Gospels: Part 1

What about the Truth of the Gospels?  Background of the 4 Gospels 1.Mark 2.Mathew 3.John 4.Luke Q1 Why are there differences? Q1 Why are there differences? Q2 Why are there ‘contradictions’? Q2 Why are there ‘contradictions’? -> Haiti and me. -> Haiti and me.

Overview  The four gospels were written between  They were written by four very different people. They came from different backgrounds, but all wrote in Greek.  We have copies that can be traced to sometime in the 300s or slightly before.

Thus the 4 Gospels are divided into:  The synoptic gospels: Mathew, Mark Luke  John.  Many biblical scholars believe that the synoptic gospels are based on a unknown document called the “Q” document.

If 4 people were to write your story:  One was a school friend. (someone you only saw at school).  One was a neighbor or friend you only saw outside of school.  One was a teacher  And One was a parent.  Write on the sheet, a few words that each might say about you.

So the four points of view are not the same, but all true.  Likewise four very different people wrote about Jesus. They saw him from different personal histories and different points of view.  To help you read the four Gospels, we are going to explore the four writers.

One author provides the following descriptions.  One Gospel portrays a ‘rebel’- Short and sweet. Rome compared to Jesus.  One Gospel presents a ‘rabbi’- Longer. Jewish compared to Jesus.  One Gospel is more a chronicler- Most detailed, Greek compared to Jesus  One Gospel is mystic or shows the poetic side. (The out of this world side of Jesus). Man compared to God part of Jesus.

If you are feeling rebellious:  Read Mark.  Mark, likely a Gallian, is the shortest and written by an Aramaic writer.

If you are feeling studious:  Get the story from the rabbi or teacher.  Matthew presents sermons by Jesus.

If you want a more biographical view:  Read Luke.  His was a sponsored study and he worked to get the facts straight.  (Note Acts is part 2 of Luke). They are closely related and are likely to been one book at some point.

Lastly if you really want the supernatural Jesus:  Read John.  His goal is to provide the most spiritual view of Jesus.

Using the handout decide which passages belong to each group:  Mark- Rebel- Rome compared to Jesus  Matthew Rabbi- Jewish compared to Jesus  Luke Chronicler- Greek compared to Jesus  John Mystic- Man compared to God

In summary:  Do you see how the difference in the background and objective of each person puts a different spin on the Gospel story?  Thus, we should not expect every event to be recorded exactly the same.

Q1 Why are there differences between the 4 Gospels?  Because they were written by four different people to four different audiences.  The four Gospels all tell the story about Jesus. But they don’t all have the same point of view or the same secondary objectives. Thus, they ‘flesh out’ or expand our idea of Jesus.  Jesus was not a one-dimensional person. He was a real person with a complex personality. To try to simplify everything to ‘make it easy’ is wrong.

Q2 Why are there ‘contradictions’?  I disagree. I don’t think there are any contradictions. The four Gospels present four different points of view of one person.  The Gospels are also were written to provide an account of a story. They were not written to record history, but to provide hope and salvation to us.

 Mark 2  The Paralytic Healed  1When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home.  2And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.  3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.  4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 

From Luke 5  17One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.  18 And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.  19But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 

So the difference in descriptions of the roofs have been commented on.  1) The roof could have had dirt and tiles.  2) What type of roof the building has is irrelevant to the story.  3) Where was Mark from? What type of roofs do they have there?  Where was Luke from? What type of roofs to they have there?

Mark 2  5And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  6But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,  7"Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?"  8Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?  9"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?  10"But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic,  11"I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home."  12And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “ We have never seen anything like this."

The differences are not in the spiritual realm, but extraneous details.  To some, any differences are fatal.  But the differences mean the stories came from two separate sources.  What did they both confirm? Jesus forgave the person’s sins. Then to prove that point, he healed him.

Thus, we need to understand what the Gospels are and are not:  1) They are not designed or written to be a history book.  2) They are not a newspaper or CNN. -Need to be careful about taking the Bible too literally. -1) But they do confirm Jesus did miracles. -2) They offer incredibly deep theological concepts and principles.

In summary:  To many people have a child’s view of the Gospels: Either it’s all literally true or false. Both people on the right and left get messed up on this.  A more mature and sophisticated view is:  The Gospels present a unique story of God visiting humans. Miracles happen. Sins are forgiven and the dead are raised.

To me personally,  The Gospels provide a way of life.  They answer the question: What is the most important thing you are going to do in your life?  But they also introduce a relationship- a personal relationship that I need to rely on: a relationship with Jesus.

Haiti

What should I do?  1) FFP has a 1 week trip to Haiti. You go and help in the hospital.  2) Give money equal to the trip.  What advice to you give me? Which should I do?  Kristin: We do have lot’s of people coming down and we do need the money, but more people are good too.

Hospital Recovery Area

What about the Truth of the Gospels?  Background of the 4 Gospels 1.Mark 2.Mathew 3.John 4.Luke Q1 Why are there differences? Q1 Why are there differences? Q2 Why are there ‘contradictions’? Q2 Why are there ‘contradictions’? Q3 How accurate are they compared to other sources? Q3 How accurate are they compared to other sources?