GOSPELS, PROPHECIES, AND SCRIPTURES OH MY! ;)

{RECAP} The Evangelists wrote the Gospels because: 1. Eyewitnesses were dying 2. To keep the message accurate 3. The end of the world had not yet arrived (they thought it would come in their lifetime, but it didn’t)

4 SOURCE HYPOTHESIS OF THE GOSPELS The SOURCE HYPOTHESIS explains the “Synoptic Problem” showing Mark and 3 lost sources in addition to the Gospels themselves which informed their writings. The idea is that there were at least four sources to the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke: the Gospel of Mark and three lost sources: Q M-Source L source.L source

THE LOST SOURCES Q from German: Quelle, meaning "source“German collection of sayings of Jesus defined as the "common" material found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke but not in their other written source, the Gospel of Mark.JesusGospels of MatthewLukeGospel of Mark According to this hypothesis, this material was drawn from the Oral Tradition of the Early ChurchOral Tradition M-source, which is sometimes referred to as simply M, comes from the M in "Matthean material". Textual source for the Gospel of Matthew. Gospel of Matthew M-source is defined as that special material of the Gospel of Matthew that is neither Q-source or Mark.Gospel of MatthewQ-source L source is an inferred oral tradition that Luke used when composing his gospel. It includes the Virgin Birth of Christ and many of Jesus' best loved parables.Virgin Birth of Christ

GOSPEL COMPARISONS {RECAP} --MARK  Written around 65-70AD  Author: John Mark? A follower of Peter  Audience: Gentile Christians during persecution  Based on cultural context, likely lived in Rome, Syria, or Palestine

MARK- {CON’T} Theme Jesus is dea, betrayed, and all alone Jesus as the suffering Messiah Encourages suffering Christians to remain faithful to God Shows failure of disciples to have faith Sources: Oral tradition Collection of parables & saying of Jesus Miracle Stories Outline of Jesus’ Passion

GOSPEL COMPARISONS {RECAP} -- MATTHEW  Written around 70-90AD (likely the 80’s)  Author was a well educated Jew, perhaps a former Jewish scholar  Audience: Jewish Christians  Based on cultural cues, likely lived in Palestine, Syria, or Antioch

MATTHEW – {CON’T} Theme: Jesus as the fulfillment of Prophecy Jesus as the heir of David’s Kingdom Jesus as the new Moses – giving new laws Salvation is for everyone Judgment of God Sources Mark Q M

GOSPEL COMPARISONS {RECAP} --LUKE  Written around 85AD  Author was likely one of Paul’s companions, and an artist or physician  Audience: Gentile Christians and other outcasts  If he was Paul’s companion, he would have traveled extensively with Paul

LUKE – {CON’T} Theme: Salvation History (Israel, then Jesus, the then Church) Importance of Prayer God’s love is for everyone Sources: Mark Q L Mary?

GOSPEL COMPARISONS {RECAP} --JOHN  Written around 90AD  Author was a disciple of John “the beloved disciple”  Audience: A diverse community of Christians  Based on contextual cues, the author was a member of the Johanine community.

JOHN – {CON’T} Theme: Higher Christology Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus as recorded in the canonical Gospels and the epistles of the New Testament Jesus is the Eternal Word Jesus is the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE New creation in Christ Jesus as the new Paschal Lamb, new Passover, new Temple, new Judaism Sources: Johannine Tradition (NOT THE SYNOPTIC SOURCES!!! JOHN IS DIFFERENT!)

SCRIPTURE, DOCTRINE, AND TRADITION Read aloud in class and briefly discuss: Read at home: (be prepared for group work on this tomorrow) Munificentissimus Deus (Pope Pius XII)