Mr. Rector Magnificus, ladies and gentlemen,

At the end of the last millennium, scholars became increasingly sceptical about the methodology used in Gospel Studies, especially in three areas:

1. textual criticism,

2. the study of the Synoptic problem, and

3. historical Jesus research.

• Textual criticism demands an appropriate methodology for the reconstruction of the original text, but a fully convincing method for this discipline has not yet been attained.
• The study of the Synoptic Problem uses criteria which enable scholars to distinguish the prior writing from its later rewriting, but scholars do not agree with each other with regard to such criteria.
• Previous studies have shown that historical Jesus research often produces the portraits of Jesus which reflect the intentions of the investigators rather than those of the historical Jesus. Scholars have sought to overcome this problem with "the criteria for authenticity," but many dubious criteria have been regarded as valid.

For the improvement of the methods in these areas, I have investigated:

- "the criteria for originality" in textual criticism,
- "the criteria for priority" in Synoptic Studies, and
- "the criteria for authenticity" in historical Jesus research.

Textual criticism bears similarities to Synoptic Studies, since the relation between Vorlage and its copy and the relation between the source and its rewriting are analogous to each other. Copyists not only copy but also change their Vorlagen, and rewriters not only change but also copy their sources. Although copies and rewritings show different ratios of alteration, they contain both copying and alteration. Though the instances of alteration introduced by one copyist are few, instances of alteration by many copyists over the course of history are numerous. Further, copyists and rewriters could have altered their sources according to similar tendencies. On account of these similarities, we can adapt the criteria used in textual criticism for use in Synoptic Studies.

We can also adapt "the criteria for originality" for use in historical Jesus research because the relation between the historical Jesus and the portraits of Jesus is analogous to the relation between the original and its copies. In the transmission of the Jesus tradition preservation as well as alteration occurred just as in the transmission of the Gospel texts. The study of the Synoptic Problem is also analogous to historical Jesus research, since both distinguish a prior tradition from a later tradition.

The criteria used in textual criticism, in Synoptic Studies, and in historical Jesus research share one basic similarity: they were all designed to distinguish prior or initial tradition from its later developments. All three areas of research investigate the transmission process which both preserves and changes 'traditions,' whether these 'traditions' be readings in manuscripts, the 'tellings' of the Gospels, or sayings of Jesus. The original reading, the prior telling, and the authentic Jesus saying may all be regarded as 'the origin' of the 'traditions' proper to each area of research. The author of the original text, the writer of the prior Gospel, and the historical Jesus are then 'the originator' of these 'traditions,' and the copyists, the Synoptists, and the early Church are 'transmitters.'

On account of the similarities in the three areas of research, we can adapt their methods, especially their criteria, from one of these areas of research for use in the other two areas. I have proposed fifty four inter-adaptations of the criteria for textual criticism, Synoptic Studies, and historical Jesus research. Moreover, nine adaptations of the criteria have been suggested for the study of the relationship between the Synoptics and the Gospels of John and Thomas.

I have further proposed the following generalized criteria which cover all three areas of research on the basis of their similarities.

(1) "the criterion of multiple attestation": The agreement between independent traditions probably goes back to the earlier tradition.

 

(2) "the criterion of antiquity": The tradition which is found in the prior sources goes back to the earlier tradition.

 

(3) "the criterion of quality": If a source often has the original in the investigated cases, it may also frequently contain the original in the other cases.

 

(4) "the criterion of explainability": The tradition which explains the origin of the others is probably prior to the others.

 

(5) "the criterion of dissimilarity to the transmitter's style": The element which does not fit the style of the transmitter probably goes back to the earlier tradition.

 

(6) "the criterion of dissimilarity to the transmissional tendencies": The element which is dissimilar to the transmissional tendencies is probably prior to the element which fits the tendencies.

 

(7) "the criterion of the style of the originator": The element which fits the originator's style is probably original.

 

(8) "the criterion of contextual correspondence": The element which fits the context is probably original.

These generalizations of criteria may again be unified into three general principles:

• "the principle of antiquity",
• "the principle of explainability," and
• "the principle of coherence."

These general principles may finally be unified into one basic "principle of plausibility": If a hypothesis explains phenomena in terms of plausibility, it can be used as a provisional guide to the truth.

The use of these criteria for textual criticism, Synoptic Studies, and historical Jesus research of Matt 12:1-8 and its parallels has some practical implications.
- First, the text of NA 27th edition, which has functioned as the standard Greek text, needs to be revised.
- Second, our investigation refutes the Griesbach hypothesis and supports the priority of Mark which most scholars accept. The eighteen instances where we can determine the prior 'tellings' do together support the priority of Mark.
- Third, the event reported in our pericope is probably authentic on account of the multiple independent pieces of evidence. Thus, the historical Jesus probably regarded mercy as being more important than the temple or the Sabbath.

---------------------------------------The Search for Valid Criteria: Textual Criticism, the Synoptic Problem, and Historical Jesus Research [academisch proefschrift]------------------------------------

Textual Criticism and the Synoptic Problem in Historical Jesus Research

All these areas of research investigate the transmission process which involves both preservation and alteration. The sets of criteria used in one area are thus analogous to the sets of criteria used in the other two areas. This assumption can be confirmed by observing numerous instances of such similarity in these sets of criteria.

On the basis of this assumption, many other instances of similarity may be newly attained by adapting the set of criteria used in one area for use in the other two areas. The sets of criteria for these three areas of research can be further generalized into a 'mother set' of criteria which will provide us with a degree of methodological unification in these disciplines.

Series : Contributions to Biblical Exegesis & Theology - Series number : 36 - Year: 2004 - ISBN: 90-429-1470-X - Pages: XVIII-412 p. - Price (Euro) : 35 EURO