The Synoptic Gospels

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The Synoptic Gospels

• Bible 333

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PURPOSES OF COURSE

• Gain a better understanding of the life and
  ministry of Jesus
• Develop an understanding and appreciation for the
  Jewish culture in which Jesus lived and taught
• Study Jesus teachings within the Jewish cultural
  setting of his time

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Purposes of Course

• Learn how to study the gospels individually as
  well as together
• Study the distinctive aspects of each of the four
  Gospels
• Trace the development of the early Church

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Purposes of Course

• Learn how to apply the teachings of Jesus to our
  own lives even though his culture was very
  different from ours
• Learn about different theories of gospel origins
  and the birth and development of early
  Christianity

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TOPICS WE WILL STUDY

• Israels history
• Israels culture
• The Roman world
• Religious groups in Israel
• Theories of Gospel origins

• Important events in Jesus life
• Jesus teachings
• People who worked with Jesus
• Characteristics of each Gospel

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Things to Remember When Studying the Life of Jesus

• Jesus was Jewish
• He was speaking to Jewish people in a Jewish
  setting
• The discussions Jesus had with the Jewish
  authorities were about Jewish issues
• None of this means Jesus teachings are not
  relevant today just that we need to allow Jesus
  to be Jewish not make him American

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Things to Remember When Studying the Gospels

• There are four each should be studied for its
  individual message about Jesus
• The four should not be blended into one
• Each was written to help Christians in different
  settings/places
• The same story can be told with a different
  emphasis and/or perspective

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Things to Remember When Studying the Gospels

• The Gospels contain biographical information, but
  were not intended to be what we call biographies
• Much of Jesus teaching was handed down orally
  before it was put in writing
• The Gospels do not contain all that Jesus said
  and did the authors selected what to include
  (guided by Holy Spirit and the needs of their
  readers)

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Possible Reasons the Gospels Were Written

• The Church was expanding rapidly help in
  evangelization and teaching new converts
• Some things might be forgotten or neglected
• Some things might be changed in the oral
  transmission process

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Studying the Gospels on Three Levels

• The historical context of Jesus ministry
• The historical context of the author and his
  audience
• The message for us today

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The Gospels and History

• A Negative Perspective
• By the time the gospels were written stories were
  already being made up about Jesus.
• These stories addressed their problems.
• These stories were included in the gospels.
• WWJD/ WWJS Led to creation of stories and sayings
  of Jesus.
• Gospels lack historical verifiability

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The Gospels and History

• A Negative Perspective
• The gospels tell us more about the early
  Christian communities than about Jesus.

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The Gospels and History

• A Positive Perspective
• Disciples and other eyewitnesses preserved the
  teachings of Jesus.
• Disciples applied Jesus teachings and actions to
  their own.
• Used Jesus teachings to encourage struggling
  disciples.
• WJD/WJS applied to their situation

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History and Theology

• Not an either/or situation one finds both
  history and theology in the gospels.
• Gospel writers shaped (not created) the stories.
• Interpreted Jesus teachings and actions for the
  early Christians.

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Theology in the Gospels

• Helped them see the significance of Jesus for
  their lives.
• Helped them see the connection between
• Jesus and the Jewish law
• Sabbath, food, purity, temple, etc.
• Jesus and the prophets
• Their faith and everyday life