te: sample unit introduction

208

Unit

8

Unit 8The Four Gospels

Unit eight

The Four Gospels

You are the light of the world. A city

built on a hill cannot be hid. No one

after lighting a lamp puts it under the

bushel basket, but on the lampstand,

and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine

before others, so that they may see

your good works.

Matthew 5:14–16 [NRSV]

208 UNIT 8 The Four Gospels

208-217_CH21.indd 208 3/30/10 2:09:12 PM

In this unit you will discover

• How the four gospels took the message of Jesus to different audiences

• The basic literary forms found in the four gospels

• How each gospel reflects a distinct approach to the life of Jesus

209

208-217_CH21.indd 209 3/30/10 2:09:15 PM

Unit 8 The Four Gospels

Big Idea The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are narratives of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Unit BackgroundHistorical, Social, and Cultural Background Church leaders who lived and died in the 100s and 200s recognized the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the full collection of Jesus’ life. Tertullian (died 220), Irenaeus (died 202), and Clement (died about 220) often quoted from them in their writings. Justin, writing in 145, referred to the four gospels as a well-known and valid set of sacred records of the life of Jesus. In his Memoir of the Apostles, Justin relied only upon the four canonical gospels. Irenaeus argued explicitly, “it is not possible that the Gospels be either more or fewer than they are. He called the four gospels “the four pillars” of the church.

Many scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark was written between the years 66 and 70, after the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Nero.

Many scholars believe the Gospel of Matthew was written around the years 70–90, perhaps in Antioch of Syria, and was based on the Gospel of Mark. However, a number of scholars still hold with the ancient tradition that Matthew was, literally, “the first gospel,” and thus was written earlier. The name of Matthew, after the apostle Matthew, was given to this gospel as early as the 2nd century. Most scholars believe Matthew was written mainly for Jewish Christians.

The Gospel of Luke has been attributed to Luke since at least the 2nd century. Many early church fathers (such as Iranaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian) mention Luke as its author.

The Christian community has traditionally credited the apostle John with the authorship of the Gospel of John, as well as the Book of Revelation and three letters.

Unit Bibliography 8

Introduce the Unit■ Have the students look ahead

through the unit, noting chapter heads and artwork. Discuss the Big Idea of the unit. Invite them to locate the four gospels in their Bibles. Use the Unit Background (below) to enrich your discussion.

■ Ask a student to read from the text the passage from Matthew. Who do you think is speaking in this quotation? (Jesus) To whom might he be speaking? (His followers) Explain that this is a “typical” saying of Jesus.

■ Read and discuss the “Discover” statements with the class. Explain to the students that the gospel is a literary genre unto itself.

■ Discuss the graphic organizers, stressing that students’ understanding of the unit will grow as they complete each chapter organizer.

■ Introduce the Unit Activities, discussing the projects and writing for the unit.

208-209_UnitEight.indd 208208-209_UnitEight.indd 208 8/24/10 2:11:07 PM8/24/10 2:11:07 PM

209

Unit Introduction

FPO

GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS

In Unit 8, students read the narratives of Jesus from four of his followers—Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. Readers of the four gospels often feel the content of each book is quite similar. While this is somewhat true, a closer examination of the gospels reveals the four books are written to different audiences for different purposes. Even the themes and genre vary. As students explore the gospel authors’ intent and purpose, they gain greater knowledge of the writer and of the people and events in the narrative of Jesus of Nazareth.

Earlier in their textbook, students were introduced to the gospel writers, their audiences, purposes, and themes. In the chapters of this unit, students will examine the individual gospels. Unlike the graphic organizers in other units, student will use the same type of graphic organizer to analyze each gospel. In Graphic Organizers 21–24, Content Analysis Charts, students will record the gospels’ audience, themes, key events, and characters. They will also explore and identify literary devices or elements, including various genres, found in the four gospels.

This unit offers a unique opportunity to use the graphic organizers in a culminating activity. Due to the unique genre of the gospels and due to the structure of Graphic Organizers 21–24, you may ask students to write a unit summary statement or to compare and contrast the four gospels.

UNIT ACTIVITIES

Unit Project ActivitiesThe Golden Rule Ad Campaign Construct an ad campaign for the Golden Rule, attempting to convince others to live by that rule. Select a format, such as signs, posters, webpage or other use of technology, to convey your message. Choose a format for your finished product that will best illustrate the message of your campaign.

Songs with Mood and Tone Review the songs of Zechariah and Mary in the first chapter of Luke. Select a character from the Book of Luke. Identify the mood and tone of the character. Write lyrics for a song that would be appropriate for that character to proclaim. Use a format similar to Zechariah and Mary’s, which conveys the character’s mood and tone.

Seven Signs See the table on page 235 to help you select one of the seven signs in the Gospel of John. Read the passage. Make an artistic image based on an idea or thought you had while reading that connects to one of the seven signs. You can create a drawing, three-dimensional piece, photo, or poem. Share your work and explain in an oral presentation the sign’s connection to your art.

Unit Project Activities 8

Unit Writing ActivityBlogging the Book of Mark Take the Gospel of Mark into the 21st century by retelling the Book of Mark through a blog. Create a cast of at least five bloggers based on the people within the gospel. Have them report sightings of the events in Mark from their perspective, writing in the first person.

