FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through the New Testament

Introduction to the New Testament &

the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew to Luke)

Session #1C
Introduction to the Gospels
 Matthew
The Gospels

Mark

Luke

John
NIV Study Bible, 1471

 “Gospel" comes from the Old English "God-spell.“ It

translates the Greek word for "good news."
 In antiquity king's heralds announced "glad tidings" of
the king's birthday throughout the cities of the realm.
 It has the same meaning in our New Testament. The
four Gospels announce the glad tidings about Jesus.
 The ancient world knew of history, poetry, prophecy
and letters. But a "gospel" was new to them.
 Here, inspired writers gave more than just history.
They also created faith (John 20:30-31) by proclaiming
the good news that, just as the OT had promised, God
had sent His Messiah to the world.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 Jesus did not write the Gospels.
 (Had He written, it would be something more like the
Prophetic Books, such as Amos—a collection of
spoken oracles and sayings , plus a few personal
narratives (Amos 7:10-17))
 Thus, they are not books by Jesus but books about
Jesus.
 Jesus’ native tongue was Aramaic but the
Gospels come to us only in Greek!
 Aramaic only appears once, in Christ’s cry from the
cross.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 It comprises of
 Sayings (Teachings of Jesus)
 Narratives (Life of Jesus)
 (In comparison, we know of Paul’s teaching from his
epistles and his life from Acts.)
 Common repeated themes in the gospels:
 Jesus’ popularity with the masses.
 Jesus’ discipleship to a few.
 Jesus’ opposition from the authorities.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 Merging of 2 ancient genres
 Jewish telling of Israel’s story
 Greco-Roman form of biographies.

 Jewish: Israel’s Story

 The climax of Israel’s history and
covenantal hopes converging in the
person of Jesus.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 Jesus represents
 The new Israel and the new exodus in Mark.
 The new David in Luke.
 The new Moses & Torah in Matthew.
 The new temple in John.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 Greco-Roman: Ancient Biographies
 The life of an individual is narrated in a
selective, ideological and artistic way.
 It is usually not a complete biography.
 Neither does it offer a ‘neutral’ or objective
reporting of historical events.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 There are 4 gospels
 3 of which are remarkably similar!
 SYNOPTIC: common-view
 None of the 4 Gospels supersedes the other:
each stand equally valuable and equally
authoritative. They all contain:
 Facts on the historical Jesus.
 Unique setting and existential concern of why they
are retelling the story:
 Different target audience who are not culturally and
historically close to Jesus.
 Uniqueness of the Gospels
 While it is important to try to get a full view of
Jesus by combining all 4 Gospels, we need to
recognize that each Gospel in its present form is
God’s Word for us. Our reconstructions of Jesus’
life are not!
 The evangelists are authors , not compilers!
 The eschatological mindset during Jesus’
time.
 Matthew
 Why are there
The

Mark

Luke
four Gospels?

John
Perhaps for Synoptics
the same
reason These three Gospels are so much alike
different that they are called Synoptic ("see with,"
descriptions or "see alike") Gospels. They all look at
of a finely cut Christ’s life from a historical perspective.
jewel would On the other hand, John's Gospel dwells
appeal to more on the inner meaning of Jesus' life
different and teachings.
people.
Matthew
describes one
facet of the
life of Christ,
Mark another,
and Luke a
third.
 Synoptic Similarities
 Matthew, Mark and Luke are noticeably similar, while
John is quite different.
 How do the first three Gospels agree?
 Language
 Material they include
 General order of the events and sayings from the life of Christ
 The math facts:
 91 percent of Mark is found in Matthew
 53 percent of Mark is found in Luke
 Such agreement raises questions as to the origin of the
Synoptic Gospels. Did the authors rely on a common
source? Were they interdependent?
The THAT STRANGE
New Testament SOUNDING WORD…

SYNOPTIC:
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
TO: JEWS TO: ROMANS
AS: KING AS: SERVANT
WHAT WHAT
HE: SAID HE: DID

3 LUKE “TO
TO: GREEKS
GOD/MAN
SEE
TOGETHER”
AS:
WHAT
HE: FELT

© 2006 TBBMI John Fryman, “The Bible…Basically” Seminar 9.65.08. 20 3

 FRAMING
The New Testament THE GOSPELS…
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK

