History repeatedly shows a third-generation interest, which illuminates the origins of the Gospels as authored by grandchildren. 

How do we know when the Gospels were composed, and why? One way comes from historian Marcus Hansen. He was the first scholar to articulate the principle of third-generation interest. What does that have anything to do with the Gospels, you ask? Here’s a video presentation explaining it—

Hansen Effect & Grandchildren

To understand the Gospels as third-generation or “grandchildren” documents, we need to date the New Testament Jesus groups’ sequence. But how? Consider this helpful method from Context Scholar Bruce Malina following the insights of Hansen. 

Look carefully at the graph on the screen. With it, one can see from where all New Testament documents originated and how each evolved. That third wave, the place of grandchildren, is where we find the earliest narrative Gospels. 

First, approach this sequence in terms of waves of people rather than numbers. Therefore we’ll distinguish a “wave” by seeing new first century Israelites entering into a Jesus-group chain. Hence, we can see that “waves” means chains of people. 

Grandparents, Parents, Grandchildren in the Waves

It is logical to start with Jesus. His wave would be the first, the “Jesus-Movement Wave.” It would include fellow Galilean peasants around him—Peter, the Twelve, their families, and followers. That is the first “generation” or “wave” one, the “grandparents” as far as New Testament evolution went. 

Paul, his associates and coworkers, and his Mediterranean “Greek” Israelite clients mark off the second wave, the “parents.” Following the first wave, these people never experienced the prepaschal Jesus. They are not interested in the prepaschal Jesus’ sayings or actions, which is why Paul barely ever wrote any saying of Jesus. Paul is almost entirely silent concerning what Jesus said and did. Instead, Paul is utterly focused on the Risen Lord who commissioned him in Alternate Reality. 

The grandchildren, the unknown, anonymous authors of the documents we call “Mark,” and later “Matthew,” first tell the Gospel-stories of Jesus. And yet they present no evidence of ever having known Jesus or Paul! They, therefore, indicate a third wave.

Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren

As the video presentation linked above explains, the Markan and Matthean interest in telling the story of Jesus—the prominent first wave person—indicates their third-generation activity. These documents reflect the interests of grandchildren.

Finally, we have a fourth wave—the anonymous author of “Luke-Acts” and the Pauline forger of the Pastorals show this. These were the great- grandchildren. “Luke” not only presents the story of Jesus but also paints pretty pictures of Paul, along with Barnabas, Silvanus, Timothy, and friends. 

In fact, “Luke” tells us that he is a Fourth-Wave author (Luke 1:1-4)—

Inasmuch as many [third wave] have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us [second wave] by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word [first wave], it seemed good to me [fourth wave] also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you [fourth wave] may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.

History & Third Generation Interest

Nearly ninety years ago, Hansen wrote: 

“Anyone who has the courage to codify the laws of history must include what can be designated ‘the principle of third-generation interest.’ The principle is applicable in all fields of historical study. It explains the recurrence of movements that seemingly are dead; it is a factor that should be kept in mind, particularly in literary or cultural history; it makes it possible for the present to know something about the future. The theory is derived from the almost universal phenomenon that what the son wishes to forget, the grandson wishes to remember. The tendency might be illustrated by a hundred examples.” 

Put simply, the “Hansen Effect” or principle of third-generation breaks down thus. Initially, a first-generation (e.g., Jesus and his faction) experiences significant, irreversible social change. For the Jesus Movement, the political calamity of Jesus’ crucifixion and the subsequent experience of him risen as Messiah, changed everything. Next, a second-generation arrives (Paul and his circle). They respond to this experienced change either by ignoring (or “forgetting”) much of the first-generation experience, which they find insufficient. 

Then a third-generation (“Mark” and “Matthew”) attempts to salvage first-generation memories (their Gospels) and recover what the second generation (Paul) sought to forget. 

Helpful for Gospels and Grandchildren

Hansen’s principle of third-generation interest—“what the child wishes to forget the grandchild wishes to remember”—helps explain many things in history, ancient as well as contemporary. For example, it sheds light on European immigrants’ experience in the United States around 1900, their children’s experience, and that of their grandchildren. Also, it illuminates generations of African Americans removed from slavery. One can also find help here in understanding the grandchildren of apartheid South Africa, the Holocaust, and Palestinians who have suffered since the criminal takeover by Zionist supremacists. 

But the key to this blog post is that this principle showcases the evolution of the Gospels. With it, we can explain why “Mark” and “Matthew” wrote how they did. It was because they belong to the third-wave “third wave” of believers since the Jesus Movement. Additionally, we see why “Luke” composed “Luke-Acts” how he did. It was because he belonged to the fourth-wave out from Jesus, that is, the third generation of those affected by Paul and his circle.

Hence, grandchildren wrote the Gospels for, by, and about their third-generation interests. 

More to come later.

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