Life of Christ A Study of the Gospels. Luke’s purpose for writing a gospel Section 1.

Life of ChristA Study of the Gospels

Lukes purpose for writing a gospelSection 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 & teachings of Jesus were circulating at the time of Lukes writing.1

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 and oral (eye-witness) traditions carefully.Luke was not an eyewitness of the events of Christs life. 2

Gospel comes from the Greek word euvaggeli,a (eu-angelia)euv = good aggeli,a = news, message Each of the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is a message of good news. What is a gospel?3

There are no originals left.Traditional authorship is accepted becauseNo evidence to the contrary All the church fathers accepted themIt is reasonable (e.g., we do not have originals for Homer, Plato, Aristotle, etc., but we accept their authorship.) Authorship of the Gospels4

The three synoptic gospels are Matthew, Mark, LukeGreek sunoptiko,j = sun-optikossun = withoptikoj = to see Definition: seeing the whole together, taking a comprehensive view The Synoptic Gospels5

Shared material in Synoptics5

Themes of the GospelsNone of the Gospels are purely biographical (intending to trace the life of a person from beginning to end). All are thematic treatises.

Matthew: Jesus, the King of the JewsPromised Messiah, King of the Jews see his credentials Genealogy beginning with Abraham (Jew) through David (King)Uses kingdom 56x; kingdom of heaven 32x; son of David 10xDevotes more space than any other gospel to the words of Christ His teaching.Perhaps an example of proving Jesus is Messiah from OT. 50+ direct quotations from the OT

Mark: Jesus, the Servant of GodFocuses on Jesus servicea man of action no mention of the birth accountimmediately occurs 41xAppears to be written to Gentile audience, traditionally regarded as written to the Romans.Clement of Alexandria in Eusebius affirms Translation of Aramaic expressions (5:41, 7:3-4)Explanations of Jewish customs (7:3-4)Key verse: Mark 10:45 For even the son of man came not to be served, but to be served.

Luke: Jesus, the Son of ManFocuses on the humanity of JesusIt is from Luke that we learn of Jesuss hunger, tiredness, thirst, and so onPurpose of Luke: so that Theophilus might know for certain the things he had heard

John: Jesus, the Son of GodJohn focuses on the deity of Jesus

Origin of the SynopticsTwo Document Theory (Incorrect View)ProponentsLiberals (Bible not-inspired, new birth not necessary)Evangelicals Conservative = Bible inspired, new birth necessaryLiberal = Bible not inspired; new birth necessary

Two Document Theory cont2.Content of Viewa.Mark was written first; Matt. & Luke borrowed from Mark.661 verses in Mark606 occur in some form in Matthew380 occur in some form in LukeOnly 30 unique Markan verses

b.Matthew & Luke get the rest of their material from an unknown source (Q)Q = quelle; German word for source

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

Two Document Theory cont

Origin of the SynopticsIndependent Authorship ViewSources for the SynopticsMatthew: wrote based on eye-witness experiences; material from prior to conversion taken from oral or written recordsMark: received material from Peter according to PapiasLuke: research written and oral sources

Independent Authorship cont2.Theological basis for this view Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would bring all things to their remembranceJohn 12:16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

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

John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Order of CompositionAugustine (c. AD 400)First to express an opinion on the literary order of the SynopticsMatthew Mark LukeAugustine did not postulate interdependence in authorship; merely awareness

In addition to being a gospel writing, physician, and companion of Paul, Luke was popularly supposed to be painter and became the patron saint of painters. A frequent subject shows Luke painting the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. The angels represents the connection with the spiritual world. The winged ox is a common symbol of a sacrifice because Luke's Gospel opens with the sacrifice of Zacharias. In the 17th century, following the example given by the Carracci and by Caravaggio, painters depicted the Evangelists as robust men of the people. This picture, which dates from between 1620 and 1625, is painted in vigorous and thick brushwork - a technique very different from that of Rubens. Painted by JORDAENS, Jacob (b. 1593, Antwerp, d. 1678, Antwerp)http://www.stainedglassphotography.com/CalvaryAlbum/slides/St%20Matthew.htmhttp://www.stainedglassphotography.com/CalvaryAlbum/slides/St%20Mark.htmhttp://www.stainedglassphotography.com/CalvaryAlbum/slides/St%20John.htm