3 LUKE 4 JOHN

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 16 3

 THE
The NewAUDIENCES
Testament FOR THE GOSPELS…
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
TO: JEWS TO: ROMANS

3 LUKE 4 JOHN
TO: GREEKS TO: CHURCH

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 17 4

 …PORTRAYING
The New Testament JESUS AS…
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
TO: JEWS TO: ROMANS
AS: KING AS: SERVANT

3 LUKE 4 JOHN
TO: GREEKS TO: CHURCH
AS: GOD/MAN AS: GOD

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 18 4

 THE
The New MESSAGE
Testament IN A NUTSHELL…
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
TO: JEWS TO: ROMANS
AS: KING AS: SERVANT
WHAT WHAT
HE: SAID HE: DID

3 LUKE 4 JOHN
TO: GREEKS TO: CHURCH
AS: GOD/MAN AS: GOD
WHAT WHAT
HE: FELT HE: MEANT

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 19 5

 THENew
The SYNOPTICS:
Testament “TO SEE TOGETHER”
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
TO: JEWS TO: ROMANS
AS: KING AS: SERVANT
WHAT WHAT
HE: SAID HE: DID

∑
3 LUKE 4 JOHN
TO: GREEKS TO:CHURCH

AS: GOD/MAN AS: GOD

WHAT WHAT
HE: FELT HE: MEANT

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 21 1

 UNIQUE
The New Testament MATERIAL…
Comes Together
1 MATTHEW 2 MARK
7%
Baptism unique!
Lord's
Birth Supper 5000 fed
Genealogy Passion
3 LUKE 4 JOHN

92%
unique!

© 2006 TBBMI 9.65.08. 16

 The Synoptic Problem

Matthew, Mark & Luke in a nutshell:

 How do we explain their similarities?
 How do we explain their differences?
 51

661
Mark Marcan
Priority
Diagrammed
1068 1149

500 350
Matthew Luke
Numbers
indicate the
235 verses in each
333 564
M L proposed
Q source
 Dating the Synoptic Gospels
Adapted from the NIV Study Bible, 1431
MARK
MATTHEW LUKE MARK MATTHEW LUKE
ASSUMPTION A: ASSUMPTION B:
Matthew and Luke used Matthew and Luke did not use
Mark as a source Mark as a source

View #1 View #1
Mark written in the 50s Mark could have been written
or early 60s anytime between 50 and 70
(1) Matthew written in
late 50s or the 60s
View #2
(2) Luke written 59-63 Mark written 65-70
View #2 (1) Matthew written early 50s (see
Mark written 65-70 Matthew notes)
(1) Matthew written in (2) Luke written 59-63 (see Luke
the 70s notes)
(2) Luke written in the
70s
Taught in this class
 Solutions to the Synoptic Problem
Questions like these constitute what is known as the Synoptic
Problem. Several solutions have been advanced:
1. The use of oral tradition. Some have thought that tradition had
become so stereotyped that it provided a common source
from which all the Gospel writers drew.
2. The use of an early Gospel. Some have postulated that the
Synoptic authors all had access to an earlier Gospel, now lost.
3. The use of written fragments. Some have assumed that
written fragments had been composed concerning various
events from the life of Christ and that these were used by the
Synoptic authors.
4. Mutual dependence. Some have suggested that the Synoptic
writers drew from each other with the result that what they
wrote was often very similar.
NIV Study Bible, 1431
 Solutions to the Synoptic Problem
4. The use of two major sources. The most common view
currently is that Mark and a hypothetical document, called
Quelle (German for "source") or Q, were used by Matthew
and Luke as sources for most of the materials included in
their Gospels.
5. The priority and use of Matthew. Another view suggests
that the other two Synoptics drew from Matthew as their
main source.
6. A combination of most of the above. This theory assumes
that the authors of the Synoptic Gospels made use of oral
tradition, written fragments, mutual dependence on other
Synoptic writers or on their Gospels, and the testimony of
eyewitnesses.

