Theo 2 - "Gospel"

“Gospel”
• Greek euangelion “good news”
• Refers to:
– Message taught by Jesus
– Message about Jesus
• Transmitted orally at first
– E.g. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 “I received from
the Lord what I also handed on to you …”

Why not write a Gospel?
• Apocalyptic expectations (Mark 13:30)
• Respect for oral tradition (e.g. Papias)

Why write a Gospel?
• Death of the eyewitnesses
• Delay of Jesus’ parousia
“appearance”
• Missionary needs
• Controversies over doctrine

The Synoptic Gospels
• Very similar, frequently identical in wording;
sometimes:
– All 3 the same
– Any 2 the same
– All 3 different

Who wrote the Gospels?
• All 4 NT Gospels are anonymous
• Original title: Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Church attached “according to…” in 2nd
cent. CE to distinguish one from another

Gospel according to Mark
• Church tradition: John Mark, Jewish
associate of Paul in Acts
– Wrote from Peter’s preaching in Rome
– But inaccurate re. Jewish customs &
local geography
• For gentile Christians, 70 CE?
• Structure:
– Galilean ministry (chs. 1-9)
– Conflict in Jerusalem (chs. 10-16)

Gospel according to Matthew
• Church tradition: Matthew, Jewish, one of
the 12 disciples
• For: Matt is expert in Jewish customs and
local geography
• Against: Why copy from Mark?
• Written for Jewish-Christians, 85-90 CE?

Gospel according to Luke
• Church tradition: Luke, Greek
physician and associate of Paul
in Acts (also by Luke)
• Supported by:
– good Greek style
– Pauline influence
– emphasis on healing
• Written for gentile Christians,
70-100 CE

Gospel according to
John
• Differs from Synoptics:
– Style & theology
– Contents
– Arrangement
• But similar to 1,2,3 Letters of John
• Source is “the beloved disciple,” John 21:24
• Church tradition: John, son of Zebedee, one of
12 disciples, Jewish
• Modern historians: who knows?