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Jesus Seminar

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The Jesus Seminar is a controversial research team of about one hundred academic New Testament scholars founded in 1985 by the late Robert Funk under the auspices of the Westar Institute. The seminar's purpose is to determine what Jesus, as a historical figure, may or may not have said or done.

The scholars attending attempt to reconstruct the life of Jesus. They try to ask who he was, what he did, what he said, and what his sayings meant using all the evidence and available tools. Their reconstruction is based on the triple pillar of social anthropology, history and textual analysis. The key feature is the rejection of eschatology. They use cross-cultural anthropological studies to set the general background; narrow in on the history and society of first-century Palestine; and use textual analysis (along with more anthropology and history) to focus on Jesus himself. They use a combination of primary sources (original texts, but with archaeological evidence) and secondary sources (anthropological and historical studies). Their methodology, which was developed by a team of scholars (who expounded papers for the review of other Fellows and published many in Forum) and is explained in The Five Gospels, involves canvassing the records of the first four centuries for traditions about Jesus and sifting them by criteria such as multiple attestation, distinctiveness, and orality.

Seminar proceedings

The Seminar began by producing their own translation of the gospels into modern American English, called the "Scholars Version." It freely uses updated colloquialisms and contemporary phrasing that attempts to match the author's style, so that one can hear the message as a first-century listener might have, rather than the more common translations' archaic, literal representation of the underlying language, or a superficial update of it.

Voting is the most efficient means of determining consensus in an assembled group. This is the technique employed by translation committees who created the King James Version and the Revised Standard Version of the Bible and the Novum Testamentum Graece, and it was also chosen by the Jesus Seminar, and was also used in the original creation of the Bible Canon and the creation of all of the creeds of the Ecumenical Councils. Attendees of the seminar met semi-annually to debate the papers presented, and vote on the authenticity of about 500 statements/events using a bead system. The character of each vote was indicated by the colour of bead used.

  • Red beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did say the passage quoted, or something very much like the passage. (3 Points)
  • Pink beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus probably said something like the passage. (2 Points)
  • Grey beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage, but it contains Jesus' ideas. (1 Point)
  • Black beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage—it comes from later admirers or a different tradition. (0 Points)

The consensus position was determined by the average weighted score, rather than by simple majority. This meant that all opinions were reflected in the decisions.

Sayings of Jesus

The first findings of the Jesus Seminar were published in 1993 as The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus .[1]

The Red sayings (with % indicating the weighted average of those in agreement), given in the Seminar's own "Scholar's Version" translation, are:

1. Turn the other cheek (92%): Mt 5:39, Lk6:29a
2. Coat & shirt: Mt5:40 (92%), Lk6:29b (90%)
3. Congratulations, poor!: Lk6:20b (91%), Th54 (90%), Mt5:3 (63%)
4. Second mile (90%): Mt5:41
5. Love your enemies: Lk6:27b (84%), Mt5:44b (77%), Lk6:32,35a (56%) {compare to "Pray for your enemies": POxy1224 6:1a; Didache 1:3; Poly-Phil 12:3}
6. Leaven: Lk13:20–21 (83%), Mt13:33 (83%), Th96:1–2 (65%)
7. Emperor & God (82%): Th100:2b–3, Mk12:17b, Lk20:25b, Mt22:21c (also Egerton Gospel 3:1-6)
8. Give to beggars (81%): Lk6:30a, Mt5:42a, Didache1:5a
9. Good Samaritan (81%): Lk10:30–35
10. Congrats, hungry!: Lk6:21a (79%), Mt5:6 (59%), Th69:2 (53%)
11. Congrats, sad!: Lk6:21b (79%), Mt5:4 (73%)
12. Shrewd manager (77%): Lk16:1–8a
13. Vineyard laborers (77%): Mt20:1–15
14. Abba, Father (77%): Mt6:9b, Lk11:2c
15. The Mustard Seed : Th20:2–4 (76%), Mk4:30–32 (74%), Lk13:18–19 (69%), Mt13:31–32 (67%)

The top 15 (of 75) Pink sayings are:

16. On anxieties, don't fret (75%): Th36, Lk12:22–23, Mt6:25
17. Lost Coin (75%): Lk15:8–9
18. Foxes have dens: Lk9:58 (74%), Mt8:20 (74%), Th86 (67%)
19. No respect at home: Th31:1 (74%), Lk4:24(71%), Jn4:44 (67%), Mt13:57 (60%), Mk6:4 (58%)
20. Friend at midnight (72%): Lk11:5–8
21. Two masters : Lk16:13a, Mt6:24a (72%); Th47:2 (65%)
22. Treasure: Mt13:44 (71%), Th109 (54%)
23. Lost sheep: Lk15:4–6 (70%), Mt18:12–13 (67%), Th107 (48%)
24. What goes in: Mk7:14–15 (70%), Th14:5 (67%), Mt15:10-11 (63%)
25. Corrupt judge (70%): Lk18:2–5
26. Prodigal son (70%): Lk15:11–32
27. Leave the dead (see also But to bring a sword, Nazirite): Mt8:22 (70%), Lk9:59–60 (69%)
28. Castration for Heaven (see also Origen, Antithesis of the Law#Adultery) (70%): Mt19:12a
29. By their fruit (69%) (see Antinomianism): Mt7:16b, Th45:1a, Lk6:44b (56%)
30. The dinner party, The wedding celebration: Th64:1–11 (69%), Lk14:16-23 (56%), Mt22:2-13 (26%)

In the end, the Seminar determined that of the various statements in the Gospels attributed to Jesus, only about 18% of them were likely uttered by Jesus himself.

