The Gospels

• Gospels are written records of Christ's deeds, derived from the Old English term "god-spel," translating to "Good News."
• The Roman Catholic Church has authorized canonical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) come from the Greek "synoptikos," meaning 'seeing together'
• The Gospels were initially spread orally.

Authorship and Inspiration

• The Bible was written by numerous individuals inspired by God, including Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• Compiling the books of the Bible spanned approximately two centuries, with God serving as the true inspiration.

Interpretation

• The Bible is the true word of God, interpretation should be attentive to God's intended revelations
• The Old and New Testaments are meant to separate his salvation and his revelation but to also unify them
• Both Testaments are the true word of God and mutually illuminating
• The Bible nourishes and governs the Christian Community.

Inerrancy

• The Bible, due to godly influence, is considered perfect and without error.
• The Bible teaches saving truth perfectly.

Catholic vs. Protestant Bible

• Catholic Bible: 27 New Testament books + 46 Old Testament books, which includes Deuterocanonical books: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and added sections of Esther and Daniel
• Protestant Bible: 27 New Testament books + 39 Old Testament books

Bible Organization

• Old Testament:
  • Pentateuch
  • Historical Books
  • Wisdom and Poetry Books
  • Major Writing Prophets
  • Minor Writing Prophets
• New Testament:
  • Gospel and Acts
  • Epistles
  • Pastorals
  • Revelations

Primary Sources on Jesus

• The primary sources of information about Jesus are found in the New Testament.

Gospels: Mark

• Mark presents the shortest Gospel.
• Mark did not witness the miracles, but was a disciple of St. Peter, representing Peter's perspective.
• It is believed that Mark was the "John Mark" mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
• Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, accompanied Paul and Peter to Rome.
• The Gospel of Mark was likely inspired by Peter's teachings.
• The gospel was first written around 60 CE in Rome, Italy.
• It was written for persecuted and suffering Gentile Christians.
• Jesus is depicted as the suffering Son of God.
• This was written shortly after many Christians, including eyewitnesses, were persecuted in Rome under Emperor Nero where some martyrs included Peter and Paul.
• The death of so many leaders possibly made it necessary for Mark to produce a written record of Jesus.
• Christianity was spreading throughout the Mediterranean.
• Mark's Jesus is portrayed as a man in a hurry, with no mention of birth or childhood.
• The Jesus in Mark is relatable, comfortable, and constantly moving.
• Mark's Jesus is the most human version, showing suffering, compassion, and anger.
• He is emotional, sorrowful on the cross, and afraid of death.

Gospels: Matthew

• Matthew paints Jesus as a teacher and the new Moses.
• With Syria being north of Palestine, the sizable Jewish population was what formed most of Matthews' congregation.
• Matthew forms his Gospel around the news that Jesus is the long waited Messiah and the fulfillment of Hebrew Scriptures.
• Jesus is presented as the new Moses.
• Matthew highlights Jesus' origin story and his family tree from Joseph.
• Some parallels drawn between Jesus and Moses are persecution when young and the murder of innocents.
• Just as young male Hebrew infants were doomed by Pharoah, Jews were hunted by Herod.
• Both of these boys escaped with the love of their families, but eventually came back.
• The Sermon of the Mount is similar to the Collection of the Law by Moses.
• Jesus expands on Moses' laws from Mount Sinai with his own authority.
• Gentiles were entering Matthew's church, so he included accounts of the Gentile Magi.
• It is a thoughtful, reflective Gospel organized into five principal areas.
• These are preceded by a narrative, collect Jesus' teachings on a topic, and finish with some variation of “When Jesus finished these words.."
• Matthew's teachings are referred to as a Catechism, making it the most used in teaching.
• Every page has Jesus as a master and rabbi.
• Matthew was an Apostle of Jesus.
• It was written for Christian Jews defending Jesus as the Messiah, focused on Jesus as a teaching savior.

Gospels: Luke

• Luke presents the longest Gospel.
• Luke was not an eyewitness but a disciple of St. Paul.
• It was written around 80 CE in Achaia, Greece.
• Luke was written for oppressed, poor, and marginalized Gentile Christians.
• Jesus is portrayed as the compassionate Saviour of the whole world.
• This is the way most people envision Jesus.
• Luke handles a diversity of themes without confusing his readers.
• Women have a prominent role, framing them as equals.
• The Holy Spirit plays a large role in the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.
• Luke speaks of Jesus' salvation for everyone, not just Jews.
• Jesus is presented as a friend and advocate for those who are considered distasteful, cursed, or sinners.
• Jesus shows these people incredible compassion.
• Only Luke tells the stories that paint Samaritans as heroes, like the Good Samaritan and the cleansing of the Ten Lepers.
• Only Luke tells the Parable of the Prodigal Son, which speaks of God's mercy and forgiveness.
• Additionally, only Luke records Jesus' forgiveness on the cross both of the people who crucified Him and of the sinner hanging next to Him.
• This gentle, compassionate Jesus is only dramatized by Luke's writing style.
• Luke softens the Gospel, giving it an aura of kindness even in tragedy and mayhem.

