Tag Archives: scribal literacy

The final discussion on Chris Keith’s Jesus against the Scribal Elite

     Here’s the final (fourth) response to my colleague Chris Keith’s Jesus against the Scribal Elite in the fine Syndicate Symposium discussion which Chris Tilling has been moderating (see links here, here and here to previous posts about this discussion, and here to my review of the book). This time Jason Lamoreaux writes a thoughtful ‘review essay’ of issues in Keith’s book from the perspective of his lecture room in a US state university, often teaching (as he tells us) students from an evangelical or conservative background. Continue reading →

A third thoughtful interaction on Chris Keith’s Jesus against the Scribal Elite

    Here’s the third of the series of interesting interactions of scholars with my colleague Chris Keith over his excellent book Jesus against the Scribal Elite (first here and second here, plus my original review here). This time Chris Skinner engages with the book and focuses on issues around criteria for authenticity, and the offensiveness of suggesting that Jesus was illiterate to his (generally highly literate) followers today. Chris Keith provides a feisty and clarifying response. Worth a read!

More discussion on Chris Keith’s Jesus against the Scribal Elite

        Here’s a further post in the ongoing symposium on Chris Keith’s valuable book Jesus against the Scribal Elite, this time by Tobias Hägerland (Lund University, Sweden), along with a response by Prof. Keith. (See my note on the first one here and my review of the book here.) Prof. Hägerland suggests that Prof. Keith understates the political and religious threat Jesus provided by being a public teacher who was regarded by the elite as untrained and an ‘illiterate text-broker’. Prof. Keith in response accepts Prof. Hägerland’s Continue reading →

A very thoughtful discussion of Chris Keith’s Jesus against the Scribal Elite

    There’s a fascinating and very thoughtful conversation going on about my excellent colleague Chris Keith’s fine book, Jesus against the Scribal Elite going on at Syndicate Theology. The first essay response to the book is by Dagmar Winter, and it’s followed by an excellent response by Chris Keith himself. This is a conversation worth following for those interested in the cutting edge of studies of the historical Jesus. See also my long-ish review of the book, which provides a helpful summary.

Chris Keith’s thought-provoking and worthwhile new book

Chris Keith Jesus against the Scribal Elite: The Origins of the Conflict Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014; ISBN 978-0-8010-3988-1 [As many readers of this review will recognise, the author of this book is my colleague at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Professor Chris Keith was kind enough to give a copy of the book I review here, but without any request for review, let alone—of course—for a favourable review. What follows is my responsibility alone.] Get a cup of coffee (or your preferred tipple)—this is a Continue reading →