ECEC New Testament Lecture 2 PDF

English Christian Education Course T h e N e w Te s t a t m e n t Nov 2024 1 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit...

English Christian Education Course T h e N e w Te s t a t m e n t Nov 2024 1 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 2  Aspect St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John Aramaic 39 – 42 AD Writing Date 60 – 61 AD 58 – 63 AD 90 – 100 AD Greek 60 – 67 AD Location of Judea Rome Rome Ephesus writing Symbol Man Lion Ox Eagle The whole Audience Jews Romans Greeks world (Church) Power – Fulfil the Law Grace – Save Introduction Prominent Idea (Messiah) Perform Miracles Humanity Glory - Divinity to the Gospel Portrait of Jesus King Servant of Perfect – Son Divine Son – Incarnated mankind of Man Word In the Genealogy of Voice crying in Opening Offerings beginning was Christ the wilderness the Word 3  Our Agenda Comparative study of the Gospel according to St. Mathew and St. Luke Key Points Who are they? Their lives and their calling. Circumstances of the writing, to whom, when….? Characteristics of the Gospel according to them. Our Agenda Some in depth studies The genealogy of Jesus The sermon at the The repentance Christ mountain parables Genealogy Starting Point Key Information Purpose Connection to Jewish History & Importance and key lessons Values and application Traditions  St. Matthew Bio & Background St. Matthew St. Matthew, originally named Levi which in Hebrew means Joined. His name "Matthew" means "gift of Jehovah.“ He was a Jewish chief tax collector from Capernaum - Galilee, working for Herod and the Romans, which made him unpopular among the Jews. Jesus passed by Mathew’s Office He said to him, “Follow Me.” so, he left everything & followed Him. He hosted a banquet for Jesus, inviting fellow tax collectors. (Mat. 9: 9, Mark 2:14 & Luke 5: 27, 28). From that time on St. Mathew followed Jesus & became one of the 12 apostles (see: Mat. 10: 3, Mark 3: 18, Luke 3: 15 & Acts 1: 13.) St. Matthew was very humble often referred to himself as a tax collector, acknowledging his past showing humility St. Matthew preached in Ethiopia, Persia, and other places. He was martyred for for the sake of Christ. (Synaxarium, Babah the 12th). The Gospel According to St. Matthew According to church traditions, It was originally written in two manuscripts: an Aramaic one (lost) and a Greek one. The Aramaic Manuscript: Early Church fathers like, Irenaeus, Jerome, St. Athanasius, Epiphanius, Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, and St. Clement of Alexandria agree that St. Matthew first wrote his gospel in Aramaic, the common Hebrew language. This manuscript was written between 39 and 45 AD but was lost due to the desolation of Jerusalem. The Greek Manuscript: which we have today, is believed to be either a translation or a rewritten version of the Aramaic manuscript. It was well accepted by the church fathers and is considered a genuine canonical gospel. The Greek manuscript was likely written between 60 and 65 AD to accommodate the Jews in the Diaspora who had gradually adopted Greek as their language. ❖Translation Presumption: The Greek manuscript is a translation of the Aramaic one, possibly by St. Matthew or under his supervision. ❖Original Manuscript Presumption: The Greek manuscript was originally written in Greek, not translated from Hebrew. This is supported by its similarities to the other gospels, use of Hebrew and Septuagint sources, and explanations of Hebrew terms and customs. 8 8 St. Matthew's Audience and Language Audience: St. Matthew wrote his gospel primarily for the Jews, especially those recently converted to Christianity. Genealogy of Christ: Begins with Abraham, the father of the Hebrews, and traces through the Davidic Kingdom. Old Testament References: Frequently quotes and refers to Jewish traditions, rites, and rituals. Language: Originally written in Aramaic/Hebrew and later translated to Greek. Aramaic Terms: Did not explain Aramaic words like "Raca" (empty- headed) and "Korban" (gift) because his audience understood them. St. Matthew’s Focus Gospel of the Kingdom of God: Presents Christ as the Heavenly King. Anticipated Messiah: Introduces Christ as the Messiah foretold by the prophets, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Defense Against Jewish Claims: Details Christ's virginal birth, resurrection, and the bribe given to guards to deny the resurrection 10 Main Teachings in St. Matthew's Gospel Sermon on the Mount (Chs. 5-8): Contrasts the righteousness of the Old Testament with that of the New Testament. Instructions to the Apostles (Ch. 10): Guidance for the apostles in their mission. Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (Ch. 13): Illustrates the nature of God's kingdom. Qualifications for Discipleship (Ch. 18): Requirements for being a disciple of Christ. Eschatological Discourses (Chs. 23-25): Teachings about the end times and the desolation of Jerusalem. Conclusion of St. Matthew's Gospel “All authority has been given to me in heaven & on earth, go therefore & make disciples of all the nations.” (Mat.28:18, 19) Christ the King: Emphasizes Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Authority of Christ: Great Commission: "All authority has Go therefore & make been given to me in disciples of all heaven and on nations. earth" 12  St. Luke Bio & Background  The Physician: St. Luke ST. Luke is often referred to as "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14)He portrayed Jesus Christ as the physician for all humanity, using medical language “…Physician, heal yourself! …” (Luke 4:23). St. Luke is the author of the Gospel acc. to St. Luke and the book of Acts. He was born in Antioch, Syria. Luke is a Greek name, The Painter: written as "Lukas," likely a St. Luke is often depicted with an ox on one side and painting tools on the other. short form of "Loukanos" or Tradition holds that the first painting of the Virgin Mary was made by "Loukios.