Notes in Synoptics and Acts (SCS Reviewer)

1. NOTES IN SYNOPTICS AND ACTS

LECTURE NO. 1

3 Main Divisions of the Land of Israel

-the Israelites do not want to call the promised land as Canaan because they are reminded of the 1^st settlers there, the Canaanites

-the Israelites do not want to call the promised land as Palestine because they are reminded of their neighbors, the Philistines

-Ergo, they call it as Eretz - Israel

-Galilee

-where we could see the first public life of Jesus

-its towns were:

-Nazareth

-where Jesus grew up

-where coming from Capernaum he entered the synagogue and read the scroll: “The Spirit of the Lord rests upon me…”

-the son of Joseph is from Nazareth – Jesus the Nazorean

-Cana: change water into wine, but it is in John

-Sea of Galilee-Lake Tiberias-Lake of Gennesareth

-Jesus walked on the water of Galilee

-the first disciples were called while mending their nets on the shores of Galilee

-Jesus taught at the boat of Peter while people are listening in the sea of Galilee

-Bethsaida/Capernaum/Miggal = Magdala (Tower)

-Capernaum is the village of Kaper Nahum

-Simon had a house in Capernaum where Jesus entered and healed Peter’s mother-in-law

-Magdala is famous of Mary Magdalene (one woman of Galilee who followed Jesus and provided resources for Jesus and His disciples)

-Woe to you Orasene, woe to you Bethsaida and you Capernaum be brought down…” (lament of Jesus though they witness the saving deeds of Jesus, they remained stubborn)

-Gadarra/Jerassa

-where there is a story of a strong man possessed by a devil who can break even chains

-Phoenician

-it is Gentile territory

-the cure of woman with flow of blood (Syro-Phoenician woman)

-where great sailors and merchants reside at that time

-Samaria

-the Story Of A Good Samaritan

-10 lepers cured and one came back who is a Samaritan

-passed by Samaritan village in going to Jerusalem (at the end of his public ministry) , but not allowed and so James and John (Sons of Zebedee/Sons of Thunder because of their temper) told Jesus to call on fire from heaven and destroy them yet they were reprimanded by Jesus and they went other way

-in the early period of Christianity, Samaritans were converted to the faith through the preaching of deacon Philip (talking to Eunuch and asking for baptism)

-it was the capital of the Northern kingdom wherein in 722 BC it was destroyed by the Assyrians under Nebuchadnezzar

-then, the people were exiled to Nineveh

-their God, the God of Israel is YAHWEH (elohim, adonai, el shaddai, shabaoth, shekennar)

-Judea

-its important city is Jerusalem (the center of political and religious life)

-where the triumphant entry of Jesus happened

-Paschal events happened: arrest/passion/death/resurrection

-in Luke, Ascension happened in Bethany/in Mark it is in ___________________, for Matthew there is no mention of Ascension because its emphasis is on the permanence of Jesus in His disciples – “I am with you until the end of time/”

-where journey to Emmaus took place (the disciples were with Jesus but they did not notice)

-then, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 587/586 BC

-then, the Judeans were exiled to Babylon (thus, they long to return to their native place)

-Psalm 137 (Rivers of Babylon): sad song during the exile to Babylon

-the Babylonians were defeated by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great and he allowed the exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple, cities and lives wherein their leaders are Ezra, Nehemiah and a descendant of Davidic dynasty, Zerubbabel

<-the temple they rebuilt was smaller because they are poor as coming from exile (no money)

-even they are free they are still subjects to the power of their neighbors (the generals of Alexander the Great divided their territories)

-the Ptolemaic dynasty in Southern Kingdom, while in the Northern Kingdom the Seleucid dynasty

-the Seleucid emperor would like to impose Hellenistic culture though residents of Assyrians since they are of Greek descendants

-Israelites resisted because they have their own traditions (e.g. old man Eleazar who was forced to eat pork instead accepted martyrdom)

-Antiochus prohibited circumcision and would like for everyone to participate in the games from which the players are naked so as the Jews would feel ashamed because they are circumcised

-some Israelites operated again themselves in order to cover their circumcision which resulted to a revolt against Assyrian leaders under Matthatias assisted by his sons; they became victorius and rulers which were called as Maccabeans (Judas Maccabeus: it means “hammer” – a great warrior)

-the Hasmoneans got the crown and even the high priesthood (i.e. Jonathan)

-then Simon (?)

Rome: ruled by Pompey (East) and Julius Caesar (Gaul). Julius Caesar brought with him his legion (crossing the river of ______________) to Italy that made Pompey afraid and fled away from Italy.

Pompey

-they have a territory named Akra which is a pro-hellenist (one who follows Greek culture, from the word “hellas” who are the forefathers of Greeks)

-Romans established the Decapolis (10 city-states) – a conglomeration of city states

Herod the Great

- his father is the prime minister of the Hasmonean region who maneuvered everything so that his son may be king

- thus, Herod the Great became king after the rule of Hasmoneans

- he is not a Jew by blood but an Idomean

- Herod married a Hasmonean princess (i.e. Marian) wherein later on he ordered to be killed as suspected organizing a coup d etat against him, since she is related to Cleopatra who was the lover of Mark Anthony

Herod and His Kingdom

- one has to go to Rome and ingratiate himself to more powerful senators and consuls like Pompey and Julius Caesar

- he ascended to the throne in 37 BC getting the power from Hasmoneans who were divided among themselves

- he got Gaza (a Philistine city where Samson courted women and slept with a harlot, and when woke up there are many women around from which he carried a gate along the way to protect himself that shows how strong he is)

- expanded the cities of Caesarea and Samaria = remained as Sebaste; he is ergo a great builder

- Caesarea Philippi: one episode is when Jesus asked, Who do you say that I am? (this is enlarged by Philip = the son of Herod who inherited the Northern kingdom at the death of his father)

1. Mark: “You are the Christ of God.”
2. Matthew: “You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

- Brutus and Cassius killed Caesar. Octavius defeated Brutus and Cassius. Mark Anthony fought with Octavius yet he lost and so spent time with Cleopatra in Egypt and later on committed suicide. Octavius remained as the highest ruler by winning in that naval battle.

