New Testament as Oral Performance

Lecture and Performances by David Rhoads

Presented at Moravian Seminary in 2016

Before they were set down in writing, the gospels and epistles of the New Testament were transmitted orally to transform and empower early Christian communities. In many parts of the world, the Bible is still heard and spoken much more than it is read. As scholars are increasingly aware, the orality of biblical traditions deeply conditioned the ways in which they were originally composed, presented, and understood; and a full and accurate understanding of the Bible requires an awareness of its “performative” character. These lectures will highlight the oral dimension of the gospel message, illustrating it with performances of portions of Mark and of Paul’s letter to Philemon.

Lecture 1: The Gospels as Oral Performances In the predominantly oral cultures of antiquity, the Gospels were first experienced as storytelling events designing to transform and empower communities. The lecture will illustrate this with a performance of the first part of the Gospel of Mark.

Lecture 2: Letters as Oral Performances The original recipients of New Testament epistles experienced them as oral presentations. What difference does it make to experience a letter as a performance? The lecture will include a demonstration of Paul’s letter to Philemon.

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The New Testament as Oral Performance from Moravian Seminary on Vimeo.

David Rhoads performs Galatians