The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
11
The "historical" Jesus
By FATHER JOHN DIETZEN
Catholic News Service
parish Bible class is studying St.
conjunction with the current
materials we use refer to the
as if he is different from the Jesus we
an idea of what is meant, but am
to the class.
the subject without becom-
r what the his-
"search for the historical Jesus," as it
a significant movement
the 20th century. Properly
, it can help us under-
the church's teach-
the Gospels particularly.
group must be aware of the
the four Gospels were formed in
stages.
ministry of Jesus himself,
did, what concerns he had
people he was trying to
On.
' to put it, perhaps a little oversimply,
Camera had followed him around,
recorded?
Second came the period of proclamation, when the
apostles and other early disciples preached Jesus to the
earliest Christian communities, roughly between 35
and 70 A.D.; how they reinterpreted the words and
actions of Jesus in a variety of new cultures, new situa-
tions, new languages, all so the saving message, the
"good news" of the risen Lord, would take root in new
believers.
The final stage was the actual writing of the
Gospels, a period covering roughly the years 65 to 100
A.D. During these years, "from the many things hand-
ed down," the Gospel writers "selected some things,
reduced others to a synthesis, others they explicated as
they kept in mind the situation of the churches."
Thus they compiled a narrative concerning the
Lord Jesus "with a method suited to the peculiar pur-
pose each (author) set for himself."
Their purpose, then, was not to compose a "biog-
raphy" of the Savior, but to create a portrait of Jesus
that would establish a base of faith in the risen Christ.
(This church teaching, including the above quote,
is found in the Pontifical Biblical Commission's
"Instruction on the Historical Truth of the Gospels"
1964, and in other documents.)
It is important to emphasize here our Christian
belief that all this happened under the guidance and
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit Jesus promised
would be with his community of believers through the
ages On 14).
In no way, therefore, may we fear that the "truth"
about Jesus and his message became diluted or con-
fused by the time the Gospels were written.
On the contrary, the process leading up to their
writing made the four Gospel portrayals of Jesus clear-
er and infinitely more revealing than would have been
possible (from our human perspective at least) had
they been written the day after the resurrection.
Again, it all occurred with the Spirit hovering over
the infant church as it was transpiring.
From here on, the answer to your question is brief.
The "historical Jesus" is the "actual" Jesus we might
discover hidden behind the words and events of the
present Gospels.
Scholars (with varying motives and degrees of
faith) ask: If we dissect and search beneath the words
of the Gospels, what "real" Jesus -- what literal words
and actions of Jesus as he walked this earth w might
we uncover there?
That's a valid and potentially illuminating ques-
tion.
Whatever that Jesus may be, however, he will
never replace or detract from the Jesus we know and
love by faith, the Jesus passed over to us by the Spirit,
the Jesus of the Gospels.
A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask
about cremation and other funeral regulations and customs
is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to
Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St.,
Bloomington, Ill. 61701.
Questions for this column should be sent to Father
Dietzen at the same address.
receives the ministry of Acolyte
a seminarian from the Diocese of Evansville and a mem-
Evansville, has received the Ministry of Acolyte.
Daniel Buechlein of Indianapolis presided at the ceremony
10 other seminarians at St. Meinrad Archabbey Feb. 10.
appointed to help the deacon and aid the priest, primarily
SS.
, zs a third-year seminarian. He is the son of Ronald and Martha
Sville.
for new Catholic Medical Association
.d March 4 for the newly-formed Catholic Medical
Serving Catholic physicians throughout the Diocese of Evans-
preside at the Mass, to be celebrated in the chapel
Center, Evansville, on March 4 at 6:30 p.m. CST.
Lss, and objectives of the new association will be dis-
lic physicians in the diocese are invited.
contact Dr. Anthony L. Schapker, (812) 485-4144,
: 853-2222.
Catholic High Schools seek 'president'
The Evansville Catholic Interparochial High Schools -- Mater Dei and Memo-
rial -- are seeking applicants for a president. The new position was created by the
board o directors recently, with the approval of Bishop Ge.raktA, Getteifingor. :
Applicants are sought, who have at least a master s degree and five years of
administrative leadership experience. Applicants should also have strong inter-
personal and human relations skills, oral and written communications skills, and
they must practice the beliefs and values of the Catholic faith.
More information is available from Dr. Phyllis Bussing, Director of Schools,
(812) 424-5536.
'Time of healing' planned for separated, divorced, remarried
A day of renewal is ]21anned at St. John the Baptist Church, Newburgh, for sep-
arated, divorced and remarried "who have experienced the pain of a broken rela-
tionship and are wanting to move towards a spirituality of wholene," accord-
ing to a publicity brochure. Annulment information will also be available.
The day-long session is sponsored by St. John Church and Catholic Charities.
The fee of $10 will include lunch. Reservations are required by March 14. Con-
tact Lynda Provence at St. John, (812) 853-6181, or Kristel Riffert at Catholic Char-.
ities, (812) 423-5456.
Paul E. Nonte
Certified Public Accountant
112 W. 5th St., Jasper
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