New Testament Exam 1 - Gospels

why the new testament needs the old testament and vice versa

• they shed light on each other

• OT sets up categories necessary to know NT

• covenant, sin, messiah

• OT has shadows the NT claries

the meaning of the genealogy in Matthew 1

Jesus is the culmination of the promise made to Abraham and specifically David

the summary of the OT

God’s search for a faithful covenant partner

the meaning of canon

a catalog that

• teaches us what to believe

• teaches us what we need to know

• teaches us how to behave

recognizing the canon vs determining the canon

canon created churches but the churches did not choose the canon

implications of canon

• authority - the book we turn to

• unity - we all read the same book

• diversity - many voices sharing the same message

genre of the gospels

ancient pioi

meaning of the gospels being history and theology

the gospels claim that Jesus died, but they also talk about the significance of His death for our sins

meaning of Matthew 19 and the rich young man

• showing us that the law exposes the heart

• his heart was enslaved to sin

how we interpret the gospels (plot not thought)

• trace the plot - understand the basic structure and components

• what reading/explanation explains all of them

  • abraham 

the meaning of the prodigal son

meant to focus on the older brother as a rebuke of a heart like the pharisees

the authorship of the gospels

• they are anonymous - they do not specifically say who wrote which book

• but we also know who wrote them

the literary distinctive of Matthew

discourse

the main theme of Matthew

Jesus is the messiah, son of David, who creates a people for himself marked by true righeousness

the nature of fulfillment in Matthew and the virgin birth

typology

the purpose of the sermon on the mount

what question is it answering?

• what is righteousness? —> wholeness

the nature of righteousness of the sermon on the mount

you do not need to be perfect but you must be righteous to enter the kingdom of heaven

the problem of the pharisees

they are hypocrites

how Jesus fulfills the law

• offering a new heart

• he teaches us what true righteousness looks like

• he desires mercy not sacrifice

the events of the Olivet Discourse

• destruction of the temple - 70 AD

• second coming

• Matthew 24

the arguments for a complex reading of the Olivet Discourse

• context

• temporal markers

  • Matthew 24:34

  • Matthew 24:36

• OT precedent

the nature of apocalyptic language

Isaiah 13:10

the source of Mark’s Gospel

Mark wrote it but Peter sourced it

the literary features of Mark’s Gospel

• market sandwiches

• literary real estate

the main theme of Mark

Jesus is the son of God and he gave his life as a ransom for many

how Mark communicates Jesus’ divinity

• uses OT prophecy to prepare a way for Jesus

• Jesus is Yahweh finally come in the flesh

the meaning of the miracle in Mark 8

to parallel disciple’s journey from blindness to sight

how Mark communicates the theological purpose of Christ’s death

• blood of the covenant (referring to new covenant)

• gave his life as a ransom for many

• when he dies the veil tears

• he is not there to establish an earthly kingdom, he is there as a sacrifice

• he came for sinners

The authorship of Luke

external evidence

• Marciom is a heretic who named Luke as author (friend and foe agree)

Internal evidence

• sophistication of Greek (Luke is a doctor)

• companion of Paul

First person pronouns

literary features of Luke

• trip to Jerusalem

• parables

the main theme of Luke

Jesus is the savior of ALL

the sub themes of Luke

• Jesus and the Holy Spirit

• focused on disenfranchised (poor, disabled, women, etc)

• finishes off OT

the purpose of the parables

if you know you know, if you dont you dont

• obscure truth from those who dont know yet

• make truth more potent for those that do know it

the principles of parables

• stories

• speak to context - always aimed towards a specific audience

• theology, NOT history

• have one point

the point of the rich man and Lazarus

• Lazarus: sufficiency of scripture

• the rich man: the love of money that marred the pharisees is indicative of a heart that wont believe God regardless of what he does

the literary features of John

• very different than synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke)

• seven signs

• prologue with eternity past (God the son and God the father)

• high priestly prayer

• long pieces of discourse

the main theme of John

• Jesus is God

• Jesus is divine son incarnate (took on humanity) and we are to BELIEVE who he is

the meaning of the Son of God

Jesus is God but not the Father

the purpose of John’s use of the Word

• Mark back to OT, son is agent of creation and reveals the Father

• subverting to temporary world view, LOGOS

the nature of belief

• we need to do something to be saved but we do not earn salvation

• preserved by God, our belief is kept by God’s sovereign power and hand

• but you must also live as Christ, you must persevere

Mark 8

spiritual blindness of disciples

• feeding 4000

• feeding 5000

• and then disciples still doubt