Biblical Gospel Analysis: John, Luke, and Mark Key Themes and Structures

john structure

introductory material and an epilogue

book of signs -- impressive miracles jesus does

book of glory -- building of belief that leads to arrest

john sequential differences

3 passovers structured around jewish festivals

temple cleansing very early on

no eucharist at last supper

crucified on day of preparation (link jesus with sacrifice)

john

jesus is pre-existent word of god

john

jesus out of place in the "world"

john

jesus knows everything in advance

complete control in the narrative

john

jesus loves to talk about himself and his dad and knows who he is

john

jesus speaks in longer metaphorical speeches

john

no secret about jesus's divinity -- I am, lamb of god, son of man

john

metaphorical language and double entendres

john

dialogues with misunderstandings -- jesus has to explain spiritual meaning

john

light and darkness

light > knowledge and understanding

dark > blind, don't understand

john

forensic language (testimony)

john

high christology

experience of jesus post-resurrection

john

testimony of jesus' works

john

belief

written in order that people might believe

john

stark dualism

the world against followers of christ

john

realized eschatology

understanding that process of end of salvation has begun to take place because of coming of christ

john

holy spirit as paraclete (personifies the spirit)

john

centrality of beloved disciple (lazarus)

john

glory

luke and acts

joy!

luke structure

begins with dedication

galilean ministry --> heavily luke material

luke

historical narrative (on the day)

luke

eloquent greek --

subordinate clauses

there was...

optative mood (language of wishing ex: may you)

luke

softened violent descriptions

less harsh

gentleness of characters

luke

juxtaposition similar events to show lesson/contrast

luke

prayers/hymns/songs

luke

jesus as master

luke

jesus presented as rejected prophet

-- centrality of jerusalem

luke

mission to the marginalized (sinners, poor, outcasts)

luke

humility of jesus and disciples (being humble)

luke

jesus' innocence

luke

salvation is universal

salvation history as human history

luke and acts

importance of holy spirit

luke and acts

inclusion of women

luke

mercy or forgiveness

luke

infancy narrative of john the baptist (longer than anyone else's)

luke

only gospel to say anything about jesus' childhood

luke

jesus less likely to be touching people and people less likely to be touching him

mark

errors in geography

mark

unfamiliarity in jewish traditions

mark

past tense & immediacy

mark

irony

mark

"kai" -- and

mark

"euthus" -- immediacy (lots of action/movement)

mark

sandwich stories (1 story between 2 like stories)

mark

chunking (grouping similar stories together)

mark

messianic secret

mark

cost of discipleship

mark

suffering

mark

low christology (jesus more on human side)

mark

disciples don't understand anything that's going on

mark

cross major turning point

mark

text that is most likely to have come from a gentile perspective (inclusion of gentiles)

mark

divine man

jesus as healer/teacher

jesus healing and teaching in first few chapters

mark

first 5 chapters are ministerial type thing

mark

foreshadowing

mark

does not have post resurrection appearances of jesus to the disciples in galilee

matthew structure

genealogy and infancy first couple of chapters structured around 5 discourses -- chiastic where the 2nd and 4th have something in common and the 3rd (center) is most important

clean up mark's language (streamlining)

post-resurrection examples

matthew

kingdom of heaven

matthew

characters get direct speech

matthew

allusions, characters, and parallels from hebrew bible

matthew

summary statements after 5 discourses

matthew

pairs or sets of two (duplicate stories)

matthew

natural phenomena to signify supernatural

matthew

perfectly in line with jewish history

davidic messiah

heightened inner jewish conflict

matthew

"reputation rehab" for disciples

gailean disciples presented much more favorably

matthew

peter!!!!

the favorite

matthew

the "church" (only gospel with this terminology)

matthew

fulfillment quotations

symbolic numbers

matthew

jesus as jewish prophet

acts

picks up where the disciples leave off

jerusalem is the starting point from where the message is going to go out

acts

mainly story about peter and paul

acts

pentecost

acts

movement westward to ends of the earth

acts

geographical progression

acts

guidance of holy spirit

moves apostles in certain directions

acts

centrality of jesus

healing miracles + baptism

acts

rejection of the message

martyrdoms and paul in conflict with jewish authorities

acts

apostles always innocent

acts

promise fulfillment (from hebrew bible to life and death of jesus)