John the Baptist

[Vicki Q]

Or, they were writing before that "christology" developed? Recall that there were many "gospels" which were rejected by the church for one reason or another and the final canon of the bible was not fixed until the late 4th century in the West and even later in the East. Even then, we have evidence that individual books were edited.

But thanks for a reasoned discussion on the issue. So different than what we normally get from the fundies.

The Christology was well and truly under way by Paul's letters (Philippians 2:10, 1 Cor 8:6, Romans 10:13). I hardly need tell you that these are generally dated a couple of decades before the Synoptics. The latter seem to have carefully avoided adding the sort of direct Christological analysis running through John.

Why not add a parable in which Jesus talks about himself, to inspire the faithful? Because it mattered to get it right.

I'm not sure what the rejected gospels bring to that discussion. They all post-date Paul.

Thanks for the comment. I think I may be the sort of Xian that fundie pastors tell their flock to avoid.

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I would think that if the fate of the entire human race hinged upon a collection of Holy writings that accuracy would have been of the utmost importance to every author throughout the canon. Think of how pissed off Trekkies get when you bring up the "ridge-less Klingons" of the Original Series.

I'm afraid that the Star Trek reference evades me, but at least I have a new way to annoy any Star Trek fans I might meet.

I think (see above) that accuracy was important to the writers, but then they didn't think they were writing 'Scripture' anyway. For instance, in writing Philemon, Paul was trying to ensure a runaway slave he was very fond of didn't get pounded by his master. Any idea that he was writing something to be put alongside Isaiah or Deuteronomy would never have occurred to him.

The purposes for writing the various books are different, but the Gospels take the bios as the core model and the conventions on accuracy that entailed. The oral records would have been more significant at the time things were being written down.