- Matthew 2:1 ff. – shows that Herod the Great was still alive when Jesus was born

- Herod died on 4BC when Christ was 2 years and below; thus Jesus was born around 6 BC

- Luke: mentioned as the “King of Judea” (Judea refers to the whole if Israel from the perspective of the Romans)

- he has a fortress named Herodian, a hill with a port, because he is afraid of Cleopatra of Egypt; this is also the place where he was buried – near Bethlem, i.e. Masada, near the dead sea

- when he died, three of his sons became successors called as Tetrarch or Ethnarch (Herod Antipas, Philip & Herod Archelaus)

Herod Archelaus

- a corrupt leader so the Romans removed him from power and be replaced by a Roman procurator/governor

- the seat of Roamn procurator is in Caesarea Maritima (near the sea port = maritime)

- to whom Joseph was afraid and so they fled to Nazareth; thus Scripture was fulfilled that the Messiah would be called the Nazorean

Herod Antipas in Galilee

- beheading of John the Baptist on his birthday as requested by the daughter of Herodias (Salome = “shalom” = peace)

- fiction: Salome was a spoiled princess who fell in-loved with John but John did not mind because he is a prophet and so the love has turned into hatred

- Salome married to his uncle Herod Philippi

- Jesus called Herod as a fox

- he is the Herod of the passion of Christ (when Pilate knew that Jesus was a Galilean he asked to bring him into trial before Herod yet Herod returned him to Pilate; from then they became good friends)

- cemetery: unclean place for the Jews/has problem with the resurrection

- Idomean: south of Judea

- Machaerus: where John the Baptist was put into prison

- Antonia: a garrison of Roman soldiers especially during festivals

- Ethnarch: ethos = people (ruler of people)

- Tetrarch: ruler of the third part

- Jamnia: after the fall of Jerusalem the rabbi gathered here and formally proclaim to exclude the Jewish Christians from synagogues and temple

Josephus Flavius

- he is a good writer of history

- a traitor of the Israelites because he was a former commander of army who surrendered to the Romans

- his benefactor is from the Flavian family and so use it as name to honor them

Emperor Nero (64 A.D.)

- blamed the Christians for burning Rome

- the time when the two great apostles, Peter and Paul, died

- in the year 68 A.D. Nero died by committing suicide

- after his term, there were lots of civil wars and so there was a need to have a strong emperor

- thus, Vespasian, the strongest and best of all, went to Rome to take the royal crown

- Titus, his son, finished the war in 70 A.D. (he paraded the prisoners and sold them as slaves in the market place)

Bethlehem

- census: Joseph with Mary went to register

- they returned to Nazareth they were originally from there

- in Matthew, Joseph seemed to have a house in Bethlehem

- they ended up in Nazareth because Joseph was afraid of Archelaus

- Issue: Was Joseph from Bethlehem or from Nazareth? (not sure because the evangelists were interested in theological motif not on historical facts)

- what is historical is Jesus grew up in Nazareth

- Jesus is a carpenter (in Greek, a carpenter = artisan, i.e. tekton)

- Sepphoris = Jesus, perhaps, was a daily worker there building amphitheaters and government building; this could also be the place where he learned Greek (hypocritai = masks), while he learned Hebrew in synagogues and Aramaic in the use of his daily language

- Migdal = a tower that serves as a lighthouse for fishing

- Capernaum = base of Jesus’ activity

Jerusalem: A Pilgrimage City

- center of political and religious affairs

- the original occupiers of Jerusalem were Gebusites before King David took it

- also called in reference to the mountain where it is stood – Mt. Zion

- religious center because of the Temple (King Solomon built it yet David was the first to think of it: not built because he was a warrior, i.e. his hands with blood)

- since King Solomon had no rivals thus he was a man of peace and diplomacy

- materials: bricks = cedars of Lebanon

- Holy of Holies: it is at the heart of the Temple (only a high priest can enter the Holy of Holies once a year, i.e. the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, wherein he uttered the divine name - YHWH)

- Court of the Gentiles: the place for the uncircumcised

- Ark of the Covenant: a sample of manna (586: when the temple was destroyed)

The Political and Social World

- How did the people felt the presence of Rome? = taxation

- Rome allowed the Jews not to participate in civil liturgies because they respected monotheism

- Sanhedrin: this is the Jewish court consists of high priest, former high priests, Sadducees, nobles and experts. They have no power of condemning a person to death (e.g. Jesus accused og blasphemy still needed to be brought to Pilate and Herod, but except for Stephen whose case was linching?)

- What taxes did they pay?

1. temple tax

· a male Jew pays this for the maintenance of the temple and sustenance of the priest

· Jesus: although, we are children of God the disciples are not exempted from it

2. need tax

· it costs one denarius, i.e. equal to one day’s wage, paid annually

· Jesus: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is to God

3. commercial goods tax/produced tax

· the one gathered by tax collectors like Matthew

· aracabala = like a “toll gate”

4. tithe

· a portion of one’s income to be paid to the priest/Levites

· e.g. fruits, animals or money in thanksgiving for what the Lord has given

5. sacrifices

· rich: bulls and cows

· middle class: sheep and goats

· poor: turtle doves and young pigeons

· these are paid to temple authorities wherein they:

1. get the blood and spread it on the altar and sprinkle it to people

2. the fat of animal is burned (odor is sweet)

3. the body is divided: the better portion goes to the priest & Levites, while the rest to the offerer

· Question to Paul: if buy meat in a market offered to pagan gods? “If you are strong in your faith, never mind. But if you know and others came to know its from pagan gods, do not eat it, not for your sake, but for the sake of not scandalizing anyone.”

Religious Parties and Sects

1. Essenes

· seen in the writing of Josephus Flavius

· Qumran: a gathering of people living in a community like a monastic

· led by a teacher of righteousness

· hid their writings on the caves overlooking a monastery discovered in 1947 where they found existing oldest documents (e.g. scroll of Isaiah, etc.)

2. Pharisees

· Pharisee friends of Jesus: Nicodemus & Simon the Pharisee

· they were mostly lay people respected by many and called as rabbi (my great one: Rabbon & Rabboni)

· paras or perush = separated from common people because they are thought of observing the law well and so they belittle others

· Jesus was not that antagonistic to rabbis

· Don’t call anyone rabbi! (This could be words of Jewish Christians who were driven out of synagogues put in the mouth of Jesus to have a greater impact: in reference to Matthew)

3. Scribes

· they know how to write

· writing is rare because they were only reserved for the educated

· they are more of professional secretaries

· they are notaries (amanuenses = dictate letter)

· sometimes they were rabbi

4. Sadducees

· Sadok = priest

· they debate on the resurrection because they did not believe in it, with which Pharisees did

· Leverit law: brother took over as husband when one died

· Jesus silenced the Sadducees (Which is the greatest commandment? - lawyer)

5. Zealots

· they are zealous for the law

· later to be called Sicarii (daggers)

· hid a dagger underneath their cloth and stabbed Romans and Jews who are collaborators of the Romans

LECTURE NO. 2

Excursus

- Nazareth: it comes from the word nazir which means “consecrated” and neser which means “bud”

- Jerusalem: He wept…I did not recognize Jesus as Messiah!

- Dead Sea Scrolls: it consists of the book of Isaiah, their own writings, The war and Damascus scrolls

- Sikkar: Samaritan woman and Jesus in the well (John)

Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (around the hill country of Judea)

birth of John the Baptist

Magnificat (Canticle of Mary)

Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus)

- Kerem: vineyard (not live here for there’s no protection – cities are usually built on a hill – ein, i.e. spring)

- Nain: raising of the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17)

- Mt. Hermon or Mt. Tabor: Christ’s transfiguration (he led them to a high mountain)

- Temptation of Christ: a mountain near Jericho

- Bethany: where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived

Synagogue

- where there are Sabbath services

1. singing of the psalms (they memorized it because few knew how to read and copies were expensive)
2. reciting of shama (Listen, O Isarel…)

· greatest commandment from Rabbi: “You shall love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.”

