The Gospels: Jared Graves
Introduction
Get in groups of people who have shared in the same experience as you (a movie, a mission trip, church trip, field trip, class, etc). And write an outline for those events as if you were going to give a detailed report of them. Once done, they are to read their outlines. Point out the similarities and the differences in what was written.
Some of you shared the same experiences, yet your recollections of the events differ in ways. However I’m not going to stand up and look at you and say that you are fabricating a story because the two stories are not exact. Such is the Gospels. At ground level there are some differences in the stories. There are stories in one book that are in a different order than the other. There are some stories in one Gospel that do not appear in any of the others. How do we make this make sense? That’s what we are going to work towards today.
Lesson
First, let me mention that I am using two books for this lesson. The Bible, and the New Testament Introduction by one of my professors David Fiensy.
Let’s talk about order. Why are the Gospels in the order that they are in? Well the first three are together because they are called the Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic meaning “being seen together.” Let’s look at them first.
Non Interdependence.
· Theory 1: One Gospel copied and translated by the three.
· Theory 2: Gospels were compiled from notes and memoranda made by those who had been with Jesus.
· Theory 3: Oral Gospel then put into words by the three.
Literary Interdependence
· Matthew first, then the other two used the Gospels written before them.
· Two Source- Mark first. Matthew and Luke used Mark, plus a second source using Jesus’ sayings (Q)
o Page 126 P1
· My Thoughts:
o Matthew. Written first according to the ancient Christian authors. Wrote in Aramaic and Greek.
o Mark. Written from the first hand accounts of Peter.
o Luke. Read Luke 1:1-4. What do we learn: there were already several accounts of Jesus by the time Luke wrote it. Luke got his materials from “eyewitnesses” and “ministers of the word”. His purpose is to show Theophilus the actions, words, and deeds of Jesus are accurate.
Blow your mind? Any thoughts?
Now let’s take a overview look of all the Gospels.
· Matthew
o Author: Matthew, the apostle of Jesus
o Date: Between 80-100
o Occasion: To get Jews the true story of Jesus and to preserve the words and deeds of Jesus
· Mark
o Author: Mark in the company of Peter (Read page 143 P3)
o Date: Probably around 45
o Occasion: Mark writes more about action, not discourse. Mark has no Jewish coloring (in fact has to explain some Jewish customs), Mark points out the weakness of the disciples of Jesus.
· Luke
o Author: Luke
o Date: Between 58-60
o Occasion: Highlights Jesus’ words to the poor. Refers to the women disciples of Jesus more than others. Jesus prayers are noted more. The Holy Spirit is an active part of the story
· John
o Author: John the Elder
o Date: 90
o Occasion: A defense of faith. Goes against the Docetic idea that Christ did not live in the flesh (see 1 John & 2 John). The message is that Jesus is the new temple, the new feasts, the new Passover Lamb, and the new Law. He has superseded Judaism and its institutions.
Life Applications
How would you talk about the importance and the validity of the Gospels?
The important thing about the Gospels, is to see how it is written. Talking to a religious person? Try Matthew. Talking to a non-religious person? Use Luke, Mark, or John. Need assurance of your faith? Use all of them. They are so very important to our faith. Are they the only accounts out there? Probably not, but they are the ones that we can know for certain are legit. Don’t let theories and questions of authorship deter you from knowing the most important thing: Jesus is Lord, He loves all people, and He wants a relationship with them.
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