Notes on "Jesus" by Flusser, Chapter 1

Flusser begins "Jesus" with comments on the sources. His goal is to "write the story of Jesus' life (pg. 18)", and to "simply server as a mouthpiece for Jesus' message today (pg 16)". Key points of chapter 1 include:

• The only important Christian sources are the Gospels.
• The three Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke) are based upon common historical material
• The fourth, John, is primarily theological in nature.
  
• The most genuine sources of a charismatic personality are their own utterances and the accounts of the faithful--read critically of course. Outside references serve as a control.
• Without much detail, Flusser states that "the early Christian accounts about Jesus are not as untrustworthy as people today often think (pg 20)".
• The only Gospel that teaches a post-Easter Christology is John's.
• In the early church, for Jewish Christianity, Jesus' role as miracle-worker, teacher, prophet and Messiah was more important than the risen Lord of the kerygma.
• He dates the Gospels to around 70AD, which luckily was after the "dynamic creativity" of Pauline congregations had died down.
• He concludes that with an unbiased mind, the synoptic Gospels are seen as more focused on Christian platitudes rather than kerygmatic statements.
• A intimate few of first century Judaism is vital to understanding Jesus. In light of this Jewish background, the Synoptic Gospels preserve a picture of Jesus which is more reliable than is generally acknowledged.
• Based on R. L. Lindsey's work, Flusser feels Luke preserves a more original tradition than Mark, and when combined with Matthew provides a more authentic view of Jesus (pg 21,22).
• In a foot note, Flusser thinks that Jesus' crucifixion quote of Psalm 22 is a creative invention by Mark. More in a later chapter.
• Flusser has "no axe to grind", and "seeks to present Jesus directly to the reader".