3 HISTORICAL STAGES IN GOSPEL DEVELOPMENT
THE GOSPELS:
FOUR PORTRAITS OF JESUS
1. Mark = Jesus as the
hidden messiah and eschatological judge
2. Matthew = Jesus as the great teacher and interpreter of the Mosaic Torah
THE GOSPELS AND MODERN SCHOLARSHIP
Authorship
- None of the Gospel authors reveals his name, his background, or the place and date of composition
- None claims to be an eyewitness to the events he narrates; none claims to be inerrant or inspired; these claims come later
THE GOSPELS AND MODERN SCHOLARSHIP
Date:
- The earliest canonical Gospel - Mark - was not written until approx. 40 years after the Crucifixion.
- The other three were composed even later, between about 80 and 95 c.e.
THE GOSPELS AND MODERN SCHOLARSHIP
Place of composition = scholars are unable to verify their place of composition
- Influence of Jewish scripture = all Gospel writers present events in Jesus’ life in the context of a
prophecy-fulfillment pattern drawn from the Hebrew Bible
THE GOSPELS AND MODERN SCHOLARSHIP
Absence of non-Christian documents about Jesus; makes verification of events difficult
- Theological orientation = Gospels writers emphasize Jesus’ theological significance over biographical facts
- Jesus’ uniqueness emphasized by all Gospel authors
THE SYNOPIC GOSPELS
Synoptic gospels = Mark, Matthew, Luke; so named because they share a large quantity of material in common, allowing their texts to be viewed "with one eye."
- John contains a strikingly different order of events; represents a different tradition
THE TWO DOCUMENT THEORY: Mark and "Q"
Explains the literary relationship of the 3 Synoptic gospels
Mark is a major source for Matthew and Luke
Matthew and Luke use material from "Q" - a hypothetical source of teaching materials
Matthew contains unique material = "M"
Luke contains unique material = "L"
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
Mark’s portrait of Jesus: the HIDDEN MESSIAH AND ESCHATOLOGICAL JUDGE
Author:
Faith community = John Mark, traveling companion of Paul and "interpreter" for Peter in Rome
Academic study = the work is anonymous
Date: 66-70 c.e. during the Jewish revolt against Rome
MARK’S PURPOSES IN REDACTING MATERIALS
Mark’s primary purpose is to PROMOTE FAITH IN JESUS
Explains the mysterious relationship of suffering and salvation to the Gentiles
Works to strengthen Christian resolve in the face of Roman persecution
Stresses Gentile inclusion in the Church
KEY FEATURES OF MARK
Shortest and simplest of the 4 gospels; the oldest; audience = Gentile Christians suffering persecution; probably written in Rome or Syria-Palestine
Jesus is presented as an apocalyptic figure
apocalyptic urgency - immediacy of events
no time for birth/resurrection narratives
destruction of the Temple - 70 c.e.
KEY FEATURES OF MARK
Ontological dualism
Demonic vs. Divine control
Jesus battles Satan
Classic theodicy = an explanation for EVIL in the world - evil as a cosmic force
Satan in the O.T. = Job, Zech.3, Daniel
Zoroastrian influence on Jewish thinking
Supernatural evil today
KEY FEATURES OF MARK
Mark is not an eye witness to the events he vividly describes
Mark’s unusual theme = Jesus as the "hidden" messiah
Key question: Did Jesus with to start a church?
Mark reflects Paul’s eschatological concerns
Compare to the musical, "Jesus Christ Super Star"
KEY FEATURES OF MARK
Mark’s tragic element
grim, graphic story of pain and suffering
Jesus’ death and suffering are necessary
2 Parts: Miracles = power
Suffering = vulnerability
- Least read of the 4 Gospels
- Where is the love and compassion characteristic of Luke or John?
ORGANIZATION OF MARK’S GOSPEL
1. Prelude to Jesus’ public ministry (1:1-13)
journey from Nazareth
begins ministry after associating with John the Baptist’s reform movement
after baptism, Jesus hears a heavenly voice assigning him Divine sonship
Son of Man is a key Markan theme
ORGANIZATION OF MARK’S GOSPEL
2. The Galilean Ministry: inaugurating the Kingdom (1:14 - 8:26)
Jesus is an apocalyptic figure/calls for repentance
stresses expulsion of demons, healings, and other miracles
demands that miracles be kept secret
the disciples fail to understand the significance of Jesus
ORGANIZATION OF MARK’S GOSPEL
3. The Journey to Jerusalem (8:27 - 10:52)
Mark emphasizes the hidden or unexpected quality of Jesus’ messiahship
stresses the necessity of suffering
Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah
Jesus makes 3 predictions of his coming rejection and death: 8:22-33; 9:30-32; 10: 32-45
restores sight to Bartimaeus
ORGANIZATION OF MARK’S GOSPEL
4. The Jerusalem Ministry (11:1 - 15:47)
enters the Holy City (11:1-11)
assaults Temple money changers (11:15-19)
debates with Jewish leaders (11:27-12:40)
predicts the Temple’s destruction (13:1-37)
holds final passover (14:1-25)
ORGANIZATION OF MARK’S GOSPEL
5. Postlude: the empty tomb (16:1-8)
Mark describes the first Easter
women followers discover that His tomb is empty
Verses 9-10 = post-resurrection scenes that were edited in later; probably taken from Matthew or Luke
Mark expected Jesus’ immediate return; no need for post-resurrection sightings