Richards Two Temple Clearings Page 1 of 32 "An Honor/Shame Argument for Two Temple Clearings" by E. Randolph Richards Palm Beach Atlantic University Table of Contents I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2 II. Scholarship on the Question of the Temple Clearing(s) ........................................................... 3 A. Typical Explanations of One Clearing .......................................................................... 4 1. Synoptic Priority with Johannine Theologizing ................................................ 4 2. Johannine Priority with Synoptic Theologizing ................................................ 4 B. Typical Explanations of Two Clearings ........................................................................ 5 III. Challenges to Two Clearings .................................................................................................... 6 A. Minor Challenges .......................................................................................................... 6 1. Bias against Two Events ................................................................................... 7 2. Similarities between Accounts .......................................................................... 7 3. Johannine Theme(s) .......................................................................................... 8 B. The Two Major Challenges ........................................................................................... 9 1. An Historical Question, "Why was Jesus not arrested the first time?" ............. 9 2. A Narrative Question, "Why don't the Synoptics record the first instance?" . 10 IV. A Response to the Historical Challenge, "Why wasn't Jesus arrested the first time?" ........... 11 A. Contributing Factors .................................................................................................... 11 1. A More "Open Attitude" by the Temple Authorities ...................................... 11 2. The Nature of John's Clearing: Cleansing vs. Cursing.................................... 12 3. A Symbolic Act versus a Major Disruption .................................................... 14 B. The Clearing as an Honor/Shame Contest .................................................................. 16 1. Contests for Honor .......................................................................................... 17 2. Evaluating John's Clearing .............................................................................. 20 3. The Purpose of "Shaming" (To Enforce Social Conformity).......................... 21 C. John's Temple Clearing as a "Shameful Act" .............................................................. 22 1. Shaming Jesus seemed Successful .................................................................. 23 2. References to the Event are used to Reinforce Jesus' Shame .......................... 23 3. The Second Clearing as a Demonstration that Jesus "had no shame"............. 25 V. A Response to the Narrative Challenge, "Why don't the Synoptics record the first clearing?"27 A. His Supporters viewed the First Clearing as an Honor Contest that Jesus Lost ......... 27 B. His Opponents viewed the First Clearing as a Shameful Act ..................................... 28 VI. Conclusion: The Johannine Temple Clearing as a Johannine Corrective: a Demonstrated Tendenz.............................................................................................................................. 31