1. The reliability of the Gospels
Lecture 3
The reliability of the Gospels

2. Vocabulary
Synoptic gospels -

3. Vocabulary Synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark, & Luke
many of the same stories, often in the same sequence, and sometimes the exact same wording.

4. The Gospels and what the skeptic might say
They were written too long after Jesus’ ministry and are filled with religious superstition added in by Christians over time.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John were written by other, later, authors.
Cant be trusted.
Have you ever played the game “telephone”?

5. The Gospels and what the skeptic might say don’t write this slide
Thomas Jefferson’s Bible
Cut gospels up to emphasize morals of Jesus, getting rid of silly religious stuff.
Cut out miracles.
“I have performed this operation for my own use, by cutting verse by verse out of the printed book, and arranging the matter which is evidently his [Jesus’], and which is as easily distinguishable as diamonds in a dunghill.”

6. The Gospels and what the skeptic might say don’t write this slide
Thomas Jefferson’s Bible
Cut gospels up to emphasize morals of Jesus, getting rid of silly religious stuff.
Cut out miracles.
The work ends with the words: “Now, in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus. And rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”

8. The Gospels and what the skeptic might say
They were written long after Jesus’ ministry and are therefore filled with religious nonsense added in by Christians.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John were written by other, later, authors.
Cant be trusted.
Read 26-31

9. The Gospels Who were the four writers of the gospels? How do we know?
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John

10. The Gospels Who were the four writers of the gospels? How do we know?
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Answer:
Who would forge the names of 2 guys who didn’t know Jesus and the name of guy most hated second only to Judas of Jesus’ disciples? No one.

11. The Gospels
When were these gospels written? Were they only written after so much time had passed that legend and myth had developed around Jesus?
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John

12. The Gospels
When were these gospels written? Were they only written after so much time had passed that legend and myth had developed around Jesus?
Matthew – 80s AD (or 60s)
Mark - 70s AD (or 50s)
Luke – 80s AD (or early 60s)
John – 90s AD (or 80s)

13. The Gospels
When were these gospels written? Were they only written after so much time had passed that legend and myth had developed around Jesus?
Matthew – 80s AD
Mark - 70s AD
Luke – 80s AD
John – 90s AD
This is all within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses or shortly after their martyrdoms, and within 50 or so years of the life of Christ.

15. Are the Gospels based on one another?

16. Are the Gospels based on one another?

17. Are the Gospels based on one another?
Q is defined as the "common" material found in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark
mostly sayings of Jesus. Read 31-34

18. What is the gospel of Q?
The Gospel of Q is a hypothetical body of sayings or teachings attributed to Christ which are found in Matthew and Luke but not so much in Mark. Some scholars have theorized that Matthew and Luke constructed their gospel out of Mark’s basic outline and then added the Q sayings to fill out the teaching aspect. It is not really another gospel per se, but a set of source materials and oral traditions that would have naturally existed at the time.

19. What is the gospel of Q?
The Gospel of Q is a hypothetical body of sayings or teachings attributed to Christ which are found in Matthew and Luke but not so much in Mark. Some scholars have theorized that Matthew and Luke constructed their gospel out of Mark’s basic outline and then added the Q sayings to fill out the teaching aspect. It is not really another gospel per se, but a set of source materials and oral traditions that would have naturally existed at the time.
The Q materials do not contradict the Mark materials, or change the picture of Christ. They are in harmony.
It only makes sense that the other evangelists would check their story line against Mark’s gospel, considered by them as faithful to Peter’s witness. Peter was the leader and one of the most intimate disciples to Christ.

20. The Gospels and what the skeptic might say
The Gospels are based on each other and on other sources that are not considered scripture.
Why would eyewitnesses “copy”?
Answer: Some eyewitnesses are closer to the source
Peter closer to Jesus than Matthew

22. What about John? Very different from others
Jesus clearly portrayed as God.
Why not so much in other gospels?
Read pg 34-42

24. The message of the Gospels
In addition, we know the main events were accepted long before:
1st Corinthians (55AD) 15: 3-8:

25. The message of the Gospels
In addition, we know the main events were accepted long before:
1st Corinthians (55AD) 15: 3-8: 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.