Chapter 6 The Gospels: Form and Purpose

Key Topics/Themes The similarity of the Synoptic Gospels The uniqueness of the Gospel of John The diverse views about Jesus presented in the New Testament Gospels 2 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Introduction Similarities between the Synoptic Gospels The uniqueness of the Gospel of John 3 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Gospels and Modern Scholarship Discrepancies between Gospel accounts The Gospel authors’ selective use of preexisting traditions about Jesus Gospel of John written to provide theological interpretation of Jesus’ life Difficulty in distinguishing between historical record and theological interpretation in the Gospels 4 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Assumptions and Approaches False dilemma about the Bible presented by fundamentalism:  Either Bible is completely inerrant and totally accurate factually, or  Bible is worthless as source of religious inspiration 5 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Assumptions and Approaches (continued) The value of the historical-critical approach to the Gospels Inability of historical-critical approach to verify Gospels’ theological claims about Jesus 6 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Synoptic Problem Evidence of the triple tradition  Matthew, Mark, Luke Evidence of the double tradition  Matthew and Luke 7 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Two-Document Theory MK MT Q LK 8 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

From Oral Preaching to Written Gospel Oral period  Development of the kerygma (proclamation)  Growth and adaption of the kerygma in various Christian centers in Mediterranean world Form criticism  Pericopes  Sitz im leben (life-setting) 9 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Q (Source) Document Collection of Jesus’ sayings Collected c CE Found in Matthew and Luke Portrays Jesus as itinerant prophet and wisdom teacher 10 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Composition of the Canonical Gospels Mark the inventor of the Gospel genre Gospel authors  Names of Gospels not original with authors  Added years later by early Church 11 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Matthew’s Gospel Sources  Mark  Q  M Wrote to present Jesus as new Moses Presents Jesus as teacher of the Mosaic Torah 12 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Luke’s Gospel Sources  Mark  Q  L Jesus as turning point in Israel’s history Jesus brings salvation to Jews and Gentiles Holy Spirit empowers Church to continue Jesus’ work 13 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Griesbach Theory MT LK MK 14 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Griesbach Theory (continued) Mark a conflation and abridgement of Matthew and Luke William Farmer an important proponent Not accepted by most scholars 15 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

The Gospel of John Last gospel to attain canonical status Presents Jesus’ teaching in long, philosophical monologues Venerates Jesus himself rather than his teachings Of doubtful historical value according to many scholars 16 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Literary Analysis of the Gospels Gospels studied as literature, with setting, characters, dialogue, plot, etc. Redaction criticism  Authors adapt their source materials for theological purposes  Matthew and Luke alter their Markan source 17 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Narrative Criticism Emphasis on ways Gospels are constructed Important factors:  Point of view from which story is told  Author’s implied attitude toward characters or reader  Use of geographical details to convey author’s intent 18 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

A Composite Portrait of Jesus Significance of four Gospels rather than one Early Church unwilling to promote single, “official” version of Gospel story Indicative of great diversity in early Christianity 19 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

Summary Best to interpret each Gospel as independent work Need to see each Gospel’s unique contribution to New Testament portrayal of Jesus Unwise to attempt to harmonize accounts Rich diversity of early Christianity 20 © 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.