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{en} Raymond E Brown. The virginal conception and bodily resurrection of Jesus (1973)

Abstract

"Recent study of the Gospels has produced some surprising challenges to the historicity of the stories surrounding Jesus' birth and resurrection. There is skepticism about the star of Bethlehem, the magi, and the census, skepticism about the angels at the tomb and the manner and time of Jesus' appearances. What then about the more fundamental issues that touch on Christian faith? Was Jesus conceived without a human father? Did he rise bodily from the dead? In this book a noted Catholic scholar surveys the biblical evidence pertinent to those two questions and evaluates it clearly and honestly - and briefly enough to meet the needs of the interested reader. His forthright use of biblical criticism may offend some; the carefulness of his conclusions may offend others; but the book offers real help to those who prefer objective discussion to predetermined answers."

Contents

Introduction: -- The theological significance of the two topics -- Basic biblical suppositions -- Limitations of Old Testament prophecies -- Gospels written by second-generation Christians -- Gradual growth of the gospel content -- Limited inerrancy -- The problem of the virginal conception of Jesus -- The state of the problem -- The evidence from authority -- The evidence from interlocking doctrines -- Doctrines that seemingly suppose a virginal conception -- Doctrines seemingly unfavorable to a virginal conception -- The evidence from early history -- The evidence from the scriptures -- Scriptural arguments against historicity -- Scriptural arguments favoring historicity -- The problem of the bodily resurrection of Jesus -- The state of the problem -- The earliest Christian formulations of resurrection faith -- The shorter formulas -- The formula in I Corinthians 15:3-8 -- The gospel narratives of the appearances to the twelve -- General critical suppositions -- The sequence of the appearances -- Miscellaneous considerations about the appearances -- The gospel narratives of the empty tomb -- Details about the burial of Jesus -- The evolution of the empty tomb narratives.

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