The Synoptic gospels

Question 1

what is the Kerygma

Answer 1

the oral gospel, the way in which the gospel messages were spread in the 30-40 years before they were written

Question 2

how long did the oral period last

Answer 2

30-40 years

Question 3

what is oral tradition

Answer 3

the way in which the life ad sayings of jesus would have been passed on for the 30-40 years that passed after jesus’ death, before the gospels were written

Question 4

what does ‘sitz in leben’ mean

Answer 4

situation in life

Question 5

why was sitz in leben used?

Answer 5

stories were adapted to different communities, to make the teaching clearer

Question 6

can the use of oral tradition be found in the gospels

Answer 6

yes, they have a particle character- we cannot tell where or when they originated

Question 7

Dr Bock thought about oral tradition

Answer 7

there was no problem with ‘chin ease whipper affect’, since it was part of jewish culture

Question 8

who was first to draw attention to OT

Answer 8

Herder

Question 9

why were the gospels committed to writing?

Answer 9

> eyewitness’s dying> challenge to heresy> persecution- give hope and reassurance>Need for worship literature>Show christianity wasn’t a threat> make Js identity clear

Question 10

How reliable are the gospels, since they depended heavily on oral tradition (6)

Answer 10

> Js word would have been greatly respected and demanded careful retelling> js teaching had a poetic element>Rote memorisation was a common form of education, e.g. odyssey and Iliad>Notes may have been kept, which clarify infoHOWEVER>issue of translation in the early days, message lost?>stories told to make a particular point, historically accurate?

Question 11

Why was the bible translated (6)

Answer 11

> spread of church> To encourage conversion>more accessible> increasing of understanding of words>show other it didn’t need to be feared>more readable, allow personal interpretation need for personal worship> nead for standard textword of God for everyone> cater for spread of the church>stop elitism>encourage conversion

Question 12

3 ways message was spread

Answer 12

1) public preaching by an apostle or early church leader2) Hymn writing- used for worship3. Private witness-individuals sharing faith and experience

Question 13

Matthew

Answer 13

• orderly arrangement- aimed at Jews-Intrest in old test-Apocalyptic interests-son of David- parousia- achieved?

Question 14

Mark

Answer 14

-earliest-most rough-Son of Man-realism of characters-abandonment-Emphasis on messiahship and messianic secret- suffering- parousia= imminent

Question 15

Luke

Answer 15

-universalism-alll welcome- Jesus’ concern for outcasts, sinners and samaritan-reference to women- blame placed on jews- special interest in exorcism

Question 16

Central messages of kerygma

Answer 16

1) J has fulfilled OT promises2) God was at work in Js life, death and resurrection3) Jesus has now been exalted to heaven4) holy spirit as been given to church5) jesus will soon return to Glory6)All who hear the message must respond to the challenge

Question 17

why did the evangelists use their redaction

Answer 17

> evangelists are humans wight their own motives and agendas> they would have all had a slightly different idea on what the early church needed > by slightly changing stories, they can have completley different meanings- therefore one must be careful when deciding how accurate their gospels are.