Jesus as Philosopher

The Moral Sage in the Synoptic Gospels

Runar M. Thorsteinsson

Examines the possible ways in which the authors of the Synoptic Gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, were inspired by philosophical traditions
Considers how the author in question speak of Jesus in relation to contemporary philosophy and whether we see Jesus take on a certain 'philosophical' role in the Gospels, either by his statements and reasoning or his way of life
Concludes that the Gospel authors inherited stories and sayings of Jesus that they wanted to improve upon and recount as truthfully as possible, and they did so in part by making use of philosophical traditions about the ideal sage, especially that of Stoicism and Cynicism

Jesus as Philosopher

The Moral Sage in the Synoptic Gospels

Runar M. Thorsteinsson

Description

Jesus as Philosopher: The Philosophical Sage in the Synoptic Gospels examines the possible ways in which the authors of the Synoptic Gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, were inspired by contemporary philosophical traditions about the ideal philosophical sage in their description of their ideal human being, Jesus Christ. Runar M. Thorsteinsson considers the following questions: How does the author in question speak of Jesus in relation to contemporary philosophy? Do we see Jesus take on a certain 'philosophical' role in the Gospels, either by his statements and reasoning or his way of life? In what way are Jesus' words and actions analogous to that of leading philosophical figures in Graeco-Roman antiquity, according to these texts? Conversely, in what way do his words and actions differ from theirs?

While Thorsteinsson discusses a number of Graeco-Roman sources, the emphasis is on the question of how these parallel texts help us better to understand the Gospel authors' perception and presentation of the character of Jesus. While the fields of theology and ethics are often intertwined in these texts, including the philosophical texts, Thorsteinsson's main focus is the ethical aspect. He argues that the Gospel authors drew in some ways on classical virtue ethics. The study concludes that the Gospel authors inherited stories and sayings of Jesus that they wanted to improve upon and recount as truthfully as possible, and they did so in part by making use of philosophical traditions about the ideal sage, especially that of Stoicism and Cynicism.

Jesus as Philosopher

The Moral Sage in the Synoptic Gospels

Runar M. Thorsteinsson

Abbreviations
Introduction: Purpose and Approach
1:Philosophy and Philosophical Sages in the Graeco-Roman World
2:Jesus as Philosopher in the Gospel of Mark
3:Jesus as Philosopher in the Gospel of Matthew
4:Jesus as Philosopher in the Gospel of Luke
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of Subjects
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Ancient References

Jesus as Philosopher

The Moral Sage in the Synoptic Gospels

Runar M. Thorsteinsson

Author Information

Runar M. Thorsteinsson, Professor of New Testament, University of Iceland

Runar M. Thorsteinsson is Professor of New Testament in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Iceland. He is the author of Roman Christianity and Roman Stoicism: A Comparative Study of Ancient Morality (Oxford University Press, 2010).

Jesus as Philosopher

The Moral Sage in the Synoptic Gospels

Runar M. Thorsteinsson

Reviews and Awards

"This is a clear, readable and informative study which works systematically through selected topics in the Synoptic Gospels using sources from the teachings/lives of philosophers. He helpfully observes that, although there are differences between ancient schools, their basic purpose was the relationship between 'philosophical discourse and way of life' (p.15). Consequently, he compares the portrayal of Jesus' ethical teaching/life with the philosophers and shows remarkable similarities, e.g., on suffering and death (cf., Socrates). Nevertheless, he concludes that Jesus's teachings and life are superior. Recommended." - Robert S. Dutch, Journal for the Study of the New Testament

"... a rich and evocative study. I wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone interested in the Synoptic Gospels and Hellenistic philosophy." - Review of Biblical Literature