Holy Boldness

the things recorded in the Gospels. There has been a gargantuan effort to minimize the significance of his contribution and to cast doubt on the reliability of the New Testament documents themselves. But the resil iency of Jesus’ influence and popularity continues to crush the naysayers. As the saying goes, “It’s hard to keep a good man down.” And the sheer power of His words carries their own weight. C. H. Dodd, a Bible scholar of the last century writes, “This whole body of sayings, handed down through different channels of tradition, has an unmistakable stamp. It is impossible to suppose that they are merely the product of skillful condensation by early christian teachers. They have the ring of originality. They betray a mind whose processes were swift and direct, hitting the nail on the head without waste of words.” 20 Even though the New Testament is written in Greek, the imaginative mind of Jesus who spoke in Hebrew and Aramaic poetry can still be heard through the translation. Dodd continues, “ Further, whatever his theme, he thinks and speaks in concrete images and pictures in preference to general or abstract propositions. Thus, instead of saying “Charity should not be ostentatious, “ he says “When you do some act of charity, do not announce it with a flourish of trumpets.” Where he might have said, “Personal relations are more important that religious observance,” he makes a picture: “If you are bringing your gift to the altar, you suddenly remember that your brother has a grievance against you, leave your gift where it is before the altar. First go and make your peace with your brother, and only then come and offer your gift.” … It is this sense for the concrete, this delight in imaginative picture-making, that has shaped and colored his parables which are so notable a feature of the gospels. 21 John 1:14 declares, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This observation by John on the significance of the life and testimony of Jesus gives a glimpse of the profound impression that Jesus made upon His hearers. He made the truth tangible. He brought pro found realities and translated them into the simplest, most basic terms. 20 Dodd, C. H. (1971) The Founder of Christianity The MacMillan Company p. 37 21 Ibid. p. 39 Profound truth made simple

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