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RELIGIOUS STUDIES ESSAY’STHEOLOGY
Explain why it might be difficult to harmonise the Birth narrative of Matthew and Luke
Harmonisation is the attempt to reconcile two or more contradictory biblical texts to make them
achieve the same goal. In the case of the birth narratives we are trying to gain the full picture
Jesus’ birth. The birth narratives have different elements which make many think they are hard
to harmonise.
Harmonisation appears easy for the Birth Narratives because the story only appears in the
gospels of Matthew and Luke. Harmonisation allows us to come to logical conclusions on what
actually happened and if what has been recorded did happen. There advantages of harmonising
the birth narratives, it supports the doctrine of inerrancy which is the belief that the Bible is free
from error in matters of science as well as those of faith. It considers genera and purpose of the
text and we are able to get a clear picture of what happened. However, there are also
disadvantages, it also leads to illogical conclusions. It is Eisegisis which is reading into the text
to fit the purpose of the text and not Exegesis which is reading into the text and drawing
conclusions from the text. All of this is an influence when harmonising the birth narratives.
There are many similarities and differences between the birth narratives. In Matthew’s account
he focuses on the influence of Herod and their escape to Egypt. He mentions the Magi bringing
gifts. Whereas Luke focuses on Elizabeth and John. Instead of the Magi Luke mentions the
Shepherds. However despite these Clear differences there are also some similarities. In both
narratives an angel comes and informs them of Marys conception, the family travels from
Nazareth to Bethlehem and Mary and Joseph were engaged. Using these details it is hard to
harmonise the birth narratives as they focus on different elements of the story and it is hard to
see how they have the same goal.
The redaction criticism from the birth narratives can be helpful to harmonise them as we
consider the work of the authors and how they have influenced the theology of the tests.
According to N.Perrin redaction criticism is the „collection, arrangement, editing and modification
of traditional material“. Matthew’s birth narrative is aimed at Jewish readers, it is from Joseph’s
viewpoint. Due to these elements there are lots of references to the fulfilment of the Jewish
prophecy of the messiah. However, he makes it clear that Jesus did not come for the Jews but
for all people eg. The first visitors were gentile foreigners. Luke’s however is aimed at Gentiles,
it appeals less to the Old Testament. It emphases the holy spirit. It is also from Mary’s point of
view which shows sympathy for those marginalised. Due to the differences of perspective there
is a difference in the accounts. When considering these elements one can see it is easier to
harmonise the birth narratives as now we are aware that we are getting two different sides to the
same story rather than two completely different stories.
The incarnation is one element that is in both birth narratives. The doctrine of incarnation
expresses the belief that Jesus was God in human form. His birth was not the beginning and his
death was not the end. Jesus was fully God and fully human. This is also clear through the
Hypostatic union which is the concept of the combination of two existences becoming one, this
backs up the doctrine of incarnation because it claims that it is possible for two existences to
become one in a body. This is also seen in the Nicene Creed „God from God, light from light,
very God of our very God, begotten not made one being with the Father“. The fact the
, incarnation is evident in both narratives shows us this is the end goal of the birth narratives
which means we are able to harmonise them.
In conclusion one is able to harmonise the birth narratives, despite the differences within them.
Using redaction criticism we can see that they are not two different stories but two sides of one
story which means they have the same end goal which means they can be harmonised. The
doctrine of the incarnation and the hypostatic union also mean they can be harmonised.
Explain Bultmann’s challenges to the Kerygma (20)
The Kerygma is the principal analysis of the early church community which is associated with
C.H.Dodd. He reconstructed the main teaching of the early church found in Paul’s letters and
then argued they could be found in acts of apostles. Bultmann challenged C.H.Dodds ideas and
said the kerygma is clothed in a mythological dress. He argued that we need to search for the
truth which the Kerygma embodies which is independent of its mythical setting.
The work of the process of demythologising is the method whereby we interpret the inner
meaning of the mythological statements we find in the New Testament. In his essay Kerygma
and Myth, Bultmann is at pains to emphasise that he is not jettisoning the message of the New
Testament because he finds it unacceptable, but rather he is seeking to find out what the real
meaning of that message. He says „theology must undertake the task of stripping the kerygma
from its mythical framework, of demythologising it“
Bultmann does not demythologise in order to make Christian faith easier to more acceptable to
modern man. For Bultmann, to believe in the cross of Jesus is Christ is to make the cross of
Christ our own, to undergo crucifixion with him. According to Bultmann we know almost nothing
about the historical Jesus and we need to know almost nothing. The New Testament is to be
interpreted existentially, by looking for the understanding of man which is expressed through the
mythology. For Bultmann, Christology is of no importance. The kerygma is concerned not with
matters of historical fact, but with conveying the necessity of a decision on the part of his
hearers.
Bultmann argued that since ideas can be expressed without words, there is never a ‚pure
kerygma‘ that exists separate from the language and mythos of time. Bultmann argued that the
kerygma was the expression of the meaning that Christ had for the early Christians, rather than
an expression of historical truths. If christians today were able to demythologise the kerygmata,
they may have lasting value for Christianity. Alternatively it suggests that the traditional
understanding of the kerygmata as truth statements about Jesus, God and the Christian
community do not have value for christians today.
PHILOSOPHY
Examine the challenges to inductive arguments with reference to David Hume.
The inductive arguments is an argument where the premise provides strong reasons for you to
accept the conclusion. They are a-posteriori which means that the arguments are going to be
based on human observation or experience. There are two types the cosmological and the
teleological.
The Inductive arguments suggest that certain aspects of the universe are so perfectly adapted
to their function that they display evidence of being deliberately designed. Such functions can
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