New Testament

Luke Author

Gentile, traveling companion of Paul, Also the author of Acts. NOT one of the 12, probably not a personal witness to the ministry of Christ’s life; doctor; close associate of the apostles

Luke Date

the 1st volume of 2 volume set; before acts, After mark, late 50s- early 60s

Luke Audience

Gentiles with Pagan background, he mentions Theophilus, gentile man of some wealth and power

Location

Probably Rome or Achaia (part of Greece)

Luke Purpose

1:1-4, to write an orderly and carefully investigating account of life/ ministry of Christ, so that we may have certainty

Luke Distinctives

Gentile audience intended

Luke Distinctives

Birth narrative and Early life

Genealogy

men’s link to adam, mary perspective, elizabeth perspective

Luke Distinctives

Historical detail: place Jesus within the context of history; 3:1-2

Luke Distinctives

Jesus is the savior of the world; primary theme

how many times is savior (soter) used in luke

3 times

How many times is Salvation (Soteria) used in luke

4 times

Luke Distinctives

Outsiders: women, the poor, sinners

Luke Distinctives

Holy Spirit; parried together 13 times

Luke Distinctives

Resurrection; ascension of Jesus; Jesus eating the fish, walk to Emmaus

Luke 2

Visit of the Shepards; Jesus at the temple

Luke 7

Sinful woman at Jesus Feet

Luke 10

Parable of Good samaritan

Luke 15

Parable of the prodigal son

Luke 25

“Father forgive them…” reptant theif

Luke 24

Ascension

Luke 10:25- 37

Parable of the Good Samaritan: expert in the law gets the greatest commandment correct

Samaritan

ethnic rivals, wrong beliefs

Priest

Upper class, Jewish, educated

Levite

upper class, Jewish, educated

Luke 11

the woes (outsiders)

woe

ouai (cognate) opposite meaning of blessed (lucky)

woes of Luke

1. against the pharisees

2. against experts in the law

Luke 15

parable of the prodigal son ( grace defined)

John Author

technically anonymous, “the disciple that Jesus loved”… every church father attributes the book of John

John Date

90s virtually every scholar agrees; last gospel written

John Location

Ephesus?

John Purpose

eyewitness account written so that we may believe and have life in his name

John Audience

unbelieving Jews and God fearers (Gentile converts to Judaism)

How does John compare with the synoptic gospels

John is 90% exclusive material; john seems to cover 3 years of Jesus ministry; john has no parables; john tells stories from Jerusalem and Judea; no account of transfiguration

Why John does not compare with the synoptic Gospels

Geography (covering city stories) Timing ( knows whats in the synoptic gospels and wants to supplement them)

Similarities with the synoptic gospels

Feeding of the 5,000; crucifixion narrative, resurrection narrative, portray the spirit as a dove “son of man”

What book does not have Jesus walking on Water?

Luke

John Distinctives

John in profoundly theological; what it all means

John Distinctives

Focus on Jesus ministry in Jerusalem; roman presence; more educated people

John Distinctives

allusions to the O.T.- we see that Jesus reflects and replaces parts of the O.T. story

Examples of allusions to the OT in John

Bronze serpent, Temple, The vine, the lamb, jacobs ladder

John Distinctives

Emphasis on the deity of Christ; Jesus is referred to as “Lord” at least 3 times in John

John Distinctives

Emphasis on the Humanity of Christ - just like us ( was born, wept, got angry, died, ate food)

John Distinctives

Jesus Radical “I am” Statements

John Distinctives

The Logos- refers to the living word, Jesus

Logos means:

Plain meaning of spoken words, For Jews referred to the truth of God spoken into existence, For greeks/ gentiles, was a rational mind that ruled the universe

John Distinctives

The trinity is very clear

Trinity

Created by church fathers to explain what they saw in scripture about Father, Son and Spirit

