Abstract
In this slim but instructive volume, William Loader, Professor of New Testament Emeritus at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia and a minister of the United Church there, analyses the origin and development of three ‘myths’ that once played relatively marginal roles in Jewish scripture and tradition but eventually moved to the centre of the Christian faith and its understanding of Christ and his saving work, as evident in the New Testament. The three myths are that of the Wicked Angels, that of Divine Kingship, and that of Woman Wisdom. Loader adds a fourth marginal myth that nearly made it to the centre but was eventually pushed back to the margins: the gnostic myth of the Wicked God, i.e., of the Creator God who was responsible for the material world, regarded as intrinsically evil. The peculiar role of the Gospel of John’s portrait of Jesus in both encouraging and combatting that gnostic myth in early Christianity is highlighted by Loader, who is a leading Johannine scholar. For the author, myths represent ancient attempts ‘to explain why things are the way they are’ and are thus ‘an early form of science’. He argues that there is much to be learned from studying them, even if they no longer stand up to modern scientific scrutiny in certain respects.
After an introduction inviting the readers to use their imagination, Loader devotes a chapter to each of the chosen myths. In each chapter Loader follows roughly the same format: the myth’s origin and development are succinctly described and then its use and adaptation in the New Testament (the first three myths) and in the early church (the fourth myth) are discussed. Each chapter concludes with theological and hermeneutical reflections on the myth and its Christian adaptation (the first three) or outright rejection (the fourth). A final chapter (‘Making Sense of Myths’) provides further helpful reflections on all four myths and on myths generally.
The book contains no footnotes nor does its bibliography list any secondary literature. The book does contain numerous illuminating and relevant quotations from primary sources. The language is lucid and accessible throughout. Pastors and thoughtful believers will find this illuminating work worth their while, but professional biblical scholars and teachers will too. The book displays the author’s considerable knowledge, insight, and wisdom, reflecting years of reading, writing, teaching and thinking.