©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 6 The Gospels: Form and Purpose

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Key Topics/Themes The similarity of the Synoptic Gospels The uniqueness of the Gospel of John The diverse views about Jesus presented in the New Testament Gospels

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Introduction Similarities between the Synoptic Gospels The uniqueness of the Gospel of John

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Gospels and Modern Scholarship Discrepancies between Gospel accounts The Gospel authors’ selective use of preexisting traditions about Jesus Gospel of John written to provide theological interpretation of Jesus’ life Difficulty in distinguishing between historical record and theological interpretation in the Gospels

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Assumptions and Approaches False dilemma about the Bible presented by fundamentalism: either –Bible is completely inerrant and totally accurate factually, or –Bible is worthless as source of religious inspiration

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Assumptions and Approaches (cont’d.) The value of the historical-critical approach to the Gospels Inability of historical-critical approach to verify Gospels’ theological claims about Jesus

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Synoptic Problem Evidence of the triple tradition –Matthew, Mark, Luke Evidence of the double tradition –Matthew and Luke

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Two-Document Theory MK MT Q LK

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education From Oral Preaching to Written Gospel Oral period –Development of the kerygma (proclamation) –Growth and adaption of the kerygma in various Christian centers in Mediterranean world Form criticism –Pericopes –Sitz im leben (life-setting)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Q (Source) Document Collection of Jesus’ sayings Collected ca C.E. Found in Matthew and Luke Portrays Jesus as itinerant prophet and wisdom teacher

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Composition of the Canonical Gospels Mark the inventor of the Gospel genre Gospel authors –Names of Gospels not original with authors –Added years later by early Church

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Matthew’s Gospel Sources –Mark –Q –M –Wrote to present Jesus as new Moses –Presents Jesus as teacher of the Mosaic Torah

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Luke’s Gospel Sources –Mark –Q –L Jesus as turning point in Israel’s history Jesus brings salvation to Jews and Gentiles Holy Spirit empowers Church to continue Jesus’ work

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Griesbach Theory MT LK MK

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Griesbach Theory (cont’d.) Mark a conflation and abridgement of Matthew and Luke William Farmer an important proponent Not accepted by most scholars

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Gospel of John Last gospel to attain canonical status Presents Jesus teaching in long, philosophical monologues Venerates Jesus himself rather than his teachings Of doubtful historical value according to many scholars

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Literary Analysis of the Gospels Gospels studied as literature, with setting, characters, dialog, plot, etc. Redaction criticisim –Authors adapt their source materials for theological purposes –Matthew and Luke alter their Markan source

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Narrative Criticism Emphasis on ways Gospels are constructed Important factors: –Point of view from which story is told –Author’s implied attitude toward characters or reader –Use of geographical details to convey author’s intent

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education A Composite Portrait of Jesus Significance of four Gospels rather than one Early Church unwilling to promote single, “official” version of Gospel story Indicative of great diversity in early Christianity

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Summary Best to interpret each Gospel as independent work Need to see each Gospel’s unique contribution to New Testament portrayal of Jesus Unwise to attempt to harmonize accounts Rich diversity of early Christianity