Untitled Flashcards Set

Synoptic Gospels:

  • The Synoptic Gospels:

    • Matthew, Mark, and Luke

    • Are called "synoptic" because they present a similar account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, with overlapping content

    • Some of the last books of the New Testament to be written

    • The word “gospel” is rarely used in these books

    • Ancient biography 

      • To teach their readers a specific aspect of a subject’s life

      • It was a collection of selective sayings and deeds of the individual

      • Ancient biography is not modern biography

      • Adopt a specific subjective lens

  • The Synoptic Problem:

    • The question about the literary relationship between the Matthew, Mark, and Like is called the Synoptic problem

      • Synoptic = “see together” and refers to their similar structure content, and wording

    • Matthew, Mark, and Luke all share multiple stories and at times that have almost identical verbal similarities 

      • Meaning a shared written source

      • So there must be literary relationship between three gospels

    • 90% of Mark is in Matthew

    • 53% or Mark is in Luke

    • Less than 5% of Mark is unique

    • 20 % of Matthew is unique

    • 40% of Luke is unique

    • 92% of John is unique

  • Answer to The Synoptic Problem:

    • Matthean priority:

      • Follow traditions established by bishop Augustine of Hippo

      • Mark as abbreviation

      • Luke uses Matthew and Mark

    • Markan Priority:

      • Scholarly consensus

      • Mark is earliest and was a source document for Matthew and Luke

      • Matthew and Luke improve on Mark by adding a beginning and an ending

    • The Q  Source:

      • Q stand for Quelle

      • Matthew and Luke share 22–230 verses that are not found in Mark 

  • Language and Culture:

    • Language was primarily Aramiac and Greek

    • Hebrew was the religious language for Jews

    • Culture was a mixture of Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman

  • Messianic Expectations:

    • King who would push out Rome and restore Israel to its glory in the days of Solomon

  • What is a Gospel:

    • Four canonical gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

      • Multiple non-canonical gospels

      • Named after their assumed authors

    • They tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth

    • Each Gospel is written to reflect its own religious and social setting, and theological and literary interests

    • They are some of the last books of the New Testament to be written

    • Gospel:

      • From the word Euangelion – Good News

      • Euangelion as a political term

      • By 2nd Century –”gospel” became synonymous with texts that narrate the life and ministry of Jesus”

      • “Gospel” is rarely used in the gospels

  • Key Features:

    • Shared Structure and Content:

    • The Synoptic Gospels follow a similar narrative pattern, beginning with John the Baptist and concluding with Jesus’ resurrection

    • They include many of the same parables, miracles, and teachings

    • Markan Priority:

    • Scholars believe Mark was written first and served as a source for Matthew and Luke

    • The "Q Source" is a hypothetical collection of Jesus’ sayings that may have influenced Matthew and Luke

  • Distinctives of Each Gospel:

    • Matthew:

      • Written in Antioch in Syria

        • To Jewish Christians

        • Around 80 CE

      • Division between Jewish and Jewish Christian communities

      • Emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and the Messiah

      • Includes the Sermon on the Mount and a genealogy tracing Jesus to Abraham

      • Connects Jesus to David and Abraham through Joseph

        • 14 generations between David and Jesus

      • Birth story (centers on Joseph)

      • Inclusion of gentiles

      • Infancy Accounts: 

        • Emphasizes the role of Joseph

        • Jesus and Kingship

        • Prophetic Fulfillment

    • Christmas Myths:

      • Joseph is from Nazareth

      • There were three wise men 

      • The wise men were present at the birth of Jesus  

  • Mark:

    • Written in Rome for a general audience

      • During a time of persecution between 64 CE and 73 CE

    • Explains Jewish practice and translates Aramaic terms uses Latinisms

    • Focuses on Jesus’ actions and portrays Him as the suffering servant.

    • Known for its brevity and urgency

    • “The Beginning”

      • Beginning of Good news of Jesus Christ “The Son of God”

      • Begins with Jesus’ baptism and temptation

      • Baptism of Jesus:

        • Demonstrates solidarity and humanity

        • Establishes Jesus as the anointed of God

        • Doves (the bird)

        • Role of John the Baptist:

          • Prophetic Figure (Last of the OT prophets)

          • John is the expected Elijah figure (Luke)

          • Essene?

