Overview

The Historiographical Jesus introduces a new theory and approach for studying the life of Jesus. Anthony Le Donne uses the precepts of social memory theory to identify """"memory refraction"""" in the Jesus tradition--the refocusing distortion that occurs as the stories and sayings of Jesus were handed down and consciously and unconsciously framed in new settings with new applications. Recognition of this refraction allows historians to escape the problematic dichotomy between memory and typology. The author focuses on the title """"Son of David"""" as it was used in Jewish and Christian traditions to demonstrate both how his new theory functions and to advance historical Jesus research.

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9781481313636

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Reviews

This very readable and provocative book should provide an invigorating agenda for many discussion groups, particularly if they want to grapple seriously with postmodern views of history and the role of memory in recording the impact which Jesus made on his disciples. -- James D. G. Dunn University of Durham In their obsession with authenticating individual sayings of Jesus as precious artifacts of a unique individual teacher, modernist mainline questers for the historical Jesus have ignored that Jesus must have communicated with followers. They have thus ignored the necessity of understanding oral communication and social memory in a distinctive historical context. Anthony Le Donne is one of the first to take both oral communication and social memory seriously. He takes some key steps toward rethinking how we might have knowledge of Jesus-in-context through an appreciation of the social memory of Jesus' followers. -- Richard Horsley University of Massachusetts A provocative look at the next wave of study of the Jesus of history. Accessible to general readers yet up to date with the latest developments in the field, Le Donne grounds his understanding of Jesus both in ancient sources and in a careful consideration of contemporary philosophy. Appealing to postmodernism as a way to better understand human perception, memory, and narrative, Le Donne gives us a high-tech look at the ancient and early stories of Jesus' life. He anchors Jesus carefully in the past but allows him to speak meaningfully to the present. -- Tom Thatcher Cincinnati Christian University

Le Donne succeeds, as he sets out to do, in presenting a compelling demonstration of history as memory refraction. -- Catholic Biblical Quarterly This book holds value for both historical-Jesus scholars as well as those interested in Gospel exegesis. -- Benjamin I. Simpson -- Bibliotheca Sacra Le Donne reveals a strong grasp of both philosophical and historiographical literature, as well as the necessary Second Temple and early Christian texts. He is a trustworthy guide for such an endeavor as this. -- Johnny Walker -- Freedom in Orthodoxy ... with its focus on typology and history, this work represents a fine critical adaptation of social memory theory. It proves to be a significant contribution to the field of historical Jesus research. -- The Expository Times

Author Information

Anthony Le Donne is Associate Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary.

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