The Surprising Genre of the Gospels Explained. With @SeanMcDowell

Ancient biographies prioritize stories that illustrate the character of their subjects rather than providing exhaustive chronological detail, particularly about childhood. This explains why the gospels largely omit Jesus’ youth. They focus on actions and sayings that reveal his nature and, in Jesus’ case, highlight divine qualities, often paralleling acts attributed to God in the Old Testament.

Although the gospels include theological material absent from classical biographies, this does not disqualify them from the genre. Some argue, especially regarding Luke, that it resembles history more than biography, but its focus on a single individual and its length align it with ancient biographical norms. Ancient biographies were not held to modern standards of precise historical accuracy, which allows for some flexibility in interpretation.
Watch the discussion with apologist Sean McDowell here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xsDp66e7uU

Mike Licona is Professor of New Testament Studies at Houston Christian University. HCU offers an accredited Master of Arts degree in apologetics that may be completed entirely online or on the HCU campus in Houston.

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