Unit 6: Introduction to the New Testament

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What are the Gospels?

• The primary purpose of the Gospels is to preach about the risen Jesus and convince others to recognize him as God.

• They are statements of faith designed to inspire faith in Jesus.

• They are not history or biography.

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What are the Gospels? (cont.)

• This does not mean that we cannot learn anything about the historical Jesus from the Gospels, but if that’s what we are looking for we will be disappointed.

• The Gospels only include historical fact when they have religious significance.

• Jesus of History/Christ of Faith3

Jesus Christ

The four Gospels are our primary source of information about Jesus.

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”~ St. Jerome

The word “Gospel”

• Gospel has a number of meanings. It is the English word for “Good News” and can refer to–the message of Jesus (so there is

just one Gospel)–a book in the NT that tells of that

message (so there are 4 gospels)

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What Is Meant by “Gospel”

Gospel: “Good News”

The very life of Jesus Christ is the Good News of God’s love and Salvation for all.

Preaching about Jesus

Four written versions of the Good News; each evangelist proclaims in their own unique way the “Good News”

Introducing the Synoptic Gospels

Synoptic Gospels:

Matthew, Mark, Luke

Synoptikos: “seen together”

They have much in common and differ significantly from the Gospel of John.

A few definitions

• Q is the name given to some written material about the life/teachings of Jesus that was available to the authors of Matthew and Luke, but probably not to the author of Mark. Q is the first letter of the German word quelle, which means “source.”

• Passion Narrative is the fancy name given to the stories of Jesus’ suffering and death. There is a Passion Narrative in each of the 4 gospels.

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A few more definitions…

• Infancy Narrative is a fancy name for the stories about Jesus’ birth and infancy.

• Disciple is the general term used for followers, specifically followers of Jesus in the NT.

• Apostle is the term used for the12 special disciples of Jesus.

• Evangelist refers to the writer of a gospel. It comes from the Greek word for “Good News.”

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Comparing Stages of Development of the Torah and Gospel

• Torah (Law)– Lived experiences of

patriarchs, Israelites of the periods of the Judges, United and Divided Monarchies

– Oral Tradition of 1100 years or more

– Preserved in writing by J, E, D, and P

– Collected and edited by P

– Canon decided before 100 BCE (whole “OT” by 300 CE)

• Gospels (Good News)– Lived experiences of

Jesus, his apostles, and disciples.

– Oral Tradition of 40 to 95 years

– Preserved in writing by Q and others

– Collected and edited by Mark, Matthew, Luke, John

– Canon in use by 400 CE, but not officially declared until 1546 at the Council of Trent (whole NT)

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Sources of Revelation

• In addition to talking about how the Gospels (and NT) developed as written accounts, it is also common to speak about the sources of revelation in the NT.– During the “lived experience” stage, God’s Good News comes in

the person of Jesus.– During the “oral tradition” stage, the Holy Spirit inspired the

apostles to proclaim the Good News.– During the “writing, collecting, editing” stages, the Holy Spirit

inspired the evangelists to proclaim the Good News.– During the “canon” stage and down through history to our time,

the Holy Spirit has assisted the Church to proclaim the Good News.

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A note about…

…Apostolic Tradition: The Church teaches that everything we need to know about God has been revealed in Christ.

• We know about Christ and what he reveals about God from 2 sources – Scripture & Apostolic Tradition.

• The Holy Spirit helped the Apostles remember and understand all that Jesus did and taught. These truths about Jesus and his teaching are called the Apostolic Tradition.

• Apostolic Tradition is older than the NT Scripture. The NT Scriptures are part of Apostolic Tradition.

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How the Synoptic Gospels* were written.o w o

Oral and written material available to

Mark

o w o w

Gospel of Mark

Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Written material

available to Matthew and Luke

M M M MOral and written

material available only to

Matthew

L L L L

Oral and written material

available only to Luke

o w M M Q QQ QGospel of Matthew

o w L L Q QQ QGospel of

Luke

*The Gospel of John has some similarities to the synoptics, especially in the Passion Narratives, but mostly it’s different.

