Bart Ehrman has said that it is virtually inconceivable that if Jesus were God, he would not go around openly claiming it. But since the earliest gospels don’t record him saying such things as are found in John, then he must not have said them, so the argument goes.
But why should we assume he would have gone around openly claiming to be God?
He doesn’t exactly do that in the gospel of John either, which Ehrman thinks has the highest Christology. Arguably his highest Christological statements in the gospel happen in a discussion with the religious leaders and in a prayer. He’s not exactly announcing to the masses that he is God in that gospel.
After all, Jesus explains that he intentionally obscures his teachings for certain audiences. He tells people he heals to keep quiet and not tell anyone. He forbids demons to speak who would otherwise say that he his is the Holy One of God. He’s coy on the Emmaus Road and disappears the moment the travelers recognize him. He forbids his inner circle to tell anyone that he is the Messiah.
If Jesus is withholding lesser, more easily understandable and well-received things in the gospels, should we expect him to go around announcing that he is God?
I suppose. If he wanted to cater to 21st century textual critics.
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