Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite (2010 White), book

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Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite (2010) is a book by L. Michael White.

Abstract

For centuries, in their attempt to discover the real, historical Jesus, people have wrestled with the contradictory stories in the Gospels. The gospel writers were storytellers, and the stories they told about Jesus and his followers have shaped the beliefs of almost two and a half billion people. This book explains how the gospel writers "honed their pitch" about the life of Jesus and the birth of Christianity for the greatest dramatic effect. The ancient gospel writers, like any circuit preacher or stand-up comedian, saved the material that got the best response, and cut whatever fell flat--essentially retelling Jesus' story to serve their own theological agenda and for greatest effect. Early Christianity scholar L. Michael White uses all the tools of criticism to reveal the agendas of the "handlers" who made a man into a messiah, leading to a better understanding of all four gospels.--Publisher description (I).

"In Scripting Jesus, famed scholar of early Christianity L. Michael White challenges us to read the gospels as they were originally intended—as performed stories of faith rather than factual histories. White demonstrates that each of the four gospel writers had a specific audience in mind and a specific theological agenda to push, and consequently wrote and rewrote their lives of Jesus accordingly—in effect, scripting Jesus to get a particular point across and to achieve the desired audience reaction. The gospel stories have shaped the beliefs of almost two and a half billion Christians. But the gospel writers were not reporters—rather, they were dramatists, and the stories they told publicly about Jesus were edited and reedited for the greatest effect. Understanding how these first-century Christians wanted to present Jesus offers us a way to make sense of the sometimes conflicting stories in the gospels. One gospel's version of events will be at odds with another. For instance, in Jesus's birth narrative, there is no mention of a stable in Matthew or Luke, but then there are no wise men in Luke and no shepherds in Matthew. Jesus has brothers in some gospel accounts, and sisters in others, and their naming is inconsistent. Depending on which gospel you are reading, the disciples shift from bumbling morons to heroes of faith. Miracles alter or disappear altogether, and whole scenes get moved around. Such changes from one gospel to the next reveal the shaping and reshaping of the basic story in the living world of the first followers of Jesus. With his usual engaging style, White helps us read the gospels with fresh eyes, giving us a clearer idea of what the gospel stories meant to people in ancient times, and offering insight for how we can understand Jesus's story today."--Publisher description (II).

Editions

Published in New York, NY: HarperOne, 2010.

Table of contents

  • Acting the part: Messiah
  • Logos and wisdom's child
  • Divine man
  • Savior
  • Orality, memory, and performance
  • Heralding the crucifixion
  • Marking the passion
  • Casting spells
  • Spinning parables
  • Plotting the nativity
  • The misunderstood Messiah: the Gospel of Mark
  • The righteous teacher of Torah: the Gospel of Matthew
  • The martyred sage: the Gospel of Luke
  • The man from heaven: the Gospels of John and Thomas
  • Gospels and more gospels
  • Tales of fancy, acts of faith

External links

  • [ Google Books]
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