The Synoptic GospelsThe Synoptic Gospels

South Florida Bible College & Seminary

© John Stevenson, 2009

Rev. Tom DavisRev. Tom Davis&&

Dr. John StevensonDr. John Stevenson

TD86@aol.com

http://JohnStevenson.net

New Testament TheologyNew Testament Theology

• Your name

• Your home church

• Where are you in the process of your education?

• What has been your previous exposure to theological studies?

Where are you in theWhere are you in the

Roman Catholic

Eastern Orthodox

Episcopal

Reformed

Arminian

Evangelical

Charismatic

Emergent

Fundamentalist

ChristianityChristianity

Syllabus OverviewSyllabus Overview

New Testament TheologyNew Testament Theology

This course covers the theology of the books of the New Testament with emphasis on the development of theological dogmas in those writings. Each book of the New Testament will be examined as to its cultural and historical contribution to the Christian body of theology.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• A general knowledge and understanding of the

major themes of the New Testament.• An understanding of the theological problems

posed by these books and the answers to these problems.

• An understanding of the various evangelical approaches to interpreting these books.

• Position papers and/or Bible studies on specific theological issues addressed within these books that will be used in practical ministry opportunities.

A Theology of the A Theology of the New Testament,New Testament, Revised Edition by Revised Edition by

George Eldon Ladd and George Eldon Ladd and Donald A. Hagner, Donald A. Hagner,

1993.1993.

Doctrines of the Bible:Doctrines of the Bible:Outlines in Systematic Outlines in Systematic

TheologyTheology

RedeemerPublishing.comRedeemerPublishing.com

AssignmentsAssignments• Papers normally due at the beginning of

each class session

• Avoid Plagiarism

• Papers should show interaction with reading material– 7 to 12 pages including bibliography– Typed & double spaced – Can be handed in manually or Emailed– If it is Emailed, use Word, Wordperfect or pdf

• Attendance Policy

GradesGrades

Weekly Assignments 75 pts

Classroom Participation 25 pts

Total Grade 100 pts

Theos + LogosTheos + Logos

Theology is the study of God’s revelation of

Himself to man

Can you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the limits of the Can you discover the limits of the

Almighty?Almighty?They are high as the heavens, what They are high as the heavens, what

can you do?can you do?Deeper than Sheol, what can you Deeper than Sheol, what can you

know? (Job 11:7-8)know? (Job 11:7-8)..

Man

Knowledge Gap

Biblical TheologyBiblical Theology• Historical and descriptive.• Deals with only those issues which the

biblical writers address and only to the extent and from the perspective that the biblical writers address these issues.

• Deals with biblical writers (or related groups of writings, such as synoptic gospels, general epistles) separately from one another without attempting to synthesize them into an integrated whole which “smooths out” their distinctiveness.

Systematic TheologySystematic Theology• Attempts at comprehensiveness of topics

and of coverage of each issue.

• It is outlined by subject (rather than writer) without distinguishing between biblical authors’ individual contributions.

• It may also “supplement” biblical treatments of topics with arguments from reason, history, experience, science, etc. (i.e., from general revelation).

Biblical Biblical TheologyTheology

Looks at the manner in which a given topic is revealed within the

Bible

Systematic Systematic TheologyTheology

Systematizes all of the biblical thinking regarding a given

topic

Focus on how a truth is presented

Focus on the logic of that truth

Redemptive History Flow of Logic

Inductive Deductive

BiblicalBiblicalTheologyTheology

SystematicSystematicTheologyTheology

HistoricalHistoricalTheologyTheology

PracticalPracticalTheologyTheology

The The GospelsGospels

History

ActsActs The The EpistlesEpistles RevelationRevelation

Letters Visions

The Story of Jesus

Epistles of Paul

Apocalyptic Literature

Early Church

General Epistles

Past Present Future

MatthewMatthew

Jesus as the King of the Jews

MarkMark LukeLuke JohnJohnJesus as the Son

who came to Serve

Jesus as the Perfect

Teacher

Jesus as the Son of

God

The Synoptic Gospels John

MATTHEWMATTHEWIntroduction Five Sermons, each

introduced by a historical narrative

Death, Burial, and

Resurrection

• Birth• Baptism

MARKMARKIntroduction Public

MinistryDeath, Burial,

and Resurrection

• Baptism

Private Ministry

You are the

Christ!

LUKELUKEIntroduction Miracles Death, Burial,

and Resurrection

• Birth• 12 years old

Journey to Jerusalem

9:51

John the BaptistJohn the Baptist

• All four Gospels emphasize the ministry of John the Baptist.

• John is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).

• His message.– Calling for repentance– Pointing to Messiah

Baptism of JesusBaptism of Jesus

• Significance of Baptism. – Identification.

• Proclamation from the Father: This is my beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).

• Testimony of the Holy Spirit.– Significance of the Dove.– Significance of the Spirit.

Baptism of Jesus

Temptation of Jesus

Sonshipstated bythe Father

Sonshipchallengedby Satan

Second Adam is taken through a second probationary testing

MatthewMatthewProphecy:

“Those who are in darkness will

see a great light” (4:14-16)

MarkMark LukeLukeProphecy: “The time is fulfilled”

(1:15)

Prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord

is upon Me…” (4:18-19)

“Repent for the Kingdom is at hand” (4:17)

“Repent and believe” (1:15)

“I must preach the kingdom of

God” (4:43)

Appointment of the ApostlesAppointment of the Apostles

• Apostle versus Disciple.

• They are to be Fishers of Men.

• They represent the New Israel of the New Covenant.– Twelve.– Seated on Twelve Thrones (Mt 19:28;

Rev 21:14).– Foundation stones of the Church (Eph.

2:20).

• Made by Peter

• John records a similar confession by Peter (John 6:68-69).

• Peter is speaking as the spokesmen of the Apostles.

• Jesus is THE One from God.

• Jesus reveals the Cross.

You are the Christ!

The Great ConfessionThe Great Confession

What is its significance?

TransfigurationTransfiguration

• Encourage those who will see the cross.

• Graphic testimony of the Law and the Prophets.

• Centrality of the Cross (Luke’s reference to “His exodus”).

• Promise of the Future.

• Testimony of the Father.

The King Comes to JerusalemThe King Comes to Jerusalem• Triumphal Entry

• Cleansing of the Temple

• A Question of Authority

Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper

• Setting of the Passover

• “This is my body”

• The New Covenant

• Promise of the Second Coming

Crucifixion and DeathCrucifixion and Death

• The Trials: With what was Jesus charged?– The real indictment– The Roman charge

• The Significance of the Cross

• “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?”

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

• Promised in the Old Testament (Ps 16:8-11)

• Unexpected by the Disciples

• The Ultimate Sign of Christ’s Identity

Matthew 28:18-20 Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke

to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”