Acts of Jesus

In 1998 the Jesus Seminar published The Acts of Jesus: The Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus.[2]

According to the front flap summary: "Through rigorous research and debate, they have combed the gospels for evidence of the man behind the myths. The figure they have discovered is very different from the icon of traditional Christianity.

According to the Jesus Seminar:

The 10 authentic ("red") acts of Jesus are:

  1. The Beelzebul controversy: Luke 11:15–17
  2. A voice in the wilderness: Mark 1:1–8, Matt 3:1–12, Luke 3:1–20, Gospel of the Ebionites 1
  3. John baptizes Jesus: Mark 1:9–11, Matt 3:13–17, Luke 3:21–22, Gospel of the Ebionites 4
  4. Jesus proclaims the good news: Mark 1:14–15
  5. Dining with sinners: Mark 2:15–17, Matt 9:10–13, Oxyrhynchus Gospels 1224 5:1-2
  6. Herod beheads John: Mark 6:14–29, Matt 14:1–12, Luke 9:7–9
  7. Crucifixion: core event considered authentic but all gospel reports are "improbable or fictive" ("black")
  8. The Death of Jesus: core event considered authentic but all gospel reports are "improbable or fictive" ("black")
  9. The first list of appearances: Jesus appeared to Cephas: 1Cor 15:3–5
  10. Birth of Jesus: Jesus's parents were named Joseph and Mary: parts of Matt 1:18–25 and Luke 2:1–7

The 19 "pink" events ("a close approximation of what Jesus did") are:

  1. Peter's mother-in-law: Mark 1:29–31, Matt 8:14–15, Luke 4:42–44
  2. The leper: Mark 1:40–45, Matt 8:1–4, Luke 5:12–16, Egerton Gospel 2:1-4
  3. Paralytic and four: Mark 2:1–12, Matt 9:1–8, Luke 5:17–26
  4. Call of Levi: Mark 2:13–14, Matt 9:9, Luke 5:27–28, Gospel of the Ebionites 2:4
  5. Sabbath observance: Mark 2:23–28, Matt 12:1–8, Luke 6:1–5
  6. Jesus' relatives come to get him: Mark 3:20–21
  7. True relatives: Mark 3:31–35, Matt 12:46–50, Thomas 99:1-3
  8. Woman with a vaginal hemorrhage: Mark 5:24–34, Matt 9:20–22, Luke 8:42–48
  9. No respect at home: Mark 6:1–6, Matt 13:54–58
  10. Eating with defiled hands: Mark 7:1–13, Matt 15:1–9
  11. Demand for a sign: Luke 11:29–30
  12. The blind man of Bethsaida: Mark 8:22–26
  13. Blind Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46–52, Luke 18:35–43
  14. Temple incident: Mark 11:15–19, Matt 21:12–17, Luke 19:45–48
  15. Emperor & God: Mark 12:13–17, Matt 22:15–22, Luke 20:19–26, Thomas 100:1-4, Egerton 3:1-6
  16. The arrest: core event not accurately recorded
  17. Before the high priest: core event not accurately recorded
  18. Before the Council: core event not accurately recorded
  19. Before Pilate: core event not accurately recorded

Also 1 red "summary and setting" (not a saying or action): Women companions of Jesus: Luke 8:1–3.

Criticism of the Jesus Seminar

Many Conservative scholars, including Evangelical scholars, have questioned the methodology, assumptions and intent of the Jesus Seminar.

Dale Allison of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, in his 1999 book Jesus of Nazareth: Millenarian Prophet, cited what he felt were problems with the work of (particularly) Funk, John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg, arguing that their conclusions were at least in part predetermined by their theological positions. He also pointed out the limitations of their presumptions and methodology. Allison argued that despite the conclusions of the seminar, Jesus was a prophetic figure focused to a large extent on apocalyptic thinking.

Luke Timothy Johnson of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, in his 1996 book The Real Jesus, voiced concerns with the seminar's work. He criticized the techniques of the Seminar, believing them to be far more limited for historical reconstruction than seminar members believe. Their conclusions were "already determined ahead of time," Johnson says, which "is not responsible, or even critical scholarship. It is a self-indulgent charade." He further argued that while many members of the seminar are reputable scholars (Borg, Crossan, Funk, others), others are relatively unknown or undistinguished. One member, Paul Verhoeven's, holds a Ph.D is in mathematics and physics, not biblical studies, and is known as the director of movies such as Basic Instinct and Showgirls. Johnson also critiqued the seminar for its attempts to gain the attention of the media for the 2000 ABC News program "The Search for Jesus" hosted by news anchor Peter Jennings.