3. blessings

· blessing of Aaron (i.e. priestly blessing): “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord shine his face upon you and be merciful. May the Lord look at you with kindness and give you peace.” (1^st reading of New Year)

4. reading from the law (scrolls)

· there is a cabinet where they kept the scrolls, like our blessed sacrament, which they consider as a sacred place

5. would give a sermon on the law

· Jesus gave a sermon: today you hear it fulfilled

- the president of the synagogue was the one who donated the place and structure of the synagogue

· some pagans who are attracted to Jewish religion contributed for the building of the synagogue

- there’s no sacrifice in the synagogue only in the temple

· the Levites helped the priest to sacrifice (butchers)

· sacrifice should come from the heart (i.e. justice, mercy and peace) and not from the aroma or odor of the offering

· pigs were unclean animals

· during the time of Eli, the ark of the covenant was in Sheloh and the Lord was displeased with the sons of Eli because even it was offered, they already got their part; this abusive priest died in a battle against the Philistines

· Passover Lamb: kill it at the altar, bring it home and they eat it

Great Festivals

1. Passover (Pesach)

· e.g. they shed blood for the offerings of gods (lamang-lupa)

· passing over from slavery to freedom

· night of the Passover: prepare the lamb and get the blood and paint it in the doorpost (hyssop plant)

· on midhnight: the angel of death will come to Egypt and kill the first-born sons

· this is a story of remembering, ziccaron (ziccar means “to remember”)

· young boy: he asked “What does it mean?” then the pater familia (i.e. eldest) would retell the story of the Exodus

· anamnesis: remember what the Lord has done (Corinthians: “I pass on to you what I’ve received from others so that you will remember!”)

· Synoptics: at the end of his life, Jesus only celebrates one Passover and that is before his death

· John: Jesus celebrated three Passovers that hint Jesus’ 3 years of ministry:

a. when he went to the temple

b. in Galilee when he multiplied bread and feed the five thousand

c. Jerusalem: before he died

· Mazzot = unleavened bread (they are in a hurry to leave because there’s no time to leaven their bread)

· Haroshet = bitter herbs ( bitterness of their slavery)

· leaven = unvlean and inclined to evil (e.g. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees – i.e. hypocrisy)

· Parable of Jesus: she hid the leaven (it means that not everything in the kingdom should be clean because even some good things could come from the unclean)

· this is equivalent to our Holy Week (a movable feast because it depends on a lunar calendar)

2. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

· count 7 weeks after the spring grain harvest (49 days) and so the 50^th day is this celebration

· celebration of the farmers’ offering, their first fruits thanking the Lord for the gift of land

· for Christians: descent of the HS (seen in the Acts of the Apostles by Luke), but for John the descent happened on the day of resurrection itself – a fruit of the resurrection; thus for John it is a single event [returns to the Father/ascends to the Father/spirit is given]

· birthday of the Church: it marked the spread of faith through a mighty wind and tongues of fire

· but, for Jews it is the feast of the spring harvest

3. Tabernacles

· Sukka: a booth made up of twig of trees decorated by leaves and fruits

· celebration of the fall harvest

· they have 2 activities in this celebration:

a. the priest from the temple go to the spring and get water while praying for the rain (similar to a rain dance, because if there’s no rain, there is hunger: procession from the temple to the spring, i.e. Spring of Gijon, where Solomon was anointed)

b. they light a candle (menorah – lampstand with 7 or 8 candles) “I am the light of the world!”

4. New Year

· Rosh-ha-shanah (head of the year)

· it happened during the month of Nisan

5. Yom Kippur

· this is the Day of Atonement

· the only day that the high priest could enter into the Holy of holies

6. Hanukkah

· this is the rededication of the temple: desecrated by Antochus (where there is a great abomination of building a statue of the pagan god in the altar and sacrificed a pig)

· Judas Maccabeus rededicated the temple.

· today, especially in US, it is the Feast of Lights which is equivalent to our Christmas

Brief Comments on the Study Questions (pp. 49 – 50)

1. Hasmonean rulers – Pompey invaded Jerusalem and built the Decapolis – Herodian dynasty

2. [for no. 3: temple tax] Levites: there was no territory given to them by Joshua for they are for an exclusive service of the Lord)

3. [for no. 4] e.g. Paul: he had dual citizenship (Jewish and Roman) and so, before he was imprisoned there was first a trial and he was not crucified but only decapitated

4. [for no. 5] Levites were from the tribe of Levi, are physically complete and trained in the house and temple

· Priest = higher than the Levites and were the ones who offer sacrifices, prayer and blesses the people (e.g. Annas, Caiphas, Zechariah)

· Levites = sing songs, assist in sacrifice, maintenance of order and discipline in the temple

· Sadducees = woman married to husband (they do not believe on the resurrection): no more husband and wife because they are like angels [Now: obedience to the law is greater than sacrifice]

· Essenes = were rebels against the priest/separated themselves and live in a community, one of which is Qumran by the shore of the dead sea/the reason why they were in desert because they prepare the way of the Lord

5. [for no. 6] Expectations of Jewish Groups on the following:

A. “anointed king” like David

· this is a Davidic messiah

· restores the fallen kingdom of David

· political Messiah and a king leader

· e.g. Joseph in line of David, Bethlehem is the clan of David, Jesus, the Son of David

B. “anointed priest”

· the true and pure priest is the Messiah

· Messiah of the house of Aaron (from Qumran community)

C. new covenant

· Jeremiah 31:31 – “The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”

· even the Qumran people were seeing their life or a new covenant with Yahweh

· Jesus Christ established the new covenant with his blood

· Testamentum = covenant = berit

D. God’s rule or kingdom

· not a place, but a reality that God is King

· explain it through images and metaphors, i.e. parables

E. judgment of the world

· God will come and put things aright

F. Son of Man

· Ezekiel: it is a human being

· Daniel 7:13 – “As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him...”

· speaks of it sometimes in terms of its suffering (i.e. suffering Messiah)

· glorious Messiah on Mt. 25:31-32 – "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

G. resurrection or heavenly exaltation of the righteous

· Israelites then: sheoul (the dead is the place of the dead)

· Influence of Greeks that the soul is immortal (the just will be raised from the dead)

· Parable of Lazarus and Dives

Dan Jeroboam

- Dan: temple of god and not god

- Jeroboam: holy place in the North

- Bethel and Shiloh are holy places

The Life of Jesus

- the Gospels are not strictly biographies

- Theophilus to Faith: that we may have a deeper knowledge of the faith and that we may believe and in believing have eternal life

- the Gospel originated from faith to faith (they only selected materials passed on to them by the word of mouth)

- thus, these are documents of faith

- 3 Stages in the Formation of Gospels (life situation – sitz im leben)

1. Jesus of Nazareth (6 BC to 27 A.D.)

· refers to the historical Jesus

· Do you think the disciples call him kyrios, Lord? How about as Son of God? Abba?