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The Gospel Sources

A Time Range for the New Testament

• The oldest written book in the NT is . . . Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (50 CE)

• The oldest gospel is . . .Mark (66-70 CE)

• The youngest NT book is . . .II Peter (125 CE)

• Matthew and Luke/Acts were written . . in the 80s CE

• The gospel of John was written . . .in the late 90s CE

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Overview of the Gospel of Mark

• Date: ~67-73 AD• Audience: Non-Jewish,

Gentile Christians who were undergoing persecution

• Theme: following Jesus often means that a Christian must suffer like Jesus did

The Son of God Became Man

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (the Son of God)” (Mk 1:1)

Mark stresses Jesus’ humanity throughout his Gospel.

Mark teaches that Jesus is the Son of God who assumed human nature.

Titles for Jesus in Mark’s Gospel

Christ—Messiah “anointed one”

Son of Man

Suffering Servant

Jesus was reluctant to reveal his identity because his concept of the “anointed one” was radically different from that of his people

and disciples.

Even suffering Christians can celebrate the Good News

because Jesus brings eternal life.

Overview of the Gospel of Matthew

• Date: sometime in the 80’s

• Author: Jewish scribe• Audience: Jewish

Christians• Theme: Jesus Christ—

Emmanuel (“God is with us”)—is the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament

Jesus as the New Moses

Matthew presents Jesus as the New Moses

His sermons reveal Jesus as a great teacher

Matthew strives to show that Jesus Christ fulfills all of God’s promises to the Chosen

People and through them to all people.

Overview of the Gospel of Luke

• Date: ~ 75-90 AD• Author: a Gentile

Christian with some attraction to Judaism; also wrote Acts of the Apostles; highly polished writing style

• Audience: largely Gentile Christians

• Theme: the city of Jerusalem is an important symbol; the drama of Salvation unfolds there

Jesus’ Message in Luke

Jesus Offers a Message of Joy

• Heart of Luke includes parables that highlight God’s forgiveness

• “I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents”

• Jesus’ compassion is a divine sign of healing love

Jesus Is for Everyone

• Jesus sought out people who were considered “outcasts”

• Jesus is everyone’s compassionate Savior

• We should allow Jesus to live in us so we can love everyone in imitation of our Lord

Historical Context of the NT

• The Romans were in charge of the Holy Land (they had been since 63 BCE.)

• Judah/Israel became a territory of the Roman Empire, then a province called Judea. It was ruled first by kings, then by governors (also called prefects or procurators.)– Herod the Great was king from 37-4 BCE– Pontius Pilate was governor beginning in 26 CE

• Jesus was probably born between 6 and 4 BCE.

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The Early Life of Christ

Mysterion: God’s saving plan unfolded in history

God who is mystery is the very same God who revealed himself in human history.

Everything about Jesus reveals God as infinitely loving and merciful.

The Annunciation

• The Annunciation is the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus.

• Mary’s “Yes” is event that makes Jesus’ incarnation possible.

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The Early Life of Christ

Birth of Jesus

• Matthew and Luke contain infancy narratives

• Highlight Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (foster father)

• Mary: a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit

• The stories reveal more about Jesus and his mission

Circumcision and Presentation in the Temple

• Jesus’ circumcision incorporated him into the Chosen People.

• Example of humility• Jesus is God’s only Son• Old prophets Simeon and

Anna recognize him as the Messiah.

The Early Life of ChristThe Magi, Flight into Egypt, and

Herod’s Slaughter of the Innocents

• The Epiphany celebrates the mystery of Christ’s manifestation as the Savior of the world.

• The Holy Family’s flight into Egypt reveals how God protected Him from evil.

Hidden Years

• Jesus lived a life of humble obedience in Nazareth.

• Contrasts with Adam’s disobedience

• Learned Jewish faith from his parents

• Jesus’ humility teaches us how to pray, live, and witness to our faith.

Followers of JesusHis life-giving words and marvelous deeds

inevitably drew disciples to him!

Call of the Twelve

Jesus selected the Twelve Apostles (from the word “send”) to assist him in

his work.

• Jesus chose the Apostles.

• Jesus taught on his own authority.

The Call of the Twelve

Jesus’ Public Life

Baptism by John the Baptist

• By his submission to John’s baptism, Jesus again displayed his humility.

• All Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity are Jesus in the scene.

Temptations in the Desert

• Satan tempted Jesus three times during his forty-day retreat in the desert.

• Foreshadowed his victory over sin and Satan

• True love often requires sacrifice.