Chapter 2: The Gospels: Central Sources for Understanding Jesus

Chapter 2: The Gospels: Chapter 2: The Gospels: Central Sources for Central Sources for

Understanding JesusUnderstanding Jesus

Chapter 2: The GospelsChapter 2: The Gospels

Central Sources Central Sources

for for

Understanding Understanding

JesusJesus

CONCEPT ACONCEPT A

How Do We Read How Do We Read the Gospels the Gospels

The GospelsThe Gospels

were written under were written under the influence of the the influence of the Holy Spirit,Holy Spirit,

& from a certain& from a certain perspective were perspective were

shaped in part by shaped in part by the early Christian the early Christian culture,culture,

offer basic offer basic information about information about Jesus & his Jesus & his message, message,

are not strictly are not strictly biographies of biographies of Jesus, Jesus,

but testimonies of but testimonies of faith.faith.


are part of the faith are part of the faith sources of sources of information about information about Jesus – what we Jesus – what we learn about Jesus learn about Jesus from the Gospels is from the Gospels is revealed through revealed through the eyes of people the eyes of people who believed him to who believed him to be “THE CHRIST”.be “THE CHRIST”.


The Gospels’ concern is religious truth, The Gospels’ concern is religious truth, the deeper meaning God intends to the deeper meaning God intends to reveal to people through historical reveal to people through historical events. events.

The discernment of religious truth is The discernment of religious truth is the task of the entire Christian the task of the entire Christian community, under the guidance of community, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. the Holy Spirit.

TraditionTradition

The Roman Catholic The Roman Catholic church believes that church believes that the same Holy Spirit the same Holy Spirit who guided the who guided the Scriptures’ authors Scriptures’ authors continues to guide the continues to guide the church & help it church & help it clarify, develop, & clarify, develop, & preserve particular preserve particular teaching & practices.teaching & practices.

This is known as This is known as Tradition.Tradition.

Objectivity: Objectivity: The Only Test of Truth?The Only Test of Truth?

• Some have the Some have the mistakenmistaken notion that notion that because the Gospels because the Gospels were written by were written by believers in the risen believers in the risen Jesus, the accounts Jesus, the accounts are unreliable sources are unreliable sources of information about of information about Jesus.Jesus.

They think that to They think that to be accepted as be accepted as the truth, the the truth, the information about information about Jesus has to be Jesus has to be totally accurate & totally accurate & objective.objective.

Objectivity: Objectivity: The Only Test of Truth?The Only Test of Truth?

Others believe that Others believe that because the because the Gospels were Gospels were written under the written under the inspiration of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they Holy Spirit, they are exact factual are exact factual accounts of the accounts of the people & events people & events they describe.they describe.

They read the They read the Gospels in much Gospels in much the same way the same way they read they read newspapers or newspapers or current events.current events.

Both of these positions Both of these positions emphasize objectivityemphasize objectivity

That is - the That is - the reporting of facts reporting of facts alone, without alone, without interpretation interpretation through a through a personal personal viewpoint – as a viewpoint – as a measure of the measure of the truthfulness of truthfulness of the Gospels;the Gospels;

But objectivity is not But objectivity is not the only test of the the only test of the truthfulness of the truthfulness of the story.story.

A clearer A clearer understanding of what understanding of what is meant by history will is meant by history will help to show why this help to show why this is so.is so.

What Do We Mean by What Do We Mean by “History”?“History”?

The simple The simple recording of recording of observable facts observable facts

& events – as if & events – as if these facts & events these facts & events were captured by were captured by cameras;cameras;

This is a simplistic This is a simplistic understanding of understanding of

history since life history since life

is too complex is too complex

for this kind for this kind

of objective of objective description.description.

A World EventA World Event

Think of a world Think of a world event & how it may event & how it may be reported by 2 be reported by 2 different newspapers different newspapers or TV stations. or TV stations.

Some similarities Some similarities but some but some differences in differences in reporting & reporting & understanding understanding may be startling.may be startling.

Why would “objective recordings” Why would “objective recordings” of historical events contain of historical events contain

such differences?such differences?

• All historical information is interpreted All historical information is interpreted through the eyes & perspective of the one through the eyes & perspective of the one doing the reporting.doing the reporting.

• 2 reporters covering the same event may 2 reporters covering the same event may focus on different details, interview different focus on different details, interview different people, & convey the collected information in people, & convey the collected information in different styles.different styles.

Even the firsthand knowledge we gain through our own

experiences is interpreted by us.

We see it from a certain perspective – influenced by past experiences, family &

community, the culture we live in, etc.

No one’s perspective is totally objective since that would require one to be without a point of view – impossible!

