The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig L. Blomberg

Author:Craig L. Blomberg [Blomberg, Craig L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2014-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

A shorter, rearranged version of this passage occurs in Polycarp’s letter to the Philippians (2.3) in conjunction with the beatitude ‘Blessed are the poor and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God’ (cf. Matt. 5:10). Since there is no evidence that Clement or Polycarp knew each other’s work, it is unlikely that both would independently create such similar pastiches of Jesus’ teachings. The parallel, rhythmic form of the passage suggests that in the oral tradition the teaching was deliberately phrased this way for easy memorization and accurate preservation. The New Testament epistles (especially Ephesians, Colossians and 1 Peter) also share hortatory material they probably acquired from a common source, perhaps from the early church’s instruction for new converts, possibly at baptismal services, or from a simple liturgy of worship. All this adds up to a plausible case for Clement and Polycarp depending not on Matthew or Luke, or even on Q, but on an oral tradition of the teachings of Jesus that goes back to a very early stage of the Gospel tradition.63

As with Ignatius and the Didache, one’s confidence in the reliability of the tradition can only be strengthened by these findings. Donald Hagner’s conclusions apply to a broad spectrum of Gospel traditions in the Apostolic Fathers:

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