Antický životopis, sociální jednání a kanonická evangelia
Ancient Biography, Social Actions and Canonical Gospels

Summary/Abstract: The study serves two main purposes. First, it aims to provide a definition of ancient biography that can account for the genre’s diversity without viewing this diversity as problematic. Second, the study seeks to introduce the canonical gospels, describe their shared and distinct features to ancient biography and emphasise the implications of this approach for the interpretation of the gospels, which are frequently overlooked in contemporary research. As I point out, the first goal can be achieved by distinguishing between primary characteristics (an explicit focus on the life of a single protagonist and the intention to provide their life as a model for imitation) and secondary characteristics (historicity, paratexts, structure, length of life, and used material). These secondary characteristics may vary, but they presume the presence of the so­‑called primary characteristics. Furthermore, I argue that the canonical gospels have all of the primary characteristics of ancient biography, a conclusion supported by many contemporary scholars. I point to a fundamental aspect in which the Gospels differ from other Greco­‑Roman biographies, namely the construction of the reliability of the text and the different self­‑understanding of the authors who considered themselves – as I have argued – inspired.

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