
The The Framework of the Story of Jesus
Literary-Critical Investigations of the Earliest Jesus Tradition
James Clarke & Co Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 25. May 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-0-227-17887-4 (ISBN)
Description
Now available for the first time in English, Karl Ludwig Schmidt's The Framework of the Story of Jesus (Der Rahmen der Geschichte Jesu) has been a foundation of New Testament studies. Through meticulous analysis, Schmidt demonstrates that the Synoptic Gospels are collections of individual stories that circulated orally and independently in the earliest Christian communities. Schmidt shows persuasively how, in their oral forms, most of these traditions existed apart from any sequence or specific temporal or geographic location, and that the chronology and locations now evident in the Gospels were applied by the evangelists while collecting and recording the oral traditions.
Across much of the twentieth century and even into the present day, Schmidt's thesis has undergirded Gospel interpretation. Yet as long as The Framework of the Story of Jesus remained untranslated, Schmidt's ideas have been open to neglect and misinterpretation among Anglophone scholars. Discussion of the Synoptic Gospels and broader New Testament study will be enriched by engagement with the evidence and argument as originally presented.
Across much of the twentieth century and even into the present day, Schmidt's thesis has undergirded Gospel interpretation. Yet as long as The Framework of the Story of Jesus remained untranslated, Schmidt's ideas have been open to neglect and misinterpretation among Anglophone scholars. Discussion of the Synoptic Gospels and broader New Testament study will be enriched by engagement with the evidence and argument as originally presented.
Reviews / Votes
"Karl Ludwig Schmidt's revolutionary work helped transform the entire discipline of New Testament studies, but it has never been available to the English-reading public. Byron McCane has performed an enormous service to our field by producing an accessible and highly readable translation that reveals the true genius of this classic text." - Bart D. Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"A century later, K.L. Schmidt's Framework still provides not only the basis for the story of Jesus, with its detailed argument that Gospel pericopae are stand-alone stories - but also for all Gospel studies ever since. I warmly welcome this English translation, and only wish that it had been available when I was doing my own doctorate on Gospel genre - for Schmidt's 'framework' is also true for many other ancient biographies." - Richard A. Burridge, King's College London
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
488 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-227-17887-4 (9780227178874)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Karl Ludwig Schmidt | Byron R. McCane
The The Framework of the Story of Jesus
Literary-Critical Investigations of the Earliest Jesus Tradition
E-Book
05/2023
James Clarke & Co Ltd
€44.99
Available for download
Persons
Karl Ludwig Schmidt (1891-1956) helped establish form criticism, an influential method in New Testament studies. Schmidt opposed Nazism, left Germany in 1933, and settled in Basle, Switzerland, where he taught. Besides The Framework of the Story of Jesus, Schmidt also wrote The Place of the Gospels in the General History of Literature (2002).
Byron R. McCane is Professor of Religion at Centre College (Danville, Kentucky). He is also codirector of the archaeological excavations at Horvat Kur in the Lower Galilee, Israel. His books include Roll Back the Stone (2003).
Byron R. McCane is Professor of Religion at Centre College (Danville, Kentucky). He is also codirector of the archaeological excavations at Horvat Kur in the Lower Galilee, Israel. His books include Roll Back the Stone (2003).
Content
Abbreviations
Introduction: Karl Ludwig Schmidt, Der Rahmen der Geschichte Jesu, Form Criticism, and Gospel Genre, by Byron R. McCane
Preface
Intoduction. The Problem of the Framework of the Story of Jesus: Historical and Methodological Issues
1. John the Baptist and Jesus (Mark 1:1-13par.)
2. Jesus' Activity in Galilee (Mark 1:14-45par.)
3. Jesus' Conflicts with the Leaders of the People (Mark 2:1-3:6 par.)
4. Jesus and the People (Mark 3:7-6:13par.)
5. Jesus outside of Galilee in Gentile Territory (Mark 6:14-8:26par.)
6. Jesus and His Disciples, The Approaching Passion (Mark 8:27-10:45par.)
7. Luke's Travel Narrative (Luke 9:51-19:27)
8. Jesus' Final Activity in Jerusalem (Mark 10:46-13:37 par)
9. Jesus' Suffering and Death: Mark 14-15 (= Matt 26-27= Luke 22-23)
10. The Pre-histories
Conclusion: The Framework of the Story of Jesus in Mark, Matthew, and Luke
Bibliography
Authors Index
Subject Index
Introduction: Karl Ludwig Schmidt, Der Rahmen der Geschichte Jesu, Form Criticism, and Gospel Genre, by Byron R. McCane
Preface
Intoduction. The Problem of the Framework of the Story of Jesus: Historical and Methodological Issues
1. John the Baptist and Jesus (Mark 1:1-13par.)
2. Jesus' Activity in Galilee (Mark 1:14-45par.)
3. Jesus' Conflicts with the Leaders of the People (Mark 2:1-3:6 par.)
4. Jesus and the People (Mark 3:7-6:13par.)
5. Jesus outside of Galilee in Gentile Territory (Mark 6:14-8:26par.)
6. Jesus and His Disciples, The Approaching Passion (Mark 8:27-10:45par.)
7. Luke's Travel Narrative (Luke 9:51-19:27)
8. Jesus' Final Activity in Jerusalem (Mark 10:46-13:37 par)
9. Jesus' Suffering and Death: Mark 14-15 (= Matt 26-27= Luke 22-23)
10. The Pre-histories
Conclusion: The Framework of the Story of Jesus in Mark, Matthew, and Luke
Bibliography
Authors Index
Subject Index