Was Jesus Christ Literate? | Dr. Chris Keith

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Chris Keith was the professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary's University where he also serves as Director of the Centre for the Social-Scientific Study of the Bible. He is now currently Professor at the MF Norwegian School of Theology. His publications include Jesus against the Scribal Elite: The Origins of the Conflict (Baker Academic, 2014), Jesus among Friends and Enemies: A Historical and Literary Introduction to Jesus in the Gospels (co-edited with Larry W. Hurtado, Baker Academic, 2011), and Jesus, Criteria, and the Demise of Authenticity (co-edited with Anthony Le Donne, T&T Clark, 2012).

He has also edited many books in the journal of new testament studies.

Today's topic will focus on his book Jesus against the scribal Elite.

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Twitter: @Jacob56723278

[richardfriedman]

Jacob, you really are the best! The only interviewer who actually read books, who ask new questions to every guest and not just ask the same set of questions to every scholar! Thank you for bringing serious scholars, a wide range of them! Your work is highly appreciated!

[arnold]

Jacob, you do your homework on your guests and that's good for all of us. I like your blunt and honest demeanor.

[arnold]

This is a quality podcast revealing 2 very knowledgeable men. I rewatch because it's full of great thoughts and questions and answers. And I absolutely loved how you both handled the appearance of Chris's son. Classy stuff, thanks Jacob and Chris.

[Jd-]

Alright, some historical Jesus talk! I’ve petitioned Derek and Neal about this but I forgot to mention it to you Jacob — hope you look into having James Crossley. I believe he’s a professor at the same institution as Dr Keith and has a (great) new book out

[riley]

This was a great conversation and something that I have thought a lot about. Historically, the illiteracy rate for people of the ancient world was around 85-95 percent, so if Jesus learned to read, we have to ask ourselves when, where, and how he learned to read. Personally, I think that the Historical Jesus was functionally illiterate. I think that he maybe could recognize letters, maybe a few words, and could maybe write his own name. Most of what he knew and learned, was probably related to his trade profession. There is an innate human trait to not want to speak ill of the dead. We edit and embellish stories of the dead, in order to enhance our memories of them. To Jesus' illiterate followers, he probably appeared well spoken and educated. I agree with Dr. Keith that the later writers probably also wanted to ensure their readers saw Jesus as more educated and learned than Paul, so John, Apostolorum, and Apocrophon of James portrayed him as being literate, but I don't believe that he was. The Gospel of John has over 450 textual variants within it, so there was a lot that later writers were grappling with and trying to come to a consensus on.

[Chimpertainment]

I think this was the first time in my life the phrase "an historical" was actually necessary to use 36:00

[danbreeden]

A question iv often wondered about this myself

[ThroneofDavid]

It is written that Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read the prophecy about Him from the book of Isaiah.

[TheRobdarling]

fictional characters can be whatever you want them to be

[fortunatomartino]

Abraham, Moses and Muhammad were PhDs

[Illuminati]

Thats like asking if santa clause knew howto do algebra? They don't exist .

[Robert_L_Peters]

I don't think it makes any sense that he would be literate

[zbyszekkowalski]

NT theology at its 'finest'. Right off the bat the assumption that the gospels tell reliable history.
So was JC literate or not? My bet is neither.