1. Introducing the Synoptic GospelsCOURSETH4903Rev. Jon SwalesDATE JAN 2013 LOCATION WTC RESIDENTIAL

2. AIMS1. To introduce students to a systematic criticalstudy of Jesus and the gospels in their ancientliterary, theological and historical context payingparticular attention to the way in which the meaning of NT texts is determined by to the challengesC1st 2. To sensitize students OT tradition and and problems presentedJudaism.by an historical study of thegospels; their principal themes, interpretative puzzles and the theological issues they raise. 3. 2.ToTo sensitize students to the challenges textual provide students with foundational NT andproblems presented a the formation of a biblical resources towards by an historical study of thegospels; theirwhich impacts discipleship, ministry, theology principal themes, interpretative puzzlesleadership, mission and Christian they raise. in the and the theological issues engagement public square. 3. To provide students with foundational NT textualresources towards a the formation of a biblicaltheology which impacts discipleship, ministry,leadership, mission and Christian engagement in the 3. HOW DO DO WELL IN THIS MODULERead the SynopticsKeep up with course readingRead the SynopticsAsk questionsActive engagement in lectures.Begin thinking about Essays soonerrather than laterRead good secondary literatureRefer to primary source materialPrayIntroducing the Synoptic Gospels 4. QuickTime and adecompressorare needed to see this picture. 5. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? Sin Management 4 Spiritual LawsBridge DiagramConversionProcessJustification byFaithRhetorical PackagePersonal SalvationDo we needMatthew, Mark, Luke & John? 6. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?Gk: euangellion (noun)Gk: euangelizomai (Verbal Cognate: gospelize, preach/bring goodnews) Matthew 24:14 (ESV) 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Acts 15:7 (ESV) 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 7. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?Romans 1:16 (ESV) 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power ofGod for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Galatians 1:69 (ESV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him whocalled you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a differentgospel 7 not that there is another one, but there are somewho trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: Ifanyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 8. PRIENE INSCRIPTIONIt seemed good to the Greeks of Asia, in the opinion of the high priestApollonius of Menophilus Azanitus: Since providence, which has ordered allthings and is deeply interested in our life, has set in most perfect order bygiving us Augustus, whom she filled with virtue that he might benefithumankind, sending him as a savior, both for us and for our descendants, thathe might end war and arrange all things, and since he, Caesar, by hisappearance excelled even our anticipations, surpassing all previousbenefactors, and not even leaving to posterity any hope of surpassing what hehas done, and since the birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning ofthe good tidings for the world that came by reason of him, which Asiaresolved in Smyrna. 9. 1 Corinthians 15:18 (ESV)1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached toyou, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to youunless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as offirst importance what I also received: that Christ died for oursins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day in accordance with theScriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to thetwelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothersat one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all theapostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 10. Romans 1:16 (ESV)1Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, setapart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehandthrough his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning hisSon, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according tothe Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, JesusChrist our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace andapostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sakeof his name among all the nations, 6 including you who arecalled to belong to Jesus Christ, 11. APOSTOLIC PREACHING(1) Acts 2:14-39(2) Acts 3:12-26(3) Acts 4:8-12(4) Acts 5:29-32(5) Acts 10:34-43(6) Acts 13:16-42(7) Acts 17:22-31 12. 1.The story of Israel is the story of God in the world, and Israels story finds its completion in Jesus.2.The story of Jesus brings Israels story to its completion.3.Christ died for our sins4.Jesus is the Messiah, King of Gods kingdom, Saviour, Son of God and Lord. 13. Four Gospels, One Jesus UNITY AND DIVERSITY 14. Structure of Matthew5 Blocks of Teaching1. The Sermon on the Mount (5:17:28) 2. The Missionary Discourse (10:142) 3. The Parable Discourse (13:153) 4. The Community Discourse (17:2218:35) 5. The Apocalyptic Discourse (24:125:46) Structural Markerswhen Jesus finished saying these things (7:28, 11:1, 13:53, 19:1, 26:1). 15. Four Gospels One JesusUNITY AND DIVERSITY 16. Four Gospels One JesusUNITY AND DIVERSITY 17. Luke refers to thirteen women not mentioned elsewhere in theGospels.Birth Narratives: Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.The widow of Nain (7:1215),The woman who anointed Jesus feet (7:3650), the women whosupported Jesus (8:13),The woman with a blood disease (8:4348),Mary and Martha (10:3842),the daughter of Abraham (13:1017), the poor widow (21:14),the daughters of Jerusalem who lament Jesus (23:2731), thosewho watched the crucifixion (23:49),those who report the resurrection (23:5524:11). 18. Four Gospels One JesusUNITY AND DIVERSITY 19. Synoptics (ViewTogether) 20. What is the genre of the gospels?Richard A. Burridge, What Are The Gospels?, page 218(emphasis his):Thus, there is a high degree of correlation between thegeneric features of Graeco-Roman and those of thesynoptic gospels; in fact, they exhibit more of the featuresthan are shown by works at the edges of the genre, such asthose of Isocrates, Xenophon, and Philostratus. This is surelya sufficient number of shared features for the genre of thesynoptic gospels to be clear: while they may well form theirown subgenre because of their shared content, thesynoptic gospels belong within the overal genre of. 21. What is the genre of thegospels?Our canonical gospels are the theological, historical, and artological(virtue-forming biographical narratives that retell the story andproclaim the significance of Jesus Christ, who through the power of theSpirit is the Restorer of Gods reign PenningtonIn summary, we can classify the Gospels as historical narrativemotivated by theological concerns. Their intention is not only to conveyaccurate historical material about Jesus but also to explain andinterpret these salvation-bringing events. The Gospels were written notby detached uninterested observers but by Evangelists, proclaimers ofgood news, announcing the good news of Jesus CHrist and callingpeople to faith in him Strauss 22. Why were the Gospels Written? HistoricalCatechetical Liturgical Exhortatory TheologicalApologeticEvangelistic 23. Why do weneed fourGospels?