Jesus, Interpreted: Benedict XVI, Bart Ehrman, and the Historical Truth of the Gospels

304 Pages·2017·1.56 MB·English

by  by Matthew J. Ramage (Author)

Jesus, Interpreted

Jesus, Interpreted
Benedict XVI,
Bart Ehrman, and
the Historical Truth
of the Gospels
Matthew J. Ramage
The Catholic University of America Press
Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2017
The Catholic University of America Press
All rights reserved
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum
requirements of American National Standards for Information
Science–Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
AnsI Z39.48-1984.
∞
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ramage, Matthew J.
Title: Jesus, interpreted : Benedict XVI, Bart Ehrman, and the
historical truth of the Gospels / Matthew J. Ramage.
Description: Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of
America Press, 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCn 2016036444 | IsBn 9780813229089 (pbk. : alk.
paper)
Subjects: LCsH: Jesus Christ--Person and offices. | Bible.
Gospels—Criticism, interpretation, etc. | Bible. Gospels—
Hermeneutics. | Benedict XVI, Pope, 1927– | Ehrman, Bart D.
Classification: LCC Bt203 .r35 2017 | ddC 232/.8—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036444
For my father
Michael Joseph Ramage
1945–2016
[W]hoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17
The flower of earthly splendor in time must surely die,
Its fragile bloom surrender to you, the Lord most high;
But hidden from all nature the eternal seed is sown
Though small in mortal stature, to heaven’s garden grown:
For Christ the man from heaven from death has set us free,
And we through him are given the final victory.
Hymn “O God Beyond All Praising”

Contents
Preface ix
1. “Who Do You Say That I Am?” Bart Ehrman, 1
Benedict XVI, and the Plan of This Book
2. Benedict XVI and Modern Biblical Criticism: 16
A Magisterial About-Face?
3. Benedict XVI’s “Method C” Exegetical Vision 56
4. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ: 101
Bart Ehrman
5. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ: 145
Benedict XVI
6. The Problem of an Imminent Parousia 194
7. “To Whom Shall We Go?” Toward an Apologia 232
for the Christian Approach to Jesus
Bibliography 265
Scripture Index 279
General Index 281

PrefaCe
The subject of this book has played an important part in my own
autobiography for many years now. Jesus, Interpreted is for my own life
a lot like what the Jesus of Nazareth series was for Benedict XVI: an
expression of my personal search for the face of Jesus Christ. The book
is my own attempt at a response to Jesus’ question, “But who do you
say that I am?” (Mt 16:15). It reflects my appropriation of the question
Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (Jn 6:68). In the par-
ticular enquiry at hand, the issue concerns whose interpretation of Je-
sus best captures his true face: the mainstream agnostic approach ex-
emplified in the work of Bart Ehrman or, instead, the appropriation of
critical scholarship within the context of Christian faith as practiced
and taught by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Many individuals deserve my gratitude for their contributions to
this book. As in the case of my prior volume, Dark Passages of the Bible,
here I first have to thank our emeritus pontiff, who now humbly goes
by “Fr. Benedict.” I have been studying Benedict/Ratzinger intensely
for more than a decade, and, though I have never met him in person,
the emeritus pontiff has consistently been the model who shows me
how, as a committed Christian, to engage, critique, and learn from the
most serious challenges posed by modern biblical criticism.
As for those who have played a more direct role in the crafting
of this manuscript, my colleagues at Benedictine College hold pride
of place. In particular I thank James Madden and Andrew Jaeger in
ix