A Case for Christ and the New Testament: Introduction to the Gospels – Why are there differences between them?

Introduction to the Gospels
Matthew – Mark – Luke – John

In our current series we are focusing on a few different things to make a case for Christ and the New Testament: Apologetics, hermeneutics and a specific study in the Gospel of John. Doing these three things will help us better understand the truths of the Bible and the person of Jesus, as well as provide answers to a culture who is skeptical of the Christian faith.

Before looking at the question [Why are there differences between the Gospels?] it is important to know something about the people who were living in this first century narrative. The culture of that day was very different but in many ways they dealt with the same issues that still plague us today: Politics, power and status.

Historical and Cultural Context of the Gospels

Politically – A Roman world

Culturally – A Greek world (Hellenistic)

Religiously – A Jewish world in and around Jerusalem, and a polytheistic world in the Roman Empire

Languages – Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, Latin

Sects and other groups in first century Judaism:

The Pharisees

Term means “separated ones” in a ritualistic sense
Originated shortly after the Maccabean revolt
Consisted of middle-class laymen
Largest sect numbering ~6,000 at the time of Herod the Great
Held to the Rabbinic and Mosaic laws in a very strict sense but would find loopholes and create new regulations to get around things they wanted to do

The Sadducees

Aristocratic heirs that had more power than the Pharisees because they controlled the priesthood
Regarded only the first five books of the Bible (Torah) as fully authoritative and denied the oral law of the non-priestly rabbis
Did not believe in angels, spirits, immortality of the soul or the resurrection of the body

The Essenes

A group that had become disgruntled with the increasing political aim of the Pharisees
Some lived in monastic communities (such as the one at Qumran that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls)
They had very strict requirements, admission mandated a two or three year probationary period and relinquishment of all possessions to a communal treasury
They either refrained from marriage or they stopped cohabiting with their wives
To symbolize their purity they would wear white robes

The Herodians

A small minority of influential and politically minded Jews who were centered in Galilee where Herod Antipas ruled
They supported the Herodian dynasty and the Roman Government

The Zealots

Revolutionaries who refused to pay taxes and were dedicated to overthrowing Roman power
They believed it was sinful to acknowledge Caesar as a god and they refused to give loyalty to him
They sparked several uprisings including the final Jewish revolt that lead to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

The Scribes

They originated with Ezra, according to tradition, and interpreted and taught the Old Testament Law in the Temple precincts and synagogues
They acted as lawyers on cases brought to them
Most belonged to the Pharisaical sect, though not all Pharisees were scribes

The Sanhedrin

The Jewish Supreme Court presided over by the high priest along with seventy members who came from both the Pharisees and Sadducees
They met daily in Jerusalem, except for Sabbaths and other holy days, to govern domestic and religious matters; they even commanded their own police force under the authority of the Roman Government
The New Testament also refers to them by the terms council, chief priests, elders, and rulers

All of these groups vied for power and control, yet all were under the authority of the Roman Empire which was steadily growing more hostile under progressively evil Emperors. This climaxed in the destruction of the Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70 and then continued in persecution of both Jews and Christians on into the fourth century A.D.

For an excellent treatment of the culture and people of the late first century B.C. and early first century A.D. read “Killing Jesus” by Martin Dugard and Bill O’Reilly.

Hermeneutical Keys to Interpreting and Understanding the Gospels:

Because the Gospels are historical narratives the audience to whom it was originally written and the broader context of the passages are extremely important.
The Gospels demand background information regarding historical context, culture and social norms.
Read the entire Gospel in one sitting then focus on studying specific passages (remember thoughts and stories sometimes flow across chapters because chapters and verse were not there originally).
One of the primary goals of the Gospel writers is to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and God incarnate, as you study look at the Gospel teachings through that lens.
The central theme of the Gospels focuses on the Kingdom of God now and to come.
The Gospels are eyewitness accounts given by people who recorded first-hand experiences of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah’s life and ministry in the first century (unlike the Gnostic presentations of Jesus and other false writings found in the second century and on).
The Gospels present the “New Covenant” and show how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Covenants through His victory over death and Satan’s attempt to crush the righteous seed.
The Gospels demonstrate Jesus’ fulfillment of the promised Messiah from a multitude of prophecies in the Old Testament.
The Gospels present the “Good News” of Jesus Christ who brings us Salvation by the grace of God (hesed) and not of our own abilities—and we are commanded to share this “Good News” with others.
The Gospels reveal the character of God through the person of Jesus.
The Gospels present The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, given to us by Jesus when we come to faith in Him. The Holy Spirit is the teacher of truth—God’s truth about life, human purpose, and eternal destiny found in the Holy Scriptures.
The Gospels give Jesus’ teachings on end times including glimpses of Heaven versus hell.