Other scholars who have expressed concerns with the work of the Jesus Seminar are Richard Hays ("The Corrected Jesus" in First Things 43, May 1994), Ben Witherington (The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth), N.T. Wright (Jesus and the Victory of God), William Lane Craig (Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?: A Debate Between William Lane Craig and John Dominic Crossan) and Craig Blomberg, Darrell Bock, Edwin Yamauchi, et. al. (Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus).

Seminar critic William Lane Craig has argued that the self-selected members of the group do not represent the consensus of New Testament scholars. He writes that:

Of the 74 [scholars] listed in their publication The Five Gospels, only 14 would be leading figures in the field of New Testament studies. More than half are basically unknowns, who have published only two or three articles. Eighteen of the fellows have published nothing at all in New Testament studies! Most have relatively undistinguished academic positions, for example, teaching at a community college. [3] Others have made the same point and have further indicated that thirty six of those scholars, almost half, have a degree from or currently teach at one of three schools, Harvard, Claremont, or Vanderbilt.

Members of the Jesus Seminar have responded to their critics in various books and dialogues, which typically defend both their methodology and their conclusions. Among these responses are The Jesus Seminar and Its Critics by Robert J. Miller, a member of the Seminar; The Apocalyptic Jesus: A Debate, a dialogue with Allison, Borg, Crossan, and Stephen Patterson; The Jesus Controversy: Perspectives in Conflict, a dialogue between Crossan, Johnson, and Werner H. Kelber. The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions, by Borg and N. T. Wright demonstrated how two scholars with divergent theological positions can work together to creatively share and discuss their thoughts.

Fellows of the Jesus Seminar

These are the core members listed in The Five Gospels. As many as two hundred have participated in the work.

Robert W. Funk, Ph.D.
John Dominic Crossan, Ph.D.
Andries G. van Aarde, D.D.
Harold W. Attridge, Ph.D.
Robert Bater, Ph.D.
William Beardslee, Ph.D.
Edward F. Beutner, Ph.D.
Sterling Bjorndahl, Ph.D.
Marcus Borg, D.Phil.
Willi Braun, Ph.D.
James R. Butts, Ph.D.
Marvin F. Cain, Ph.D.
Ron Cameron, Ph.D.
Bruce D. Chilton, Ph.D.
Wendy J. Cotter C.S.J., Ph.D.
Jon Daniels, Ph.D.
Stevan L. Davies, Ph.D.
Jon F. Dechow, Ph.D.
Arthur J. Dewey, Th.D.
Dennis C. Duling, Ph.D.
Robert T. Fortna, Ph.D.
James Goss, Ph.D.
Heinz Guenther, Th.D.
Walter Harrelson, Th.D.
Stephen L. Harris, Ph.D.
Charles W. Hedrick, Ph.D.
James D. Hester, D.Theol.
C.M. Kempton Hewitt, Ph.D.
Julian V. Hills, Th.D.
Roy W. Hoover, Th.D.
Michael L. Humphries, Ph.D.
Arland D. Jacobson, Ph.D.
Clayton N. Jefford, Th.M, Ph.D.
F. Stanley Jones, D.Theol, Ph.D.
Perry Kea, Ph.D.
Chan-Hie Kim, Ph.D.
Karen L. King, Ph.D.
John S. Kloppenborg, Ph.D.

Davidson Loehr, Ph.D.
Sanford Lowe, D.Min, D.D.
John Lown, Ph.D.
Dennis R. MacDonald, Ph.D.
Lane C. McGaughy, Ph.D.
Edward J. McMahon, Ph.D.
Loren Mack-Fisher, Ph.D.
Marvin W. Meyer, Ph.D.
J. Ramsey Michaels, Th.M., Ph.D.
L. Bruce Miller, Ph.D.
Robert J. Miller, Ph.D.
Winsome Munro, Ed.D.
Culver H. Nelson, D.D., D.D.
Rob Parrott, Ph.D.
Stephen J. Patterson, Ph.D.
Vernon K. Robbins, Ph.D.
James M. Robinson, D.Theol, Ph.D.
John J. Rousseau, Ph.D., D.Rel.
Daryl D. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Bernard Brandon Scott, Ph.D.
Philip Sellew, Th.D.
Chris Shea, Ph.D.
Lou H. Silberman, D.H.L.
Dennis Smith, Th.D.
Mahlon H. Smith, M.S.L.
Michael G. Steinhauser, Th.D.
Robert F. Stoops, Jr., Ph.D.
Johann Strijdom, D.Litt., et Phil.
W. Barnes Tatum, Ph.D.
Hal Taussig, Ph.D.
Leif E. Vaage, Ph.D.
Paul Verhoeven, Ph.D.
Wesley Hiram Wachob, Ph.D.
William O. Walker, Jr., Ph.D.
Robert L. Webb, Ph.D.
John L. White, Ph.D.
Walter Wink, Th.D.
Sara C. Winter., Ph.D.

Other fellows

See also

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