4.0 The Life and Ministry of Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels---

(Last revised: 3/9/02)
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(Check this page periodically,  since it is being continually expanded with new question options. This provides increased options for the 'take-home' exam.)
Always remember to check the outline page for unit 3 for the full listing of sources.
4.1. The Literary Forms in the Gospels
1. Summarize Rudolph Bultmann's system of literary forms as found in his The History of the Synoptic Tradition.
4.1.1. Narratives
1. Define the term 'narrative.'
4.1.1.1. Pronouncement Story
1. Define the term 'pronouncement story.'
4.1.1.2. Miracle Story
1. Define the term 'miracle.'
2. Compare the modern western understanding of the concept of the miraculous to that in the ancient world using a minimum of two Bible dictionaries etc., either online or printed.
4.1.1.2.1. Exorcisms
1. Define the term 'exorcism.'
2. List and describe in one sentence summation the specific exorcisms of Jesus as found in the synoptic gospels.
4.1.1.2.2. Healings of Diseases
1. List and describe in one sentence summation the specific healing miracles as found in the synoptic gospels.
4.1.1.2.3. Nature Miracles
1. List and describe in one sentence summation the specific nature miracles as found in the synoptic gospels.
4.1.1.3. Hero Story
1. Define the term 'legend' in its non-popular, technical meaning.
2. Define the term 'myth' in its non-popular, technical meaning.
4.1.2. Sayings Materials
4.1.2.1. Logia
1. Define the term 'logia.'
4.1.2.2. Parables
1. Define the idea of a parable from the Catholic Encyclopedia article.
2. List and describe, in one sentence summation, 3 of the parables of Jesus as found in the synoptic gospels in each section of his public ministry as they occur.
4.2. The Marcan Gospel
H:7:101-128; H4:118-146; NOSB:nt:47; NOSB3:nt:56-57
4.2.1. The Historical Setting of the Gospel
4.2.1.1. Compositional Origin: The Early Church Tradition
1. Describe the issue of authorship determination in terms of the early church tradition and modern scholarly views.
2. Summarize the life of Mark from both the canonical gospels and early church tradition.
3. Summarize both the internal and external evidence pointing to the authorship of the second gospel.
4. Summarize the possible dating of the composition of the gospel.
5. Describe the role of the church father Papias in early church tradition regarding the gospel of Mark.
4.2.1.2. Compositional Profile: the gospel narrator profile
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe the author profile emerging from an analysis of the text of the Markan gospel.
4.2.1.3. The Community being addressed
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe Markan community as understood by modern scholars.
4.2.2. The Literary Strategy of the Gospel
1. Summarize the internal characteristics of the style of the author of the second gospel.
4.2.2.1. The Presentation of the Life of Jesus
1. Summarize the Marcan contribution to the life of Christ from the chronological outline of the life of Christ.
2. Summarize the interpretation of Mark 8:27-30 as the chiastic center of the gospel of Mark.
4.2.2.2. Thematic Emphases
4.2.2.2.1. The negative portrayal of Jesus' family and the Twelve
1. Summarize the nature, extent of and possible intent behind the negative portrayal of Jesus' family in the second gospel.
2. Summarize the nature, extent of and possible intent behind the negative portrayal of the Twelve in the second gospel.
4.2.2.2.2. Eschatological Urgency in Mark
1. Define the term 'eschatological.'
2. Summarize the nature and extent of Mark's sense of eschatological urgency.
4.2.2.2.3. The Son of Man motif in Mark
1. Describe the possible meanings of the term 'Son of Man.'
4.2.2.2.4. The Messianic Secrecy motif in Mark
1. Describe the issue of the Messianic Secret in modern studies of Mark's gospel.
4.2.3. The Marcan Ending
1. Summarize the issues related to the disputed ending of Mark 16:9-20, as set forth in the NOSB3:nt:90-92.
4.2.4. Mark 1:14-15 Text Study
1. Answer three of the thirteen questions from Michael Spencer's study of Mark 1:14-15 part 1.
4.3. The Matthean Gospel
H:8:129-156; NOSB:nt:1
4.3.1. The Historical Setting of the Gospel
4.3.1.1. Compositional Origin: The Early Church Tradition
1. Describe the issue of authorship determination in terms of the early church tradition and modern scholary views.
2. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article summarize our understanding of the life of Matthew.
