Jesus and Myth: The Gospel Account's Two Patterns

Is Jesus mythological? And is he a mere product of his cultural milieu? Through narratological and social-scientific analysis of the gospel account Barber systematically demonstrates that there are two opposing patterns structuring the gospel. The first is the pattern of this world which is the combat myth with a typical sequence of motifs having mythological meanings. It is lived out by everyone else in the accounts except Jesus because this pattern of the world is the pattern of myth-culture which is the pattern of the old Adam and sin nature. The pattern of Jesus is the pattern intended for Adam to walk in and is the unique pattern of the new Adam Jesus Christ. Jesuss pattern inverts the sequence and subverts the significance of each and every motif and episode of the myth-cultures pattern. Barber shows that Jesuss failure to conform to this worlds mythological pattern establishes that he is not mythological and not a product of his culture. As the apostle Peter states . . . we did not follow cleverly devised tales [myths] when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Pet 1:16).