The Synoptic and the Johannine Gospels

Purpose of the GospelsThe Gospels tell the story of the life of Jesus

Christ. The term “gospel” means good news in the Greek and was not directed towards any particular type of writing or event. There could be “good news” about anything. During the first couple of hundred years in the life of the church, the Gospels were simply known as “According to Matthew,” or Mark, or so on. Only after much usage and preaching did the term “gospel” take on the special meaning we associate with it today, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Is there a reason to worry about the “differences” in a given

account in the Gospels?Why?

Themes of the Four Gospels Matthew presents an argument to the Jewish

community that Jesus is the Messiah. To accomplish this presentation, Jesus is portrayed as King.

Mark writes to the Romans. His presentation shows Jesus as servant.

Luke’s audience is the “Greeks,” the Gentiles of the land. His arguments are aimed at showing the humanity of Christ, the “Son of man.”

John writes to the Church. His presentation demonstrates the meaning of “Son of God” as he argues for Christ being God.

Endings of each Gospel Matthew ends in the Lord’s Resurrection

(Matt 28) Mark ends in the Lord’s Ascension

(Mark 16:19-20) Luke ends in the blessed promise of the

Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49) John ends with the promise of the Second

Coming (John 21:2-23)

Symbol of each Gospel

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Pictures of the structure of the GospelsGOSPEL VIEW PICTURE PURPOSE

MATTHEW KING LION SOVEREIGNTY

MARK SERVANT OX HUMILITY

LUKE MAN MAN HUMANITY

JOHN GOD EAGLE DEITY

A Comparison of the GospelsCOMPARISONS MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN

CHRIST VIEWED AS KING SERVANT MAN GOD

WRITTEN TO JEWS ROMANS GREEKS CHURCHNUMBER OF CHAPTERS 28 16 24 21

UNIQUE MATERIAL 42% 7% 59% 92%

OT QUOTES 53 36 25 20

It is all about ChristIt must be remembered that the entire Bible

is about Jesus Christ. The “seed” of woman which will bruise the heal of the serpent (Gen 3:15) is Jesus. The “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” who is the ultimate ruler (Rev 19:11) is Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Matthew Key verses: 1:20-21; 16:15-19; 28:18-20

Key Chapter(s): Chapter 1, Chapter 12, Chapter 28

Key Word(s) or Concept(s): Messiah, Kingdom

Theme and Purpose Fulfillment – Jesus is the Messiah and the major events of

Christ’s life took place in fulfillment of prophecy. The Gospel contains the phrase “that it might be fulfilled” twelve times.

The comprehensiveness of the Good News of salvation to include the Gentiles.

An apologetic nature for the many questions which would have been raised against Jesus -- illegitimacy of birth, residence of Jesus in Nazareth rather then Bethlehem, stealing of the body of Jesus, and so on.

A presentation of the commandments and teachings of Jesus. He does this through the use of five major discourses throughout the book.

A demonstration of why the message moved beyond the Jews to the Gentiles (the Jews’ apathy and rejection of the King).

God’s kingdom program has not failed.

Authorship The earliest manuscripts uphold this tradition,

naming the work “According to Matthew.” Internal evidence supporting Matthew’s authorship

includes his using his apostolic name rather than the name Levi which is used by Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27,

The lack of a descriptive “his” in front of the story on the banquet (9:10), Mark and Luke include the “his”), and the details of events such as the temple tax story (Matt 17:24-27).

There is no specific negative evidence against Matthew being the author.

Who is Matthew? Matthew was a publican or tax collector. This

means he was a Jew working for the Romans. He was one of the original 12 apostles of Jesus

Christ.

Date Many scholars believe that the four Gospels

relate more to geographical centers of Christianity than to the traditional authors. Matthew may have been written from Antioch of Syria, because of its Jewish/Gentile church issues, possibly about A.D. 60 or at least before A.D. 70.

RecipientsAs the authorship and date of the

Gospel are uncertain, so are the recipients. It seems best to relate it to both believing Jews and Gentiles. The Church at Antioch of Syria of the first century fits this profile best.

Uniqueness of the book The themes of Kingdom and Messiahship are

the driving forces of the book. Jesus performed thirty-six miracles as recorded

in Scripture. Matthew’s account contains twenty of these, but only four are unique.

About sixty percent of the Gospel deals with Christ’s teachings.

Matthew’s Gospel contains the most material from the Old Testament.

Outline of the BookI. The Person and Presentation of Jesus the King

The birth of the King (1:1-2:23) The announcement of the King (3:1-12) The Approval of the King (3:13-4:11)

II The Preaching of the King The Ministry of the King (4:12-25) The Sermon of the King (5:1-7:29)

III The Power of the King (8:1-11:1) IV The Progressive Rejection of the King

The Rejection of the King (11:2-12:50) The Parables of the King (13:1-52) The Further Rejections of the King (13:53-16:12)

V The Preparation of the King’s Disciples The Preparation in View of the Rejection (16:13-20:28)

VI The Presentation of the King The Public Ministry (20:29-21:22) The Conflict with the Leaders (21:23-22:46) The Rejection by the Nation (23:1-39)

VII The Prophecies of the King (24:1-25:46) 51 VIII The Passion or Final Rejection of the King (26:1-27:66) IX The Proof of Jesus the King (28:1-20)

The Gospel of Mark Key verses: 8:34-37; 10:45

Key Chapter(s): Chapter 8

Key Word(s) or Concept(s): Servant, Ransom, Sacrifice, Immediately

Theme and Purpose To emphasize Jesus as a servant To demonstrate in an active way how to

suffer during persecution—as Jesus did. To demonstrate how to be a disciple. To fight the emergence of heretical,

theological doctrines

Authorship From the earliest of traditions, John Mark has

been held to be the author of this Gospel. This book, like all of the Gospels, does not

name its author. The validity of the tradition is strengthened by

both internal evidence and the argument that a relatively minor player such as Mark would not have been given credit for the work if he had not written it.