The Good News, The Good News, Not the Daily NewsNot the Daily News

• Gospels written from a certain perspective – Gospels written from a certain perspective – shaped in part shaped in part

by the culture the early by the culture the early

Christians lived in – a culture Christians lived in – a culture

with a different language, with a different language,

geography, technology, history & religious geography, technology, history & religious tradition than our own -tradition than our own -

• Literary style of Gospels differs from what we find Literary style of Gospels differs from what we find in a modern newspaper account or biography of in a modern newspaper account or biography of someone famous -someone famous -

• Their writing styles & devices were what was common in their Their writing styles & devices were what was common in their own time: exaggeration, figures of speech, approximation & own time: exaggeration, figures of speech, approximation & poetry –poetry –

• They were writing for the people They were writing for the people

of their time, a fact that can of their time, a fact that can

make it difficult for us to make it difficult for us to

understand what they meant -understand what they meant -

• They selected just some of what had to be They selected just some of what had to be handed on by word of mouth or in writing.handed on by word of mouth or in writing.

• Sometimes they Sometimes they

summarized the summarized the

story of Jesus or story of Jesus or

combined certain elements.combined certain elements.

• Sometimes they explained the Good News in Sometimes they explained the Good News in view of the situation in their own faith view of the situation in their own faith communities.communities.

In this sense, Gospels In this sense, Gospels are are not biographies of Jesusnot biographies of Jesus

What are they?What are they?

Faith sourcesFaith sources

Writings that came out of the Writings that came out of the community of Jesus’ followerscommunity of Jesus’ followers

““Gospel”Gospel”

from Middle English word from Middle English word “Godspell”“Godspell”

Which means Which means

“ “good news” or good news” or

“ “glad tidings”glad tidings”

““Evangelion”Evangelion”

• Gospel, in turn, is a translation of the Gospel, in turn, is a translation of the Greek word “evangelion” meaning the Greek word “evangelion” meaning the “proclamation or announcement of good “proclamation or announcement of good news”news”

• writers of the Gospels are called the writers of the Gospels are called the “Evangelists” – proclaimers “Evangelists” – proclaimers

of the Good Newsof the Good News

From the origins of the word From the origins of the word “Gospel“Gospel” – ” – THEIR PURPOSE:THEIR PURPOSE:

• to proclaim a message of faith in Jesus – to proclaim a message of faith in Jesus – they are testimonies of faiththey are testimonies of faith

• not to provide accurate historical not to provide accurate historical accounts of the daily life of Jesusaccounts of the daily life of Jesus

• they are attempts by they are attempts by

the early followers the early followers

of Christ to share of Christ to share

their experiences their experiences

of Jesus with the worldof Jesus with the world

Similar to our telling others about a significant happening in

our lives

• Sharing precisely Sharing precisely every detail is often every detail is often not the main concernnot the main concern

• Giving whatever Giving whatever information will information will best help convey best help convey the meaning & the meaning & significance for the significance for the event in our lifeevent in our life

•Leaving out many of Leaving out many of the the

details does details does not not lessen the lessen the truth of truth of our storyour story

That the Gospels are not That the Gospels are not historical biographieshistorical biographies

does not automatically make them does not automatically make them untruthfuluntruthful

Rather, because Rather, because they were written they were written from a certainfrom a certaincultural & cultural & faith perspective, faith perspective,

understanding them requires more than understanding them requires more than simply reading them as if they were simply reading them as if they were newspaper or biographical accounts of newspaper or biographical accounts of Jesus.Jesus.

Searching for Religious TruthSearching for Religious Truth

The view of the Gospels that takes the The view of the Gospels that takes the Evangelists’ perspective into account Evangelists’ perspective into account does not place too much emphasis on does not place too much emphasis on the strict objectivity of their accounts.the strict objectivity of their accounts.

Searching for Religious TruthSearching for Religious Truth

Such a view instead focuses on the Gospels’ main Such a view instead focuses on the Gospels’ main message – which does not involve looking for message – which does not involve looking for historical truth historical truth

as much as it involves as much as it involves

looking for what is looking for what is

called religious truth.called religious truth.

For Christians this is the deeper meaning God intends For Christians this is the deeper meaning God intends to reveal to people through historical events.to reveal to people through historical events.

..

Biblical writers set out to do what modern reporters supposedly try to avoid: they interpreted events in light of their own faith convictions.

Because Christians believed the biblical writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit, they are confident that the Scriptures

contain the essential truth about Jesus.

The Stories of a Community: The Stories of a Community: the Gospelsthe Gospels

Offer basic Offer basic information about information about Jesus & his message;Jesus & his message;

With the rest of the With the rest of the New Testament, they New Testament, they reveal the meaning & reveal the meaning & significance of Jesus significance of Jesus for the people of his for the people of his time.time.

They tell the story of the one whom Christians

believed to be the Son of God

– the one who fully reveals to

humanity the very nature of God

in his person.

In seeking the religious truth of the Gospels, Catholic Christians are careful not to rely solely on the interpretation of 1 person, or even 1 group of persons, from a particular time.

Figuring out religious truth is the responsibility of the whole community of believers, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The ongoing task of the Christian The ongoing task of the Christian church is to reassess the church is to reassess the

significance of Jesus’ life message significance of Jesus’ life message for each new age & culture.for each new age & culture.

