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Hamilton Reformed Church 2010

Hamilton Reformed Church 2010. New Testament Survey Session 2 – The Synoptic Gospels & Acts. New Testament Survey. Background The Synoptic Gospels and Acts The Writings of John Paul’s Letters The Other New Testament Letters. Recap … God’s sovereign hand. Under foreign rule – Roman

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Hamilton Reformed Church 2010

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  1. Hamilton Reformed Church 2010 New Testament Survey Session 2 – The Synoptic Gospels & Acts

  2. New Testament Survey • Background • The Synoptic Gospels and Acts • The Writings of John • Paul’s Letters • The Other New Testament Letters

  3. Recap … God’s sovereign hand • Under foreign rule – Roman • But still in the promised land, religion focussed around temple • One huge empire • Time of peace, ease of travel (letters carried by hand) • Jews / Jewish synagogues scattered throughout empire • In communication with Jerusalem, many come to Jerusalem for Passover • One common language – Greek • OT available in Greek (Septuagint) • Great sense of expectation …

  4. Unanswered Questions • Where is this promised king and his kingdom? • Where is the greater glory God promised for the new temple? (Haggai 2:9) • What has happened to God’s covenant with us? • Why have we not heard from God for 430 years? • Has God in his anger forgotten to show mercy? (Psalm 77:9) The King has come!

  5. The Synoptic Gospels • Tell the story of Jesus • Cover very short period of time • Historical narrative • To communicate a particular message • Look for this Gospel’s point • “Contradictions” testify to eye-witness accounts • Is there a common source for synoptics? • Self consciously build on Old Testament • Each has distinct entry point from OT • NT writers constantly prove points from OT

  6. The Kingdom in the Gospels • Synoptics all speak of coming of long awaited Kingdom • In OT future but in Gospels Kingdom breaks in • Matthew & Luke – Kingdom “at hand” and “has come” • Kingdom comes at exorcisms • Mark – Kingdom always near • but doesn’t come till Jesus’ death • Parables illustrate the Kingdom • Miracles are evidence of the Kingdom

  7. Matthew • A Jew writing to Jews • Matthew – the disciple (ex tax collector) • Picks up from 2 Chronicles • Follows style of OT • Traces legal line from Abraham in Rabbinic style • Presents Jesus as the promised Messiah • Repeated use of “fulfil” • Quotes OT 62x (Mark 30x, Luke 26x, John 16x)

  8. Matthew cont … • Arranged around 5 discourses interspersed with narrative • Sermon on the mount • Commissioning of disciples • Kingdom parables • Parables of unmerciful servant etc • Olivet Discourse • Discourse flows naturally out of narrative • E.g. 4:23 & 9:35 • “When Jesus finished saying there things he …” • Material grouped thematically rather than chronologically

  9. Sermon on the mount • Charter of the Kingdom • Sets out Kingdom ethics • Contrasts Kingdom righteousness with that of Pharisees • Lord’s prayer – both present and future reality • Already but not yet Kingdom • Those who enter coming Kingdom are those live obediently as Kingdom citizens now • But drives to the cross Matt 5:20

  10. Mark • A Jew writing to Gentiles • Most likely John Mark (not disciple) • Seems to be derived from preaching of Peter • Picks up from end of Isaiah • Shortest of Gospels • Fast paced – “immediately …” • Follows plan of a narrative, fuelled by conflict towards resolution • Starts at time of Jesus’ ministry • Virtually no intrusion into story

  11. Mark cont … • States purpose up front 1:1 • Gospel of two halves • Culminated in two confessions • In 1st half successful, popular • In 2nd half progressively abandoned • Son of God not necessarily same as God the Son • In OT SoG honorific for Israel & King • Shorter ending (at 16:8) probably original

  12. Luke / Acts • A Gentile writing to Gentiles • Luke – the doctor • Picks up from Malachi • Follows style of OT • Traces biological line from Adam • Purpose statement Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1ff • Two volume work centred around Jerusalem • Seems interviewed number of eye witnesses • Very accurate historically • Longest of Gospels • Many unique features in Luke • Mention of boyhood, interest in siblings

  13. Luke • Marked by interest in people • Individuals: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, Anna, Mary & Martha, Zaccheus • Social outcasts: shepherds, sinful woman (7:36ff), tax collectors, penitent thief on cross, parables: Pharisee & Tax Collector, Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son • Women: mentions 13 women not mentioned elsewhere including widow of Nain, women who supported Jesus • Social relationships: 3x dines with Pharisees, visiting Mary & Martha, Zaccheus, home in Emmaus • Poverty & Wealth: 2 debtors, rich fool, tower builder, lost coin, unjust steward, rich man & Lazarus, parable of minas

  14. Luke • Gospel of prayer • 9 prayers of Jesus – only 2 found elsewhere • Holy Spirit • At Jesus’ conception, baptism, temptation, synagogue in Nazareth, gives joy in work • Joy • songs of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, Angels • Finishes with joy 24:52,53 (c.f. 24:32) • Jesus ministry covered in three sections • In and around Galilee 4:14-9:50 • Journey section 9:51-19:27 • In Jerusalem 19:28-24:53 • Jesus as Son of Man • compassionate, ideal man but also Saviour of the world.

  15. Acts • Act II • Same genre as Gospels • Written around AD62 • Linchpin in NT – bridge from Gospels to Letters • Movement of Gospel from Jew to Gentile • Establishes credentials of NT writers • Gives background to many of Epistles • Descriptive not prescriptive! • E.gs. Practices of early church • Selling of property

  16. Acts • Book in two halves • Chs 1-12 Gospel to Jews (Peter) • Chs 13-28 Gospel to Gentiles (Paul) • Follows geographic plan of Acts 1:8 • Chs 1-7 Jerusalem • Ch 8 Samaria • Ch 10 Caesarea (in Gentiles house – ends of earth!) • Marked by regular summary statements • E.g. Acts 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20 • Each marks pause before Gospel goes in new direction

  17. Acts • Begins with brief recap of end of Luke • Acts 2 possible because of way God worked in history • OT believers gather in Jerusalem for the Passover • The Church is born! • Church initially unopposed (2:47) • But opposition again resurges (4:1ff) • As well as corruption within (5:1-10) • And tensions between members (6:1-7) • Martyrdom of Stephen scatters believers (7) • But serves purpose of advancing Gospel (8:4) • But persecution follows the church (9:1ff)

  18. Acts • The persecutor becomes a promoter (9:4ff) • The persecutor becomes the persecuted (9:29) • But for a time, the church knows peace (9:31) • The Gospel goes to Gentiles (10) • And Jews rejoice … eventually (11:18) • The church establishes a base in Gentile territory (10:19ff) • James (brother of John) martyred (12:1ff) • Missionary work begins (13:1ff) • Division is avoided (15) • Gentiles help Jews (21:17-19) • Paul arrested and finishes in Rome (21:17ff)

  19. Summary • The King has come … • And gone … • But he’s still here … (Matt 28:20) • In very brief period of time Gospel explodes onto world stage, spreads rapidly, baton passed to Gentiles • Christ is building his Kingdom … • And the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matt 16:18)

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