COMPARING THE FOUR GOSPELS AND THE QUEST FOR

COMPARING THE FOUR GOSPELS AND THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

Events covered by all four gospels: • John’s baptizing work • Feeding the multitudes • Jesus’ assault on the moneychangers in temple • Jesus’ hearing before Jewish authorities • Jesus’ hearing before Pilate • Jesus’ crucifixion • The empty tomb

WHO WROTE IT? MARK – “John Mark of Jerusalem” MATTHEW – “Matthew” LUKE – Luke, physician & companion JOHN – John, son of Zebedee

TO WHOM WAS IT WRITTEN? MARK – mostly Gentiles, new to their faith, facing persecutions (Rome) MATTHEW – Educated Jews LUKE – Wealthier Gentiles in urban setting JOHN – Mixed: some Jews, some Gentiles

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? MARK – 66 -70 CE MATTHEW – 80 -85 CE LUKE – 80 -85 CE JOHN – around 100 CE

WHY WAS IT WRITTEN? MARK – to encourage those undergoing trials & persecutions MATTHEW – to teach a community with internal divisions LUKE – to challenge believers to put their faith into practice JOHN – to strengthen a group ostracized by other Jews for their faith

JESUS’ MAJOR ACTIONS? MARK – Miracles & contending w/religious authorities MATTHEW – Teaching disciples & speaking out against religious hypocrisy LUKE – Tending to & speaking out for oppressed people, forgiving sinners JOHN – Speaking God’s words, doing God’s works, revealing God to all

THE GOSPELS – CHURCH OF THE FOUR BUILDINGS: MARK – DARKENED SANCTUARY – Nobody “gets it, ” nobody understands MATTHEW – EDUCATION BUILDING – All about studying Jesus’ teachings LUKE – FELLOWSHIP HALL – Eating & drinking with Jesus – Gathering around the table together JOHN – HOUSE CHURCH – Intimacy & love in the gathering

THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS

Gospel writers, while providing some biographical info on Jesus, are “Good News” & not intended to be historical writings. Very little info elsewhere about Jesus the person. JOSEPHUS • Jewish historian • Contemporary of Gospel writers • Refers to Jesus twice in his Antiquities of the Jews

18 TH Century – Age Of Enlightenment. Scholars begin to distinguish between Jesus of history & church doctrine about him. ALBERT SCHWEITZER • Wrote Quest of the Historical Jesus in 1906 • Pictures Jesus as devoted Jew who wanted to change things but was defeated by the very system he opposed. • Forced scholars to look at Jesus anew.

18 TH Century – Age Of Enlightenment. Scholars begin to distinguish between Jesus of history & church doctrine about him. RUDOLF BULTMANN • German scholar mid-20 th century • Gospels tell us (& are intended to tell us) much more about history of early church than history of Jesus the person • Message of Jesus is timeless

GENERAL AGREEMENTS ABOUT JESUS: • Born during reign of Herod, 6 -4 BCE • Raised in Nazareth • Son of Joseph & Mary, & had siblings • From low social status • Baptized by John the Baptist around 30 yrs. old • Engaged in “ministry” for roughly 3 years, proclaiming the imminent arrival of God’s kingdom on earth

GENERAL AGREEMENTS ABOUT JESUS: • Wandered from village to village in life of poverty; hung out with powerless & outcasts • In so doing, made many enemies with those in power • Was arrested, tried and condemned by Romans • Was crucified

WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE? https: //youtu. be/ARCk. Tn_S 3 kk

WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE?

ACTS – AN INTRODUCTION

Luke/Acts is a two-part series covering both Jesus’ life (Luke) & the early church (Acts) Chronicles growth from Jewish movement centered around Jesus to large Gentile Christian faith Author sees this as fulfilling God’s will & part of God’s plan Focuses on a few figures: Peter & Saul/Paul. Rarely mentions Jesus’ disciples

Presents Christianity as legitimate religion that doesn’t threaten Roman government Focuses only on movement of Christian faith to Asia Minor & Greece/Rome. Ignores southern Mediterranean churches

Book of ACTS covers mostly Palestine & Asia Minor (from east to west)

Overarching theme: GOD’S SPIRIT OPERATING IN HUMAN HISTORY Growth of the church & westward expansion is guided by the Spirit & is the will of God. Restoration of Israel via Jewish disciples of Jesus

OUTLINE OF ACTS 1: 1 -11 Prologue & Jesus’ ascension 1: 12 -2: 47 Founding of Jerusalem church & Pentecost Ministry of Peter & the apostles 3: 1 -5: 42 6: 1 -8: 40 Persecutions of Jewish Christians & first missions 9: 1 -12: 25 Conversion of Paul & prep for Gentile mission

OUTLINE OF ACTS 13: 1 -15: 35 Paul’s first missionary journey & Jerusalem Council 16: 1 -18: 21 Paul’s second missionary journey 18: 22 -20: 38 Paul’s third missionary journey 21: 1 -26: 32 Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem & imprisonment 27: 1 -28: 31 Paul’s journey to Rome

1: 1 -11: PROLOGUE & JESUS’ ASCENSION • Vs. 1 – writer is writing to “Theophilus” – means “dear to God” • Jesus ascends into heaven – never “dies. ” Fostered the idea of Jesus’ return. • Vs. 21 ff – Election of Matthias to replace Judas – importance of 12 disciples pertains to 12 tribes of Israel in Old Testament

CHPT. 2 - PENTECOST • Formative event of young church’s existence • Vs. 2 – Spirit appears as “violent wind” to gathering of disciples • Vs. 3 – “tongues of fire” on disciples’ heads. Meaning? • What did this look like? Some artistic renderings….

CHPT. 2 – PENTECOST • Vs. 4 – disciples given the ability to speak in other languages – “glossolalia” – a divine language. Traditionally not meant to be interpreted. Still practiced today in some charismatic churches. – Is this right? ? These are actual languages (vs. 6) • Purpose of disciples given ability to speak in different languages? ?

CHPT. 2 – PENTECOST • God had given disciples ability to preach Gospel in every known language • Highlights universality of Christian mission. Not intended to remain strictly a Jewish thing. • 2: 14 -47 – Peter’s sermon following Pentecost event. Many people converted.

OTHER EVENTS • 3: 1 -5: 42 – Confrontations between apostles & Jewish authorities – 4: 32 -5: 11 – highlights early church’s practice of holding all things in common • 6: 8 -8: 1 a – Preaching & martyrdom of Stephen (first Christian martyr) • 8: 1 b-40 – Marks first time Christianity encountered non-Jewish areas

CHPT. 9 - CONVERSION OF SAUL • Saul – educated & passionate Jew who persecuted early Christians • Would go to synagogues; ask for “mailing list” & names of “defectors” • On road to Damascus, encounters vision of Jesus. Blinded for three days. • Converted to Christianity with aid of Ananias & other followers – name is changed to Paul.