BE 511 New Testament Studies I: Mathew - Acts
NT Book Digest #01: Matthew
Title: _______________________________________________________________
Why? Here – your rationale for the title you assigned, very
iefly stated
Background Considerations:
1a. Long accepted
1b. Written by Matthew, 1 of 12 – compelling & univocal external attestation, interesting inferential internal evidence (only Gospel not to say whose house the feast was at; knows publican’s world)
2b. Levi/Matthew = publican/tax collector, saved & called to be disciple then apostle, eyewitness to events
3b. Written to Jewish audience (much OT, no explanation of Jewish customs), probably when church = Jews
2a. Critical theory – written late, perhaps by disciple of “Matthew,” entirely on late hear-say accounts
3a. Historical / theological ramifications – eye-witness testimony circulated while still falsifiable, vs. exaggerated & fabulous accounts written late, after witnesses who might challenge them are gone
Outline:
Structure is very important to this book, as the author is crafting a finely tuned argument in defense of the Messiahship of Jesus—a defense made necessary by the very legitimate objection that this “Messiah” had not established a kingdom. The basic line of argument is as follows:
I. The Incarnation and the Preparation of the King (1:1-4:11)
II. The Declaration of the Principles of the King (4:12-7:29)
III. The Manifestation of the King (8:1-11:1)
IV. The Opposition to the King (11:2-13:53)
V. The Reaction of the King (13:54-19:2)
VI. The Formal Presentation & Rejection of the King (19:3-26:46)
VII. The Crucifixion and the Resu
ection of the King (26:1-28:20)
Primary Characters and Places of the Book:
Note: For each individual or place listed, the student is to provide a
ief (2 or 3 phrases at the most) annotation as to the role each plays in the book of Matthew, as well as the reason that person or place is important.
1. Mary/Joseph – Nazarene couple, betrothed; angel visits each; Mary bears, together they rear the Christ-child
2. Herod the Great – dying Roman king, impacted the land & the world, paranoid, tried to kill Jesus at His birth
3. Anna (prophetess) / Simeon – aged Jews, waiting for Messiah – they welcome new-born Jesus at the temple
4. John the Baptist – prepares the way, baptizes his Lord, a
ested, questions Jesus from prison, beheaded by Antipas
5. Pharisees - legalists, respected, controlled synagogues, resisted Jesus
6. Sadducees - Hellenized, unbelievers, controlled temple, ultimately sat in judgment, condemned Jesus
7. The Wilderness – You complete summary statements for balance of characters
8. Galilee –
9. Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum –
10. Peter, James, John –
11. The synagogue –
12. The Country of the Gergesenes –
13. Caesarea Philippi –
14. Bethany –
15. Mt of Olives –
16. Herod Antipas –
17. Judas Iscariot –
18. Caiaphas –
19. Pilate –
20. Centurion by the cross –
21. Mary Magdalene –
Special Features:
1a. a
anged logically rather than chronologically.
2a. Distinctly Jewish gospel, gospel of fulfilled prophesy, (“fulfilled” used 17x – be careful!)
2a. 5 extended discourses [Mount (5-7); commission of 12 (10); Parables (13); forgiveness (18); Olivet (24-25)
4a. Only gospel that mentions the church (16:18; 18:17)
3 Remarkable Chapters and Passages
Identify 3 passages and/or chapters in the book which it would be most important to be able to identify by memory; i.e., passages which are so basic / distinctive / important that a competent student of Scripture should be able to identify the passage from memory.
3 Difficulties or Questions re: the book of Matthew
List 3 of the most important questions or difficulties which occur to you as you read the Bible Book, and which you know you need to study and understand if you are to have a good grasp on the book
Interpretive Issues
1. Virgin Prophecy of 1:23
2. Mt 2 – The wisemen – what, who, why, when?
3. “Out of Egypt have I called my Son” (Hos 11:1) – how fulfilled in flight to Egypt by infant Jesus (2:15)?
4. Mt 3 – Why was Jesus baptized? Was John’s baptism necessarily a “baptism of repentance”?
5. Mt 4 – Temptation of Jesus – why, what, how?
6. Mt 5 – The Beatitudes – Hallmark or Moses?
7. Mt 5-7 – Sermon on the Mount – to believers or unbelievers; how applied to us (if at all)?
8. Mt 5:31-32, 19:4-9 – what is Jesus teaching re: divorce, how applied today?
9. Mt 10 – Commission of the 12 – only to Gentiles; how to understand / apply that demand?
10. Mt 11, 17 – Was John Elijah?
11. Mt 12 – the “unpardonable sin” – what was it, how did it play into the na
ative, for today?
