Synoptic Gospels Term paper
While the free essays can give you inspiration for writing, they cannot be used 'as is' because they will not meet your assignment's requirements. If you are in a time crunch, then you need a custom written term paper on your subject ( synoptic gospels )
Here you can hire an independent writer/researcher to custom write you an authentic essay to your specifications that will pass any plagiarism test (e.g. Turnitin). Waste no more time!
Should one fully read the opening four Gospels of the New Testament, he or she can find many similar patterns of literature and themes affording much attention to detail and study. This is what someone such as Merriam Webster would define as the “Synoptic Gospels”. So, what are and how can we explain the differences and similarities among synoptic authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the gospel, John? Which Book was written first? To what extent did the Evangelists depend on oral tradition, written sources, or each other? The phenomenon and mystery of these similar but unique Synoptic Gospels has for centuries challenged some of the best minds of academia and the church, stirring up much scholarly controversy; baffling many New Testament Survey students. To completely understand the similarities and differences between these Synoptic Gospels we must first be acquainted with the authors of them; we ought to discern the background of their life, academic qualifications, experiences, literature styles, and occupations. We must also ask the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? The first very important question I’d like to pose is: Who? Who were these author’s that challenged our hearts and minds and taught us Jesus’ life, ministries, and importance? The foremost book of the New Testament is Matthew. It was written by the author, Matthew, to illustrate clearly that the “King” has arrived. Matthew, a Jew, was very literate. He was a despised tax collector who later changed his life and lived completely for Jesus and became one of His’ twelve disciples. Matthew directed this Gospel to his fellow Jews c.60-65 A.D. to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and to explain God’s kingdom that He holds in store for all of man. The Jews waited for a leader who had been promised centuries before by prophets. They believed that this leader-the Messiah (“anointed one”)-would rescue them from their Roman oppressors and establish a new kingdom. As their king, he would rule the world with justice. However, many Jews overlooked prophecies that also spoke of this king as a suffering servant who would be rejected and killed. It is no wonder, then, that few recognized Jesus as the Messiah. “How could this humble carpenter’s son from Nazareth be their king,” they thought. But Jesus was the King of all the earth, and it was Matthew (Levi) who took it upon himself (but not alone) to spread the word. Matthew used about 1475 words, 137 of which are words used by him alone of all the New Testament writers. Of these latter 76 are classical; 15 were introduced for the first time by Matthew, or at least he was the first writer in whom they were discovered; 8 words were employed for the first time by Matthew and Mark, and 15 others by Matthew and another New Testament writer. It is probable that, at the time of the Evangelist, all these words were in current use. Matthew's Gospel contains many peculiar expressions that help to give decided colour to his style. Thus, he employs thirty-four times the expression basileia ton ouranon; this is never found in Mark and Luke, who, in parallel passages, replace it by basileia tou thou, which also occurs four times in Matthew. Matthew begins his account by giving Jesus’ genealogy. He then tells of Jesus’ birth and early years, including the escape to Egypt from the murderous Herod and their return to Nazareth. As you read this Gospel, Matthew’s message sounds clearly: Jesus is the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. The message of Mark was written c.55-65 A.D. and was probably the first Gospel to be written. It was printed to encourage Roman Christians to live closer and steadier to God and to prove beyond a doubt that Jesus is Messiah. He sought to reveal the true person, work, and teachings of Jesus Christ. Mark presents a rapid succession of vivid pictures of Jesus in action-His true identity revealed by what He does, not necessarily by what He says. It is Jesus on the move. Omitting the birth of Jesus, Mark begins with John the Baptist’s preaching. Then, moves quickly Jesus’ baptism, temptation in the desert, and call of the disciples. Mark takes us directly into Jesus’ public ministry. Events moved rapidly toward a climax. The Last Supper, the betrayal, the crucifixion, and the resurrection are dramatically portrayed, along with more examples of Jesus’ teachings. Through Mark’s unique style of writing, we view Jesus-moving, serving, sacrificing, and saving. Every birth is a miracle, and every child is a gift from God. But nearly twenty centuries ago, there was the miracle of miracles. A baby was born, but He was the Son of God. The Gospels tell of this birth, but Dr. Luke, as though he were the attending physician, provides most of the details surrounding this occasion. With divine Father and human mother, Jesus entered history-God in the flesh. It is generally held that Luke was a native of Antioch. Luke was not a Jew. Paul separates him from those of the circumcision (Col. iv, 14), and his style proves that he was a Greek. Hence he cannot be identified with Lucius the prophet of Acts, xiii, 1, nor with Lucius of Rom., xvi, 21, who was cognatus of St. Paul. As a doctor, Luke was a man of science, and as a Greek and Gentile Christian (the only known Gentile author in the New Testament), he was a...
Wenham 1992 John Wenham, Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke: A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem (Downers Grove, Ill.: Intervarsity, 1992). Robertson 1992 A.T. Robertson, M.A., D.D., LL.D., LITT.D, A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ (Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated, 1992) Stevens and Burton 1932 William Arnold Stevens and Ernest De Witt Burton, A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1932) Stonehouse 1963 Ned B. Stonehouse, Origins of the Synoptic Gospels, (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1963) Heim 1947 Ralph D. Heim, A Harmony of the Gospels for Students (Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1947) Linnemann 1992, ET 1992 Eta Linnemann, English trans. by Robert W. Yarbrough, Is There a Synoptic Problem: Rethinking the Literary Dependence of the First Three Gospels (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1992). Appleton 1910 Robert Appleton, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX (Robert Appleton Company, 1910) Koester 1990 Helmut Koester, Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development (Philadelphia: Trinity Press Int'l, 1990). Farmer 1994 William R. Farmer, The Gospel of Jesus: The Pastoral Relevance of the Synoptic Problem (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox, 1994).MLA Style
. EssayMania.com. Retrieved on 25 May, 2012 from
<http://essaymania.com/92989/-synoptic-gospels->
More College Papers
Taoism essay
Taoism
Taoism originated in China during the 300’s BC. It has been part of the Chinese culture for 2,000 years. It was during the same time period as Confucianism, but had opposite ideas and morals, yet it was equally as important as Confucianism in Chinese history. Taoism began as a reaction
The Ancient Druids essay
The ancient Druid religion was created within Celtic society at around 500 B.C.
The religion itself was manifested through observations of the natural world. These
observations of nature led to the philosophical, spiritual, and ritual base of the Druid
religion.
The ancient Celtic people populat
Buddhism essay
Buddhism is one of the biggest religions founded in India in the 6th and 5th cent. B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. One of the great Asian religions, it teaches the practice of and the observance of moral precepts. The basic doctrines include the four noble truths taught by the Buddha.