http://triablogue.blogspot.com/2013/11/did-jesus-mispredict-future.html
Here is an excerpt by Steve Hays:
iii) Gospel sayings are usually contextualized. Craig is denying the accuracy of the narrative contextualization, as if that misrepresents the reference or meaning of the saying. Certainly there are scholars who take that position, but that’s inimical to inerrancy.
Indeed, the eminent historical Jesus scholar John Meier doesn’t think that this saying of Jesus is even authentic, that is to say, actually uttered by the historical Jesus. Meier insists that he is in no way trying to avoid the conclusion that Jesus gave a false prophecy—Meier is ruthlessly objective—rather he argues that the evidence shows that this saying is probably not authentic. —William Lane Craig
i) Why would Craig even float that explanation? It’s a really dumb thing to tell a professing believer who says he’s going through a crisis of faith.
ii) But it’s a dumb position even apart from that. As I’ve pointed out before (most recently in response to Michael Patton), this is a problem with the whole quest for the historical Jesus. Although that can sometimes be of some apologetic value, as a bridge, Christian faith must be grounded in the Gospels as given, not a critical scholar’s redaction of the Gospels.
