The Final Quest
for the Historical Jesus
by Evan Powell
A final and successful quest for the historical Jesus is at hand once we reexamine several sacred cows in the world of NT academics that have been serious roadblocks in the quests thus far:
Most scholars embrace the theory that the authors of Matthew and Luke each used Mark and Q as two primary source documents. Many of those who reject the Q theory believe that Luke used both Mark and Matthew as sources. Neither of these theories adequately resolved the textual data. This paper demonstrates that the Synoptic Problem is more comprehensively resolved by assuming Mark > Luke > Matthew as the chronological order of their production, with each succeeding author relying directly upon the previous gospel(s) as sources.
2. The Missing End of Mark
Conventional theory holds that the author of Mark intended to end at 16:8 for ideological reasons. This popular belief has inhibited inquiry into the reconstruction of the original ending. Using the literary structure of Mark and the numerous elements of prediction and foreshadowing, a detailed sketch of the author’s original ending can be recovered with confidence.
3. The Ur-John Thesis (to be posted soon)
It is widely assumed that John’s Gospel achieved its final canonical form around 100 CE, and that a “fourth evangelist” was actively engaged in redacting the final product. In reality the gospel consists of (a) a primitive narrative that dates to the mid-first century, and (b) a series of commentaries, corrections, and theological expansions that were added in stages over the last half of the 1st century. The earliest narrative layer remains largely intact due to respect for apostolic authority by the subsequent redactors. This early narrative can be isolated and reconstructed with confidence.
4. The Historical Jesus (to be posted soon)
Historical Jesus research has suffered chronic difficulties due in significant part to the popular but erroneous theories noted above. One the primitive layer of John is understood to pre-date Mark, and the Synoptics are seen to evolve in the Mark > Luke> Matthew sequence, a clearer picture of the trajectory of early Christian belief comes into view. This forms the basis for a more substantial and reliable analytical foundation, leading to a final and successful quest for the historical Jesus.