The Four Gospels An Overview

1. The Four Gospels An Overview Deacon Peter Hodsdon St. James Parish

2. Opening Prayer Christ, Son of God, the Father’s favor rested on you and he commanded us to listen to you. Give us the gift of understanding, so that we may contemplate your word and experience its gentle power. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3. What We’ll Cover Tonight • What are the Gospels? Why four? • When were they written? • By who? To whom? • The synoptic Gospels • Major themes of each Gospel • The passion narratives • The resurrection narratives • Recommendations for reading

4. Definition of a Gospel • God-Spiel, “good tidings”, Anglo-Saxon • Euangelion, “to announce good news”, Greek • “Good” – a point of view • “News” – fresh, current, pay attention • Named for an influential person in the respective community of origin • Apostolic origin – relying on eye witnesses • Inspired by the Holy Spirit

5. Portraits of Jesus – will the real Jesus please stand up? • The actual Jesus • Exact dates of birth and death • What he looked like, his health, clothes, money • Details about his family and community • The historical Jesus • Eliminate all interpretation and development that happened between Jesus’ life and the gospels • A minimalist, scientific investigation • The Gospel Jesus • A portrait painted by a specific evangelist

6. Stages of Gospel Formation • Public ministry of Jesus (30-33 AD) • The raw “Jesus material” as remembered by his companions • Locked in time and place (Palestine) • Apostolic preaching about Jesus (33-65 AD) • Proclamation of Jesus with post-resurrection eyes • Missionary preaching by apostles and students • Written Gospels (65-100 AD) • Authors unlikely to have been eye witnesses • Evangelists shape, develop, prune the transmitted Jesus material to suit a purpose • Logical, not chronological, order prevails

7. So what are the Gospels? • They are not biographies, nor histories, nor do they claim to be eye witness accounts • The authors want to interpret Jesus, not simply repeat him • So, even though Matthew and Luke use Mark, they will change Mark’s version to better suit their readers’ needs • They are more like religious advertisements, written to preach Jesus, to sell salvation to their community

8. Why Four Gospels? • Eye witness accounts vary in detail • Distinct perspectives color each account • Theology pulls them together • Resist making a stew – Hollywood error • Assignment – Write the gospel according to you • What do you include? Who are you writing to? • Which source is your favorite?

9. Chronology

10. Who Are These Guys? • Mark • Tradition ties him to the Mark mentioned in Acts and Paul’s letters (Col, Philemon, 2Tim) • “My son Mark” – 1Pt 5:13 – same Mark? • If so, Mark records what Peter taught and preached about Jesus • Matthew • Tradition ties him to Matthew, the apostle and tax collector • Current scholars – no, he was a second generation Jewish Christian • Why this theory? Because he uses 90% of Mark – why would an eye witness rely on someone who wasn’t? • Also, author has strong command of Greek and a rabbinic background

11. Who Are These Guys? • Luke • Tradition ties him to Paul (Col 4:14), the “beloved physician” • Acts 16:10ff – author switches to “we”, traveling with Paul • Gentile, well-educated, superb author • John • Tradition ties him to the Apostle John • Current scholars – no, but definitely based on eye witness account, perhaps of the Beloved Disciple, who is? • Multiple authors likely (esp. Prologue and Post-Resurrection accounts)

12. Gospel Communities • Mark: Gentile Christians, under persecution, probably in Rome • Matthew: Jewish Christians, debating the law, probably in Antioch • Luke: Gentile Christians, wealthy urban Greeks, probably in Greece • John: Jewish Christians, under persecution, probably in Syria

13. Jesus’ First Public Act • Mark - driving the demon from the man in the synagogue (Mk 1:21-28) • Matthew – the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5) • Luke – the Isaiah proclamation (Lk 4:16-30) • John – the wedding at Cana (Jn 2:1-12) • Each action tells us something about the community the writer was addressing

14. Synoptic Gospels • Synoptic: “Same eye” • Mark provides basic outline • Over 90% of Mark is re-used by Matt and Lk • Matthew adds genealogy, infancy narrative (focus on Joseph), Sermon on the Mount, and many OT connections • Luke adds genealogy, infancy narrative (focus on Mary), parables of the lost, some unique Passion/Resurrection material

