Jesus and the son of man: a shift from the "little tradition" to the "great tradition"

This article argues that Jesus used the expression "son of man" generically, meaning "humankind". This generic use developed into a "titular" usage in which his followers identified Jesus with the apocalyptic son of man. It is argued that Jesus' use of the expressi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Aarde, Andries van 1951- (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Peeters 2004
In: Ephemerides theologicae Lovanienses
Year: 2004, Volume: 80, Issue: 4, Pages: 423-438
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Jesus Christus / Son of Man / Concept of
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
Further subjects:B Son of Man
B Life of Jesus research
Description
Summary:This article argues that Jesus used the expression "son of man" generically, meaning "humankind". This generic use developed into a "titular" usage in which his followers identified Jesus with the apocalyptic son of man. It is argued that Jesus' use of the expression "son of man" should be understood in the context of his subversive wisdom and the "little tradition" of peasants. His followers reinterpreted this usage in terms of the "great tradition" of scribes. This development is demonstrated by means of a Jesus wisdom saying about a comparison between the fate of beasts and the son of man who has nowhere to lay his head (Q 9,58).
ISSN:0013-9513
Contains:In: Ephemerides theologicae Lovanienses