1. 4TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT Department of Christian Education CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
The Rt. Rev. John R. Bryant, Presiding Bishop
and Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Reginald Blount, Director of Christian Education
The Rev. Ernest J. Garrison, Dean of Christian Education
The Rev. Anita Marshall-School Superintendent
The Rev. Walter R. Bauldrick, Host Presiding Elder, Milwaukee District
The Rev. Theonita Bedford, Director of Christian Education, Milwaukee District
Ernest J. Garrison, Facilitator

2. WHAT ARE THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS WHAT IS MEANT BY SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
WHAT ARE THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
WHAT IS MEANT BY SYNOPTIC
LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
V. WHY ISN’T JOHN SYNOPTIC
VI. SUMMARY
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3. WHAT ARE THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
WHAT ARE THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
Matthew, Mark and Luke are considered synoptic gospels.
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4. WHAT IS MEANT BY SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
WHAT IS MEANT BY SYNOPTIC
A. Pertaining to or constituting a synopsis; affording to taking a general view of the principal parts of a subject.
B. Taking a common view; used chiefly in reference to the first three gospels
C. Similarity in content, order, and statement
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5. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
A. MATTHEW
B. MARK
C. LUKE
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6. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS A. MATTHEW:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
A. MATTHEW:
The Gospel according to Matthew, one of Jesus hand
picked Apostles and a fellow Jew, presented a manual of
Christian teaching in which Jesus The Christ, is Lord of the
“Way” movement in Palestine. Matthew presented Jesus
as the King of King; meaning there is to be none other then
Jesus to reconcile man to GOD. However, he still invites
the world into Christianity after the Jewish Nation.
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7. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS A. MATTHEW:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
A. MATTHEW:
In Matthew’s Gospel, the writer continually gives illustrations
on the kingdom through David and the content references to
the Law of Moses and the conclusion of the promise that was
given to Abraham. He further presents Jesus as a Monarch
from the David lineage, suggesting divine authenticity of the
promise of Abraham and the continued Davidic reign of the
Jewish Nation through a birth narrative that links Jesus to
King David.
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8. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS B. MARK:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
B. MARK:
The Gospel according to Mark is commonly thought to have
been the first written Gospel in the New Testament.
The evangelist presents Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God
whose ministry was characterized by a succession of mighty
works which, to those who had eyes to see, were signs of the
presence of GOD’s power and kingdom.
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9. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS B. MARK:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
B. MARK:
The book of Mark presents Jesus as the “Suffering Servant”
in that Jesus made reference of himself as the “Son of Man”
who loves and serves to the point of death. One of Jesus
quotes that bring the theme to life is the 2nd Chapter, verse 9
& 10 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up you bed and walk’”. But
that you may know that the “Son of Man” has authority on
earth to forgive sins”.
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10. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS C. LUKE:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
C. LUKE:
Luke, although similar to Matthew and Mark; takes
another twist in theological thought by presenting
Jesus as the “Son of God” but not as a Jew, rather
as belonging to no ethnic group at all. He does
that by presenting a Divine Birth Narrative that is
independent of Joseph of the David lineage.
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11. III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS C. LUKE:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
III. LET’S LOOK AT THE AUTHORS
C. LUKE:
The Gospel according to Luke sets forth the words
and works of Jesus as the Divine Human Saviour,
whose compassion and tenderness extend to all
who were needy. The universal mission of Jesus
is emphasized in his mercy and acknowledgement
of women, gentles and the outcast.
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12. IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
Matthew Mark Luke
John the Baptist 3: : :
Baptism of Jesus
Temptation of Jesus 4: :
Healing of the Leper 8: :
Healing of the Paralytic 9: :
Healing the withered hand : : :
Parable of the Sower : : :
Feeding of the five thousand : : : 10-17
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13. IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
Matthew Mark Luke
Condition of discipleship 16: :34-9: : 23-27
The Transfiguration 17: :
Healing of the epileptic boy 17:
Dispute about the greatest 18:
Blessing of children 19: : : 15-17
Triumphant Entry 21: : : 28-38
Cleaning of the Temple 21:
Jesus authority questioned 21: : 1-8
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14. IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
Matthew Mark Luke
Destruction of the Temple 24: : : 5-7
Signs of Parousia 24: :
Parable of the Fig Tree
Conspiracy against Jesus 26: : : 1- 2
Betrayal of Jesus
Preparation of the Passover
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
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15. IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC Matthew Mark Luke
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
IV. WHAT MAKES THEM SYNOPTIC
Matthew Mark Luke
Jesus in Gethsemane 26: : : 40-46
Jesus arrest
Jesus before Pilate 27: : : 1-25
The Crucifixion
Burial of Jesus
Resurrection 28: : : 1-12
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16. V. WHY ISN’T JOHN SYNOPTIC
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
V. WHY ISN’T JOHN SYNOPTIC
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN PRESENTS THE THEME LOGOS, WHICH MEANS “THE WORD BECOMING FLESH”. IT PUTS MORE EMPHASIS ON THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAN THE PERSONA OF GOD. THIS PRESENTS A CONCEPT THAT OTHERS CAN BECOME SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD AND THAT ALL THE THINGS JESUS DID, CAN BE DONE BY US. THIS CONCEPT IS NOT SHARED BY THE OTHER GOSPEL WRITERS.
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17. The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
The authors of the three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, were all intent on the same basic task. They were interested in sharing the stories of Jesus which were circulating in both oral and written forms into a continuous narrative. Those narratives portrayed the life and ministry of Jesus in order to aid early Christians both in strengthening their own faith and as a resource for their missionary preaching and teaching.
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18. The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
Each writer shaped the narrative development of his Gospel so that as he told the story of Jesus, he caused it to address concerns which were current to his community. The narrative story of Jesus invited its hearers to become participants in the story. That’s the way stories function, especially in an oral culture. As the Christian students of the writer entered into his story of Jesus, the students gained new insight into the scope and significance of the issues which were problematic in their Christian community; and ours today.
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19. WHAT DOES SYNOPTIC MEAN? NAME THE GOSPELS THAT ARE SYNOPTSIS?
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Board of Christian Education Church School Certification Training THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
V. S U M M A R Y
WHAT DOES SYNOPTIC MEAN?
NAME THE GOSPELS THAT ARE SYNOPTSIS?
WHAT GOSPEL IS NOT SYNOPTIC?
HOW MANY SYNOPTIC GOSPELS ARE THERE?
HOW MANY GOSPELS ARE THERE?
NAME AN EVENT THAT WAS SYNOPTSIS?
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