The Gospels

Why the New Testament needs the Old and vice versa

New Testament needs the Old because setup; NT functions off of set up of OT; what its claiming doesn’t make sense without the OT backdrop; OT needs NT b/c it clarifies the shadows of the OT

The meaning of the genealogy in Matthew 1

Purpose is to connect Mttw to OT, proving he is the Messiah; Includes women, not the main point

The summary of the Old Testament

God’s search for a faithful covenant partner

The meaning of canon

List of authoritative books about what should be believed and how one should behave

Recognizing the canon vs determining the canon

Recognized what was inspired, didn’t choose

The implications of canon

Unity, diversity, and authority

The genre of the gospels

Ancient bioi

The meaning of the gospels being history and theology

Not just history, trying to convince you of who God is

Meaning of Matthew 19 and the rich young man

The law reveals sin; Shows, doesn’t tell

The meaning of the prodigal son.

Focus on the response of the older brother warning against a hardened heart

The authorship of the gospels.

Gospels are technically anonymous

The literary distinctive of Matthew.

Discourse

The main theme of Matthew.

Jesus is Messiah to Jewish people

The nature of fulfillment in Matthew and the virgin birth.

Typology/Trajectories

The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount

Answer “what is righteousness”

The nature of righteousness on the Sermon on the Mount.

Wholeness

The problem of the Pharisees

Hypocrisy

How Jesus fulfills the Law

Teaching what the law means and providing the means to obey it

The events of the Olivet Discourse

Destruction of temple and Jesus’s second coming

The arguments for a complex reading of the Olivet Discourse

Preterist, Futurist, mixed; Context (disciples question); Temporal markers; Apocalyptic language

The source (let the reader understand) of Mark’s Gospel.

Peter

The literary features of Mark’s gospel.

Markan sandwiches and Literary real estate

The main theme of Mark

Jesus is son of God who gave his life as a ransom for many

How Mark communicates Jesus’ divinity

Runs parallels between Isaiah and Jesus

The meaning of the miracle in Mark 8

Disciples ignorance/blindness

How Mark communicates the theological purpose of Christ’s death

Tearing of curtain; Last supper, covenant offering; Jesus says “as a ransom for many”

The authorship of Luke.

External Evidence: Understanding of Greek, Even enemies agree that Luke wrote it; Internal Evidence: Acts, Switch from 3rd to 1st person

Literary features of Luke.

Parables and trip to Jerusalem

The main theme of Luke.

Jesus is the savior of the world; Mean and women, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile

The sub themes of Luke.

Holy Spirit, Disenfranchised, Meaning of OT

The purpose of parables

If you know, you know

The principles of parables.

Flow of plot; Theology, not history; One meaning; Context

The point of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Hardened heart, love of money; Heart is the issue

The literary features of John.

Very different synoptics; Prologue; Long discourse; 7 signs; High priestly prayer

The main theme of John

God the Son Incarnate; Respond with belief

The meaning of the Son of God.

He’s God, but distinct from the Father

The purpose of John’s use of the Word.

Uses how the culture was using that word; References back to creation; Explains who God is

The nature of belief.

Condition of salvation; Comes from the Spirit; It must persevere; Perserved