· perhaps, they call him rabbi or rabboni

· they also call him Prophet: teaching them the will of God

· Taumatorgos (miracle worker or wonder)

· their own understanding is a Messiah as the Son of David

2. Church and Apostles

· start to call Him: kyrios or Lord, Son of God, Soter or Savior, Christos and Logos

3. Evangelists

· no one of the evangelists had seen and heard what Jesus said and did

· all of these come from oral tradition

· from the interpretation of Church and apostles

· a special grace of inspiration as sacred writers

· Synoptics: infancy narrative

· Luke: Magnificat (Song of the Anawim): Mary alone could sing that song coz it fits God’s plan

· Matthew: he arranged the Sermon on the Mount/he presents Jesus as the “New Moses”

· Mark: Jesus returned to Nazareth at the middle of His public ministry (for Luke he began it at the onset because it is after his theology: The spirit of the Lord…that would serve his theological purpose) – Isaiah’s Song of the Suffering Servant

· Creative contribution of Evangelists: present Jesus in a higher plane or level

LECTURE NO. 3

Gospel – revelation of Jesus

inspiration of the Holy Spirit

perspective of the evangelist

Jesus before the Gospels: 40 years after His death

Recover what Jesus did and said

Historic-critical method: At times questions the Gospels (its canonicity)

More emphasis on the historical Jesus

A Jesus accepted by the canon, in contrast to the Apocryphal Gospels which is not accepted as binding in faith and morals

Does Jesus has a personal secretary writing His words and teachings? NONE. If you want to be a teacher follow a known teacher in to order to become a rabbi.

Calling of Disciples

- people saw he could do miracles

- he was a good teacher – teaching with authority

- he has an attractive personality

- he could be a prophet or the Messiah

- Do they entertain privileges so follow Jesus? (e.g. the mother of the Sons of Zebedee in Matthew, while in Mark it was James and John themselves)

- Thus, some of them have selfish reasons.

- the disciples were quarreling: who of us was the greatest? (placed a little child)

- later on, the teachings of Jesus were preserved and to remember them was to group them

A. Miracle Stories

- it can easily attract attention that’s why it is the first group (e.g. pilgrimage to Agoo, Manaoag, Lipa etc.)

- what is miraculous now? [extraordinary/beyond the law of nature]

- in the ancient times, they are extraordinary events (dunamis = dynamic/teressa – mighty, something that suprises you/taumatorgosi – something suprising or mighty extraordinary acts)

a. nature miracles – calming of storms/Jesus walking on the waters, cursing the fig tree, multiplication of bread, changing of water into wine in John: parable in action

b. healing miracles – blind man (Barthemeus), 2 blind men, 10 lepers, Syro-Phoenician woman (look at her as dog), Canaanite woman, healing of paralytic (Mark: touched roof – Palestinian house/Luke: tiled roof – Gentile house), mother-in-law of Peter in Capernaum

c. exorcism

· why the men was strong and he can break the chain? Because the demons who possessed him were legions, “for we are many”

· Mary of Magdala: cast out 7 demons

· Beelzebul (prince of demons): a kingdom divided in itself can’t stand

· By the finger (power) of God, I cast out demons!

d. raising from the dead

· Lazarus, daughter of Jairus, raising of widow’s son, i.e. in Nain (Lk. 7)

· Raising up back to their natural life VS. Jesus’ entry to His glory (i.e. as 1^st born of the dead)

· If Jesus could raise back to life the dead, he has give power too to Peter (Tabitha, Dorcas, Gassel & Enias) and Paul (Utychus).

- then, there is no clear distinction between what is normal and supernatural. So, not all miracles of Jesus could be considered as strictly supernatural

B. Pronouncement Stories

- e.g. while walking pick up grains and eat (Jesus was criticized)

Pronouncement: the Son of Man has authority over Sabbath; it can’t be taken as absolute especially for more noble reasons [greater law: satisfy one’s hunger – David ate bread even only priest can]

If rescue an animal, how much more a human being during Sabbath?

- Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? [Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar…]

- John 8: a woman was caught in adultery [Let him without sin cast out the first stone!]

- Samaritan woman: some of theme were accepted as Christians (in John)

- like that of Moses, not a Davidic Messiah

C. Sayings and Parables

- e.g. beatitudes

- Love your neighbor as you love yourself!

- It is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20: speaking to the Ephesian leaders – There is more happiness in giving than receiving.)

- It is not what enters a stomach that makes a person unclean; it is what comes out from the heart or mouth.

- Sayings = LOGIA of Jesus (in Gospels, usually accompanied by settings or stories)

- Why some are preserved?

· have something to do with their present life-challenges

· what Jesus taught us; for us to be guided (e.g. married – divorce/not scandalized/7 times 7)

· were most helpful to the situation of early Christian communities

- Parabole (sideness = throw) – to throw at the side so that it will make you think and awaken your imagination

- Meshal/meshalim

· it could be a simple/pity saying

· it could also be a riddle (e.g. riddle of Samson: out of the eater comes food, out of the strong comes something sweet = lion and honey)

- metaphors or stories common in the Gospels (OT: Parable of the Lamb told by Nathan to King David as a protest to his adultery with Bathsheeba)

- Mark 4: collection of Parables

- Matthew: 3^rd collection/discourse of Matthew 13 = eschaton

- Luke: he did not collect (Jesus was traveling.)

- John does not use the word paroimia – figure of speech (e.g. I am the Good Shepherd!)

- e.g. Parable of the Sower and Seed (innate power of the word to grow in itself)

- he throws on the seed to:

a. rocky ground

b. ground thorns

c. dead because the sun dries up

d. rich soil

- Luke 15:1-32 = Parable of the Lost Sheep (also in Matthew 18:12-14)/Lost Coin/Lost Son

- Parable of the Talents (1 talent/5 talent/10 talent = invested and gained another talents)

- Parable of the Great Supper/Wedding of the Son of a King [a. he bought a field, b. married a wife]

- Eschatological Parables:

· Parable of 10 Virgins (alma & almot / betulah & betulot)

· Parable of the Harvest (wheat and weeds)

· Parable of the Judgment of Nations (Mt. 25 – separate goats from sheeps)

· Parable of the Good Servant

· Parable of the Tenants (burn their cities)

· Parable of the Good Samaritan

· Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

· Parable of the Mustard Seed

· Parable of the Yeast

· Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

D. Instructions for Disciples

- missionary discourse in Matthew 10

- Our Father in Aramaic but received in Greek

TWO-SOURCE THEORY

Mark Queleh

M Matthew Luke L

- Queleh: no physical evidence but seen in the early materials of Matthew and Luke

- Mark was the interpreter of Peter.

- Matthew its source was Mark.

