The Formation of the Gospels and the Kerygma outline

Cabrido, John SDB. Hanep, Biblia!, chapter 20 (Simply Jesus) Hendrickx, Herman. From One Jesus to Four Gospels

 What

is Semitic?

The word "Semitic" is an adjective derived from Shem, one of the three sons of Noah in the Bible (Genesis 5.32, 6.10, 10.21), or more precisely from the Greek derivative of that name, namely (Sm); the noun form referring to a person is Semite.

 Moreover:

The term Semite means a member of any of various ancient and modern people originating in southwestern Asia, including Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, Arabs, and Ethiopian Semites. It was proposed at first to refer to the languages related to Hebrew

 Today:

The term "anti-Semitic" (or "anti-Semite") usually refers to Jews only.

 The

closest Hebrew word suggestive of the meaning of gospel is bashar. It means announcement made, often in royal context, of some good news

The Greek noun, euanggelion, originally referred to the reward given to someone bringing the good news.

Gospel:
Goodnews

Kerygma:
Proclamation

Parousia:
Second coming of Christ

1.

Time of Jesus
Words and Deeds of Jesus
2 types of misunderstanding

2.

Time of the Apostles

2 significant events:
1. Resurrection 2. Coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

2 things became clear:

1. Jesus death was not Tragic 2. Jesus death was Salvific

3.

Time of the Evangelists

The core of the Kerygma
1. Passion 2. Death 3. Resurrection

1.

As long as the proclamation was confined to Palestine or had barely started outside that country, the basic facts about Jesus life on which this proclamation was based were sufficiently known, so that there was no need to record them and spread them in written form.

2.

During Jesus life his teachings were not written down. They were listened to. After Jesus death people listened to what the apostles proclaimed about Jesus. At first nobody thought of writing down what they said. As a rule, in a Semitic environment people preferred the spoken, living word to the written word.

3.

The early Christians expected Jesus to come back soon, even during the first generation of Christians. If this was so, for whom should they write?

1.

When the gospel was preached farther and farther away from Jerusalem and converts came flocking into the young churches, there appeared a growing need for a written record of Jesus words and deeds for instruction purposes.

2.

With the death of the apostles and other witnesses, the direct contact between the remaining eyewitnesses and the ever increasing number of Christian communities became more and more problematic. So the written word came to be regarded somehow as substitute for the spoken word and the immediate, personal contact with the first eyewitnesses.

3.

As time went by the Christians gradually realized that Jesus would not come back soon as they originally expected. A second generation of Christians came on the scene and a third was just around the corner. The delay of the parousia called for a more permanent form of the gospel message.

1. 2. 3.

Gods promises to his people in the OT are now fulfilled. The long expected Messiah, born of Davids lineage has come He is Jesus of Nazareth who:
o o Went about doing good and performing mighty signs by Gods power; Was crucified according to the scriptures, that is, according to the plan of God as revealed in the scriptures;

Was raised from the dead and exalted at Gods right hand.

4. 5.

He will come again in glory for judgment; Therefore, let all those who hear this message repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.

Canonical/Canon :
The word "canon" means "standard" or "rule." It is the list of authoritative and inspired Scriptures.

Apocryphal/apocrypha :
A term applied to texts of uncertain authenticity or to writings where the legitimacy of authorship is in question.

The Beatitudes Love your enemies The Golden Rule Judge not, lest ye be judged The Test of a Good Person The Parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders The Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Parable of the Wedding Feast The Parable of the Talents The Parable of the Leaven The Parable of the blind leading the blind The Lord's Prayer Expounding of the Law The Birds of Heaven and The Lilies in the Field

How is the New Testament Divided?

The New Testament is divided in four main sections:

A. Gospels B. Acts C. Letter or Epistles D. Apocalyptic

Pauline Letters Hebrews Catholic Epistles

What is the meaning of the word Gospel?

The word Gospel comes from the Greek word Euangelion or Good News. The canonical Gospels were written in Koine Greek in the period 65100 A.D. The are four Canonical Gospels: Matthew Mark Synoptic Gospels Luke John The Gospels are not arranged in chronological order. Matthew for instance, was not the first Gospel to be written nor is the first book from the New Testament to be written. Biblical Scholars believe the Gospel of Mark was the first to be written around the years 6575 A.D. Mark seems to have been the source of early material for the other two synoptic Gospels. The synoptic Gospels are: Matthew, Mark and Luke. The word Synoptic literally means seen with the same eyes. These Three Gospels share a great deal of similarities in the events they cover.

When were the Gospels Written?

