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After Jesus of Nazareth was killed, about 32 AD, many of his followers stayed in Jerusalem, expecting him to return, soon, as the conquering Messiah, at which time the world
would be renewed and purified. To them, the past was of no account. History didn’t matter. The sayings of Jesus were remembered and held dear, but the ‘back story’ to them soon blurred. Preparing for the future Second Coming was all that counted.
They were wrong in their expectations. Some 35 years later they joined the Zealots in a general revolt against the hated Romans, thinking that because of that act of faithfulness, God would send them a messiah (Jesus). Again, they were wrong and all perished in the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Only the small Gentile communities of followers were left. Realizing they had been wrong in their expectations and needing to prepare for a longer wait, these communities started to write things down. What we know as the Gospels are part of that. But again, the writers were not so much trying to write ‘history’ as we think of it, but putting in story-form a narrative that told of the past in a way that would lead the readers, then, to a path of faithfulness. They wove the sayings of Jesus that had been passed down, into a narrative that did the job for them. None of them had actually known Jesus of Nazareth and none of them
were even Jewish. The gospels were written to answer their questions of faith and lead them to faithful actions. Not, necessarily, ours. Enjoy, and think. Ask more questions.
The main example (problem) is that they make the Romans out to be the ‘good guys’ and put the blame of Jesus’ death on ‘the Jews’. There is not one ‘bad’ Roman in the gospels. Most ‘Jews’ are enemies of Jesus. This simply could not have been true. But it’s there in the gospels, giving the original readers the truth that they should be non-violent against Rome, even though Jesus had been killed by Rome for crimes against Rome.
What I have done is the same as those original writers. I have taken the sayings of Jesus and have put them in a narrative that tells the story to meet our times and needs, being as historically accurate as possible, for that is important to us. In my gospel the Romans are the oppressors. Many of the wealthy Jews eagerly support them. The common people are suffering, looking for a Messiah who will lead them in revolt.
I italicize all quotations from scripture and give the source, and have tried to include most of Jesus’ sayings. Remember that the original writers copied from each other and made additions and corrections. The gospels weren’t expected to be ‘in stone’ and for ‘all time’, writings to be worshipped and untouchable.
I wrote this as a possible source/background for ‘study’ of the gospels. This was after I had preached for many years, being often very frustrated by scriptures I knew were not historically accurate and that often gave the opposite impression of what was the ‘word’ of God’s love to us.
Thanks for the chance to share this with you.
Anthony
