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At the same time, Robinson is right to note the importance of the wisdom orientation of the opponents and to ask whether a sayings tradition is represented in Paul’s rhetoric against his opponents.

      In summary, detailed studies like Neirynck’s help to clarify just how much can be claimed when using lexical parallels as the primary datum for determining what constitutes use of a saying of Jesus. At the same time, Romans 12–14, 1 Thessalonians 5, and 1 Corinthians 1–4 appear to provide evidence for Paul’s use of sayings traditions when one observes how and where he uses them. Paul uses great freedom in adapting and modifying sayings traditions for his didactic needs. More to the point, Paul does not need to cite “the Lord” in the general exhortations of Romans 12–14 (or 1 Thessalonians 5) anymore than he would want to cite “the Lord” when condemning his opponents with their own sayings tradition in 1 Corinthians 1–4.

      Summary

      The foregoing survey of literature points to several issues to be addressed in the following analysis of the Treasure in Heaven saying. (1) Some of the sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas may reflect a primitive, first-century sayings tradition, one that may have influenced canonical texts in some places, while other Thomas sayings may derive—directly or indirectly—from the canonical gospels. When dealing with a sayings collection that represented the traditions of living communities behind it, these two observations are not contradictory, but point to a complex history of development. (2) While a strictly literary relationship between Thomas and John probably cannot be proven, there may be either a relationship between tradent communities, or evidence of the use of one sayings tradition in the writing of two different types of literary text. (3) The use of sayings traditions in the canonical letters is an ongoing debate, one that will not be determined by reference to lexical parallels alone. Isolating possible sayings sources in specific letter sections, especially paraenetic sections, appears to be a fruitful approach. Of course, James is almost entirely paraenetic, which is why James’s relationship to gospel traditions is an important topic for research today.

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