“ and it means "The St. Luke. carrier of light" St. Luke was a Gentile who accepted the Christian faith around 36 A.D. from one of St. Luke The Historian: the disciples who left St. Luke is known for his careful historical accounts. His writings are filled Jerusalem to preach in with detailed accounts that provide a vivid picture of the events and people Antioch. He became a disciple of that time. He draws from eyewitnesses and ministers, likely including St. Mary. of St. Paul the Apostle. His precision is evident in passages like (Luke 1:5, 2:1-2, and 3:1-2) His Greek background and education are also evident. Early church fathers like St. Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea support the canonicity and authorship of his Gospel. St. Luke's Audience and Language Audience: St. Luke wrote his gospel primarily for the Gentiles (Greeks), represented by Theophilus, meaning "loved by God." Salvation For All: St. Luke emphasizes that Jesus came for all people, including Gentiles, not just Jews, presenting God's salvation as universal. Time, Place & Language: Written in classic Greek, using an elegant style. Written in Rome before the martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul, around 58-63 A.D. The Book of Acts was written shortly after this gospel. Universal Gospel (Inclusivity): The Kingdom of Heaven is open to Samaritans (Luke 9:51-56). The grateful leper was a Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19). Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). Roman centurion praised for his faith (Luke 7:9). Focus on the Poor and Outcasts: Parable of the Rich Man and the Poor Man Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus as the friend of outcasts and sinners, such as the woman who anointed His feet (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus' words: "They shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God" (Luke 13:29). Unique mentions to the birth of Christ and His Childhood by St. Luke The annunciation of Gabriel to St. Mary concerning the birth of Christ (1:26-38) The visit of St. Mary to Elizabeth, the wife of Zachariah (1:39-45) The birth of St. John the Baptist (1:57-66) The birth of Christ, and parallel events (2:1-7) The appearance of the angel to the shepherds (2:8-20) The circumcision of Jesus (2:21), Jesus presented in the temple. The early years of Jesus and Him growing up in Nazareth (2:39), His obedience to His mother and St. Joseph (2:51), Jesus amazing the scholars when He was twelve years old (2:41-50) Conclusion of St. Luke's Gospel 34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with [h]carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may [i]be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 37 And in the daytime, He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him. Vigilance and Preparedness: Jesus warns against being weighed down by the distractions and temptations of life, urging His followers to stay vigilant and prepared for His return (Luke 21:34-36). Prayer and Worthiness: Emphasizes the importance of constant prayer and striving to be worthy to stand before the Son of Man, highlighting the need for spiritual readiness (Luke 21:36). Jesus' Dedication to Teaching: Demonstrates Jesus' commitment to teaching and guiding the people, as He spent His days in the temple and nights on the Mount of Olives, showing His dedication to His mission (Luke 21:37-38 17  Some in depth studies The Genealogy of Christ The sermon at the mountain. The repentance parables.  Why … the genealogies? Purity of Lineage If in any man there was the slightest admixture of foreign blood, he lost his right to be called a Jew. Prophecies Because God had promised several people that the Messiah would be one of their descendants, it was important to maintain accurate genealogical records. Property rights: When the Jews settled in Israel, the tribes were given portions of the land. Individuals who could not trace their family had no inheritance in the nation of Israel. To understand Jewish Genealogy The use of the word “Son” The Jews did not use the word “son” in a limited sense, as we do today. Matthew states that Jesus was the “son of David, the son of Abraham”, meaning that Jesus was a descendant of David, who was a descendant of Abraham. Genealogical abridgement The custom of skipping generations can be called “genealogical abridgement”. In the Old Testament, compare Ezra 7:3 with 1 Chronicles 6:7-10, where 6 generations were skipped by Ezra. Jewish law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5): If a man died without any children, his brother must marry the widow and ensure the continuance of the line. When that happened, a son of such a marriage could be called the son of either the first or the second husband (but the firstborn child to be named after the dead husband) Comparison of Genealogies in Matthew and Luke: Aspect Matthew's Genealogy Luke's Genealogy Starting Point Abraham Jesus Himself (traced backward to Adam) Direction Descending (from Abraham to Jesus) Ascending (from Jesus to Adam) Purpose To emphasize Jesus' connection to David To highlight Jesus' universal humanity, and Abraham reaching Adam Key Figures Abraham, David, Solomon Adam, God (emphasizing Jesus as the Son of God) Number of 14 from Abraham to David, 14 from David Around 77 from Jesus to Adam (Luke 3:23- Generations to the Babylonian exile, 14 from Babylonian 38) exile to Jesus (Matthew 1:17) Women Four women are mentioned: Tamar, Rahab, Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist) Mentioned Ruth, Bathsheba mentioned Ending Point Jesus Adam 21 The 3 Parables of Repentance (Luke 15) Parable of the Lost Sheep: Parable of the Lost Coin: Parable of the Lost Son:  God bless you THANK YOU Neal Creative © Neal Creative ©