John Distinctives

Love, The beloved disciple, the love of God generally

John 2:1-11

Jesus first miracle; turned water into wine, Jesus saved the party

the water symbolically make you clean, ritual scarifice does not make you clean

represents the old/ mosaic covenant

wine, represents the blood of Christ

represent new covenant; saved the best for last

John 2:23-3:21

Jesus conversation with Nicodemus; difference between fruit and flattery

Nicodemus

Pharisee, Sanhedrin, knows the law, highly educated, pure blooded jew

John 4

Samaritan women at the well

What two social conventions does Jesus defie when talking to the women at the well

talking to a Samaritan, talking to a women alone

5 things to learn from the women at the well

1 physical needs are less than (important) spiritual needs

2 Jesus is greater than Jacob/ the parthiarchs

3 The place of worship is not as important as the heart of worship

4 All are welcome to believe

A personal testimony can cause others to respond

John 5

Jesus teaching/ healing at the pool of bethesda

1 Jesus power is over/against supersitition

2 Jesus is also willing to defy human traditions to do something great

John 6

Jesus feeds the 5,000

John 9:1 - 41

Jesus heals a blind man, blind for birth

John 11: 35

Raising of Lazarus; see the humanity of Jesus, response of Sanhedrin

John 14:15-31

The counselor will come; Holy Spirit

Parakletos

Paraclete; notoriously difficult to translate

John 17

High priestly prayer… jews prayer before he goes to the cross…full of anticipation of great suffering. Demonstrates the humanity of Christ

John 18:1-11

Gethsemane; arresting party falls to the ground at the power of His words, revealing this identity, demonstrates the deity of christ

JOhn 18: 28-19:26

Jesus before Pilate

What are pilate two jobs

keep the peace, uphold roman law

JOhn 20:19-23

Jesus appears to Thomas and the disciples… risen Lord has a concrete material body that near the mark of crucification but also passes through walls, deity of christ

JOhn 21:1-25

miracles catch of 153 fish; through the power of God, the disciples become fishers of men

John 21: 15-23

Jesus conversation with Peter

What is Acts?

It is a narrative book like the 4 gospels but it is more of a history, of the first 3 decades of the early church which includes the work of the Holy Spirit. Presents numerous characters only in this book, introduces us to Paul

Acts Author

Luke; not of the 12; an associate of the disciples, apostles; gentiles; doctor; traveling companion of Paul; at least of a partial eyewitness to much of Acts

Acts Date

Before paul’s martyrdom, before 70 AD; mid 60s

Acts Location

Probably Rome; luke was with Paul in Rome when he died

Acts Audience

both Jews and gentiles; particular gentiles

Purpose of Acts

4 fold account carson and moo

1 Instill certainty

2 Reconcile Jews and gentiles

3 Evangilism

4 Edify Believers

Acts Distinctives

The works of the Holy Spirit

The works of the Holy Spirit-

fill yourself up with the Holy Spirit; not with worldly things

The works of the Holy Spirit-

miracles- authoritative the message, miracles are accomplished through people but by Gods power alone

The works of the Holy Spirit-

Dreams and visions

Acts Distinctives

Focus on History: number or rulers, political regions, countries, towns and cities, islands, ship navigation, governmental matters, gods, religion

Acts Distinctives

has the first use of christian, used 2 times

Acts Distinctives

Spread of the gospel to Gentiles

Acts Distinctives

The story of Paul; testimony is 3 times in Acts

Acts Distinctives

The story of the Early Church

What are the characteristics of the Early Church

eat together, apostolic teaching, sense of awe, radical sharing, daily worship, growth

Acts Distinctives

The “word of God”, 11 times in acts

3 fold word of God

written, spoken, living

Acts Distinctives

Speeches and Sermons; 20% of the book

Outline 1 of Acts

1 Stories of peter (1-12)

2 Stories of Paul (13-28)

Outline 2 of Acts

1 in Judea

2 in Samaria

3 to the ends of the earth