4.3.1.2. Compositional Profile: the gospel narrator profile
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe the author profile emerging from an analysis of the text of the Matthean gospel.
4.3.1.3. The Community being addressed
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe Matthean community as understood by modern scholars.
4.3.2. The Literary Strategy of the Gospel
1. Summarize the possible purpose(s) in the writing of the Matthean gospel.
4.3.2.1. The Presentation of the Life of Jesus
1. Summarize the Matthean contribution to the life of Christ from the chronological outline of the life of Christ.
4.3.2.2. Thematic Emphases
4.3.2.2.1. The Jewishness of the first gospel
1. Summarize Matthew's use of texts from the Hebrew Bible to tell his story of Jesus.
4.3.2.3. The Use of Sources
1. Summarize Matthew's use of Mark, Q, and the M Source as building blocks in his telling of the story of Jesus.
4.3.2.2.1. The Matthean editing of the Markan gospel
1. Summarize Matthew's use of Mark's gospel as a major source for telling his story of Jesus.
2. Describe the nature and extent of the source document Q and how it is used in Matthew's gospel.
4.3.3. The Sermon on the Mount Text Study
1. Compare and contrast the beatitudes of the Sermon  in Matthew and Luke.
2. Describe the variations of literary structure and types of beatitude forms that show up in the Sermon on the Mount.
3. Identify the beatitudes in Matthew's sermon according to the types and forms of ancient beatitudes.
4.4. The Lucan Gospel
H:9:157-185; H4:178-207; NOSB:nt:76; NOSB3:nt:93-95
4.4.1. The Historical Setting of the Gospel
4.4.1.1. Compositional Origin: The Early Church Tradition
1.  Describe the issue of authorship determination in terms of the early church tradition and modern scholary views.
4.4.1.2. Compositional Profile: the gospel narrator profile
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe the author profile emerging from an analysis of the text of the Lukan gospel.
2. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article summarize our understanding of the life of Luke.
4.4.1.3. The Community being addressed
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe Lukan community as understood by modern scholars.
4.4.2. The Literary Strategy of the Gospel
4.4.2.1. The Presentation of the Life of Jesus
1. Summarize the Lucan contribution to the life of Christ from the chronological outline of the life of Christ.
4.4.2.2. Thematic Emphases
4.4.2.2.1. The Holy Spirit
1. Summarize how the theme of the Holy Spirit is developed in the third gospel.
Concordance listing of 'pneuma', the Greek word for 'Spirit' in NASB.
4.4.2.2.2. Prayer
1. Summarize how the theme of the prayer is developed in the third gospel.
Lexicon listing of the Greek words for prayer with links to English texts.
4.4.2.2.3. Jesus' Concern for Women
1. Summarize how the theme of the Jesus' concern for women is developed in the third gospel.
Lexicon listing of 'gune', the Greek word for 'woman' in NASB.----References to women in Luke's gospel----Study of women in Luke's gospel
4.4.2.2.4. Jesus' Affinity with the Unrespectable
1. Summarize how the theme of the Jesus' affinity with the unrespectable is developed in the third gospel.
4.4.2.2.5. Christianity as a Universal Faith
1. Summarize how the theme of Christianity as a universal faith is developed in the third gospel.
4.4.2.2.6. Christianity as a Lawful Religion
1. Summarize how the theme of Christianity as a lawful religion is developed in the third gospel.
4.4.2.2.7. Jesus as Savior
1. Describe how the concept of 'savior' in the Greco-Roman world is applied to Jesus in the third gospel.
4.4.2.3. The Use of Sources
1. Summarize Luke's use of Mark, Q, and the L Source as building blocks in his telling of the story of Jesus.
4.4.2.3.1. The Lesser Interpolation (6:20-8:3)
1. Summarize the content and thematic emphasis in the Lesser Interpolation in the Lucan gospel.
4.4.2.3.2. The Greater Interpolation (9:51-18:14)
1. Summarize the nature and content of Luke's Travellog insertion of 9:51-18:14 in the light of source criticial insights.
