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                    The Metaphorical Gospel Theory

Erick Nelson
July, 2003 version 1.0
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              "There is no virtue in being clever
if by being clever you are merely being wrong." - LaSor
 

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A.  Abstract and Introduction
     
  Abstract  
  My Purposes for this Article  
  Requirements of a Sound Theory  
     
B.  A Careful Definition of the Theory
     
  Defining Characteristics  
  Metaphor and Fact  
  Six Options  
  Definiteness of Articulation  
     
     
C.  Three Scholars Who Hold It
     
John Shelby Spong
  Marcus Borg  
  John Dominic Crossan  
     
D.  Significance
     
  Truth and Faith  
  What Does it Matter?  
E.  Evidence in Favor of MG
  Direct and Indirect Evidence  
  Appeal to Authority  
Alleged Contradictions
  Theory Intersection  
  Resurrection in Paul  
     
F.  Internal Evidence Opposing MG
Evaluating the Internal Evidence
           Gospels
  Luke's Prologue  
Editorial Aside in Matthew
  John's Gospel  
           Paul  
  Deity in Paul  
  Resurrection in Paul  
           Acts  
Kerygma in Acts
           Epistles  
  Not Made Up  
Jesus vs. Christ
           Summary  
  Summing up the Internal Evidence  
     
G.  External Evidence - The Apostolic Fathers
     
  The Apostolic Fathers and Their Letters  
  The Apostolic Fathers - Their Testimony  
  Summing up the External Evidence  
     
H.  The Literalization Process
     
  Spong's Account of Literalization  
     
     
I.  Responses and Conclusion
  Responses from Borg and Spong  
Conclusion: the MG Theory is False
     
Appendix Material
     
  Email Exchanges with Marcus Borg  
  Letters with Bishop Spong  
  Commentary Quotes  
  N.T. Wright Quotes  
  N.T. Wright / Marcus Borg Quotes  
  John Dominic Quotes  
  References and Resources  
Scholarly Critiques of Previous Versions
     
  Mark Allan Powell - Chair, Historical Jesus Section, SBL
  Charles Hill - Church Historian  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montgom 1
Montgom 2a
Montgom 2b