Memory and the Jesus Tradition - (Reception of Jesus in the First Three Centuries) by Alan Kirk (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Alan Kirk argues that memory theory, in its social, cultural, and cognitive dimensions, is able to provide a comprehensive account of the origins and history of the Jesus tradition, one capable of displacing the moribund form-critical model. He shows that memory research gives new leverage on a range of classic problems in gospels, historical Jesus, and Christian origins scholarship.

This volume brings together 12 essays published between 2001 and 2016, newly revised for this edition and organized under the rubrics of: 'Memory and the Formation of the Jesus Tradition'; 'Memory and Manuscript'; 'Memory and Historical Jesus Research'; and 'Memory in 2nd Century Gospel Writing'. The introductory essay, written for this volume, argues that the old form critical model, in marginalizing memory, abandoned the one factor actually capable of accounting for the origins of the gospel tradition, its manifestation in oral and written media, and its historical trajectory.

Review Quotes

"[This] monograph should prove to be the most important English-language publication on memory and the NT in over a decade." --Religious Studies Review

"In terms of intellectual quality and conceptual discernment, as well as with regard to substance and style, Memory and the Jesus Tradition is an exemplary achievement that merits close attention." --Review of Biblical Literature

"This volume is an important contribution to the ongoing work in the Gospels, memory studies, and tradition history. Kirk is on the cutting edge of memory studies and is seeking to bring these important findings in the social sciences to bear on neglected areas of biblical scholarship" --Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies

About the Author

Alan Kirk is Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at James Madison University, USA.