About Greenberg's theories on the proto-Gospel

[Giuseppe]

The Case for a Proto-Gospel: Recovering the Common Written Source Behind Mark and John

The problem I have with this reconstruction of the proto-Gospel is that it carries with itself all the contradictions of the current gospels.

For example, the proto-Gospel, as reconstructed by Greenberg, has the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, or the Barabbas episode. Nothing is said about the anti-marcionite function of such episodes.

Idem for the rejection episode in Nazareth, or the temptation by his presumed family.

[schillingklaus]

This shows that Greenberg is on the broad way to naivity. Everyone right in its mind realizes that the episode of Barabbas is excessively late, as is the description of John as a Baptizer.