[Remole]

"If the narrative is untrue, the theological claims are untrue."

___________________

Ah, I think we have reached the premise. I've not the time to delve into this discussion fully, but now I see where you are coming from.

[BibChr]

The problem is that the whole is framed in the narrative. If one asks what should be the primary interpretive question — What was the intent and understanding of the author? — all the hard evidence affirms that they were writing what they meant to be taken as history. On what basis is our knowledge superior?

But the question about Jesus is the fundamental one.

And now, in closing, an illustration.

You ask me, "Do you trust your wife? Is she faithful? How do you know whether she's faithful?"

I say, "Oh, I have no doubt of it whatever. Once, during a miserably rough spot in our marriage, a really attractive coworker of hers befriended her, and gradually warmed in his approach to her, eventually trying to involve her in an immoral relationship. She turned him down so hard and fast, I think he's still reeling from it now, twenty years later. In fact, she knocked him on his butt, and still has the tooth that flew across the room! So, yeah, I know she's faithful."

You say, "Wow, that's quite a story. And all that really happened?"

I shrug and say, "No. But I still know she's faithful."

Leaving unanswered the question, "How?"

Dan
PS -- I did make that up!