Humor in the Gospels

A Sourcebook for the Study of Humor in the New Testament, 18632014

By (author) Terri Bednarz

Publication date:

05 May 2015

Length of book:

354 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498501361

Humor in the Gospels is the most comprehensive resource on Gospel humor to date. Terri Bednarz reviews and critiques a 150 years of biblical scholarship on the subject from little known journal articles and out-of-print books to the most well respected classical works of today. She covers a range of scholarly discussions on the various forms and functions of Gospel humor from frivolity to witty allusions to satirical barbs. She examines the barriers of associating humor with the Gospel depictions of Jesus, the difficulties of identifying humor in ancient biblical texts, and the advances of literary, contextual, and rhetorical approaches to recognizing Gospel humor. This important work includes an extensive bibliography for further study of Gospel humor in particular, and Biblical humor in general.

Chapter One: The Quest for Gospel Humor: An Introduction
Chapter Two: The Humor Taboo: Scholarship in the First Quest Era (1863–1906)
Chapter Three: The Humor of the Absurd: Scholarship in the “No” Quest Era (1907–1953)
Chapter Four: The Seriousness of Humor in the Teachings of Jesus: Second Quest Scholarship and Humor Recognition in the Gospels (1954–1969)
Chapter Five: The Comic and the Playful in the Teachings of Jesus: Second Quest Scholarship and Humor Recognition in the Gospels (1970–1979)
Chapter Six: The Cynic and the Rogue: Humor Studies in the Gospels in the Early Third Quest Era (1980–1995)
Chapter Seven: The Comic Savant and His Prophetic Humor: Humor Studies in the Gospels in the Late Third Quest Era (1996–2014)
Chapter Eight: Taking Humor Seriously: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Humor in the Gospels in the Third Quest Era (1980–2014)
Chapter Nine: The Laughing Jesus: Theological Approaches to Humor in the Gospels in the Third Quest Era (1980–2014)
Chapter Ten: A Synopsis of Humor Rhetoric in the Quest Periods

With the publication of this volume Bednarz has filled a major gap in New Testament Studies. This is a thorough review of studies of humor in the gospels since 1863. . . . Bednarz’s readable and stimulating book is an essential resource for all who wish to have a deeper knowledge of Jesus and the gospels.