- Queleh which means “source”.

- Matthew and Luke made use of the Q source, while having their own unique-special contribution.

Excursus

- Apocryphal Gospels: also known as the Gospel of Thomas which is not inspired Gospel

- Didache: refers to the Teachings of the 12 Apostles which is not accepted as canonical

- for some, they did miracles for the sake of profit, for Jesus he did not want anyone to know about it

- Jesus taught with authority.

· some refer to their own rabbis (generation of rabbis)

· for Jesus, His reference is Himself

· Jesus got His teachings from the Heavenly Father (Matthew 11) who speaks through His Son and not anymore in varied ways.

· What he is conveying to the people is the Word of the Lord now and then.

· Jesus speaks with radicality.

· Jesus speaks about relationship in the new age – the time of fulfillment has come through his coming.

Jesus and His Followers

a. Disciples (those belonging to the inner circle/those who are intimate to Him)

- Dodeka: 12 disciples which represent the 12 tribes of Israel (they are “itinerant people”)

- Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Zaccheus

b. Crowds

- e.g. rich young man (ask not to be in the crowds but in the inner circle)

- Matthew = Matthew / Mark = Levi [for Matthew, to enter the 12]

- the 1^st disciples of Jesus were former disciples of John (Andrew and his brother Simon)

- however, in Mark it was mentioned that these two were “fishermen” [immediately they left their boats and parents and followed Jesus]

- Thus, the evangelists were not really sure of the historical facts.

- Is Bartholomew really Nathaniel?

- The 12 Apostles

1. Simon
2. Andrew
3. James the Great
4. John
5. Thomas
6. Bartholomew
7. James the Less
8. Philip
9. Jude Iscariot
10. Jude Thaddeus
11. Simon the Zealot
12. Matthew

- Boamergesi = Sons of thunder!

Who is John the Beloved?

- According to Raymond Brown: he was with Jesus at the beginning but not with the 12 and was called the other-disciple.

· he formed a community (many followers of him because he was a respected hero in that community either in Philistine or Ephesus)

· the disciple whom Jesus loved: his teaching was put into writing by the disciple of the beloved disciple [has authority over the 12]

· more important is the authority behind this writing (final say/final authority)

Importance of the number 12

- when Judas betrayed his ministry, one of them left and so there was a need to replace him

- select from the two followers: Matthias and Barsabas Justus

- they chose by lot and Matthias was selected and all throughout the Gospel was silent about him

Elders and Presbyteroii (overseer)

- no successor for each individual apostle perhaps appointed to take the role of apostles

- teach flock and watch over the flock to sanctify (celebrate the sacraments)

- also needs to govern

- Acts of the Apostles: there were 12 chosen by Jesus; but others not chosen were also called apostles

- Apostoloi = “send”

- this is related to mission as sending of missionary

LECTURE NO. 4

Summary of the Laws and Prophets: “Do to others what you like others to do to you!”

Pogion = logia

p. 68: “With him the people is already facing an exceptional time.” (the Kingdom has come and is in you)

Sayings on Discipleship

- He who loves his mother…more than me is not worthy of me.

- Take up your cross…

- Whoever puts his hand on the plough and keeps looking back is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven.

- Of all those born of woman, who is the greatest? John the Baptist! But the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than him.

- Blessed are your eyes because they see, blessed are your ears because they hear; many kings and prophets long to see what you have seen, and hear what you have heard. (privilege of disciples)

- Paul: emphasized that he is an apostle when his authority is being put into question

· he compares himself with the 12: I am not anymore lesser with them in terms of suffering and labor. I have worked more than them.

· Paul and Barnabas: when they go to Antioch, teachers and prophets led them; yet Peter went there and so there’s chaos

Presbyteroi

- meaning “overseer” or “elders”

- this is a kind of model for the bishop

- first they are disciples

· matethai – to be with Him or learners

· apostoloi – that He might sent them later

- teaching of Galilee: He sent His disciples ahead of Him

- after the Ascension, there is the great commissioning

- Father of Peter: Jonah

- James: 1^st apostle to be killed by Herod Agrippa; he was arrested along with Peter

Josephus Flavius

- Truth: during the time of Jesus it was relatively peaceful.

- then was a former movement leader in Galilee under Vespasian yet he surrendered and so was considered as traitor

- Josephus said that there are too many rivalries among rebels and so they loose

- Yet the Zealots at the time of Jesus were not yet active.

- what is prevalent are Brigands = robbers (dangerous travel)

The Trial and Death of Jesus

- a historical fact even told by outside sources

- crucifixion: used by Romans, Greeks (to generals who abused and got loss/mutinous soldiers/defeated generals): as a warning to other generals (Cartagenians: if you are a general then you loose then don’t go home)

- later on, applied to slaves with grievous crimes (e.g. slave killed the master)

- for the Jews there is a curse for those crucified: you are cursed by God.

- Jesus, thus, became a curse of God for us. (He was the one who carried our sins.)

- Yehohanan: has family tomb are rich persons – virgin tomb

- How long will you be on the cross?

1. break bones
2. man can live before he died for 2 days due to affixation or lack of oxygen
3. just for 3 hours Jesus died (12nn to 3pm)

· this was fast (Joseph asked for His body to Pilate and Pilate was surprised it was very fast)

· Passover = Sabbath

· breaking the legs hastened the death of those crucified

· they did not break legs in fulfillment of the Scriptures

· not break: considered as a Passover lamb

- His crime is blasphemy to Sanhedrin (Messiah, the Son of the Most High – tore his garments as a sign for sorrow)

- not only violated Sabbath but he was also a threat to the temple: “destroy the temple and in 3 days rebuild it…”

- Pilate was asking that it must be a political cause. Thus, he referred to instigating rebellion (King of the Jews – INRI – Iesus Nazorean Rex Ieadorum – Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews)

- Procula: wife of Pilate

- Pilate was said to have killed a lot of Samaritans in a war and so was pulled out by the emperor.

Passion’s Biblical Characters

1. Peter

· Mark: before the cock crows twice/Matthew: no “twice”

· he denied Jesus three times

· in John he cut the ear of the high priest servant, Malchus yet in Mark: one of the bystanders and in Matthew: one of the disciples of Jesus

· he wept bitterly which is a sign of reconciliation

2. James and John

· the intimate disciples of Jesus who were sleeping at Gethsemane

· John: the beloved disciple of Jesus at the foot of the cross???

