Freethought & Rationalism Archive

04-20-2002, 05:05 AM

Has anyone read: Redating Matthew, Mark and Luke : A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem

by John Wehnham? Why does he date the gospels in the 40s? Seems radical to me...

Kevin

butswana · 04-20-2002, 07:39 AM

Is he a Christian? That would expain alot.

Vinnie · 04-20-2002, 07:41 AM

Hi butswana. I have a question. How would that explain a lot?

Vinnie

Toto · 04-20-2002, 11:16 AM

Read the reviews <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830817603/internetinfidelsA" target="_blank">here on Amazon.</a>

This is from a neutral reviewer, who gave the book 3 stars and warns that you need to read Greek to follow the first part:

Quote:

While Wenham is vociferously dismissive of evidence contrary to his viewpoint, he uncritically accepts evidence supporting his viewpoint. He bedrocks his early dating on a two pronged analysis: 1. Dismissal of the documentary solutions to the Synoptic Problem, and 2. Heavy reliance on the Patristic evidence of authorship. Firstly, the documentary explanations of the Synoptic Problem must be dismissed because if the Gospels were based on earlier documents, they must perforce be later documents. Secondly, from acceptance of the Patristic evidence of authorship, Wenham can infer a very early date for each of the Synoptics. The book makes interesting reading, but it fails to carry the day in establishing such an early date for the Synoptic Gospels.

The book has been around since 1991, but Wenham doesn't seem to have made a dent in the scholarly consensus. I only found one reference in a web search, which breifly noted his approach as a modified version of Augustine's approach (see <a href="http://www.abu.nb.ca/courses/NTIntro/synoptic.htm" target="_blank">here</a>), before it went on to discuss the prevalent theories.

Vinnie - what the author's Christian orientation explains is that he may have started out with the conclusion he wants to defend, and shaped the evidence to support it. Not all Christians are dishonest, but some have been shown to overstate the evidence for Christianity (like Josh McDowell).

04-20-2002, 05:05 AM	#1
TheDiddleyMan Guest Posts: n/a	Wenham's book Has anyone read: Redating Matthew, Mark and Luke : A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem by John Wehnham? Why does he date the gospels in the 40s? Seems radical to me... Kevin

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-20-2002, 07:39 AM	#2
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	Is he a Christian? That would expain alot.

04-20-2002, 07:41 AM	#3
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	Hi butswana. I have a question. How would that explain a lot? Vinnie

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.