While Meier lists seven ‘‘unfashionable’’ theses at the outset of volume, the overall focus of the work falls upon the final two theses (the non-independence of the cgt and the limited number of authentic parables). For Meier, three of these parables are multiply attested in either the Mark-Q material or in the M and L traditions, and, in the case of the ‘‘Evil Tenants,’’ the parable satisfies the criterion of embarrassment. After ‘‘winnowing’’ the Synoptic parables for examples, chapter 40 marks a sustained defence of the historical authenticity of four parables (the ‘‘Mustard Seed,’’ the ‘‘Evil Tenants,’’ the ‘‘Talents,’’ and the ‘‘Great Supper’’), followed by a brief distillation of each parable’s contribution to Meier’s overarching historical Jesus project.
Having concluded that the cgt does not contain an independent and pre-Synoptic deposit of parables, Meier sorts through the Synoptic material in chapter 39, gathering candidates that initially pass the criterion of multiple attestation, or, if not multiplied attested, Meier considers any parables that satisfy the other primary criteria (e.g., coherence, embarrassment, etc.). On this point, Meier concludes that the cgt repeatedly shows a tendency to conflate and abbreviate the Synoptic material and is therefore dependent upon the Synoptic tradition (standing within the tradition of the Didache, Polycarp, and Justin Martyr). Since the chief criterion governing the structure of this volume is multiple attestation, Meier undertakes a detailed consideration of overlapping content in the Coptic Gospel of Thomas ( cgt) and the Synoptic Gospels. Meier’s aim in this volume is to evaluate the Synoptic parables by the ‘‘criteria of authenticity’’ to determine which parables can reasonably be categorized as historically authentic. Meier’s multi-volume magnum opus marks the most recent iteration of a project first initiated in 1991.
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