Criterion of embarrassment
This article is missing information about discussion of whether this is used outside of Bible history, and opinions of non-Bible scholars as to the criterion's reliability.(January 2024) |
The criterion of embarrassment is a type of historical analysis in which a historical account is deemed likely to be true under the inference that the author would have no reason to invent a historical account which might embarrass them. Certain
The criterion of embarrassment is one of the criteria of authenticity used by academics, the others being the criterion of dissimilarity, the criterion of language and environment, criterion of coherence, and the criterion of multiple attestation.[2]
History
The criterion of embarrassment is a long-standing tool of New Testament research. The phrase was used by John P. Meier in his 1991 book A Marginal Jew; he attributed it to Edward Schillebeeckx (1914–2009), who does not appear to have actually used the term in his written works. The earliest use of the approach was possibly by Paul Wilhelm Schmiedel in the Encyclopaedia Biblica (1899).[3]
Examples
The assumption of the criterion of embarrassment is that the
The
Limitations
The criterion of embarrassment has its limitations and is almost always used in concert with the other criteria. [
An example of the second point is found in the stories of the
A further limitation is the possibility that what could be classed as embarrassing could also be an intentionally created account designed to provoke a reaction. For instance, Saint Peter's denial of Jesus could have been written as an example of the consequences of denial. Matthew 10:32–33: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."[according to whom?]
See also
- Criterion of contextual credibility
- Criterion of dissimilarity
- Criterion of multiple attestation
- Lectio difficilior potior
- Declaration against interest
References
- ^ a b Catherine M. Murphy, The Historical Jesus For Dummies, For Dummies Pub., 2007. p 14
- ^ Tatum, W. Barnes (1982). In Quest of Jesus. Nashville: Abingdon Press. p. 106.
- ^ Stanley E. Porter, Criteria for Authenticity in Historical-Jesus Research (Continuum, 2004) pages 106–7.
- ^ Guy Davenport and Benjamin Urrutia, The Logia of Yeshua, Washington, DC 1996.
- ^ John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew, Yale University Press, 2009
- ^ N. S.Gill, Discussion of the Historical Jesus Archived March 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Blue Butler Education, Historical Study of Jesus of Nazareth - An Introduction". Blue.butler.edu. 2005-03-04. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew, Yale University Press, 2009. p 170
- ^ Cameron, Ron (1982), The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts, Home Base, New York: Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 124–130
- ^ Bart D. Ehrman, Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium, Oxford, 1999. pp 90–91.
- ^ Stanley E. Porter, The Criteria for Authenticity in Historical-Jesus Research: Previous Discussion and New Proposals Sheffield Academic Press, 2000.
- Gerd Thiessen& Dagmar Winter. The Quest for the Plausible Jesus: The Question of Criteria, Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
Further reading
- Meier, John P., A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Doubleday: 1991. vol 1: p. 168–171.
External links
- The Criterion of Embarrassment and Jesus' Baptism by John
- Weinersmith, Zach (April 12, 2015). "Biblical Literalism". Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. www.smbc-comics.com.