Memory and oral Aesthetics in Matthew
The paper shows the inadequacies of modern interpretations of a first century text of the Gospel according to Matthew by drawing on present knowledge of the psychodynamics of oral traditions. Western scholarship of the gospels rests on "the assumption that ... the Synoptic traditions have to be...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
NTWSA
2006
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| In: |
Neotestamentica
Year: 2006, Volume: 40, Issue: 1, Pages: 61-86 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The paper shows the inadequacies of modern interpretations of a first century text of the Gospel according to Matthew by drawing on present knowledge of the psychodynamics of oral traditions. Western scholarship of the gospels rests on "the assumption that ... the Synoptic traditions have to be analysed in terms of a linear sequence of literary editions, where each successive version is an editing of its predecessor". According to James G. D. Dunn this "simply distorts critical perception and skews the resultant analysis" (2000, 306). The written text of the Gospel according to Matthew shows a rich inter-textuality. It may have incorporated some written texts that are now lost to us, but in general it is woven from the fabric of oral texts that have been honed and polished through infinite repetitions from memory. This memory is not only the memory of cognitive elements, but also of extra-textual elements such as sound patterns, voices and gestures. Scholars have also for a long time been intrigued by the closeness of Matthew to the Aramaic-Hebrew linguistic world. A detailed analysis of selected passages will show that some cohesive links of the Koine Greek text derive from the sound patterns of the Aramaic-Hebrew tradition that preceded it. Even though we only have the written text today, it will serve scholars to learn to read the text not only with their minds but also with their ears. |
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| ISSN: | 2518-4628 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.10520/EJC83232 |