Editing Jesus Seminar (section)

===Criteria for inauthenticity===
The Seminar looked for several characteristics that, in their judgment, identified a saying as inauthentic, including self-reference, leadership issues, and apocalyptic themes.<ref name="Words"/>

*'''Self-reference:''' Does the text have Jesus referring to himself? For example, "I am the way, and I am the truth, and I am life" (John 14:1–14)<ref>{{bibleverse|John|14:1–14}}</ref>
* '''Framing material:''' Are the verses used to introduce, explain, or frame other material, which might itself be authentic? For example, in Luke, the "red" parable of the good samaritan is framed by scenes about Jesus telling the parable, and the seminar deemed Jesus' framing words in these scenes to be "black".
* '''Community issues:''' Do the verses refer to the concerns of the early Christian community, such as instructions for missionaries or issues of leadership? For example, [[Petrine Primacy|Peter as "the rock" on which Jesus builds his church]] (Matthew 16:17–19).<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|16:17–19}}</ref>
* '''Theological agenda:''' Do the verses support an opinion or outlook that is unique to the gospel, possibly indicating [[redaction criticism|redactor bias]]? For example, the prophecy of [[the sheep and the goats]] (Matthew 25:31–46)<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|25:31–46}}</ref> received the color black because the fellows saw it as representing Matthew's agenda of speaking out against unworthy members of the Christian community.