Comprehensive Study Notes for Christology and Paul's Letters

Mark's Christology
- Low Christology, emphasizing Jesus as the suffering servant and Son of Man.
- Gradual revelation of Jesus' identity.
John's Christology
- High Christology, portraying Jesus as the eternal Word (Logos) who is both with God and is God (John 1:1).
- Focuses heavily on Jesus' divine nature with "I AM" statements reflective of God's self-revelation in the Old Testament.
Luke's Christology
- Highlights Jesus as the compassionate Savior, emphasizing His humanity and care for marginalized groups.
Matthew's Christology
- Presents Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.
- Balances divine authority with Jesus' role as a teacher (e.g., Sermon on the Mount).

Theological vs Narrative
- John's Gospel presents a more theological and symbolic narrative compared to the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke), which focus on parables and miracles.
- John's emphasis on the divine identity of Jesus is evident from the start, while the Synoptics build up to this.
Miracle Terminology
- John's miracles referred to as "signs," each symbolizing deeper truths about Jesus’ identity.
Missing Events
- John's Gospel excludes significant events present in the Synoptics, such as the transfiguration and the Last Supper’s Eucharist institution.

Ministry Length
- John's Gospel depicts a ministry lasting about three years with multiple visits to Jerusalem, while the Synoptics present a shorter, more focused ministry.
Cleansing of the Temple
- Occurs early in John's Gospel but later in the Synoptics closer to the crucifixion.
Last Supper and Crucifixion Timing
- John has the Last Supper before Passover, with Jesus being crucified on Preparation Day, emphasizing the symbolism of Jesus as the true Passover Lamb.

Stated in John 20:31:
- “Written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
- Aims to inspire faith in Jesus, focusing on theological reflection rather than chronological biography.

Traditionally attributed to John the Apostle (son of Zebedee), though the text does not specifically name the author.
References an unnamed "disciple whom Jesus loved (the Beloved Disciple)".

Associated with John the Apostle but remains uncertain due to the lack of explicit naming.
Close to Jesus, present at significant events, illustrating loyalty and understanding.

For: Connections with early church writings linking him to John the Apostle; part of Jesus’ inner circle.
Against: Gospel’s lack of direct naming and suggestive details indicate he may be from Jerusalem, not Galilee; distinct style and theology could imply a different authorship.

Seen as the source for the testimony in John's Gospel, lending authority to the narrative due to his close relationship with Jesus.

Date: Likely written between 90-100 AD based on developed theological themes and knowledge of the Jerusalem Temple's destruction (70 AD).
Location: Traditionally believed to be composed in Ephesus due to the early Christian community there; alternatives include Syria or other regions.

Redaction is the process of editing and shaping text to create a cohesive narrative that reflects specific theological goals.
Signs of multiple composition layers; chapter 21 is often cited as a redacted section.

A literary term for inconsistencies or puzzling transitions within a text; appears in John’s Gospel to indicate the compilation of different narrative layers.

Historical Paul: Reconstructing from his letters and Acts of the Apostles, considering undisputed letters (Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon) as reliable.
Disputed Letters: 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, Pastoral Epistles (1-2 Timothy, Titus).

Background: Diaspora Jew from Tarsus (Cilicia), educated in Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions, member of the Pharisees (school of Hillel).
Roman Citizenship: Affirmed by Paul in Acts; offered certain protections and legal rights.

Transformation: Converted from persecutor to apostle after encountering the risen Jesus, claiming direct appointment to spread the gospel among Gentiles.
Gentile Inclusion: Advocated that Gentiles need not follow Jewish laws; addressed in the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15) where it was affirmed Gentiles did not need circumcision.

Letters structured in a typical Greco-Roman format (greeting, body, closing); often dictated to a scribe and read publicly when delivered to churches.
Used Greek rhetorical techniques to effectively communicate theological messages, engaging audiences through his knowledge of culture and language.

1 Thessalonians: Written to encourage believers about the fate of those who died before Jesus’ return and to clarify the parousia's implications.
Galatians: Addresses legalism concerning the law and emphasizes faith alone for salvation.
1 Corinthians: Focused on resolving divisions and moral issues within a diverse congregation.
2 Corinthians: A defense of apostolic authority amidst opposition.

Antioch Incident: Peter’s withdrawal from eating with Gentiles; led to a confrontation with Paul, emphasizing the inclusion of Gentiles.
Jerusalem Conference: Resolution of Gentile inclusion in the church without the necessity for circumcision.

Partition theory regarding 2 Corinthians as multiple letters; pseudonymity in biblical texts and its acceptance in the Ancient world as a practice to honor figures like Paul.