REFERENCE POINTS New Testament

Contents of the New Testament Four Gospels—four accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Book of Acts Paul’s letters Letters attributed to Paul, but were written by Paul’s disciples Book of Revelation

Dates of Authorship Four Gospels—four accounts of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Mark66-70 CE Matthew80-85 CE Luke and Acts85-90 CE John90-95 CE

30 to 50 CE What Happened from Jesus’ death to the writing of the first Gospel?  Oral preaching about Jesus by Aramaic speaking disciples  In Galilee, Samaria, Judea  Formation of the first Christian community at Jerusalem  Leaders were Peter, John, and James  A second major Christian community formed in Antioch (Syria)  Paul’s conversion CE

Oral Proclamation When the preachers ventured into Greek territory, they had to change language, and sometimes re- interpret for people who were not Palestinian and not rural; Jesus parable of the laborer sowing seeds ultimately transformed into an allegory illustrating the preachers’ experience in the Hellenistic world where they were sometimes welcomed, often rejected, and occasionally persecuted (Mark 4)

Extreme Fluidity Until something is put in writing, it is adapted and altered Scholars have learned from studying the growth of oral traditions in different cultures around the globe, transmitting stories to new audiences inevitably produces variations in phrases and emphasis, so the speaker adapts them

Oral Traditions constantly change For example Mark: ‘he who is not against us is for us’ (Mark 9:40) Matthew: ‘he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters’ (Matt. 12:30) Luke: uses both 7:50 and 11:23

Evolving Story of Jesus Like other storytellers in the Greco-Roman world, early Christians probably gave public performances narrating tales about the healer prophet from Galilee, that grew and developed with each recitation

40 to 60 CE Missionary tours of Paul and followers Establishment of Christian communities of Gentiles and Greeks

Martyrs CE James the apostle beheaded by Herod Agrippa I John? 62 CEJames, ‘brother’ of Jesus killed 64-65Peter killed under Nero

66 CE Jewish Revolt against Rome CE Mark writes “wartime” gospel, comparing Jesus’ suffering to persecution of Christians 70 CE Roman destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, and Christian community there

80-90 CE Matthew and Luke compose their works, based on Mark and a Greek collection of Jesus’s sayings

“Gospel” From the Greek meaning “good news” Authors of the the Gospels are Evangelists Synoptic Gospels, read together with “one eye” are Mark, Matthew and Luke

Theology not History All the Evangelists were convinced that Jesus was not an ordinary figure of history, but a person of supernatural abilities whose teachings and sacrificial death had the power to confer salvation and immortality on those who believed in him.

Attributes of the Gospels Parable, a signature style of Jesus’ teaching  It means “placing beside” or to compare  Usually takes the form of a brief fictional narrative Aphorisms  Terse, quotable statement (one-liners)  For example, “The Sabbath was made for the sake of man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 Pericopes  A literary unit like a saying or parable  A building block for the whole Gospel

Dates of Paul’s Letters 1 Thessalonians50 CE 2 Thessalonians*50 CE 1 and 2 Corinthians54-55 CE Romans56-57 CE Colossians*61 CE Philippians61 CE Philemon62 CE *possibly authored by someone other than Paul

Epistle A formal letter intended for a wide public audience rather than for a specific group or individual

Dates of Pseudonymous Letters Hebrews85-95 CE 1 Peter85-95 CE Ephesians85-95 CE James85-95 CE 1 and 2 Timothy CE Titus CE Jude CE 2 Peter CE

Date of Authorship of Revelation Revelation composed by John of Patmos95 CE

kerygma Greek ‘proclamation’ Publicly preaching the Christian message, particularly to Greece and Rome