Jesus as an apocalyptic Prophet (The Weiss-Schweitzer Hypothesis): Critical Evaluation and Prospects

Abstract

According to the Weiss-Schweitzer hypothesis, Jesus was an apocalyptic pro phet. The hypothesis remained relatively uncontested till the end of the XX century, when it met serious challenges (largely, in the Jesus Seminar). However, the attempt to create a new paradigm does not hold up to a close scrutiny. (1) The Gospel of Thomasis no be discounted as evidence for a non-apocalyptic Jesus, since its Jesus is far removed from any plausible Jewish context. (2) Kloppenborg’s attempts to stratify Q are not convincing. (3) Coexistence of apocalyptic and sapiential interests is natural for an apocalypticist. (4) Sayings about the future Son of Man can be partly authentic. Importantly, sayings about the precise time of the eschaton (Matt 10:23; Mark 9:1; 13:30) reflect the ipsissima vox of Jesus, though hardly his ipsissima verba.

Keywords

• biblical studies
• jesus
• quest for the historical jesus
• new testament
• gospels
• библеистика
• иисус
• поиск исторического иисуса
• новый завет
• евангелия