NIV Study Bible, 1431

Two-Source Hypothesis

Q Mark
AD 50 AD 65

Matthew Luke
 Four-Source Hypothesis

M Mark Q L
Jerusalem Rome Antioch Caesare
AD 60-65 AD 65 AD 50 a

Proto-Luke

Matthew Luke
Antioch Caesarea, Corinth?
AD 85 AD 60, AD 80

Antiochene Source of
Tradition Luke 1-2
 Date Options for John’s Gospel
Authorship is easier to determine than when John wrote.
Three periods have been proposed for the date of the Gospel:

33 70 95
Christ's Temple John's
Death Destroyed Death
 The Four Gospels Compared
Matthew Mark Luke John
Author Matthew Mark Luke John
Job before
Tax Collector None (Youth) Medical Doctor Fisherman
Saved
Race Jew Jew Gentile Jew
Office and / or Service or Service or
Apostle Apostle
Spiritual Gift Pastoring Teaching
Readers
Ethnically Jewish Roman Gentile (Greek) World
Signs Wisdom
Interest
(1 Cor. 1:22) (1 Cor. 1:22)
Spiritually Unbelievers Believers Unbelievers Unbelievers
Model in
Universality
Messiah and Suffering
Primary Need: (and kingdom Deity
Kingdom Offer (exhorts
 The Four Gospels Compared
Matthew Mark Luke John
Date Written 40s 64-68 57-59 late 60s
Antioch or Caesarea or
Place Written Rome Ephesus
Syria Rome
Place Sent Palestine Rome To Theophilus Asia, etc.
Jesus is… King of Israel Suffering Ideal Man Son of God
(Messiah) Servant (Deity) (Messiah) (Deity)
Key Verse 21:5 10:45 19:10 20:31
Themes Law Power Grace Glory
Literary
Sermons Miracles Parables Allegories
Emphasis
Arrangement Topical Chronological Chronological Topical
Abraham to
Genealogy None None None
Joseph
 The Four Gospels Compared
Matthew Mark Luke John
Birth to Ministry to Ministry to Ministry to
Scope
Resurrection Resurrection Resurrection Resurrection
Tone Prophetic Pastoral Historical Spiritual
Christ's Words 60% 42% 50% 50%
Chapters 28 16 24 21
Verses 1068 661 1149 878
Verses per
38 41 48 42
Chap.
OT Quotations 53 36 25 20
OT Allusions 76 27 42 105
OT References 129 63 67 125
Unique
42% 7% 59% 92%
Material
Supplementary
Broad Division ------------------- Synoptic Gospels-------------------
Gospel
 Synoptic & Johannine Gospels
Topics Synoptics John
Portrait of Christ God – Man God – Man

Perspective More Historical More Theological

Unique Material Matthew – 42%; 92% unique

Mark – 7%;
Luke – 59%

Geography Focus on Galilean Focus on Judean

ministry (North) ministry (South)

Teaching Method Parables Extended Discourse

Chronology Mention of one Mention of three

Passover (maybe four)
Passovers
Relation to other Complementary Supplementary
Gospels
 How Well Do You Know the Life of Christ?
How Well Do You Know the Life
4 Guest at Wedding
Can you of Christ?
number these 6 Interview with Nicodemus
events in
chronological 3 Enemy's 3 Temptations
order?
7 Message on Mount
1 Birth in Bethlehem
5 Housecleaning the Temple (1st time)
10 Washing Disciples' Feet
8 Parables of Kingdom
2 Carpenter in Nazareth
9 Tomb of Lazarus
Terry Hall, Bible Panorama, 121
A Definitive
Work
 Chronology of the Life of Christ

Harold Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ

 Chronology of Jesus & Acts
4 BC 1 BC AD 1 14 29 30 33 35

Jesus’ –1 year– Tiberius 15th Yr. Jesus’ Paul

Birth Crowned Tiberius Death Believes
–
“In the 15th year of Tiberius…
John &
John preached” (Luke 3:1)
Jesus

33-34 years
“Now Jesus himself was about 30
years old when he began his
ministry” (Luke 3:23)
 Age of Jesus
When He Began His Ministry

1yr
3 yrs 28 / 29 years

4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 …………………………………………………………………………26 27 28 29

BC AD

3 + 1 + 28 = 32 years (Non-inclusive of AD 29)

3 + 1 + 29 = 33 years (Inclusive of AD 29)

Adapted from Michele Ang (NT Survey student, SBC, 2006)