3. Herod Antipas

· trial before him

· expecting to do miracles but he sent them back to Pilate

4. Barrabas

· it literally means the “Son of the Father” (Bar + Abba)

· perhaps, his name is also Yeshua

· and so, Christians try to suppress that name out of respect for Jesus because he is a thief

5. Judas Iscariot

· he betrayed Jesus with a kiss

· Matthew: 30 pieces of silver/pay the soldiers not to tell that the body of Jesus is lost

· Hanged himself: in Matthew, the high priest bought the land for strangers, , while in Luke, Judas bought the land

· Acts of the Apostles: stomach burst out – pill of blood = accident

· 2 things are sure: tragic event(dehalderama) and bloody thing

· in Matthew, his basis is the story of Ahethopet when he rebelled against Absalom he became an adviser of the enemy who later on hanged himself

· in Luke, he referred top Antiochus who is considered as an enemy of God and died of cancer of stomach (this is considered as daba or karma)

· Herod Agrippa: talking to Sidonians had stomach burst out and died because an angel struck him because he appropriated himself with divine dignity and for killing James the Great

6. Simon of Cyrene

· Mark: Alexander and Rufus were his sons

· Cyrus: North African territory of Rome

· Mediterranean of black race? Why was he from Africa? [he came from Jews in diaspora who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover

· Why in John there is no Simon of Cyrene? In the theology of John, He is king. He must do everything. He doesn’t need a Simon of Cyrene.

7. Women of Jerusalem

· they wept for Jesus

8. Caiphas

· the high priest that year

· one who confronted Jesus (in John, he interrogated Jesus)

· He advised the Jews that it is better for one man to die that the whole Israel or nation to perish.

9. Annas

· the husband of her daughter

· faither-in-law og Caphas

· list of high priest when referred to: the high priest of the house of Annas

10. Joseph Arimatea

· he asked the body of Jesus from Pilate and buried Jesus in his tomb

11. Two Thieves

· they are known to be as Dimas and Estas who are crucified with Jesus

· Mark and Matthew: they joined the people in humiliating Jesus (these Gospels are not concerned with them)

· Luke: Jesus although was dying was still thinking of the good of those who have done Him evil (Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!)

· Lestai which means thieves (Romans) and revolutionaries (Jews); this depends on one’s own point of view

12. Veronica

· this is not biblically based

· 6^th station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

· Vero + ica = true image or icon

· P. 76 (# 7 question) [ Peter – Linus – Cletus – Clement]

“disciples of Jesus” = other followers of Jesus

Who is Jesus in the eyes of Pilate?

- He was a troublemaker to the religious leaders.

- from political trial to religious trial

- Pilate perhaps was superstitious

3 Unresolved Historical Questions on the Trial

- to try a person at night is illegal (not really a formal trial because the priests want to get rid of Jesus)

Assignment: read ahead on Proclaiming the Kingdom, Parables and Lord’s Prayer

LECTURE NO. 5

in John there’s no agony in the garden (Jesus is not alone; although everybody abandons me I am not alone coz the Father is with me)

John – mentioned of cohort. And so, the Romans were also involved in Jesus’ arrest.

Jesus heals and the restores the severe ear [Luke]

Acts of the Apostles: if it is of God, you can’t do anything against them; if it is of men it will self destruct – Theudas and Judas the Galilean [Acts 5:36 ff. – “So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God."]

Pilate resides in Caesarea Maritima.

Jerusalem = palaces of Herod (Pilate not stayed here because he was a Gentile)

Antonia = Roman garrison or fortress which is near the temple – Pilate was here.

Pilate and Herod: even enemies became friends on account of Jesus (antipathy: Galileans went to the temple – Pilate mixed their blood with their sacrifices)

Judgment of Pilate: I find no crime of this man – If you released him, you have no friend of Caesar!

Procula’s Dream: it is all about Jesus’ innocence (it is found in Matthew – all about dreams, e.g. dream of Joseph)

Mount Calvary: in Latin it is calvarium which means “skull place”; in Hebrew Golgotha (this is outside the city walls)

10 lashes less one to Paul – punishment of synagogue

Scourging at the Pillar – a Roman punishment (leather belt with spikes)

Jesus carried the horizontal beam of the wood; the vertical one is already fixed in Mt. Calvary.

Crucifixion: lower slaves/hardened criminals

Suicide by stabbing oneself or drinking hemlock: for the rich [e.g. Socrates: poisoning the mind of the youth]

Last Words of Jesus

1. Mark: Eloi…eloi

2. Matthew: Eli…Eli

3. Luke: a) Father forgive them… b) Amen, I say to you…(Dimas) c) In manus tuas…

4. John: a) Woman… b) I thirst… c) It is finished.

(Wedding at Cana) (Samaritan woman) (will of God)

Mark: a lonely death – death of man abandoned by God

Luke: Jesus as wounded healer – one who forgives and think of others even suffering

Centurion: indeed, this man was the Son of God…

- prove Son of God by being faithful until the end

- 3 hours of darkness/temple curtains was torn from top to bottom

Jesus died with total confidence of God.

Phenomenal Signs

- darkness over land

- curtains torn from top to bottom

- earthquake: tombs were opened and bodies rose and show themselves in some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (according to Matthew) [with the death of Jesus the eschatological time has come]

Chapter 4: Preaching of Jesus (alahut adonai/basileia toteo)

- not a kind of a place separated for own world but the way God acts and governs the created world

- my ways are not your ways

- the Kingdom of God has arrived (already here)

The Fullness of the Kingdom

- no more tears

- the Church = new city

- descending from heaven

perpetrators of Jesus: he comes from the deomon; He is driving out the lesser evil (Beelzebul: Lord of the Devils)

Acts of Apostles: Ananias and Sapphira – lied to the HS (Acts 5:1 ff)

The best way to speak about the Kingdom is to open it for interpretation and common ordinary lives of people. (meshal and parabole)

[e.g. shrub turned into fig tree – small reality can become big]

Who were able to inherit the KOG? Children [bought farm/bought animals/married my wife]

Parable of Workers Hired on Different Time

Parts of Matthew

1. Mt. 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) = Mt. 7:28 – When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. [Beatitudes, Our Father
2. Matthew 10 (Discourse on Mission: calling of disciples and sent them) = Mt. 11:1 – “When Jesus finished giving these commands to his twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.”
3. Matthew 13 = Discourse on the Parables (speak to them at length)/Mt. 13:53 – “When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there”
4. Matthew 18 = Discourse on the Community/Mt. 19:1 – “When Jesus finished these words* , he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan..”
5. Matthew 24 and 25 = Eschatological discourses/Mt. 26:1 - When Jesus finished all these words, he said to his disciples…)

Torah = talks about the will of God/Wisdom = human reflections/experiences (e.g. Sirach – look at the ants = hardwork)

LECTURE NO. 6

24 July 2007

Asphalt sea = also known as Dead Sea

Ein kerem – the place of Mary

Town Builder/12 Foundations (Lk. 18)

Nazareth – where one can found the Basilica of Annunciation

Silver Star – Basilica of Nativity

the oldest existing Church

Franciscan Monks: guardians of holy places

In OT prophets: Elijah and Elisha raised dead people. (one day children were teasing Elisha: “bald headed”. Elisha called down the animals and killed the children.

Antiochus Epiphanes: before the revolt of Maccabees

Sheoul (hades) – place of the dead (dark place where there is no more praise of God and some kind of shadowy existence)

Description of death: You will go and lie with your fathers.

