Life of ChristLife of ChristA Study of the GospelsA Study of the Gospels

Luke’s purpose Luke’s purpose for writing a for writing a

gospelgospel

Section 1Section 1

1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accom-plished among us …

• Many written accounts of the life & Many written accounts of the life & teachings of Jesus were circulating at the time teachings of Jesus were circulating at the time of Luke’s writing.of Luke’s writing.

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1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, …

• Luke scientifically investigated the written Luke scientifically investigated the written and oral (eye-witness) traditions carefully.and oral (eye-witness) traditions carefully.

• Luke was not an eyewitness of the events Luke was not an eyewitness of the events of Christ’s life. of Christ’s life.

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• Gospel comes from the Greek wordGospel comes from the Greek wordeuvaggeli,a euvaggeli,a (eu-angelia)(eu-angelia)

euv euv = good= good

aggeli,a aggeli,a = news, message= news, message

• Each of the ‘gospels’ — Matthew, Mark, Each of the ‘gospels’ — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — is a message of good Luke, and John — is a message of good news. news.

What is a gospel?What is a gospel? 33

• There There are no originals left.are no originals left.

• Traditional authorship is accepted Traditional authorship is accepted becausebecause

1.1. No evidence to the contrary No evidence to the contrary

2.2. All the church fathers accepted themAll the church fathers accepted them

3.3. It is reasonable (e.g., we do not have It is reasonable (e.g., we do not have originals for Homer, Plato, Aristotle, etc., originals for Homer, Plato, Aristotle, etc., but we accept their authorship.)but we accept their authorship.)

Authorship of the GospelsAuthorship of the Gospels 44

• The three synoptic gospels are The three synoptic gospels are Matthew, Mark, LukeMatthew, Mark, Luke

• Greek Greek sunoptiko,jsunoptiko,j = sun-optikos = sun-optikos

sun sun = with= with

optikojoptikoj = to see = to see

• DefinitionDefinition: : seeing the whole together, seeing the whole together, taking a comprehensive viewtaking a comprehensive view

The Synoptic GospelsThe Synoptic Gospels 55

Shared material in SynopticsShared material in Synoptics 55

John

Luke

Mark

Matthew

UniqueShared

42%58%

7%93%

59%41%

92%8%

Themes of the GospelsThemes of the Gospels

• None of the Gospels None of the Gospels are purely are purely biographical biographical (intending to trace (intending to trace the life of a person the life of a person from beginning to from beginning to end). All are end). All are thematic treatises. thematic treatises.

Matthew: Jesus, the King of Matthew: Jesus, the King of the Jewsthe Jews• Promised Messiah, King of the Jews – Promised Messiah, King of the Jews –

see his credentials see his credentials – Genealogy beginning with Abraham (Jew) Genealogy beginning with Abraham (Jew)

through David (King)through David (King)– Uses ‘kingdom’ 56x; ‘kingdom of heaven’ Uses ‘kingdom’ 56x; ‘kingdom of heaven’

32x; ‘son of David’ 10x32x; ‘son of David’ 10x– Devotes more space than any other gospel Devotes more space than any other gospel

to the words of Christ – His teaching.to the words of Christ – His teaching.– Perhaps an example of proving Jesus is Perhaps an example of proving Jesus is

Messiah from OT. 50+ direct quotations Messiah from OT. 50+ direct quotations from the OTfrom the OT

Mark: Jesus, the Servant of Mark: Jesus, the Servant of GodGod• Focuses on Focuses on JesusJesus’ service–a man of action ’ service–a man of action

– no mention of the birth accountno mention of the birth account

– ‘‘immediately’ occurs 41ximmediately’ occurs 41x

• Appears to be written Appears to be written toto Gentile audience, Gentile audience, traditionally regarded as written to the Romans.traditionally regarded as written to the Romans.– Clement of Alexandria in Eusebius affirms Clement of Alexandria in Eusebius affirms

– Translation of Aramaic expressions (5:41, 7:3-4)Translation of Aramaic expressions (5:41, 7:3-4)

– Explanations of Jewish customs (7:3-4)Explanations of Jewish customs (7:3-4)

• Key verse: Mark 10:45 “Key verse: Mark 10:45 “For even the son of man For even the son of man came not to be served, but to be servedcame not to be served, but to be served.”.”

Luke: Jesus, the Son of Luke: Jesus, the Son of ManMan• Focuses on the humanity of JesusFocuses on the humanity of Jesus

– It is from Luke that we learn of Jesus’s It is from Luke that we learn of Jesus’s hunger, tiredness, thirst, and so onhunger, tiredness, thirst, and so on

• Purpose of LukePurpose of Luke: so that Theophilus might : so that Theophilus might know for certain the things he had heardknow for certain the things he had heard

John: Jesus, the Son of God

• John focuses on the deity of JesusJohn focuses on the deity of Jesus

Origin of the SynopticsOrigin of the Synoptics

Two Document Theory (Incorrect View)Two Document Theory (Incorrect View)

1.1. ProponentsProponents

• Liberals (Bible not-inspired, new Liberals (Bible not-inspired, new birth not necessary)birth not necessary)

• Evangelicals Evangelicals

• Conservative = Bible inspired, new Conservative = Bible inspired, new birth necessarybirth necessary

• Liberal = Bible not inspired; new birth Liberal = Bible not inspired; new birth necessarynecessary

Two Document Theory con’tTwo Document Theory con’t

2.2. Content of ViewContent of View

a.a.Mark was written first; Matt. & Luke Mark was written first; Matt. & Luke borrowed from Mark.borrowed from Mark.

• 661 verses in Mark661 verses in Mark

• 606 occur in some form in Matthew606 occur in some form in Matthew

• 380 occur in some form in Luke380 occur in some form in Luke

• Only 30 unique Markan versesOnly 30 unique Markan verses

b.b.Matthew & Luke get the rest of their Matthew & Luke get the rest of their material from an unknown source (Q)material from an unknown source (Q)

• Q = Q = quellequelle; German word for ‘source’; German word for ‘source’

3.3. Problems with this ViewProblems with this ViewMatthew was an eye-witness of Matthew was an eye-witness of most of what his gospel records. most of what his gospel records. Why would he need to copy Mark?Why would he need to copy Mark?

Two Document Theory con’t

Origin of the SynopticsOrigin of the Synoptics

Independent Authorship ViewIndependent Authorship View

1.1. Sources for the SynopticsSources for the Synoptics

• Matthew: wrote based on eye-witness Matthew: wrote based on eye-witness experiences; material from prior to experiences; material from prior to conversion taken from oral or written conversion taken from oral or written recordsrecords

• Mark: received material from Peter Mark: received material from Peter according to Papiasaccording to Papias

• Luke: research written and oral sourcesLuke: research written and oral sources

Independent Authorship con’tIndependent Authorship con’t

2.2. Theological basis for this Theological basis for this viewview

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would bring all things to their remembrancebring all things to their remembrance

John 12:16John 12:16 These things His disciples did not These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.done these things to Him.

Independent Authorship con’tIndependent Authorship con’t

John 14:26John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.remembrance all that I said to you.

John 16:13John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. you what is to come. 1414 "He will glorify Me, for "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Order of CompositionOrder of Composition

• Augustine (c. AD 400)Augustine (c. AD 400)

– First to express an opinion on the First to express an opinion on the literary order of the Synopticsliterary order of the Synoptics

– Matthew Matthew Mark Mark Luke Luke

– Augustine did not postulate Augustine did not postulate interdependence in authorship; merely interdependence in authorship; merely awarenessawareness