vol. 39, Issue #3

Online Journal Article: MIDRASH AS CREATIVE HISTORIOGRAPHY: PORTRAIT OF A MISNOMER - CHARLES L. QUARLES* JETS 39/3 (September 1996) 457–464

https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/39/39-3/39-3-pp457-464_JETS.pdf

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Complete article may be found here:
https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/39/39-3/39-3-pp457-464_JETS.pdf

MIDRASH AS CREATIVE HISTORIOGRAPHY:
PORTRAIT OF A MISNOMER -
CHARLES L. QUARLES*
JETS 39/3 (September 1996) 457–464

Excerpt:
The term “midrash” is appearing with increasingly greater frequency in
discussions among NT scholars today. Unfortunately many students of the
NT use the term with completely different intents. Some use it to designate
rabbinic methods of Scriptural interpretation. Others use it in a very different
sense to designate creative historiography that produces theological tales
with little or no connection to actual history. As NT students attempt
to sift through this confusing nomenclature, they should consider carefully
the explanations of the nature and essential characteristics of midrash
offered by those who specialize in rabbinic literature. More importantly,
they should examine the ancient usage of the term to discover its meaning
during the NT era. --from the first page of the article