Gospels: John

• John was written around 90 CE in Ephesus, Turkey.
• It was written for Christian Jews in conflict with Jewish leaders where it Demonstrated Jesus as the life-giving Son of God from Heaven.
• Of the Gospels, John is the only one that is not seen as Synoptic where his Gospel is entering a whole new Jesus.
• It shows Jesus as noble and awe inspiring where John wants his readers to see Jesus as divine, and as part of the Father.
• John does acknowledge Jesus' humanity, but he tries to focus on Jesus as divine and His oneness with the Father.
• This figure is totally in control of the situation, even in the face of death, and knows other's thoughts and plans.
• There are many I AM passages sprinkled throughout emphasizing Moses' encounter at the burning Bush.

Synoptic Gospels Defined

• Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke
• Synoptic means to “see together”.
• These gospels share similar structure, content, and wording.
• They tell many of the same stories in the same order.
• They focus on the ministry of Jesus, parables, miracles, teachings, and passion.

Gospel of John's uniqueness

• The Gospel of John has a different structure from all the other Gospels.
• It emphasizes Jesus as divine and the Son of God.
• Much theological discourse and references “I AM-” referring to Moses are included.
• It has less parables and more focus on long conversations and miracles while Jesus is highlighted as the eternal truth.

Jesus in the Gospels

• Jesus is both divine and human who is teaching us about the Kingdom of God through parables and sermons.
• He performs miracles showing his power and empathy while fulfilling prophecies from the Old Testament
• Jesus is compassionate towards all outcasts of society while accepting suffering and crucifixion as a sacrifice for sins
• He resurrects, showing His power and offering salvation.

Paul's Story

• Paul was originally known as Saul, born in Tarsus, Turkey, at the start of the first century.
• Saul originally rejected Jesus as the Messiah and persecuted Christians in Jerusalem
• Saul went to Damascus, Syria, to gather believers when on the journey he experienced a flashing light and a voice asking “Why are you persecuting me?”
• Blinded by Jesus, Paul was led to Damascus.
• Paul began preaching Jesus as the Messiah, inspiring the Acts of the Apostles.
• 20-30 years after Jesus ascended, Paul wrote many letters to other Christian communities.

Acts of the Apostles

• The Acts of the Apostles and Paul were written by Luke, teaching about the transformation of Jesus' followers after his resurrection and calling to embrace God's love.
• Today, these teachings are lived out by worshiping God, accepting unconditional love, praying, and strengthening one's relationship with God.
• The acts of the apostles and Paul's writing highlight the disciples' adaptation to different peoples.
• The attitudes called for include awareness of cultural differences, inclusiveness, love, respect, patience, understanding, and unity despite differences.

Exegesis

• Reading Scripture in the proper context is crucial for understanding God's message as conveyed by the sacred authors.
• Exegesis: careful investigation of the original meaning of texts in their historical and literary contexts.
• Exegesis is important as a critical explanation of a text within its historical and literary context.
• Exegesis aids in understanding the Gospels by asking 'critical' questions based on clear, careful, and objective ‘criteria'.

Passion Narratives

• Passion narratives detail Jesus' suffering and death in the four canonical gospels.
• These narratives cover major events from Jesus' agony and arrest in Gethsemane to his burial. The Paschal Mystery encompasses Jesus' suffering (passion), death, and resurrection.

Paschal Mystery

• "Paschal” means Easter.
• The Cross:
  • A sign of God's care and concern for those who suffer where God is always with everyone in times of suffering.
  • Jesus' death on the cross was necessary in order for him to be fully human
• The Empty Tomb:
  • Jesus' resurrection shows that life will overcome death where death is never the end so Jesus died so that everyone have eternal life with God.
  • Jesus' resurrection shows that he was both fully human and fully God.
• A covenant is an agreement between God and his people, involving promises and expected conduct.
• The New Covenant is God's promise to forgive sin and restore communion with those who believe in Jesus Christ.

The Golden Rule

• Living out the Golden Rule would treat others as they like to be treated contributing to a more just society
• Practicing the Golden Rule creates empathy that encourages individuals to consider others' feelings + reduces conflicts by promoting mutual respect.

Jesus' Interactions and Love

• Ministering to outcaste people by the Jewish society (Samaritans) reveals that all people are valuable to God and that Jesus desires that we demonstrate love to everyone including our enemies.
• The Samaritan woman's sins were "washed away" by Jesus, showing God's willingness to forgive all people, even those who have low status in society

Moral Decision

• A moral decision involves evaluating what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unjust, based on ethical principles and values.
• A decision is a choice made between options based on personal preferences or practical needs, without necessarily involving ethical concerns.
• A moral decision, on the other hand, involves choosing between right and wrong, guided by ethical values, considers the impact on others, and often involves a sense of duty or responsibility.