For some: it is only the just

For others: both for the just and the wicked; the latter punishment and the former eternal life

Jesus: resurrection is a vindication of God (God will vindicate you!)

e.g. Maccabees 7 brothers: mother encouraged them to martyrdom – “I might lose you at this life but I know I will recover you back!”

Influence of Greeks and Persians: the idea of permanence of souls (body decays, while soul continues to live)

Why Jesus was cursed by God?

- he died by crucifixion

- when JC rose from the dead God vindicates it

- in the eyes of the Jews, it is a blasphemy to claim being the Son of God and also violating the laws of the Jews yet in the end God still vindicates Jesus

- JC is the first born of the dead

- ascended – seated at the right hand of the Father – reigning in glory

Why the Pharisees did not believe?

- resurrection will still be at the end of the ages

- when he rose from the dead the eschaton – last time – has already started

- there is no real account that Jesus arose because no one has seen

- empty tomb: disciples came to steal his body

- appearance of Jesus

- 1^st account of the Appearance of Jesus: Paul (50-51 AD) – 1 Cor. 15:3 ff. (For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.)

· tradition at Luke 24:33-34 (So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!") = THUS, therer is an individual appearance to Peter who is the KEPHAS

· then to the 12

· 500 brothers at once (Why is this not in the Gospel? The Evangelists either do not know about this or they know but not know totally the context.)

· James (bishop of Jerusalem): one of the pillars of the Church in the Acts of the Apostles

o from whom Paul will have conflict or some of his disciples especially regarding pagans

o James was not a believer during Jesus’ lifetime until Jesus appeared to him.

o He was a relative of Jesus and yet he does not believe in Him. However, the risen Christ has appeared to him directly and so he gained the respect of Christians as a leader

Luke 3:23 – “When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli…”

- He started His ministry 30 years of age

- He died 27/28 A.D.

Mark: an angel appeared to women – Go and tell his disciples that He will see you in Galilee.

Luke: narrative of appearances (stay with us it is already evening – Mane nobiscum Domine!)

Matthew: ask Pilate to put some Roman guards at the tomb

John: tomb was empty (ask the gardener)/appearing to the disciples without Thomas

- c.f. John 21 (Appearance to the 7 Disciples/Jesus and Peter/The Beloved Disciple)

- on the 3^rd day He rose again…God raised Him up…Spirit is there too…(Jesus never outs Himself equal to the Father in the Gospels)

- the Son of God humbled Himself (not like Adam and Eve who wanted to be like “God”)

- nakedness: becoming a threat to one another

- kenosis – empty Himself of the Godhead

- resurrection of Jesus: the beginning of Christology – WHO IS JESUS?

- this is followed by the question WJAT JESUS DID? Thus, the beginning of Soteriology – Jesus as Savior

- it is also about Jesus (c.f. Gospels) during His lifetime and after the resurrection from the dead

Who is Jesus?

- religious leaders? (it depends because not all Pharisees are antagonistic of Jesus)

§ not believe: threat to the temple

Beelzebul (The Lord of the Flies)

Violating the Sabbath

Eat with unwashed hands = disciples

§ Nicodemus: we know that you are a teacher from God because nobody would be able to do these things unless God is with Him

- the relatives of Jesus think that He is out of His mind! (crazy)

- his cousins felt that He should have continue His job, build His family and support Mary and remain in Nazareth and yet He chose to be an itinerant preacher – going around the places

- he often stayed at Capernaum

- Mark: has no interest in Mary (Who is my mother? Who are my brothers and sisters? Whoever does the will of God!)

- thus, our relatives are not blood relationship but those who listen to the WOG and keep it

- Ancient times: if you want to survive stick with your family!

- thus, Jesus has destroyed that structure and yet by founding another structure

- Herod: he thought of Jesus as John the Baptist risen from the dead because he could do miracles

thus, he received this news with apprehension because he killed John the Baptists

- Pilate (before the Passion, could he had inkling about Jesus)

§ a man attracted to the crowd and so there’s a need to pay attention to Him because He might create trouble

§ perhaps, he sent spies to spy on Jesus

Why the people gathered around Jesus?

- he would heal – a prophet of God

- teach them with authority

- Everybody is looking for you! (Simon) Let us go to other towns and villages. (Jesus)

In the Synoptic Gospels before His resurrection, how did Jesus show His relationship with God? Tell people about God?

- ABBA: when Jesus prays – my Father

- his being Son of God is different from the sonship of His disciples

- Abba, if it is possible let this cup pass me by!

- wherever and whenever He prays, He says Abba (not call God our God)

- the post Easter Jesus: made the historical Jesus in singular relationship and oneness with His Abba (Her and my Father are one!)

- Matthew 11:27 – “All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”[this illustrates a deep relationship between Jesus and His Father]

- Abraham = Father / Moses = lawgiver

LECTURE NO. 7

Essenes

- ritual washing

- separated from the Temple

John’s Baptism

- it is not repeated unlike the Essenes, but it is only once

- it follows Isaiah

Key to the Holy Sepulchre: it is given to a Moslem family

Church of Mt. Beatitudes: on a hill overlooking the lake – Sea of Galilee

With the resurrection came the beginnings of Christology…

- in the light of the resurrection of the dead through the Holy Spirit

- Servant (ebed) of Yahweh: this will be applied to Jesus as well (Messiah, Son of God, etc.)

- Ho huious tou anthropou / ben ha adam / ben eno(a)sh : Son of Man

- in Israel, those anointed are the king, prophet and also a high priest

- when one receives the HS, it is already a kind of anointing (what is important is not the ceremony but the GIFT – the effect of the anointing – the RUAH)

- e.g. Saul was anointed king (if you killed him, the Lord will avenge)

- Idomean Tribes: a tribe living South of Judea (the descendants of Herod)

- Neser: a bud will spring from the fallen tribe of David

- Essenes 2 Messiah: David’s line and Aaron’s side

- Mark 15:39 - “When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

- Christ = mentioned in Caesarea Philippi

- Mark 8:31-33. The First Prediction of the Passion. [Jesus as the Suffering Messiah]

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

- Jesus understands His messiahship both as a suffering servant and a Son of God.

Son of Man: Ho huious tou anthropou / ben ha adam / ben eno(a)sh

- Daniel 7:13 –“As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him,…”

- Ancient One = God (his clothing was snow bright: similar to Transfiguration)

- Jewish perspective: the people of God is represented by the Son of Man

- Enoch: What happened to him?) God took him! God intervenes personally. (Genesis 5:24 – Then Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him.)

- Psalm 8:5-7 – “What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet:”

§ he is a human being: being man is significant

§ bar enosh

- Ezekiel 8: he was also called as the Son of Man

- 2 Senses of the Son of Man

1. suffering Son of Man
2. glorious Son of Man (Matthew)

- Maranatha: the Lord will come

- Angels: bene-elohim

- Nephelim: heroes of all (nephal are creatures destined for downfall)

- c.f. Psalm 2:7 – “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD, who said to me, "You are my son; today I am your father.”

