Matthew's date, image, and audience
Written circa 85 AD (Synoptic); "New Moses" and "Messiah"; Primarily Jewish Christians and Jews converting to Christianity
Written by Jewish-Christian scribe
Matthew
STRESSES JESUS FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES (MESSIANIC PROPHECIES) MADE BY GOD IN THE
HEBREW SCRIPTURES (OT)
Matthew
IMPARTS THE NEW LAW OF LOVE (EMPHASIS IS ON THE "SPIRIT OF THE LAW" VS THE
TRADITIONAL JEWISH EMPHASIS ON THE "LETTER OF THE LAW")
Matthew
DEMONSTRATES JESUS' ROLE AS TEACHER AND PREACHER (E.G. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT)
Matthew
DISCUSSES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF JESUS' FOLLOWERS: ASK "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?" AND
"WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM?" (MT 16); THE GRAND COMMISSION/"11 TH COMMANDMENT" (MT 28)
Matthew
Mark's date, image, and audience
circa 65-70 AD (Synoptic); The Suffering Servant; Persecuted Jewish Christians, probably in Rome
EARLIEST WRITTEN ACCOUNT (CANONICAL)
Mark
POSSIBLE COMPANION OF PETER, IF SO, IS REFERED TO AS JOHN MARK, A MISSIONARY IN ACTS
OF APOSTLES
Mark
RECOGNIZED AS THE "GOSPEL OF ACTION", JESUS IS ALWAYS ON THE MOVE
Mark
STRESSES THE HUMANITY AND SUFFERING OF JESUS, HE CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE SUFFERING OF
THE CHURCH
Mark
JESUS MOST OFTEN REFERS TO HIMSELF AS THE "SON OF MAN
Mark
MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IS TO NOT LOSE HEART, THE WAY TO GLORY IS THROUGH THE CROSS
- IMITATE JESUS' FIDELITY
Mark
MESSIANIC SECRET : PROTRAYS JESUS AS THE UNRECOGNIZED MESSIAH (JESUS' FOLLOWERS
SEEM TO TAKE A LONG WHILE TO CATCH ON TO WHO JESUS IS, AND WHEN THE FINALLY DO,
JESUS TELLS THEM TO KEEP IT A SECRET)
Mark
Luke's date, image, and audience
circa 80-90 AD (Synoptic); Universal Saviour; Gentile Christians
WRITTEN BY A GENTILE DOCTOR, PROBABLE COMPANION TO PAUL
Luke
IS THE FIRST PART TO A 2-PART WORK ADDRESSED TO THEOPHILUS
o THE SECOND PART IS THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES WHICH IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS
"GOSPEL OF HOLY SPIRIT
Luke
WRITTEN FOR GENTILE CHRISTIANS AND PERHAPS FOR WELL-TO-DO CHRISTIANS
Luke
STRESSES THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE CHRITISAN MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY BY SHOWING
WOMEN AND POOR AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE IN IMPORTANT ROLES
Luke
STRESSES JESUS' CONCERN, COMPASSSION, AND MERCY FOR SINNERS
Luke
IN THE MIRACLE STORIES, EMPHASIZES JESUS' COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING
Luke
STRESSES THE CENTRAL ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN JESUS' LIFE
Luke
John's date, image, and audience
circa 95 A.D; Divine and Eternal Logos ("Word of God"); Several Christian Churches in the Roman Empire (Probably Ephesus, Antioch, Syria, and Alexandria) during the 90s
PROBABLY WRITTEN BY A DISCIPLE OF THE "BELOVED APOSTLE"
o AUTHOR REFERS TO "BELOVED DISCIPLE" (GENERALLY THOUGHT TO BE JOHN, THE
APOSTLE) THROUGOUT THE ACCOUNT
John
THE MOST THEOLOGICAL OF THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS, IT RELFECTS THE THEOLOGICAL
SOPHISTICATION AND A CONCENTRATION ON SPIRITUAL REALITIES ("THE FATHER & I ARE ONE.")
John
IN PRESENTING JESUS AS THE "WORD OF GOD" (JN 1:1), JESUS' INCARNATION IS ALSO STRESSED
(JN 1:14)
John
EMPHASIZES FAITH AS COMING FROM GOD AND AS TRULY PRESENT WHEN THE BELIEVER IS
"WITHOUT SIGHT", THAT IS, WITHOUT VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF GOD (JN 20:29).
John
OFTEN USES THEME OF LIGHT VS DARKNESS, JESUS IS "LIGHT OF THE WORLD
John
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS SUMMARIZED
John
ESUS IS PORTRAYED AS "I AM"
o BREAD OF LIFE; LIGHT OF WORLD; GATE; GOOD SHEPHERD; RESURRECTION & LIFE; WAY,
TRUTH AND LIFE; THE TRUE VINE; "BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM
John
CONTAINS "BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE" (JN 6) WHICH CONTAINS DOGMATIC TEACHINGS ON THE
EUCHARIST
John
THE BOOK OF SIGNS (7!): PROOF OF JESUS' IDENTITY AS DIVINE LOGOS
John
Theophilus
Audience of both Luke and Acts; "Lover of God
Much of Jesus' ministry and
preaching is directed toward the plight
of the anawim.
Luke
The Prodigal Son
Luke (Poor and sinners)
Gentiles do not need to convert to
Judaism (by circumcision) to accept
Jesus
Luke
Jesus Presented as a Martyr
Luke
Common title for Jesus is "Lord" in ___
Luke
Emmaus Narrative is in ____
Luke
Inductive Reasoning
Draw conclusion form deducing (used by John)