Discipleship

• Discipleship stems from "discipline" involving a follower, discipline, and believer
• Following: using the Good News as a guide
• Discipline: transforming the Good News into behavior
• Believer: knowing the Good News and, in turn, God in a deep and personal sense
• Qualities of a friend equal that of discipleship + Service to others is the key to being a follower of Jesus.
• Being A follower of Jesus involves risk and challenge, and strong faith that is reacting to society when one goes against what Jesus says to do.

Scripture

• In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus calls Simon Peter and Andrew to follow him making them fishers of men.
• A faithful disciple does not question Jesus and serves others.

Catholic Social Teachings

• Common Good in actions and societies considering not the good of few, but all humans and the planet where we love our neighbor, locally and globally, above any commercial interest.
• Dignity of the Human Purpose is the foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching is the inherent dignity of the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God where the Church calls for Integral Human Development that concerns the wellbeing of each person in every dimension: economic, political, social, ecological, and spiritual.
• Ecological Responsibility says the Earth is sacred for creation has its own intrinsic value + cherish the Earth's ecological diversity and life-sustaining systems.
• Economic Justice is where the economy must serve people, not the other way around where everyone has the right to dignified work, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
• Participation occurs as human beings are social, and how we live together affects dignity
• Peace is a goal of social life found when each is in the right relationship with God
• Preferential Option for the Poor is the moral test of any society based on how the most vulnerable people are treated where God prioritizes and calls for a unique concern for the poor.
• Rights + Responsibilities are inseparable from our responsibility to care for others & Solidarity is when each of us is part of the human community.

Parables

• Parables are special stories used in Jesus' teachings that is the technique to draw from common experience to make one's own lives be examined in light of the story
• Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector aims to teach those who are prideful for humility
• Message is that those acknowledging wrong will obtain God's mercy.
• 'Good news' of the gospel is Jesus' death for sins and rising again.
• Jesus loves unconditionally and forgives leading to potential life with God.

Elements of a Parable

• A story, a crisis, a comparison, information about God's kingdom, and an ending.

Miracles

• Miracle comes from the Latin word mirari which means “to wonder at.”
• There are 4 types of miracles:
  • Healing → Jesus relieves people's physical sufferings.
  • Exorcisms → Jesus drives out evil spirits.
  • Restoration of Life → There are three occasions in the Gospels
  • Nature → Jesus demonstrates control over the forces of nature.
• Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead in John 11:25.

Early Church

• Apostles that sold their possessions and gave them to those in need shows early Christians focus spreading the good news
• Early Church was open to all people (not just the Jewish people, but Gentiles as well)
• Early Christians remained faithful to the teachings of the apostles while gathering to pray and "break bread.”
• From the early church:
  • Should learn to share riches with the less fortunate
  • Be welcoming towards all people
  • Be devoted to learning the lord's teachings
  • Have our present day Church look like that as well.

Salvation

• Salvation is the saving of human beings from sin and its consequences
• Participating in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, is important
• Participation is the memorial of Christ's Passover, where He gives the very body up for us on the cross + the very blood which he poured out for man for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus as Emissary

• Jesus is the Father's Emissary and appointed twelve apostles to preach where their ministry continues Jesus' mission
• The Gospel says to the twelve:
  • Matthew 10:40 - “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes I welcome the one who sent me.
  • Luke 10:16 - “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
• Jesus unites the apostles to the mission he received from the Father where Christ promised to remain with the apostles always
• Divine mission entrusted continues to the end of time with apostles appointing successors.

Four Faces of Jesus Story

• Different Gospel writers provide four different perspectives of Jesus, as most public figures tend to be interpreted very differently.
• The Gospel writers were challenged with portraying someone who was both fully human and fully God.
• Before Vatican II most Christian writers emphasized Jesus as divine, while after Vatican II the focus switched to his divinity + Gospel writers chose the parts of Jesus that would be most relevant to their audience.
• There is no one that authentic over the other, but rather, a Jesus emerges from the four accounts who is much deeper than only one narrative could give.
• We all have our own picture of Jesus, a Jesus who guides us on the path.

Scripture Terminology

• Literalists read and interpret in today's ordinary language that some call fundamentalists
• Contextualists read and interpret according to context taking into account that modern translation of ancient languages is an imperfect art where the Roman Catholic Church supports a contextualist understanding of Scriptures.
• Covenant = is an oath between two or more concerning future action where God made an everlasting covenant with the people of Israel
• Testament = a verbal agreement or formalized legal document
• Patriarch = male leaders of ancient Hebrew tribes appearing in Genesis
• Gospel= "good news", the name of the four New Testament books about Jesus while Christ =(“anointed one, the king) is a title, Resurrection = To be raised from the dead into a new glorified body, Ascension = The going to heave of Jesus in his risen.
• Diples = “student” + teaching master
• Apostle="one who is sent off" + teaching and close follower of Jesus
• BC: Religious is term used for time period before birth of Jesus vs BCE: (Before Common Era) is the Politically correct term
• AD: Latin for year of the Lord" is Religious for time period after birth of Jesus vs CE: (Common Era) is the Politically correct term