TREDTRI

Final Paper




Abigail Lorico
April 10, 2014








A. APOCRYPHAL SISTUATIONS
Through my research I have found a timeline of events that happened on the film to be
able to compare it to the gospel. Since the timeline is too long and detailed, I will just list the
below situations that are pseudepigraphic. I have underlined the apocryphal events in the film
that does not satisfy the narration of Christs life in the Gospel. Afterwards I began my
criticism. I will attach the time at the end of the paper.

Jesus is a carpenter collaborating with Romans to crucify Jewish Revolutionaries
Judas is sent to kill Jesus for his work with the Romans
Judas suspects Jesus is the Messiah and asks him to lead the revolution against Rome
Jesus encounters Mary Magdalene at a brothel
Jesus tells Judas that he must be the one to betray him
Jesus' "guardian angel" tempts him with getting off the cross
Jesus gets off the cross and marries Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene dies and Jesus marries Mary and Martha
Paul and Jesus argue about the salvation story
Peter, Nathaniel, John and Judas visit
Judas tells Jesus that his "guardian angel" was Satan
Jesus crawls through the fire-filled Jerusalem
Jesus then finds himself back on the cross as if he never left it
His last words are "It is accomplished!"

B. HISTORICAL CRITICISM
The movie was based on the book of Niko Kazantzakis but the author of this
work, this movie, is Paul Joseph Schrader. He was born on July 22, 1946 at the Grand
Rapids, Michigan, USA. He studied theology in Calvin College. He is a Hollywood
screenwriter and director. He scripted the movie The last temptation of Christ in his
third collaboration with Scorsese. The movie was directed by Martin Scorsese and the
movie was released on August 12, 1988. It was under the genre of historical fiction
movies. It depicts Jesus as a person who is subjected to temptation like all human beings
but remains free from sin.

The story of the temptation of Christ was originally written in the bible. It was
written by Matthew in Matthew 4:1-11 in the New Testament of the bible. As a whole, or
looking into the plot of the movie, the events that happened are invalid in the context of
the gospel written in Matthew 4:11, Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 1:4-13. The movie is an
Apocrypha. The title of the movie, Last temptation of Christ, also does not justify its
plot. The plot of the movie started from the temptation of Christ until Christ fulfills His
purpose. While in the bible, the temptation of Christ was the 40 days and 40 nights that
Jesus wondered in the desert. He encountered a lot of tests, doubted, and questioned God.
Matthew and Luke had written Jesus temptation in details narrating how Satan tries
tested Jesus.

The whole movie was actually about the life of Christ as a human with the powers
of a God up to his second crucifixion but it is again written differently in the bible.
Although the teaching part, His disciples following Him, the miracles like Lazarus story
was right, the events after those is not what the bible says. In the movie Jesus had a
conversation with His guardian angel at the first crucifixion which made him marry
Magdalene. In the bible there was no angel, Jesus said his seven last words, He died and
resurrected. There was/ is no second crucifixion. The source used on the movie was from
the imaginative prospective of the book written by Niko Kazantzakis. It was admitted that
was not bible based at the very start of the movie.

For the historical and source criticism I have the following questions:
Who is the author of the work? What do we know about him/her/them? Is the
attributed author the actual author, or is the work pseudepigraphic? When, where, and
under what circumstances was the work written? Who were the original recipients?
Where did they live? Does the text have any underlying source or sources? Which
version of a source was used, in case there is more than one? What do the sources
actually say and mean in their original contexts? How are the sources used (quoted,
paraphrased, adapted?) in the later text?

C. LAST TEMPTATION ON THE CROSS
The last temptation of Christ cross was whether to fulfill the new covenant, to
bring salvation to mankind to his crucifixion or not. He was tempted by Satan, who took
a form of a kid and introduced himself as Christs guardian angel. He gave in that
temptation and lived a man with two wives, because after his marriage with Magdalene
he married Martha and Mary. The temptation came to an end when Judas visited Jesus
saying that the guardian angel was Satan. To fulfil his purpose, he was crucified for the
second time and his last words was It is Accomplished!

D. BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION
1. Process
a. Stage one: observation
- The reader must evaluate whether or not he/she understands the passage
he/she have read. The reader must also consider if he/she was familiar the
content or context of the passage before reading it. Check also the definition
of the words, is it clearly comprehended? Is the cultural background full
understood? Before going into the theological aspect things should done first.
b. Stage two: interpretation
- In the interpretation the reader must, first know to whom was the passage
intended to. In order to know what the author mean about his historical
setting, the reader must know the original audience. Like this example I
found:
Some cite Matthew 5:21-22 as proof that to think bad is just as wrong as
doing it. Is anger as bad as murder? Of course not. (Common sense tells us
that, if nothing else.) But the text does not actually say they are the same. It
says the law against murder is not fully obeyed by mere outward obedience,
but by maintaining the proper attitude of not being angry, which in turn
prohibits the outward act of murder.
Second, verify if the context helps in the meaning of the passage. Like this
example:
"There is no GOD" (Psa. 53:11)? Context shows this is a statement made by a
fool. What does Paul mean when he says Jesus will return like "a thief in the
night" (I Thes. 5:2)? Context shows it means His coming will be sudden
c. Stage three: evaluation
- In this part, the reader must examine the impact of the passage in todays g
generation. Is there any application of the passage in the daily life or is it
limited to period where it was originally written. This stage is evident in the
New Testament because most people could apply the teachings in the present
day. If we love GOD, regardless of when or where we live, then we must obey His
commandments (John 14:15).
d. Stage four: application
- The goal of a bible study is a godly life. To live according to the teachings of
the Lord. The study will only be complete if the learnings have been put into
practice. The guide question in this part is , Have I live my applying the
teachings and sharing the good news?

2. Guideline of validation
- It is a checklist to whether to check if the interpretation is correct and
complete:
a. DEFINITION
b. USAGE
c. CONTEXT
d. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
e. LOGIC
f. INFERENCE
g. GENRE JUDGMENT





E. RELEVANCE OF THE BIBLE
Relevance of the bible is to strengthen faith. It is something that science cannot
expound. It is beyond the boundaries of science just like how a person cannot fully
understand and predict the human mind. It is endless only an individual can assess it.
Faith also is part of individuality although we believe in one God, Gods presence differ
from our own perspectives. He may appear as a friend, a parent, an instructor, a neighbor,
or anything. And the bible teaches us how God represents Himself to His children. It is
unexpected. And also test our faith as we read the bible it is reflected that many situations
in our daily life are just repetition of events in the bible. To be able to read or hear the
Word of God is a privilege and it is our right is Gods children to share what we know to
our loved ones.

F. TIMELINE
Jesus is a carpenter collaborating with Romans to crucify Jewish Revolutionaries
Judas is sent to kill Jesus for his work with the Romans
Judas suspects Jesus is the Messiah and asks him to lead the revolution against Rome
Jesus encounters Mary Magdalene at a brothel
Jesus saves Mary Magdalene from stoning
Jesus begins his teachings and acquires disciples
Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist
Jesus goes to the desert for 40 days and 40 nights
Jesus leaves the desert and talks to Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha
Jesus heals and blind man and raises Lazarus
Jesus travels to Jerusalem and cleanses the temple
Jesus receives the message that he must be crucified
Jesus tells Judas that he must be the one to betray him
Jesus gathers his disciples for the last supper
Judas betrays him and Jesus is arrested
Pilate sentences Jesus to crucifixion
Jesus is flogged and crowned with the crown of thorns and put on the cross
Jesus' "guardian angel" tempts him with getting off the cross
Jesus gets off the cross and marries Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene dies and Jesus marries Mary and Martha
Film skips ahead many years and Jesus encounters Paul preaching
Paul and Jesus argue about the salvation story
The film skips ahead again and Jesus requests to see his disciples on his deathbed
Peter, Nathaniel, John and Judas visit
Judas tells Jesus that his "guardian angel" was Satan
Jesus crawls through the fire-filled Jerusalem
He begs God to let him fulfill his purpose
Jesus then finds himself back on the cross as if he never left it
His last words are "It is accomplished!"