Great resources:

With four different Gospels it is important to do comparisons in order to understand the perspectives and intent of the writers…

There are four Gospels that record eyewitness accounts of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. Each one is written in the first century A.D. to different groups of people by authors with a specific purpose in mind. Keep in mind that each author writes from an eyewitness perspective, whether their own or someone they are interviewing.

In good eyewitness accounts we would expect to see differences in their views, but not in the actual events, just like witnesses to an accident or other event, and that’s what we find in these Gospels. If their accounts were identical then we would assume collusion or falsification through conspiracy, but that is not what we find in these four Gospels. Good detective work will reveal that these Gospel authors are authentic and accurate in their accounts and differences between accounts can be easily reconciled with close examination.

This overview might be helpful:

Matthew: Written by the Apostle Matthew, Jesus’ disciple. Written to Jewish Christians to show a picture of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Matthew writes with a focus on what Jesus said: His discourses, His prophecy fulfillment, and His long sermons with Mountain theology that would resonate with the Jews because of Moses and the teachings in the Old Testament.

Mark: Written by John Mark who was a companion of both Apostles Peter and Paul. He gives his own eyewitness account along with much of Peter’s experiences. Mark writes to Roman Christians to show Jesus as a servant of both God and man. Mark writes with a focus on what Jesus did: His servanthood and His miracles. Mark’s Gospel is often referred to as the “fast Gospel” and is considered to be the first Gospel written.

Luke: Written by Luke the Physician, Historian and companion of the Apostle Paul. Luke investigates and gives a “detailed account of what had happened.” Written specifically a person named Theophilus but in general to Greek Christians/Gentiles to explain Jesus as the Son of Man and Savior. Luke writes with a focus on what Jesus felt as a man: His human side, His parables, His prophecy fulfillment, and the eyewitness accounts of His life to confirm the reports already circulating in the first century.

John: Written by the Apostle John, Jesus’ disciple and one of His closest companions. Written to the Church, both Jew and Gentile in the later first century to fill in things not written in the other three Gospels (known as the synoptic Gospels). John writes to prove Jesus’ Deity and to combat the growing heresy of Gnostic and other philosophical teachings creeping in the early Church. John writes with a focus on Jesus as the “Word” and evidence for His Deity that includes His power over nature and life itself through the miracles He performed. He includes seven specific “I AM” statements (YHWH).

Note: In last week’s post we addressed the reasons why these are the inspired Gospels included in the New Testament and why there are no gospels that are lost, or have been left out.

J. Warner Wallace, Former Homicide Cold-Case Detective and former atheist who, because of the evidence, became a Christian and has written several books including Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene and Forensic Faith. Check out this 28 minute interview with Wallace as he talks about the validity of the Gospels:

The four Gospels:
Focus Passages that emphasize their purpose…

(Jesus speaking in all these verses)

…”For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Matthew 5:19 (NASB)

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45 (NASB)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 (NASB)

Bible Study:

Read and study John chapters 10-11, then answer the following questions:

In chapter 10:1-21 Jesus uses two “I am” statements. What are they and what is their significance? (Extra Credit if you can find cross-references in the Old Testament)
Read 10:22-33. What did Jesus say and why did the Jewish leaders not believe him? Why did they pick up stones to stone him? (10:30-33) How do these verses support the concept of the Trinity and Jesus’ Deity?
Who were Lazarus, Martha and Mary and what was Jesus’ relationship with them? Why did he wait 4 days to raise Lazarus from the dead? (11:1-44) What is the significance of verse 11:35?
What was Martha’s confession in 11:27? Why did some believe in Jesus and others plotted to kill him? (11:45-48)
Who was Caiaphas and what prophetic statement did he make? What did the Jewish leaders plan to do from that day on? (11:49-57)

Join us next week as we continue our Case for Christ and the New Testament!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15