5
line is more powerful. In this way the oral transmission of the gospels may have become more
condensed and streamlined by the time the evangelists took to writing them down.11
Obstacles to the Study of Oral Tradition (Game of Phones)
As has been demonstrated, it can be reasonably assumed that there was some form of
oral tradition that bridged the gap between the Christ event and the written gospels. Exactly
the nature of that impact on the gospel writers themselves is more difficult to gauge. This is
primarily because, due the character of orality, little is known about oral tradition.12 The only
information available to scripture scholars and historians regarding oral tradition is preserved
exclusively from writings.13 Part of the confusion is also caused by the fact, as New Testament
scholar Mark Goodacre points out, that modern western society is comprised of a literary
culture.14 As a result, often times people who study or teach the gospel development tend to
view oral tradition analogous to the childhood game called “telephone.”15
In his book, Jesus Interrupted,
Bart Ehrman discusses his theory of
how early Christianity was spread. In
his view, the early Christians spread the
faith by orally telling stories about
Jesus to others. Then, once converts
10
Ibid.
Ibid.
12
Mark Goodacre, “Oral Traditions and the Game of Telephone,” NT Pod, episode 66, MP3 audio file,
http://podacre.blogspot.com/2013/09/nt-pod-66-oral-traditions-and-game-of.html.
13
Ibid.
14
Ibid.
15
Ibid.
11