The Four Gospels Chapter Summary
These lecture notes are heavily influenced by:
1. Dr. Jared Compton, Jesus and the Gospels Class Notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.
2. Dr. Bruce Compton, The Gospels Class Notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
3. Dr. William Cook, New Testament Survey: The Gospels Class Notes, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) claim to narrate the culmination of redemptive history in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Questions raised by the devastating effects of the fall (Gen 3) continue throughout the Old Testament and never seem to be answered. The questions linger despite the fact that God made a promise to send a Messiah; a Messiah …show more content…
Will Satan (the seed of the serpent) or the promised Messiah (the seed of the woman) prevail? How will God reconcile sinful and rebellious people to himself?
The Gospels proclaim that Jesus’s life and ministry provide the answer to those questions. Jesus is declared to be the promised Messiah, who through himself will reconcile sinful human beings to God. In this way, the Gospels are “good news,” because Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations and promises.
THE GOSPEL WRITERS DECLARE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH:
“The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham…He will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:1, 21b)
“Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” (Luke 2:11)
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29)
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Look, I am sending you My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!’” (Mark …show more content…
DEFINITION OF FULFILL
According to Merriam-Webster, the term means: “to put into effect; to meet the requirements of (a business order); to bring to an end; to measure up to.”
The term fulfill has been the subject of intense debate among biblical scholars; it seems that the explanation given by Strauss is best:
“Though various interpretations have been suggested for the word fulfill, it seems best to view it in the sense of ‘bring to its culmination.’” (Mark L. Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, 443)
When one is reading the Old Testament, it feels as though a piece of a puzzle is missing. The Gospel accounts of the life of Christ complete the puzzle begun in the Old Testament and bring the Old Testament narrative to its culmination. In this way, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament promises and expectations. What we see in the Gospels, is that the end-time promises reach their fulfillment in the eternal Son of God incarnate: Jesus of Nazareth.
Illustration:
Matt 5:17 – “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
HOW THE GOSPELS FIT INTO THE LARGER
1. Dr. Jared Compton, Jesus and the Gospels Class Notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.
2. Dr. Bruce Compton, The Gospels Class Notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary
3. Dr. William Cook, New Testament Survey: The Gospels Class Notes, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) claim to narrate the culmination of redemptive history in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Questions raised by the devastating effects of the fall (Gen 3) continue throughout the Old Testament and never seem to be answered. The questions linger despite the fact that God made a promise to send a Messiah; a Messiah …show more content…
Will Satan (the seed of the serpent) or the promised Messiah (the seed of the woman) prevail? How will God reconcile sinful and rebellious people to himself?
The Gospels proclaim that Jesus’s life and ministry provide the answer to those questions. Jesus is declared to be the promised Messiah, who through himself will reconcile sinful human beings to God. In this way, the Gospels are “good news,” because Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations and promises.
THE GOSPEL WRITERS DECLARE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH:
“The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham…He will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:1, 21b)
“Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” (Luke 2:11)
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29)
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Look, I am sending you My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!’” (Mark …show more content…
DEFINITION OF FULFILL
According to Merriam-Webster, the term means: “to put into effect; to meet the requirements of (a business order); to bring to an end; to measure up to.”
The term fulfill has been the subject of intense debate among biblical scholars; it seems that the explanation given by Strauss is best:
“Though various interpretations have been suggested for the word fulfill, it seems best to view it in the sense of ‘bring to its culmination.’” (Mark L. Strauss, Four Portraits, One Jesus, 443)
When one is reading the Old Testament, it feels as though a piece of a puzzle is missing. The Gospel accounts of the life of Christ complete the puzzle begun in the Old Testament and bring the Old Testament narrative to its culmination. In this way, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament promises and expectations. What we see in the Gospels, is that the end-time promises reach their fulfillment in the eternal Son of God incarnate: Jesus of Nazareth.
Illustration:
Matt 5:17 – “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
HOW THE GOSPELS FIT INTO THE LARGER