Gospel Theories
Explain the Telephone Theory
This theory proposes that the original Gospels have been lost because of the transmission of the story across cultures and time- across the Roman Empire.
What is Matthew's job?
Tax Collector
According to Bultman and Ehrman, what genre are the Gospels?
Folklore
According to MODERN scholars (Bultman); what is the written order of the Gospels?
Mark, Matthew, Luke, John
What is the greek work for Gospel?
Euangelion
Rebuttal to Telephone Theory
Ancient cultures transmitted memorized information through oral storytelling; they also had written manuscripts that were used as well. It was not uncommon for ancient people to memorize swaths of information and story at a time
From which books in the bible do we hear about Mark?
Philemon, Acts
What are the similarities in structure between ancient biographies and the Gospels?
Birth relatively brief or missing
Public Career the Longest
Death relatively brief
What do we call the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and what does that word mean?
Synoptic; Summary
Who is Matthew's Audience?
Explain the Anonymous Gospels Theory
All 4 Gospels “originally” published without titles
Gospels circulated without any titles for almost a century before being attributed
Titles were added much later (2nd c AD) to give “much needed authority”
What was Luke's job? and who was he writing to?
Physician; Theophilus
Why was it important to include genealogies in ancient Biographies?
The author wanted to legitimize himself and prove his credibility
The Jewish people placed a lot of importance on their ancestry
What anonymous source is hypothesized to have given Matthew and Luke Information? And what does the letter stand for?
Q; Quelle
What is evidence to prove Matthew's Audience?
He uses many OT References (over 200)
He connects Jesus to Moses, David, and Abraham
Doesn't explain Jewish customs
The Greek Manuscript Evidence: None Anonymous Gospels
The Anonymous Scenario is Incredible
How did scribes attribute the exact same titles?
Why is there no trace of anonymity or different attributions?
The Letter to the Hebrews: Actually Anonymous
Why attribute Mark and Luke to Non-Eyewitnesses
What does John call himself in his own gospel?
The Beloved Disciple
How long was an ancient biography usually?
10,000-20000 words
What's the problem with the 2 source solution?
Not a solid Historical Foundation
The “q” source only exists in the imaginations of scholars. Totally hypothetical
Strong evidence Luke knew Matthew- over 1000 agreements against Mark!
Who is Mark's Audience?
Roman Christian Gentiles
Who is purported to have written the Letter to the Hebrews?
Timothy, Clement, Barnabas, Paul
How did John most likely write his gospel?
Using a secretary
No Chronology necessary
How do we know that the gospels were written before the temple destruction in 70 AD?
The prophecies of Jesus in the Gospels are evidence that the apostles would not have gone back retroactively to add in the prophecy; the prophecies are not as "accurate" to demonstrate they were added
What evidence can we use to prove Mark's audience?
Mark Explains distinctive Jewish customs
Translates Aramaic words and phrases
Uses Latinized terms instead of Greek Equivalent
Story climaxes with the confession of the Roman soldier
Emphasis on suffering and the cross; may point to a period of persecution
Anti-Roman Emperor polemic? (“Good News”, son of God)