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                    The Metaphorical Gospel Theory

Erick Nelson
July, 2003 version 1.0
Internal Evidence (N.T.) section was deepened substantially
ericknel@comcast.net

              "There is no virtue in being clever
if by being clever you are merely being wrong." - LaSor
 

A.  Abstract and Introduction
	Abstract
	My Purposes for this Article
	Requirements of a Sound Theory
B.  A Careful Definition of the Theory
	Defining Characteristics
	Metaphor and Fact
	Six Options
	Definiteness of Articulation
C.  Three Scholars Who Hold It
	John Shelby Spong
	Marcus Borg
	John Dominic Crossan
D.  Significance
	Truth and Faith
	What Does it Matter?
E.  Evidence in Favor of MG
	Direct and Indirect Evidence
	Appeal to Authority
	Alleged Contradictions
	Theory Intersection
	Resurrection in Paul
F.  Internal Evidence Opposing MG
	Evaluating the Internal Evidence
Gospels
	Luke's Prologue
	Editorial Aside in Matthew
	John's Gospel
Paul
	Deity in Paul
	Resurrection in Paul
Acts
	Kerygma in Acts
Epistles
	Not Made Up
	Jesus vs. Christ
Summary
	Summing up the Internal Evidence
G.  External Evidence - The Apostolic Fathers
	The Apostolic Fathers and Their Letters
	The Apostolic Fathers - Their Testimony
	Summing up the External Evidence
H.  The Literalization Process
	Spong's Account of Literalization
I.  Responses and Conclusion
	Responses from Borg and Spong
	Conclusion: the MG Theory is False
Appendix Material
	Email Exchanges with Marcus Borg
	Letters with Bishop Spong
	Commentary Quotes
	N.T. Wright Quotes
	N.T. Wright / Marcus Borg Quotes
	John Dominic Quotes
	References and Resources
Scholarly Critiques of Previous Versions
	Mark Allan Powell - Chair, Historical Jesus Section, SBL
	Charles Hill - Church Historian