15. Synoptic Gospel Sources “Q” MARK MATTHEW LUKE “M” “L” Matthew’s source Luke’s source

16. Who is this Jesus? Marcheschi, G., Catholic Bible, Personal Study Edition, 1995

17. Major themes by gospel • Mark • The identity of Jesus • The importance of the cross • Discipleship • Matthew • Jesus fulfills the OT prophecy • Jesus identifies with the lowly • Jesus is the world’s savior, not just Israel’s Marcheschi, G., Catholic Bible, Personal Study Edition, 1995

18. Major themes by gospel • Luke • Salvation is a joyous surprise • Salvation is offered to everyone • Jesus identifies with the lowly • Mary is the first disciple • John • The role of “signs” in building faith • Struggle between forces of light and darkness • Faith in Jesus necessary for eternal life • Jesus is the divine Son of God Marcheschi, G., Catholic Bible, Personal Study Edition, 1995

19. Gospel Similarities • Preaching of John the Baptist • Call of the first disciples • Cleansing of the Temple • Feeding of the five thousand • The entry into Jerusalem These are the only common stories prior to the Passion – which mostly illustrates the unique quality of John’s gospel

20. The Passion Narratives • The Passion is 1/3rd of Mark’s Gospel • The last 24 hours of Jesus is 1/6th of the Gospels • Many more similarities, but some key differences • For example, which women are at the foot of the cross? • Only one common to all: Mary Magdalene • Was Jesus’ mother Mary there? Only in John!

21. Passion Similarities – all 4 gospels • The betrayal by Judas • Peter’s denial predicted • The betrayal and arrest of Jesus • Peter denies Jesus • Jesus before Pilate • Jesus mocked by the soldiers • Jesus sentenced to death • The Crucifixion and burial of Jesus • The Resurrection of Jesus

22. Unique perspectives – the Passion • Mark • Basic outline used by Luke and Matthew • Significance of threes: predictions of death, sleeping disciples, prayers to the Father, denials of Peter, three crosses • Matthew • More detail on betrayal – Judas makes a deal • Death of Judas (Mt 27:3-10) contrast to Acts 1:18 • The guard at the tomb

23. Unique perspectives – the Passion • Luke • Sweating blood • Healing the ear of the high priest’s slave • Jesus brought before Herod • The good thief on the cross • John • No agony in the garden, kiss of Judas • Truth – what is truth? Pilate debates Jesus • No Simon of Cyrene • Jesus hands over his spirit – in control

24. The Resurrection Narratives • Mark, Chapter 16 • Brief, ends in bewilderment and fear of disciples (verses 1-8) • Was original lost? • In second century, a new ending appears (verses 9-20), clearly a different author • A commissioning and the ascension

25. The Resurrection Narratives • Matthew, Chapter 28 • Follows Mark, but adds considerable detail • Rather than bewildered and afraid, the disciples are “fearful yet overjoyed” • Adds the report of the guard, and Jewish reaction that the body was stolen by the disciples • Commissioning of disciples as in Mark, with added baptismal formula • No ascension narrative

26. The Resurrection Narratives • Luke, Chapter 24 – A busy day • As in Mark, women are first to discover the empty tomb. They are not afraid, but are disbelieved. • Road to Emmaus – first account of Jesus’ appearance, to Cleopas and ? • Appearance to disciples in Jerusalem – Jesus eats food, opens their minds, foretells the coming of the Spirit • Ascension – the disciples are full of joy and return to Jerusalem and the temple

27. The Resurrection Narratives • John, Chapters 20 and 21 • Seems to fuse Matthew and Luke versions in 20, v1-10 • Appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden • Appears to Disciples (no Thomas) and confers forgiveness of sins, Holy Spirit • Appears to Disciples (with Thomas) • Chapter 21: Epilogue – different writer? • Jesus on the seashore, commissioning of Peter, link of beloved disciple to gospel narrative

28. Recommendations for Reading • Pheme Perkins, Reading the New Testament • Raymond E. Brown, The Churches the Apostles Left Behind • Burton Throckmorton, ed., Gospel Parallels • Commentaries of note • William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible • Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament • Bergant & Karris, The Collegeville Bible Commentary

29. Copy of Presentation • Download from www.dcnpeterh.com • Both Powerpoint and PDF versions will be there

30. Closing Prayer We thank you and bless you, Lord our God. In times past you spoke in many varied ways through the prophets, but in this, the final age, you have spoken through your Son to reveal to all nations the riches of your grace. May we who have met to ponder the Scriptures be filled with the knowledge of your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and may we bear fruit in every good work. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.