still the undisputed head. Roman philosopher Seneca. wrote that the man was made to rule and the woman to be silent and to obey.[2] With this background the role of women in Jesus’ ministry
clearly indicates the gospel writers (such as Matthew, a Jew writing
to a Jewish audience) may have felt uncomfortable and reluctant to
describe female participation. All the gospels include the
supporting roles of Martha and Mary in The claim that Jesus was born of a virgin is even more
“unexpected.” In those days a girl’s greatest asset was
considered to be her sexual purity. Only a young w Against this background Jesus’ virgin birth was not heralded as a miracle. Actually apart from the brief accounts in Luke and Matthew, the Bible says nothing about it. Both gospel writers testify about Jesus’ birth independently of one another. Each drew upon unique material,[4] yielding two independent testimonies to this event. For Matthew, writing about Jesus’ birth must have presented a real dilemma. As a devout Jew, Matthew’s decision to record that Joseph, representing the royal bloodline of Jesus, was not Jesus’ natural father, could open up a potential flood of compromising criticisms that Jesus was born out of wedlock. This account in Matthew’s gospel shows his unconditional commitment to writing the truth without altering any of it. Start reading about the next criterion: (4) Are the document consistent?
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