Rivalry and Enmity in Q

Abstract

Q is a site of tension, some of which is preserved from the time of Q’s composition and redaction, and some of which goes back to the historical Jesus. “This generation” , which mistreats prophets, is one of the most interesting points of tension in Q. Q’s Jesus draws on martyr discourse to situate John the Baptist’s apocalyptic message within the noble lineage of past ill-treated prophets vindicated only in hindsight. Q repurposes this discourse to lend gravitas to Jesus’ own death, as well as to actively construct what makes “a good Jew."