Chapter 10 - Understanding the Gospels

Just a quick blurb / comment on this 10th chapter!

I think Drane's most astute comment of the whole chapter came about a third the way through. He says, "So to understand the gospels fully is a rather complex business." (p. 173) Drane's writing focuses primarily on technicalities:

• What type of writing are they? Are they biography, collections of various works, kerygma (or preaching), narratives, or something else?
• The answer is "yes." Perhaps it is "D" if that means "All of the above."

Drane goes on to show how the anonymous evangelists would have sourced each other and a yet unfound, yet much postulated document called "Q," to construct their individual Gospel accounts. Drawing on the Old Testament, a record of Jesus' own teachings and earliest remembrances of His life (Q - Quelle), Matthew and Luke would each have had Mark's record of Peter's memories on which to draw.

Analysis of the historical documents available to scholars leads to contention - and for some in the world of Biblical study, the issues surrounding authenticity and authorship remain unanswerable. Blind acceptance of anything does not necessarily lead to fact, but those who want to find fault with the Gospels and the understanding and traditions of the historical Church always will. For me, I agree with Drane that understanding the Gospels can be complex - I'd just rather focus on their lessons than their composition.