A little more intro

to the New Testament

Some stuff that I thought

you really should know
 Organization
• The New Testament, like the
Old, can be divided into 4
categories.
• Law - The four Gospels (like the
Torah)
• History- Acts (Like Joshua,
Judges etc…)
• Wisdom - Epistles ( like Sirach,
Wisdom etc…)
• Prophecy- Revelation (A lot
like Daniel)
 4 Gospels
• As we said in the last lesson, all
four Gospels are important.
• There is only one story, but the
four points of view that work
together to form a complete
understanding.
• The four Gospels were written
by different human authors to
different audiences.
Johnny and the
Synoptics
 The Synoptic Gospels
• Matthew, Mark, and Luke
• The word “synoptic” means
seeing together.
• These three are similar…in
point of view, order, and
emphasis
• Some even suggest, that there
is one source document for all
three…they call it Q…but
nobody has ever seen Q.
 Matthew
• From about 70 AD
• Most believe Matthew relied
somewhat on Mark, but some believe
it to be the first one written.
• Tradition teaches that
Matthew=Levi, the Tax Collector.
• It was written for Jews, so its
emphasis is on Jesus as fulfillment
of the Jewish prophecies.
(Jesus=Son of David)
• Jesus speaks the most in
Matthew.
• The Sermon on the Mount, por
exemplo, is 3 whole chapters of
Jesus preaching.
 (John) Mark
• 60-70 A.D. (trying times)
• Written for a Roman audience.
• Peter was the main source…he and
Mark were boyz.
• May have been an oration composed
for one sitting (maybe that’s why it is
so short.)
• In Mark Jesus=leader of the new
Exodus.
• Some say it was the source for the
other synoptics.
• It is more deeds than words.
• One unique story in Mk 14:51-
52…why is that there?
• IN Mark, Jesus’ identity is often
a secret…it is only to be
revealed at the Cross and the
Demons are always trying to
give Jesus away. (Messianic
Secret)
 Luke “Beloved
Physician”
• The Love Doctor
• according to St. Paul who he
traveled with
• Probably before 70 A.D. too
• Written for Gentiles
• Details about conception and
birth…Christmassy Gospel
• Any guess who was a likely
source???
• Emphasis on Jesus’ ministry to
all nations
• There were other Gospels
floating around…why did he
write?
• #1 to give an “orderly account”
• #2 He had info that no one else
did
• Maybe he had an inside scoop
 John
• Probably written in about 90 A.D. in
Ephesus
• The Beloved Disciple
• The most unique Gospel
• Jesus is the WORD (Logos)
• Emphasizes our new creation…
rebirth in Christ.
• Fills in some big details
• Trinitarian Gospel