29
Bailey does make a convincing argument and his model is used by other scholars,
including James Dunn. There are some major issues with it as well, however, that must be
addressed. First, as Gerhardsson notes, is the fact that Bailey’s use of the haflat samar as the
base for his model is from the modern era and cannot be proven to be an ancient practice
dating to the time of Christ.115 Moreover, the Arab culture from which it originates may not
even be remotely similar to the Jewish culture in which the early Christian tradition was
formed.116 Thus, the customs and practices between the two cultures may not be similar in the
least.
Bauckham also rightly points out one of the glaring
problems with Bailey’s model. Under his model, the
apostles appear to be little more than reciters of
tradition.117 The problem is that if the haflat samar is
the means by which oral tradition was transmitted,
then what differentiates the twelve apostles from
any other eyewitness to the Jesus tradition?118 For example, is Peter as an eyewitness equal in
importance to any other witness or unnamed disciple that followed Jesus? This is definitely not
the case. One only has to read the gospels to see that the early Church gave a primacy of place
to the twelve apostles of Jesus.
115
Gerhardsson, 7.
Ibid.
117
Bauckham, location 4305-4308, Kindle edition.
118
Ibid, location 4303-4307, Kindle edition.
116