12. Mt 13 – parables of the sower – why this mode of teaching, what is being taught?
13. Mt 16 & 18 – what did Jesus mean by ekkesia, what did His apostles understand Him to mean?
14. Mt 16:17-19 – who/what is the “rock”?
15. Mt 17 – transfiguration – what is happening, and why, what is the lesson for then and for now?
16. Mt 21 – Triumphal Entry – how did Jesus get away with it, what was the significance?
17. Mt 24-25 – Olivet Discourse – what is Jesus’ teaching concerning the end-times?
18. Mt 26:6-13 – Mary anoints Jesus at a feast – when did that happen (Tue @ Mt/Mk, Sat @ Jn)
19. Mt 26 – Jewish trials of Jesus – historically tenable, accurate?
20. Mt 28 – who are the women at the empty tomb?
BE 511 New Testament Studies I: Mathew - Acts
NT Book Digest #02: Luke
Title: _______________________________________________________________
Why? Here – your rationale for the title you assigned, very
iefly stated
Background Considerations:
1a. Anonymous, but universally accepted as the work of Luke (whom we meet in Acts)
1b. ≠ author unknown or hiding himself; clear that the reader (primarily Theolphilus - 1:3) knew identity of autho
2b. Internal evidence: 1) not an eyewitness; 2) knew of other accounts; 3) access to eyewitnesses; 4) schola
historian; 5) accomplished writer; 6) clearly same man who wrote Acts [“we” sections = Luke] – all points to Luke
3b. External evidence univocal & strong from 2C on, but references show it was clearly well known before then
2a. Critical view – not genuine
c no mention in “authentic letters” of Paul (only in Phm 24 [probably Pauline, but a “different Luke!”], Col 4:14, 1 Tim 4:11 [not accepted as Pauline])
3a. Occasion: Paul saw need for a more Gentile telling of Jesus’ life/ministry (more accessible than Matthew’s gospel, which Paul had used throughout his travels), assigned Luke to research/pen that Gospel
4a. The man Luke:
1b. Probably Gentile (only G writer of NT), likely >Antioch/Syria, closest companion of Paul (“we” sections of Acts), physician (Col 4:14), careful historian, seafarer; likely converted under Paul’s ministry at Antioch (Ac 11)
2b. NOT an eyewitness, but interviewed eye-witnesses (Lk 1:1-4); very possibly during Paul’s 2 yrs (Ac 24:27) as prisoner in Ceaserea-Maritima (Ac 23-26) – i.e., ca. AD 57-59)
5a. Audience: [1] immediate = Theophilus (Lk 1:3; cf Ac 1:1) – nobleman [“most excellent”], perhaps former owner of Luke (?); [2] ultimate = Gentile world (in hopes Theophilus might help with publishing the work)
Outline:
Note: This gospel includes a remarkable amount of peculiar material. The na
ative is strictly chronological but obviously selective. The following is an attempt to trace the argument of Luke on a very
oad scale – a bird’s eye view.
Prologue (1:1-4)
I. The Identification of the Son of Man with Men (1:5-4:13)
I. The Ministry of the Son of Man to Men (4:14-9:50)
II. The Rejection of the Son of Man by Men (9:51-17:10)
III. The Condemnation of the Son of Man by Men (17:11-23:56)
IV. The Vindication of the Son of Man before Men (24:1-53)
Primary Characters and Places and Things (Note:
iefly – 2 or 3 notes – identify those people and places and things which are peculiar to Luke, and/or which are pivotal to the na
ative of the book):
1. Theophilus –
2. Zacharias & Elisabeth –
3. The place where incense was burned in the temple –
4. Ga
iel –
5. Mary’s Magnificat –
6. Bethlehem –
7. Simeon –
8. Anna –
9. Annas & Caiaphas –
10. Pinnacle of the temple –
11. Mother-in-law of Simon Peter –
12. A Roman Centurion stationed in Capernaum –
13. A widow from the village of Nain –
14. Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna –
15. The Sea of Galilee –
16. The Country of the Gadarenes –
17. Jairus –
18. The Twelve –
19. The Seventy –
20. Lazarus, Mary and Martha –
21. The foolish rich man –
22. The Prodigal son –
23. The Rich Man and Lazarus –
24. Ten lepers –
25. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (aka Publican)
26. The Rich Young Ruler –
27. Bartimaeus –
28. Zaccheus –
29. Bethany –
30. The chief priests and the scribes –
31. Gethsemane –
32. Joseph of Arimathea –
33. Emmaus –
Special Features:
1a. Remarkable literary beauty, distinctively descriptive and energetic yet simple and dignified
2a. Gospel of human interest/emotion (songs, rejoicing) & compassion (focus on poor, outcast, women, children)
3a. Luke = most comprehensive and detailed historian of NT
4a. Much focus: real humanity of Jesus (prayer life, family, relationship to disciples, temptation)
5a. Much peculiar material: about ½ of verses at least partially; conversions (Zaccheus, thief), 6 of 20 miracles in book; 19 of 35 parables in book; episodes >life of Christ (temple at 12, 70 sent out, Rd to Emmaus)
3 Remarkable Chapters and Passages
Identify 3 passages and/or chapters in the book which it would be most important to be able to identify by memory; i.e., passages which are so basic / distinctive / important that a competent student of Scripture should be able to identify the passage from memory.
3 Difficulties or Questions re: the book of Matthew
List 3 of the most important questions or difficulties which occur to you as you read the Bible Book, and which you know you need to study and understand if you are to have a good grasp on the book
Interpretive Issues
1. Relationship of Luke to other Gospels (esp. Mt & Mk)
2. Synchronism of nativity na
ative with that of Matthew
3. In the temple at 12 (Lk 2) – connection with bar mitzvah (?), significance as to ministry
4. Genealogy – whose, why