Midrashim in the rabbinical tradition were usually looking far into history, usually hundreds of years.
Interesting point. The only counter I can think to offer is that the first century AD was a time of considerable insight, social upheaval, and spiritual discovery. Clearly something powerful happened then, because it echoes to this day.
Actually the main purpose of Spong's book was to present for a lay audience the arguments of a group of scholars led by one Michael Goulder, that the Gospels were structured so that they would match the weekly Torah readings and certain observances of the Jewish liturgical year. (The Passion narrative meant to line up with Passover, etc. etc.)
The point about midrashim is rather minor, overall, but it would have taken too much space to post any meaningful excerpt from the main argument of the book.
I know Spong is writing for the interested lay audience, but he does tend to oversimplify a bit more than many other authors in the field.
Thank you for sharing that information about the paper you wrote. That is a fascinating perspective on the nativity, and I can see right away what you mean. The Gospels do more than tell the story of Jesus (otherwise a single gospel would have sufficed): they frame Jesus in the context of his society, and they define the context of the Christian teachings as well.
Re: history+ York and Robinson
Interesting point. The only counter I can think to offer is that the first century AD was a time of considerable insight, social upheaval, and spiritual discovery. Clearly something powerful happened then, because it echoes to this day.
Actually the main purpose of Spong's book was to present for a lay audience the arguments of a group of scholars led by one Michael Goulder, that the Gospels were structured so that they would match the weekly Torah readings and certain observances of the Jewish liturgical year. (The Passion narrative meant to line up with Passover, etc. etc.)
The point about midrashim is rather minor, overall, but it would have taken too much space to post any meaningful excerpt from the main argument of the book.
I know Spong is writing for the interested lay audience, but he does tend to oversimplify a bit more than many other authors in the field.
Thank you for sharing that information about the paper you wrote. That is a fascinating perspective on the nativity, and I can see right away what you mean. The Gospels do more than tell the story of Jesus (otherwise a single gospel would have sufficed): they frame Jesus in the context of his society, and they define the context of the Christian teachings as well.
Thank you for your thoughts!