The Synoptic Gospels

							The Synoptic Gospels
       Bible 333
    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
          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
         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
    TOPICS WE WILL STUDY
• Israel’s history      • Important events in
• Israel’s culture        Jesus’ life
• The Roman world       • Jesus’ teachings
• Religious groups in   • People who worked
  Israel                  with Jesus
• Theories of Gospel    • Characteristics of each
  origins                 Gospel
    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
    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
    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)
  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
  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
     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
     The Gospels and History
• A Negative Perspective
  – The gospels tell us more about the early
    Christian communities than about Jesus.
      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
        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.
      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