 The
Parables of
Christ
J. Dwight Pentecost, A
Harmony of the Words and
Works of Jesus Christ
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1981), 587-88
Miracles
Of
Jesus
Bartley Christian Church Year: 2016
FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament Chief Facilitator: Mah Yeow Beng

FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament

Summary Sheet 1/30

1) COMPOSITION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS COMPOSITION
1. Matthew
2. Mark
3. Luke Gospels (4) Narratives

NT Books
(5)
4. John
5. Acts
6. Romans
7. 1 Corinthians
8. 2 Corinthians
9. Galatians
10 Ephesians
11. Philippians
12. Colossians
13. 1 Thessalonians
Pauline
14. 2 Thessalonians
15. 1 Timothy
16. 2 Timothy
17. Titus
Epistles
18. Philemon
19. Hebrews
20. James
21. 1 Peter
22. 2 Peter
General

27
23. 1 John
24. 2 John
25. 3 John
26. Jude

27. Revelation
Apocalypse
A) Interesting Parallel to the OT Composition
FOUNDATION PAST PRESENT FUTURE
OLD POETRY &
TORAH (LAW) HISTORY PROPHETS
TESTAMENT WISDOM
NEW
GOSPELS ACTS EPISTLES REVELATION
TESTAMENT

2) OVERVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Overview
Historical The Gospels: Manifestation:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Telling the story of the Savior and His person and work.
Acts: Propagation:
The Acts of the Holy Spirit Proclaiming the message of the Savior who has come.
through the apostles
Epistolary Epistles: Explanation:
Letters to churches and Developing the full significance of the person and work of
individuals. Christ and how this should instruct the Christian for his walk in
Romans through Jude the world.
Apocalyptic Revelation: Consummation:
The apocalypse of the Lord Dealing with the sufferings that result from following Christ but
Jesus Christ anticipating that He will bring a close to human history where
His followers will be vindicated and enemies judged.

Summary 1/30: Introduction to the New Testament Page 1 of 2

Bartley Christian Church Year: 2016
FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament Chief Facilitator: Mah Yeow Beng
3) AUTHORSHIP OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
A) The NT was written by 9 different authors. 4 of them were apostles, namely, Matthew, John, Peter
and Paul, the first 3 being eyewitnesses of what they wrote about Christ:

Chapters Verses
Author Nationality Occupation Relationship Books Written
Written Written
Apostle of Jesus
Matthew Jew Tax Collector 28 1,071 Gospel of Matthew
Christ
Unknown
Mark Jew Disciple of Peter 16 678 Gospel of Mark
Missionary
Gospel of Luke
Luke Gentile Physician Disciple of Paul 52 2,158
Acts
Gospel of John
1 John
Apostle of Jesus
John Jew Fisherman 50 1,414 2 John
Christ
3 John
Revelation
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Apostle of Jesus
Paul Jew Tentmaker 87 2,033 Colossians
Christ
1 Thess
2 Thess
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Brother of Jesus
James Jew Carpenter? 5 108 James
Christ
Apostle of Jesus 1 Peter
Peter Jew Fisherman 8 166
Christ 2 Peter
Brother of Jesus
Jude Jew Carpenter? 1 25 Jude
Christ
? ? ? ? 13 303 Hebrews

4) CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

A) The word “Canon” in Greek means “measuring stick.”
I) It refers to recognition of books as authoritative to be part of the Bible.
B) Prior to the canonization of the New Testament, the church recognizes 3 streams of authority:
I) The Old Testament
II) The words of Christ (transmitted both orally and in written form)
III) The words of the apostles (in both orally and in written form)
C) 2 Major Factors Leading to the Canonization of the New Testament
I) The controversy of Marcion’s truncated canon (150 AD).
II) A spate of various kinds of Christian writings.
D) The 27 books of the NT were first officially recognized in the 3rd Council of Carthage in A.D. 397.
E) The criteria for canonicity were:
I) Apostolicity (came from apostolic circle & genuine, i.e., not pseudonymous works
II) Catholicity (widely used and recognized by the churches)
III) Consistency (Consistent with other Scriptural writings.)

5) LANGUAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

A) The whole New Testament was written in koine (common) Greek.
I) This was the language of everyday life (the lingua franca)throughout the Roman Empire, even in
Palestine where Aramaic and Hebrew is also used.
II) Koine Greek resembles classical Greek but is less formal. IT is also closer to the Greek spoken in
modern times.
III) It is a language well adapted to expressing with precision various shades of meaning necessary
for theological teachings as in the New Testament.
B) Some of the utterances of Jesus and other speakers were probably spoken in Aramaic but
transliterated into Greek in the New Testament.