Unit Writing Activity 8

Graphic Organizers 21–24

Themes Audience Literary Devices Key Events Key Characters

The Gospel of Mark


Unit

8

Unit 8The Four Gospels

209A

Unit 8 The Four Gospels

Big Idea

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are narratives of Jesus’ life and teachings.

Chapter Learning Objectives Vocabulary People & Places Resources

Chapter 21Mark

■ Identify the main themes, first audience, and key events and people of the Gospel of Mark

■ Learn about the unique characteristics of Mark’s gospel

■ Discover some examples of the influence of the Gospel of Mark on Western culture

pericopesexorcismblasphemydisciplesnature miracleintercalation

Mark (John Mark)JesusJohn the BaptistJairusKing HerodPeterJames JohnJudasPontius Pilate

BarabbasSimon CyreneJoseph of Arimathea

Jordan RiverJerusalemMount of OlivesGarden of Gethsemane

CDGraphic Organizer 21People of INFLUENCE 21Places of INFLUENCE 21Chapter 21 TestUnit Project Activities 8Unit Writing Activity 8

Assessment BLMAssessment Online

Chapter 22Matthew

■ Identify the main themes, first audience, and key events and people of the Gospel of Matthew

■ Learn how the Gospel of Matthew draws on the Hebrew Scriptures

■ Discover some ways in which the Gospel of Matthew has influenced Western culture

typologyinfancy narrativefulfillment citation

virgin birth

JesusMaryJoseph magi (wise men)King Herod

Simon PeterNazarethGalileeCaesarea Philippi



Chapter 23Luke

■ Identify the main themes, first audience, and key events and people of the Gospel of Luke

■ Describe the ways in which the Gospel of Luke extends Jesus’ message beyond the Christian community

■ Discuss some ways the Gospel of Luke has influenced Western culture

JesusLukeMaryTheophilusJohn the BaptistZechariahElizabethEmperor AugustusQuirinius

SimeonAnnaMary MagdaleneJoannaMarthaMaryBethlehemJerusalemEmmaus



Chapter 24John

■ Identify the main themes, first audience, and key events and people of the Gospel of John

■ Describe ways in which the Gospel of John is a unique gospel

■ Name some examples of how the Gospel of John has influenced Western culture

signscreedglory

John, son of Zebedee

JesusJamesMaryLazarusNicodemusSamaritan womanPeter

Holy SpiritGod the FatherMary MagdaleneThomasGalileeJerusalemNiceaCana



Pacing Guides Suggested Daily Lesson Plans


209B

Unit Planner

CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

Literary Terms

audience, characters, compare and contrast, events, writer’s purpose, theme

Literature / Language Social Studies The Arts

Literaturep. 211 The Iliad and The Odysseyp. 216 Countee Cullen, “Simon the Cyrenian Speaks”p. 217 Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea

Literary Expressionsp. 212 a house divided will not standp. 214 widow’s mite

World Historyp. 216 Crucifixion in the ancient world

Fine Artp. 210 Eadfrith of Lindisfarne, Lindisfarne Gospels,

image of Markp. 211 Joachim Patenier, Baptism of Christ p. 213 James Jacques Joseph Tissot, “The Swine Driven

Into the Sea” in The Life of Christp. 214 Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supperp. 215 Paul Gauguin, The Yellow Christ

Dramap. 215 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ

Superstar

Literature p. 219 T. S. Eliot, “The Journey of the Magi” p. 222 Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Literary Elementsp. 223 structure of the Lord’s Prayer

Literary Expressionsp. 224 turn the other cheekp. 224 salt of the earthp. 224 give the shirt off your backp. 224 go the extra milep. 224 cast your pearls before swine

World Historyp. 225 David Livingstone

American Historyp. 221 John Winthropp. 221 Ronald Reagan

Fine Artp. 218 Tree of Jesse window in Chartres Cathedralp. 220 Bartolo di Fredi, Adoration of the Magip. 220 Fra Angelico, The Sermon on the Mountp. 222 Rembrandt, St. Matthew and the Angelp. 225 Portrait of Dr. David Livingstone

Literary Elementsp. 230 literary features of the Gospel of Lukep. 233 parables

Literary Expressionsp. 230 good Samaritanp. 230 prodigal son

World Historyp. 229 Emperor Augustusp. 231 Women in the Roman Empire

Fine Artp. 226 Rogier van der Weyden, St. Luke Painting the

Virginp. 228 Fra Angelico, The Annunciationp. 229 Georges de La Tour, Adoration of the Shepherdsp. 231 Jan Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha

and Maryp. 232 Titian, The Resurrection of Christp. 232 Rembrandt, The Supper at Emmaus

Musicp. 229 Johann Sebastian Bach, Magnificat

Dramap. 227 Shepherds’ plays (Las Pastorelas)

Literary Expressionsp. 241 a doubting Thomas

World Historyp. 235 Council of Niceap. 238 Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Fine Artp. 234 The Gospels of Mac Regolp. 235 Paolo Veronese, The Marriage Feast at Canap. 236 Horace Pippin, Women of Samariap. 240 Titian, Noli Me Tangerep. 243 Rembrandt, The Return of the Prodigal Son

Musicp. 240 Joseph Haydn, Seven Last Words of the Re-

deemer on the CrossFilm

p. 239 The Matrix

Literature / Language Social Studies The Arts

The Golden Rule Ad Campaign, variety of formatsBlogging the Book of Mark, blog entries

Songs with Mood and Tone, song lyricsSeven Signs, art

UNIT PROJECTS


te: sample unit introduction

Documents