Jon Sobrino's Theological Insights on Jesus' Death

Jon Sobrino's Historical-Theological Approach to the Death of Jesus

• The "third quest" for the historical Jesus involves trying to understand what is going on in the new books about Jesus and what we can learn about Jesus, history, and theological methodology.

• Sobrino's perspective offers an important methodological contribution to the historical and theological study of Jesus, particularly his death.

• Sobrino's approach is considered "historical-theological," which means that he takes seriously the historical data and does theology based on and in the light of this data.

• Sobrino's work is not considered historical criticism in the narrow sense, but rather a "historical-theological reading of Jesus of Nazareth."

• The charges against Jesus involved his threat to destroy the Jerusalem temple and his claims of being the Messiah.

• Sobrino's interpretation suggests that Jesus was executed because of his life, teachings, and actions, which posed a threat to the religious and political authorities of his time.

• The trial before Pilate is seen as a confrontation between two mediators, two mediations, the Kingdom of God, and the Roman Empire, reflecting the conflict between Jesus and the Roman political structure.

• Sobrino's methodology is informed by philosophical hermeneutics, particularly concepts such as preunderstanding, fusion of horizons, verification, and appropriation.

Preunderstanding

• Preunderstanding refers to the set of prejudices that an interpreter brings to the text.

• Sobrino's prejudices include the assumption that the Bible is a classic and sacred text, transcending its original circumstances and offering an opportunity to encounter God.

• Sobrino's background as a Spanish Catholic priest, Jesuit, and professor of theology, living and working in El Salvador, informs his understanding of the Bible.

• His conviction is that the strong parallels between first-century Palestine and late-twentieth-century El Salvador allow him to see aspects of the New Testament that others might miss.

• Latin American liberation theologians argue that they have a closer intellectual and emotional kinship with the biblical authors than those influenced by the European Enlightenment.

Fusion of Horizons

• Fusion of horizons involves the interplay and dialogue between the text and the interpreter, sharing a common meaning.

• Sobrino's approach to the Gospel passion narratives is shaped by his personal experiences and his understanding of the struggle for justice in Latin America.

• His experiences with Archbishop Oscar Romero's assassination and the murder of other Jesuit colleagues provide a powerful perspective on oppression and suffering.

• Sobrino's ability to engage with Jesus' passion and death, drawing parallels with the struggles of the Latin American people, makes his work resonate with those facing similar challenges.

This quiz explores Jon Sobrino's historical-theological approach to understanding the death of Jesus. It delves into Sobrino's methodology and interpretations, providing a comprehensive view of Jesus' life, teachings, and the context of his execution. By analyzing Sobrino's work, participants will gain insights into the broader implications of Jesus' death in theological studies.