1. Central Sources for Understanding Jesus
Unit 4: The Gospels!
Central Sources for Understanding Jesus

2. Why must we take this into account???
The Gospels are faith sources of information about Jesus.
Meaning that what we learn about Him is revealed through the eyes of people who believed him to be Christ.
NOT HISTORICAL SOURCES!
Why must we take this into account???

3. History or Faith?
What is important to remember is that most information that comes to us is, in some way, an interpretation of reality.
Points of view need to be taken into account.

4. Choose any public figure (musician, athlete, politician, etc) and think of items that you would expect to find in their biography.
Keep this list in mind when reading the Gospels!

5. Any examples? The Good News, not the Daily News
Undeniably, the Gospels lack a great deal of the kind of information one would expect to find in a biography.
Any examples?
Date of birth and death, what he looked like, any detailed information about his childhood, adolescence, education, parents, etc.

6. So not biographies, but “faith sources” – writings that came out of the community of Jesus’ followers.
Gospel is derived from an English word godspell, meaning “good news” or “glad tidings”

7. That word, in turn, is a translation of the Greek word evangelion, meaning “the proclamation or announcement of good news”.
Note: Evangelists is based on the Greek word, evangelion!
The authors of the Gospels are, literally, proclaimers of the Good News.

8. The purpose of the Gospels is to proclaim a message of faith in Jesus.
They are testimonies of faith. They are attempts by the early followers of Christ to share their experiences of Jesus with the world.

9. The Meaning of Religious Truth
We must look for two “truths” – historical and religious truth.
Religious truth is the deeper meaning that God intends to reveal to people through historical events.

10. People who seek religious truth believe that God is actively present in the world, working with everything to bring about peace and justice for all.

11. The authors of Biblical literature were attempting to reveal reality through the eyes of God.
They would interpret events in light of their own faith convictions or the faith convictions of their community.

12. Understanding the meaning
What is more important?
Historical facts?
Understanding the meaning
behind the words?
Your thoughts????

13. Roman Catholics vs. Protestantism
Remember the Reformation?
Roman Catholics vs. Protestantism
vs.