4.4.3. The Lucan Prologue Text Study
1. Summarize the possibilities of identification of Theophilous.
4.5. The Johannine Gospel
H:10:186-213; H4:208-236; F:334-359; NOSB:nt:124; NOSB3:nt:146-147;
Gateway into Johannine studies on the internet.----Johannine home page----Gateway into Johannine studies on the internet.----Commentary on the Gospel of John by Hall Harris----A survey of modern scholarly study of the fourth gospel.
4.5.1. The Historical Setting of the Gospel
4.5.1.1. Compositional Origin: The Early Church Tradition
1. Describe the issue of authorship determination in terms of the early church tradition and modern scholary views.
4.5.1.2. Compositional Profile: the gospel narrator profile
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe the author profile emerging from an analysis of the text of the Johannine gospel.
2. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article summarize our understanding of the life of John, the apostle.
4.5.1.3. The Community being addressed
1. Using the introductory sections of commentaries and Bible dictionaries as sources, describe Johannine community as understood by modern scholars.
4.5.2. The Literary Strategy of the Gospel
1. Summarize the concept of the Logos as a central motif for the fourth gospel.
4.5.2.1. The Presentation of the Life of Jesus
1. Summarize the Johannine contribution to the life of Christ from the chronological outline of the life of Christ.
4.5.2.2. Thematic Emphases
4.5.2.2.1. Jesus as the Logos
1. Summarize the issues related to Jesus as the divine Logos in the fourth gospel.
4.5.2.2.2. Jesus as Divine Wisdom
1. Describe the ancient concept of 'divine wisdom' and how it relates to Jesus in the fourth gospel.
4.5.2.2.3. John and Gnosticism
1. Summarize 'Gnosticism' as a developing movement within Christianity at the end of the first Christian century.
4.5.2.2.4. The Paraclete
1. Summarize the concept of the 'paraclete' and how this motif is developed in the fourth gospel.
4.5.2.3. The Use of Sources
4.5.2.3.1. The Book of Signs
1. Describe the 'Book of Signs' as a source for the fourth gospel writer in terms of content and role in the gospel account.
4.5.2.3.2. The Book of Glory
1. Describe the 'Book of Glory' as a source for the fourth gospel writer in terms of content and role in the gospel account.
4.5.2.3.3. The Relation to the Synoptic Gospels
1. Summarize the difficulties related to any possible use of the synoptic gospels by the writer of the fourth gospel.
4.5.3. The Johannine Prologue Text Study
1. Using the literary diagram, explain the overarching literary structure of the Johannine Prologue.
2. Using commentaries, Bible dictionaries etc., evaluate the marginal reading in Jhn 1:3-4 where in the NRSV translation the text reading is "All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people" but the alternative reading in footnote a is "3through him. And without him not one thing came into being that has come into being. 4In him was life..."
3. Using commentaries, Bible dictionaries etc., evaluate the marginal reading in Jhn 1:9 where in the NRSV translation the text reading is "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" but the alternative reading in footnote b is "He was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world"
4. Using commentaries, Bible dictionaries etc., evaluate the marginal reading in Jhn 1:11 where in the NRSV translation the text reading is "to what was his own" but the alternative reading in footnote c is "to his own home"
5. Using commentaries, Bible dictionaries etc., evaluate the marginal reading in Jhn 1:18 where in the NRSV translation the text reading is "It is God the only Son" but the first alternative reading in footnote e is "It is an only Son, God" and the second alternative reading is "It is the only Son"
6. Using the literary diagram, explain the relationship of the Logos to the cosmos and to the believing community (A/A').
7. Using the literary diagram, explain the nature of John the Baptizer's ministry in relation to the cosmos and to the believing community (B/B').
8. Using the literary diagram, explain the response of the cosmos and the believing community to the Logos (C/C').
9. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article, explain how the dictionary defintion of 'prologue' relates to John 1:1-14.
10. Using the literary diagram and the translation comparison, state a possible key theme of John 1:1-18 and then defend your view.
11. Using the literary diagram and the translation comparison, list the time and place references in John 1:1-18 and then suggest how they contribute to better understanding of the passage.
12. From the Catholic Encyclopedia article, explain the literary setting of John 1:1-18 in relation to the remainder of the gospel.

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