Summary 1/30: Introduction to the New Testament Page 2 of 2

Bartley Christian Church Year: 2016
FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament Chief Facilitator: Mah Yeow Beng

FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament

Summary Sheet 2/30
1

1) INTRODUCTION
A) The 4 Gospels make up 46% of the New Testament.
B) The gospel (euangelion in Greek) means good news! It is the good news preached by
Jesus, that the Kingdom of God is at hand (Mark 1:15), and the good news of what God
has done on behalf of humanity in Jesus (Rom 1:3-5).

The four Gospels are our main source of knowledge for the life of Christ. But the Gospels are more
than just historical documents. The Greek term for gospel is euangelion, which means “good
news” or “good message.” The Gospels provide us with a message of good news, worthy to be
proclaimed.
Dan Akin

A gospel is not a historical document and nothing else; but a gospel is an attempt to present the
portrait and teaching of Jesus in such a way that those who read it will also take Him as Savior,
Master and Lord.
William Barclay

2) WHY 4 GOSPELS?
There is no one definitive biography of Jesus Christ in existence, but rather four separate and
complementary accounts. Why? Because a picture, or portrait, is more complete when viewed
from several different angles. The biography of an important person is not really complete unless
we have accounts from various perspectives. Different persons would see things from a different
viewpoint and thus give us a little different slant on his life. Similarly, each of the four Gospel writers
looks at Jesus from his own distinct angle.
Dan Akin

1 Condensed from SJSM Christian Education 2012 NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY Lesson 2a: The Gospels

Summary 2/30: Introduction to the Gospels Page 1 of 2

Bartley Christian Church Year: 2016
FEED 260/261 Mentoring Through The New Testament Chief Facilitator: Mah Yeow Beng

Gospel Matthew Mark Luke John

Audience Jews Romans Hellenists Greco-Roman

World
Portrait of Jesus is the Jesus is the suffering Jesus is the perfect Jesus is the fully
Jesus promised Messiah Servant King Son of Man who divine Son of God in
who fulfills Old came to save and whom we should
Testament minister to all believe to receive
prophecy and people through the eternal life (the “I
expectations power of the Holy AM” of God)
Spirit and prayer

i) Each writer had to be selective in what they include as the contents of each Gospel
were limited by length of ancient scroll (John 21:25). The aims of the writers thus
determined what they selected in the respective Gospels.
ii) Each Gospel must be treated as equally valuable and equally authoritative.

3) THE SYNOPTIC & JOHANNINE GOSPELS

A) Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels

I) Synoptic means they view the life of Jesus from a common perspective and there is a
common synopsis or outline in these Gospels, namely:
(1) Introduction of Jesus (and John the Baptist
(2) Preaching in Galilee
(3) Journey to Jerusalem
(4) Passion (His death and resurrection)
II) Jesus’ key proclamation in the Synoptics is the kingdom of God.

B) John’s Gospel is commonly called the Fourth Gospel.

I) It is the most theological Gospel and contains long thematic discourses instead of the
shorter sayings of the Synoptics. The key focus is on eternal life and the divinity of Jesus.

Topics Synoptics John

Portrait of Christ God – Man God – Man

Perspective More Historical More Theological
Unique Material Matthew – 42%; 92% unique
Mark – 7%;
Luke – 59%
Geography Focus on Galilean ministry Focus on Judean ministry
(North) (South)
Teaching Method Parables Extended Discourse
Chronology Mention of one Passover Mention of three (maybe four)
Passovers
Relation to other Gospels Complementary Supplementary

Summary 2/30: Introduction to the Gospels Page 2 of 2

NEXT SESSION : 20 Feb 2016 (Sat) 8:00 am to
12:45pm
2A. Mark
2B:. Matthew
2C. Luke

Assignments:
1.NT Reading: Matthew 26 to Luke 24
2.…Book By Book (BBB): Matthew-Luke (Page 269-
295)
3.…For All Its Worth (FAIW): Chapter 7 (Page 132-153)
4.READING REPORT: #2