Evidence about Jesus
Sources - oral and written tradition, Bible, documents, Gospel writers
The Bible
72 books, written at time of Roman Empire, centuries earlier, historical and wise sayings and personal letters
two parts, Old and New Testament, Old = before Jesus birth, New = Jesus and ministry on earth
books named and organised, St John (name) 19 (chapter):15 (verse)
Old Testament
tells story of coming of the Messiah, Genesis, created image of God - prophets, Jeremiah, Isaiah Ezekiel,
reminded Jews about laws, warned against disobeying, obeyed God would protect, Jews wanted peace and harmony,
Traces history of the Jewish people
New Testament
Evangelists = Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. good news known as Gospel, Three stages Actual events, disciple preaching, writing of Gospels
Actual events in the Life of Jesus
Jesus travelled, with disciples, teachings based off of Old Testament, Jesus took teachings and made it perfect
Jesus loved out messages, taught with authority, as if he knew people inside out, big impact, those who hated noticed strength of character
Jesus was crucified, died on cross, rose three days later, he appeared many times to the disciples
Disciples Preaching (oral)
Apostles realised power of Jesus afterdeath
preached about resurrection and many converted
oral tradition is stage of preaching
Gospel Writing (written)
Apostles dying and old, needed to write down information
used witnesses during miracles
Evangalists wrote information they found key, no order of events
Historical Documents
get info about Jesus from documents written at end of 1st century
Josephus (93ce)
Jewish scholar, wrote about Jews
wrote 60 years after death
told story of Jews and Jesus
Tacitus (120 ce)
Roman, wary of Christianity, wrote beliefs
both historians concerned with facts, not Christians therefore no interest in Jesus' message
both tell, Jesus was real, followers were Christians and sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate
Four Gospel Writers
Gospel Writers
Mark
Luke
John
Matthew
wrote fro Christians in Rome, Lion
Gentile Christians, bull
Christians in Mediterranean, eagle
Antioch 85 - 90
Matthew had a wide knowledge, saw Jesus as Moses, promised one, Messiah
well known to Peter, listened carefully, wrote about miracles
Jesus seen as miracle worker / teacher
same time as Matthews, gentile Luke caring side
sympathy of poor and oppressed, seen as saviour
was a follower of disciple John, John was special to Jesus
showed him as real human, shares pain and problem
wrote for Jewish Christians, angel
Synoptic Gospels
Synoptic = describe events from similar point of view
Mark's shorter than the rest, extra info from Q document
document of Jesus' sayings, Matthew / Luke include Beatitudes
Fourth Gospel
different with no parables, Kingdom of God mentioned once
focuses on who he was not what he did
uses 'I am' to link Jesus to God
themes of love and life present, to love God is to love one another