2. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word
Discovering the Good News
Similarities in the Synoptic Gospels
Dating the Gospels
Formation of the Gospels
Authorship of the Gospels
The Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of John
Acts of the Apostles
Strategies for Reading, Studying, and Praying the Gospels

3. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Good News
1. Gospel comes from an Old English word for “good news”
2. Most references to “Good News” in the New Testament refer to Jesus’ preaching rather than his life
3. The word “gospel” did not originally mean “a narrative of Jesus’ life”
4. The four Gospels narrate Jesus’ life and teach about the events of the Paschal Mystery
5. The Gospels hold the central place of all the inspired and Sacred Scriptures in the liturgy

4. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Synoptic Gospels
1. Because Matthew, Mark, and Luke contain a great deal of common material, they are called the Synoptic Gospels
2. The similarities suggest that one of the three was used as a primary source when the other two were written
3. For a variety of reasons, most scholars agree that Mark was a source used by both Matthew and Luke

5. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
Dating the Gospels
1. Scholars date Mark’s to the period of the destruction of the Temple (AD 68-72) due to clues given in Mk 13:4
2. Because Matthew is quoted by both canonical and noncanonical sources, scholars date it to AD 85–90
3. While Luke cannot have followed Mark by too late a date, he does not seem to know of Paul’s letters leading scholars to place it somewhere during the AD 80s
4. John is difficult to locate in time but scholars tend to place it as early as AD 90 but not later than AD

6. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
Formation of the Gospels
1. The Gospel was handed down in two ways:
 orally in preaching
 in writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
2. Three stages in the formation of the Gospels:
(a) the period of the public life and teaching of Jesus
(b) a period of oral tradition and preaching by the early disciples in 3 key forms:
(c) the written
Gospels themselves
The kerygma or preaching to unbelievers
The Didache or Catechesis
The liturgy or worship of Christians

7. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
Authorship
1. The Gospels never state the identities of their authors
2. Authorship by tradition:  Matthew was identified as a tax collector called by Jesus;  Mark was a companion of Paul;  Luke was Paul’s beloved physician;  John was the brother of James and son of Zebedee
3. Though a connection with the apostolic tradition cannot be disputed, the position that Apostles or companions of Jesus undertook the actual authorship is not certain

8. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Mark
1. Background:
Two main parts: (a) A long introduction that details Jesus’ ministry and travels (b) The Passion narrative
Audience: largely Gentile living in Rome or Syria
Date: approximately AD 66-70
The literary style suggests it was written from the perspective of a peasant living shortly after the time of Jesus
Hypotheses: it was written
for a community that was suffering, possibly even
persecuted
The shortest, and probably the first, Gospel

9. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Mark
2. Characteristics:
 Jesus is portrayed as very human and inquisitive
 Though God, Jesus understands painful human moments
 Jesus makes three predictions of his coming crucifixion
 Jesus uses parables to communicate his teaching
 The evil spirits are sometimes slow to obey Jesus
 The Passion narrative is grim, somber, heart wrenching
 Because Mark’s community had difficulty being faithful disciples in the midst of their suffering; his message: Jesus is right there with you, sharing your pain

10. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Matthew
1. Background:
While generally faithful to Mark’s outline of events, Matthew also edited and compacted several of Mark’s passages
Most of the common material between Matthew and Luke is made up of sayings and parables
Audience: Jewish Christians
Matthew
edited and compacted several of Mark’s passages
Sources: Mark, “Q” and “M”
Date: some time in the AD 80s

11. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Matthew
2. Characteristics:
 The disciples understand his instructions more clearly
 Matthew intended his Gospel to help Jewish Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith
 He is aware of Jewish sensibilities, practices, and beliefs
 He is concerned to help his largely Jewish-Christian readers understand that Jesus was the Messiah
 He makes numerous comparisons between Jesus and Moses
 He presents Jesus as the founder of the Church

12. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Luke
1. Background:
Sources: Mark, “Q” and “L”
Audience: both Luke and the Acts are addressed to “Theophilus”
Luke’s eloquence marks him as well educated, almost certainly from a well-to-do background
There are various theories about where Luke wrote
Luke has a good vocabulary and the desire to be accurate and orderly
Heart of the Gospel:
“Jesus is Lord”
Date: approximately the 80s AD

13. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of Luke
1. Recurring themes:  the needs of the poor;  the importance of prayer and the Holy Spirit as the constant companion to prayer;  the importance of woman in Jesus’ life and ministry
2. The first events in the life of Jesus through the eyes of a woman (Mary) rather than through the eyes of a man
3. Differences in the Passion narrative:  the portrayal of the disciples more positively;  Jesus is in control until the very end;  the centurion present at the crucifixion acknowledges that Jesus was truly innocent
4. An important theme: follow in the footsteps of Jesus as he followed the will of his Father

14. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
Organization: Prologue Book of Signs: 7 miracles
Book of Glory: Last Supper & Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Epilogue
The Gospel of John
1. Background:
Authorship: tradition attributes to the “beloved disciple”
Focuses on Jesus as God’s
Revelation
Date:
approximately AD 90
Sources: independent traditions and does not rely on the synoptics
1, 2, & 3 John, & Revelation are also attributed to this author

15. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of John
1. Differences between John and the synoptic Gospels:
 new characters such as Nicodemus and Lazarus
 Jesus’ public ministry lasts three years, not one
 Jesus’ teaching takes the form of long discourses
 Jesus’ teachings are very poetic
 presents a more solemn and holy Jesus
 use of literary techniques: irony, plays on words, metaphors, figurative language

16. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Gospel of John
2. John is concerned with defining and clarifying love
3. Jesus teaches using metaphors
4. Nicodemus seems to represent Christians silent or fearful about expressing their commitment to Christ
5. The Johannine community was aware of Peter’s primacy in the Church
6. John’s Christology stresses Jesus’ heavenly origins, his fundamental identity as the Son of God, and his preexistence as the Word of God

17. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Acts of the Apostles
Provides a chronology of events in the early Church
Christ’s transcendent Ascension acts as a bridge connecting the end of Luke and the beginning of Acts
Two Apostles are primarily featured: Peter and Paul
Ends with ambiguous news that Paul remained in Rome for two years, proclaiming the reign of God and teaching about Jesus Christ
Paul’s vision helped inspire the Church’s outreach to Gentiles
Features the Church’s new outreach to the Gentiles

18. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Acts of the Apostles
1. Symmetry of Luke and Acts:
2. Many themes and events parallel the life and ministry of Jesus
3. The first Church in Jerusalem illustrates: the importance of prayer; the presence of women disciples; the central role of Mary
4. Parallelism of the Spirit who hovers: over creation, at the Annunciation, at the beginnings of the Church

19. Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 2A The Gospels
The Acts of the Apostles
5. The Church was not a perfect community, but it overcame the challenges and continued to grow
6. Jerusalem is the epicenter: In Luke, Jesus is resolutely determined to journey there while in Acts the Church begins there and moves out from there
7. A recurring pattern involves Paul bringing many Gentiles to the faith but experiencing rejection from many Jews