In chronological sequence Mark 65-75 A.D (16) Matthew 75-90 A.D (28) Luke 80-95 A.D. (24) John 90 A. D (21)

The Gospels
Gospel Date Author Audience Matthew 75- 90 A.D
Unknown, maybe a Disciple of Matthew Jewish Presents Jesus as the Fulfillment of the messianic prophecies and as a great teacher Gentiles Presents Jesus as Messiah and Son of God Greek and Roman readers. Presents Jesus as a universal savior Written for the instruction of the early Christian Church. Presents Jesus as the eternal word of God who became flesh.

Mark

65-75 A.D

Mark (according to Papias bishop of Hierapolis 130 A.D) According to Tradition Luke, the physician companion of St. Paul Unknown, according to Clement of Alexandria the Gospel was written by John the beloved disciple

Luke

80-95 A.D

John

90 A.D

Did you know?

There are two infancy narratives in the Gospels that tell the story of Jesus birth. These narratives come from the of Matthew and Luke. Gospels

Matthews account narrates the visit of the wise men from the East, the slaughtered of the Holy Innocents by Herod and the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. Lukes account narrates the story of Jesus being born in a manger, because there was no room in the inn and the appearance of the Angels to the shepherds.

The Importance of the Gospels

The Gospels are four intimate portraits of the person of Jesus, as he was understood, interpreted, venerated, and remembered by the Christian communities that were touched by the experience of his paschal mystery: life, death, and resurrection. These sacred accounts of Jesus life and ministry are not biographical accounts of Jesus in the modern sense of the word. They are first and foremost theological documents of the Churchs faith, a deep faith in Jesus as savior of the world and his message about the Kingdom of God that he inaugurates among men The Gospels are the soul of the New Testament, they are the primary source for the words, sayings, teachings, sermons, parables, deeds, actions, miracles, preaching in the life of Jesus and his ministry among the men and women of his time. The Good News of Jesus Christ attested by the Gospels, through the centuries, continue to transform and to enrich the lives of those who come in contact with the living Son of God through the Gospel and its message of salvation. The life of the Church today also continues to be nourished in its liturgy, sacramentality, and mission by the richness and power of the Good News.

The Passion Narratives

Objectives
Review the passion narratives and the overview of the four canonical Gospels Study and analyze the structure of Marks Gospel

references
Cabrido, John SDB. Hanep, Biblia!, chapter 21 (Pusong Sugatan) Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the New Testament. Henrickx, Herman. From One Jesus to Four Gospels.

Today the cross has become a fashion statement. We forget that crucifixion, in ancient times, was the capital punishment for the most heinous crime, like treason against the Roman Empire or blasphemy for the Israel.

The early Christians did not deny it but they embrace the cross. (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18)

It forms nucleus of their proclamation and is the single largest solid block of continuous narrative in chronological sequence shared by the four Gospels

It is the longest and most extensive, sustained narrative common to all the four Gospels. Both the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John show remarkable unanimity. Each Gospel meticulously prepares for their narrative of the passion story.

In the light of Resurrection and later the Pentecost, two things became clear:
1.

His death was not a tragedy. (Mk 14:16; Jn. 18:4) His death was salvific (cf. 1Cor. 15:3; 1Peter 3:18)

2.

The passion narratives of each Gospel presents us insights into the figure of Christ most needed by their individual Christian communities.

Mark, Jesus is the Suffering Messiah

To show to the people that Jesus is the Messiah.

Matthew, Jesus is the obedient Son and Lord in his community

To show to the people the authority of Christ.

Luke presents Jesus Compassionate Lord.

as

the

innocent

To show to the people the universality of salvation.

John, Jesus is the Ultimate Word of revelation.

The community of Mark was composed of Jewish Christians and Gentile converts who lived outside of Palestine and were breaking away from the traditional Jewish practices.

Socioeconomically, the members belonged to the poorer classes.

The central concern of the Gospel is the communitys experience of suffering. Christ is recognized only on the cross.

Author: Mark was the companion of Peter who wrote down the teaching of and stories about Jesus as told by Peter. Place: Tradition has it that the gospel was written in Rome. Date of writing: 65-67 A.D.

The operative title of Jesus in Mark is Son of Man. Used by Ezekiel, it emphasized the humanity of Gods prophet. This title is remarkable because this is Jesus self-definition. It is a title Jesus reserves for himself when speaking about himself.

The confession of Peter: Turning point of the Gospel

(This means that the confession of Peter is considered as both the conclusion of the first part and the beginning of the second part of the Gospel)

The key to this puzzle lies in the middle of the Gospel. Peter recognizes that Jesus is Gods messiah and is immediately told not to tell anyone. The Messianic Secret points to the paradox of who Jesus is: the powerful Son of God who is destined to die on the cross.