Who is Mark? John is the Hebrew name and Mark, or

Marcus, is his Latin name. John Mark was Barnabas’ cousin (Col. 4:10). He accompanied Barnabas and Paul in their

missionary journey (Acts 12:25) but left them for unknown reason (Acts 13:5, 13) which caused the separation of the two.

He was a Jewish Christian whose mother, Mary, was apparently a rich widow.

Date Mark’s account is written prior to the

destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Chp 13). This makes the date no later than the mid-60s. Tradition holds to an earlier date, and if one accepts Mark as being the first Gospel, it could date to the early 50s.

RecipientsIt is impossible to decide the original

destination of this Gospel with any certainty. Yet there are indications which point to Gentile readers and some further evidence which supports the view that these Gentiles were in Rome.

Uniqueness of the book Almost certainly this Gospel is being written to

the Christians in Rome to encourage them. Mark presents a Jesus who was persecuted

and suffered, all without denying the Will of God.

Mark’s Gospel is a Gospel of action. Peter’s shadow is present in the Gospel. Mark’s Gospel is an argument for the

necessity of the Cross.

Outline of the BookI The Preparation of the Servant for Service (1:1-13)II The Preaching and Manifestation of the Servant (1:14-3:6)

Ministry in Galilee 1:14ffFirst Disciples 1:16-20Casting out demons and healings 1:21-2:22Lord of the Sabbath 2:23-3:6

III The Persecution and Opposition to the Servant (3:7-8:13)More healings 3:6-12The Apostles chosen 3:13-21Teachings and Parables 3:22-4:34Miracles 4:35-5:43In Nazareth 6:1-6:56God’s commandments versus those of men 7:1-8:13

IV The Preaching and Preparation of the Disciples (8:14-10:52)Peter’s Confession of Christ 8:22-33Cost of Discipleship, Transfiguration and healings 8:34-10:52

V The Passion of the Servant in Jerusalem (11:1-15:47)Palm Sunday 11:1-14Action and Prayer 11:15-26Challenge to Authority 11:27-44Olivet Discourse 13:1-37Preparation and Passover 14:1-31Betrayal and Crucifixion 14:32-15:41Burial 15:42-47

VI The Prosperity of the Servant in Resurrection (16:1-20).

The Gospel of Luke Key verses: 2:52, 4:18,19, 19:10

Key Chapter(s): Chapter 1, 4, 15, 19

Key Word(s) or Concept(s): Salvation, Son of man

Theme and Purpose To write an orderly account about the

life of Jesus Christ. To set forth the exact truth about the

things Theophilus has been taught. Luke is written to combat false

teachers.

Authorship Early church testimony is that Luke, “the

beloved physician” (Col 4:14), is the author of the Luke-Acts unit.

Both are addressed to Theophilus, probably the same person in both each account.

Who is Luke? The author was a traveling companion of Paul

(2 Tim 4:11; Philemon 24) The author is most likely a Gentile, writing to a

Gentile audience, probably in Rome. A physician and came from Antioch of Syria

(Col. 4:14) Met Paul in Tarsus where a medical university

was located

Date Acts ends with Paul’s first imprisonment of

two years in Rome (Acts 28:30-31). This would have been about A.D. 60-61. There is no evidence in either book of oppression of Christians by the Romans, so it is probably written before Nero came into power (64/65). This also fits with the fall of Jerusalem still being future.

Recipient/sThe Gospel was written for Theophilus,

which means “lover of God,” or “loved by God.” Since nothing is known about the man, it is possible this is a symbolic name used by Luke, either to a more general audience or to hide the identity of a high Roman official.

Uniqueness of the book Luke’s Gospel is aimed at salvation history. The Gospel has a worldwide view. Luke’s genealogy comes after the baptism to

establish Christ’s perfect humanity. There are no Hebrew or Aramaic terms used in the

Gospel, as used in the other three Gospels. Luke also dwells on the birth and childhood of

Jesus. Luke’s Gospel is full of references to the power

and presence of the Spirit

Outline of the BookI Prologue 1:1-4II The Identification of the Son of Man

His Entrance into the World 1:5-2:52His Presentation to Israel 3:1-4:13

III The Ministry of the Son of ManThe Ministry Begins 4:14-30Authority Demonstrated 4:31-6:11Disciples Chosen 6:12-49More Ministry 7:1-9:50

IV The Rejection of the Son of ManHis Final Journey to Jerusalem 9:51-62Instruction in View of His Rejection 10:1-19:27

V The Suffering and Sacrifice of the Son of ManHis Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem 19:28-44Debates with the Leaders 19:45-21:38Betrayal and Arrest 22:1-53Trials 22:54-23:25His Death 23:26-56

VI Authentication of the Son of ManThe Empty Tomb 24:1-12The Emmaus Road 24:13-35His Resurrection Appearances to the Disciples 24:36-49His Ascension into Heaven 24:50-53