Attention span Quote by Bart D. Ehrman
““One of my favorite apparent discrepancies—I read John for years without realizing how strange this one is—comes in Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse,” the last address that Jesus delivers to his disciples, at his last meal with them, which takes up all of chapters 13 to 17 in the Gospel according to John. In John 13:36, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” A few verses later Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where you are going” (John 14:5). And then, a few minutes later, at the same meal, Jesus upbraids his disciples, saying, “Now I am going to the one who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” (John 16:5). Either Jesus had a very short attention span or there is something strange going on with the sources for these chapters, creating an odd kind of disconnect.””
About This Quote
Source Bible: Gospel of John, chapters 13‑16, New Testament, 1st century CE
The passage highlights apparent contradictions in Jesus’ farewell discourse, prompting questions about textual consistency and authorial intent
In simple terms: Jesus’ final words contain puzzling inconsistencies that challenge readers
Key Takeaway
Consider the complexity of scriptural narratives
Themes
faith
textual criticism
historical analysis
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
theological
scholarly
When to use this quote
- seminar discussion
- Bible study group
- academic lecture
- personal contemplation
Key Concepts
canonical contradictions
authorial intent
theological interpretation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this inconsistency reveal about early Christian communities?
- How should believers reconcile contradictory passages?
A Different Perspective
Scholars debate whether differences are editorial or theological