          • Baptism and Repentance

      • Temptation:

        • Mark:

          • The spirit casts Jesus into the wilderness

          • Same word used for when Jesus later casts out demons

        • Matthew:

          • Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness

          • Same Greek term as used in the Exodus story

          • For forty days and for nights

          • Responds to testing with scripture

        • Luke:

          • Temptation is focused on Jesus' role as divine son

          • Set in the backdrop of the Human story beginning with Adam

  • Luke:

    • Written as a pair with the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

    • Literary production for public and gentile audience

      • Possible written by a gentile

    • Highlights Jesus’ inclusivity, with attention to the marginalized (e.g., women, Gentiles, the poor)

    • Contains the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son

    • Theological Themes:

    • The Kingdom of God: Central to Jesus’ teaching in all three Gospels.

    • Messianic Secret: In Mark, Jesus often tells people to keep His identity as Messiah hidden

    • Connection to John the Baptist

      • Prophetic figure

      • John is the expected Elijah figure

      • Baptism and Repentance

    • Birth story

      • Virgin Mary

      • Genealogy through Mary

    • Infancy Accounts:

      • Equal attention to John’s birth

      • Only Gospel that mentions Jesus growing

    • Christmas Myths:

      • There was no room for them in the inn 

      • Jesus was born in a barn 

      • The shepherds were there with the three wise men 

  • Discipleship:

    • The Synoptics emphasize the cost of following Jesus and living out His teachings

    • Common in Rabbinic circles

    • Common in Philosophical schools

    • Usually, the student must ask the rabbi instead Jesus reverses the normal order

    • The Disciples:

      • The disciples like the prophets are called by God

      • Disciples master a tradition

        • Jesus calls the disciples instead to follow him

    • Levels of Discipleship:

      • Inner circle 3 Peter James and John

      • 12 Apostles

      • The 70

  • Ministry of Jesus:

    • Primarily in the Galilee

    • Sermons

    • Parables

    • Healings

    • Exorcisms

    • Miracles

  • Sermon on the Mount:

    • Preaching the Kingdom

      • Kingdom of God/Heaven

      • Rooted in the idea of God’s rule

      • Connects to the idea of the Day of Yahweh

    • Announcing the Kingdom in Word and Deed

      • Sermons and Miracles

  • Jesus and The Law:

    • Jesus affirms the Law

    • Critical of human understanding of the Law

    • Purity is what comes out not what goes in

    • Emphasis on following God’s Will

      • Jesus raises the bar on the Law

  •  Jesus Parables:

    • Jesus explains the Kingdom through analogies

    • Meant to be persuasive

    • Meant to be hard to understand so only those who truly

    • seek out will find the truth

    • Parable: A short, fictional narrative that draws on real-life scenarios for the purpose of metaphorical meaning whether theological, moral, or both

  • Jesus and Miracles:

    • Signs of the kingdom

    • Shows his authority and kingship

    • Parables are verbal descriptions of the kingdom

    • Miracles are the visual descriptions of the kingdom

  • The Story of The Gospels:

    • Miracles on The Sea:

      • Yahweh defeat of the Sea

      • OT background

      • Walking on the head of the sea

    • Feeding Miracles:

      • New exodus

      • Feeding 5000 only miracle in all four gospels

      • Connects back to God’s provision in the wilderness

    • Opposition to Jesus:

      • Religious:

        • Rejection of prophet

        • Charge of blasphemy

        • Disagrees with Pharisees on Sabbath

        • Lax on Purity Laws

      • Political:

        • Romans fear sedition

        • Only Romans have the right for capital punishment

    • Triumphal Return:

      • The Triumphal Entry

      • Jesus being hailed as king

      • Matthew includes a lament over Jerusalem and prophetic curses

      • Luke specifically connects Jesus’ proclamation of peace with Pax Romana

    • Last Celebration:

      • Celebration of Passover

      • The Last Supper

        • Mark: Emphasis on Covenant Kingdom of God

        • Matthew: Emphasis on forgiveness of sins and emphasis on sonship

        • Luke: Emphasis on Covenant and kingdom of God

    • The Crucifixion:

      • Mark:

        • Darkness

        • Temple curtain torn in two

      • Matt:

        • Darkness

        • Temple curtain torn in two 

        • Earthquake

        • Resurrection of the recently deceased

      • Luke:

        • Darkness

        • Temple curtain torn in two

    • The Resurrection:

      • Day of the Lord has arrived

      • Reversal of death and its curse

      • Jesus appears first to two women

        • Adds to the historicity of the event

  • Jesus and Exorcisms:

    • Mark ties them to the Kingdom

    • Matt and Luke sees them as proving the kingdom is coming

      • Kingdom of God v. Kingdom of Satan

    • Some exorcism are healings but not all healings are exorcisms

      • Healings often tied with forgiveness

  • Importance:

    • The Synoptic Gospels provide complementary perspectives on Jesus’ life and mission, offering a rich portrait of His role as Savior and Teacher