All are encouraged to read the All are encouraged to read the Scriptures personally Scriptures personally

& prayerfully;& prayerfully;

but to look to Church for but to look to Church for guidance in properly guidance in properly understanding the meaning of the understanding the meaning of the Scriptures for today.Scriptures for today.

This course:This course:

is not based on the is not based on the personal personal opinions of 1 person -opinions of 1 person -

its information & insights come from a its information & insights come from a whole host of sources within thewhole host of sources within the

Christian communityChristian community

including the official including the official teachings teachings of the Catholic churchof the Catholic church

which were developed with the help of which were developed with the help of respected biblical scholars respected biblical scholars & theologians.& theologians.

Focus: Scripture & Tradition Focus: Scripture & Tradition

Roman Catholic Church is committed Roman Catholic Church is committed

to Scripture & Tradition as major to Scripture & Tradition as major aspects to understand Jesus & his aspects to understand Jesus & his message.message.

This distinguishes it from other This distinguishes it from other

Christian churches – many of whom Christian churches – many of whom

rely only on Scripture as basis for rely only on Scripture as basis for teachings & practices.teachings & practices.

•Catholic church believes that the same Holy Spirit who guided the authors of the Scriptures continues to guide the church as it moves through history, leading it to clarify, develop, &

preserve particular teachings & practices.

•These official teachings & practices are known as Tradition.

•Catholics view Tradition - along with the Scriptures as its companion - to be authoritative guides to truth.

•The truth contained in the New Testament was actually part of the

Tradition of the 1st generation of Christians before it

was written down.

•On the basis of Tradition, Catholics accept as part of God’s

revelation some things implied, but not mentioned explicitly, in the Scriptures.

•Catholics have more sacraments than Protestant churches.

•Protestant churches usually accept only Baptism & Eucharist as sacraments because only these 2 are found explicitly in the

New Testament.



for for


JesusJesus

CONCEPT BCONCEPT B

The Development The Development of the Gospels of the Gospels

Stage 1: Jesus of Nazareth Stage 1: Jesus of Nazareth & His Disciples& His Disciples

The Basic Facts The Basic Facts

The Resurrection: The Resurrection: The Pivotal Event The Pivotal Event

Christ: Not Jesus’ Christ: Not Jesus’ Last Name Last Name

Stage 2: The Disciples & Stage 2: The Disciples & the Early Community of Faiththe Early Community of Faith

What Would You Do? What Would You Do?

Spreading the Spreading the

Word Near & Far Word Near & Far

Words & Deeds Words & Deeds to Remember to Remember

Stage 3: Stage 3: The Early Community of Faith The Early Community of Faith

& the Evangelists& the Evangelists The PassageThe Passage

of Time of Time

The Need The Need for Continued for Continued Instruction Instruction

Common Common Threads Threads

Focus: Like a Focus: Like a Many-Layered DrawingMany-Layered Drawing

On top of the “portrait of Jesus” that On top of the “portrait of Jesus” that they had kept in their memories, they had kept in their memories,

the evangelists superimposed a portrait the evangelists superimposed a portrait of the risen Jesus as they had come to of the risen Jesus as they had come to understand him after the resurrection.understand him after the resurrection.

The Gospels can only be understood in The Gospels can only be understood in light of faith in Jesus as the light of faith in Jesus as the

Risen One, Messiah, Christ, Son of GodRisen One, Messiah, Christ, Son of God



for for


JesusJesus

CONCEPT CCONCEPT C

The Gospels: 4 The Gospels: 4 Portraits of JesusPortraits of Jesus

Not simply the result of 4 individuals sitting down independently &

writing about Jesusbased on their own personal

recollections of him

Each evangelist had a wealth of material

available to him

The Gospels: The Gospels: 4 Portraits of Jesus4 Portraits of Jesus

Stories about Jesus were told over & over in community worship

Words of Jesus were recalled day after day in prayer

& applied to life experiences

Insights drawn by preachers about the relationship between the life &

message of Jesus & the history of the Jewish people

Mark’s Portrait of JesusMark’s Portrait of Jesus

The Human JesusThe Human Jesus

Luke’s Portrait of JesusLuke’s Portrait of Jesus

Jesus as the Compassionate SaviorJesus as the Compassionate Savior

Matthew’s Portrait of JesusMatthew’s Portrait of Jesus

Jesus as the Messiah of the JewsJesus as the Messiah of the Jews

John’s Portrait of JesusJohn’s Portrait of Jesus

Jesus as the Divine Son of GodJesus as the Divine Son of God

Who Do You Say That I Am?Who Do You Say That I Am?

Name Each of the 4 GospelsName Each of the 4 Gospels

AuthorAuthor

Approximate Date WrittenApproximate Date Written

Primary AudiencePrimary Audience

Central ThemesCentral Themes

GospelGospel Author DateAuthor Date Audience Audience ThemesThemes

Documents

Chapter 2: The Gospels: Central Sources for Understanding Jesus