Jesus vs. Odysseus: The debate about ‘The Odyssey’ that’s been overlooked
Biblical scholar Dennis MacDonald argues that the New Testament authors utilized Homer's 'The Odyssey' and 'The Iliad' as literary inspiration to frame Jesus as a heroic figure. This theory suggests that ancient writers used mimesis to help Jesus compete with Greek and Roman mythological heroes.
Why it matters
This perspective challenges traditional theological views on the origins of the New Testament and offers a literary-historical lens for understanding religious texts.
If you love “The Odyssey” and wish you could see a spinoff of this summer’s most popular movie, Dennis MacDonald has some good news for you. A remake of Homer’s epic poem has already been written. Open a Bible and you can see how Homer, the blind poet and author of the ancient epic poem, has also shaped some of the most popular stories about Jesus in major sections of the New Testament, he says. Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster has kicked off debates about geopolitics, a dark-skinned woman as Helen of Troy and a trans actor playing a Greek warrior. But MacDonald, a biblical scholar, is at the center of an overlooked debate about Homer’s work that has been simmering for years. MacDonald and a small group of other Bible experts claim the DNA of Homer’s epic poems is scattered throughout the New Testament.
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