§ the Son of God here is a Davidic king

§ ergo, the Son of Man is still a higher title in the Old Testament

- sometimes, the Son of God refers to a righteous person (i.e. Israel and the king at the day of his anointing)

Lord

- before (“sir” or “master”) and after (God) the resurrection

- Peter: Stay away from me Lord for I am a sinful man! (this is a higher title)

- one acknowledges one’s sins because he has seen the epiphany of the Lord

- Isaiah: burning ember and charcoal

- OT = lord = elohim (i)

- El shaddai = God of the mountain

- the title Lord is applied in the light of his glorious resurrection

- Lord Jesus is out of high respect (that Jesus will come very soon)

§ Luke: Jesus will return until the Gospel has been preached.

§ Paul from 1 Cor. 16:22 – “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Maranatha!”

- the Lord in the past refers to “God’s agent”

- today, the Lord mostly refers to the Holy Spirit:

§ Dives in Misericordia

§ Redemptor Hominis

§ Dominum et Vivificantem (The LORD and Giver of Life0

- Paul writing around 51-54 A.D., while Mark 70 A.D. and Matthew 80 A.D.

- Philippians 2:6-11 – “Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

§ this is called the kenotic hymn

- Providence 8:22 ff – "The LORD begot me, the first-born of his ways, the forerunner of his prodigies of long ago;…”

§ this is under the part of the Discourse of Wisdom

§ hokmah elohim – the “wisdom of God”

§ hokmah: imagines himself as a master plan of God

§ later on interpreted by rabbi as Torah (he creates the world)

§ John: all creation exists with the LOGOS as pattern (he emphasized the dignity of Jesus as higher than the angels given the fact that the Jews has a strong angelogy)

§ John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."

§ Miracle at Cana: the water saw its Creator and so it blushed (it turned into red wine)

- Prosthenteon = WORD (attuned to God)

- Malachi = messenger

LECTURE NO. 8

Gospels

- perhaps there is kodigo – not the whole Gospel yet is written

- Luke 1:1 – “Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us,” (perhaps this refers to Mark and Quelleh)

- this is not oral because the expressions are the same (thus it must be something written)

- Luke: 72 disciples/ministers of the Word, i.e. preachers & evangelists (not witnesses yet its source are witnesses)

- this is taken in an orderly experience

The Gospel of Mark

- MARK: there are early testimonies that is why we refer to him as “written” (e.g. Papias: this is in Egypt, bishop of Hierapolis: “holy city”)

- Mark is the bishop of Alexandria

- what Papias said was recorded by Eusebius (1^st Christian historian) – this came from what the elder said

- Mark was the interpreter of Peter: Peter remembered accurately the things said and done by the Lord but not in order.

- Peter adapted to the needs of his time (Jews, Romans and pagans)

- this is considering the fact that Rome is a cosmopolitan (a world within a city)

- Acts 12: 12 – “When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who is called Mark, where there were many people gathered in prayer.”

- his cousin is Barnabas (his 1^st mission is Cyprus – native place of Barnabas, perhaps, he joined because Mark has also relatives there)

- then to Turkey/Asia Minor but only Barnabas because John Mark returned to Jerusalem because he was still young

- when he matured, he compiled this Gospel

- Paul + Silas and then Barnabas + Mark

- in the Book of Revelation’s fallen is Babylon (Babylon refers to Rome which is an evil city, a harlot): it is a house of sinners – a city that persecuted Christians

- the Gospel was written in Rome while he was visiting Peter in prison

- with Mark, the Gospel became an orderly story with a beginning and ending

- the apostles were old and dying and so there is a need TO PRESERVE (nihil obstat by the apostles)

- the fact that it was used by Christians and was copied reveals that it is authoritative (it even reached Luke in Syria)

- codex: a book with front page and back page and then bound like a book

scroll: it is being rolled

- Aramaic words used by Jesus that were preserved: talitha koum / ephphatah / rakka / eloi / kurban (dedicated to God)

- as a writing Mark’s Gospel as simple (he was not that familiar with Jewish custom), on the other hand the Book of Revelation was not mainly concerned with syntaxes and grammar but only with IMAGES

- Silvanus was the editor of Mark (amanuenses of Paul: a scriptwriter)

- Matthew and Luke on the Temptations of Jesus (Matthew: its last temptation was on the mountain, while in Luke it was on the Temple)

- in Mark, Jesus was with the wild beast

- in Mark, Jesus is the suffering Son of Man and is not only seen as a worker of wonders

- “Messianic secret” (Do not tell anyone…it must be understood WELL)

- On Discipleship: of all the Evangelists, Mark presents the disciples in a darker light (the disciples did not understand who Jesus us)

- The positive aspects of the disciples in Mark: they left everything and who among them was the greatest

- Mark 8:27 – Who do you say that I am? in Caesarea Philippi (You are the Christ…yet later on a suffering Christ)

- Temptation of Jesus: use your power and do not welcome suffering

- Mark has no infancy narrative – Jesus is the Son of God (Mk. 3:31 – “His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him…” JESUS AND HIS FAMILY)

Luke: deeper insight on Mariology

Matthew: it comes first because it is used for catechism during that time (it is an effect of recent historical studies – discovering Mark as first to be written)

· everything has been in Matthew

· this is called the canonical order vs. chronological order

· the basic text for teaching catechism

· e.g. Letters of Paul (this is written according to the order of importance, at times also in accordance to length or according to usage)

· what we know only comes with a modern historical research

Ministry of John the Baptist

- the career of Jesus really started with the career of John the Baptist

- it was not Jesus who was baptizing but His disciples

- they were baptizing Jesus in His name: a baptism of repentance

- baptism with Spirit: people are baptized in His power; in His name

- John the Baptist in John?

· the disciples of John baptized too

· not diminished John but put in proper perspective – in preparation for the Lord’s coming

· similar to a malachi – I am sending a messenger ahead of you! (malach – angel/messenger)

· he was dressed in camel and eat locust and wild honey (this is natural to his kind of lifestyle)

· we are reminded of prophet Elijah (Ahab)

- Baptism of Jesus: a manifestation or EPIPHANY

· this is like the infancy narrative of Mark

· “let it be for a time”

- he was among the wild beasts: probably Matthew and Luke knew the 3 temptations, Mark only the horror and danger of the desert (e.g. Daniel) / [Adam: helped by the angel before the wild beasts]

- Mark: only two apostles have story – Levi and Judas

- Style of Mark: he breaks the story with a story and then continues the story (Markan Sandwich)

- e.g. Mark 3:21 (Family of Jesus = Story of Beelzebul):

· makes us see how different people looked at Jesus differently

· power to heal and to exorcise demons

· he has an eschatological family: based not on blood but on faith to God (faithfulness to His will)

- Parables on Chapter 4

· collection of the parables of the kingdom

· only the “seed grows of itself” (what was not present in other Gospels)

· not depend on the work of human beings but on the power of GOD