Posted: Apr 26, 2013 5:13 am
GakuseiDon wrote:proudfootz wrote:GakuseiDon wrote:It seems to me that you see it as "if it is not a biography, then it doesn't contain biographical details" or "if it is not a history, then it doesn't contain historical details". But my point is whether or not the accounts were being presented (either fraudently or sincerely) by earliest Christians as events that actually happened. AFAICT, the Gospels were always thought to be about events that actually happened.
It would seem that if it's not the story of a man who existed (biography) or events that happened in real life (history) then it's something which isn't going to help much in establishing things that happened or people who lived.
I would agree with you on this. Did the early Christians like Justin Martyr believe that the Logos incarnating was a story about a man who existed or an event that happened in real life (history)?
I can't quite get a handle on Justin Martyr - it would take me some study to feel adequate to offer an opinion about the meaning of his work.
But I'll try to get up to speed!
proudfootz wrote:I keep trying to drag the thread away from 'HJers' are ______' and 'MJers are _______' by going back to discussions of things like 'what genre are the gospels?' so we can get back to the issues.
I'm doing the exact same thing. I'm not assuming anything at this time.
Of course I don't mean to say you indulge yourself in this HJ/MJ stuff (I myself sometimes succumb to temptation).