THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS

The Gospel of Mark

Mark wrote the Jesus stories as narrated by Peter. But the Gospel never refers to Mark as its author, who was a creative compiler. Internally
he is anonymous. The gospel was written in Romefor a Gentile-Hellenistic (Greek) community residing in Caesaria, around 30 – 40 years
after Jesus’ death. The gospel focused is Galilee, Jesus’ homeland and place of activity. The Gospel was written sometime between 65 – 67
AD or 65 – 70 AD.

The Gospel of Matthew

The apostle Matthew had been identified as the author of the Gospel, who was a Greek-speaking Jewish Christian convert, with rabbinic
training, a Scribe and was convinced that Jesus had fulfilled the messianic prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures: Jesus
is Emmanuel – God-is-with-Us. The author lived in a Greek-speaking area and wrote for Greek-speaking Christians, of Jewish origin. The
book was written in Antioch of Syria between 85 – 90 A.D.

The Gospel of Luke

The gospel of Luke and the author of the Acts of the Apostles were written by the same person. In both chapter one of Luke and Acts it is
dedicated to Luke’s wealthy benefactor and convert named Theophilus.The author Luke, was a Christian, a physician, a traveling companion
of Paul and well versed in Scripture and the Septuagint (Greek version of the Old Testament) The Gospel was written for Hellenistic (Greek)
– Jewish or Gentile community around the year 85 – 95 AD.

The Gospel of John

For some scholars, John, the son of Zebedee, is the author of the Gospel. But until today, the authorship is contested. Tradition placed the
writing of the gospel in Ephesus. But again, there is evidence to support the notion that the Johannine tradition developed in Syria/Palestine.
At least one Syrian fragment states that the Gospel of John was written in Antioch. The probable writing of the Gospel would be 90 – 100
AD.

The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles is written by Luke, the evangelist. It narrates the three years preparation of Jesus’ disciples of a bigger role in
proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Peter was in charge of the community and made the guardian of the faith. He made the twelve apostles and
his followers a community of witness and promised them the gift of the Spirit which they received at Pentecost.

Two great figures in Acts: Peter and Paul. The former will devote himself in particular to the evangelization of the Jews, the latter will
become the apostle to the Gentiles.The book of the Acts does not follow an outline and without focusing exclusively on Peter and Paul, Luke
devoted the greater part of his work to them. Peter dominates the first twelve chapters, while Paul dominates the second part of the book.

The Acts of the Apostles brings us into a journey from Jerusalem, through Judea and Samaria, to Rome, thus following the mission Jesus
appointed his apostles on Ascension Day. Luke’s intention in the Acts is to highlight the diverse preaching of Peter and Paul and how the
mystery of Christ and of the Church has been announced and prepared for.
The Apostle Paul: A Brief Biography
Paul is a Greek name. He had a Jewish name, Saul. He was born in Tarsus, a city in southeastern Asia Minor. He came from a family of
Pharisees of the tribe of Benjamin and was named for the tribe’s most illustrious member; King Saul.

Paul was probably an adult residing in Damascus. Before his conversion, Paul was an ardent persecutor of Christians. It was noted that he
initiated the persecution of Stephen, the first martyr of the Church (i.e. the latter was stoned to death).

Paul became a Christian through the dramatic revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul’s first years as a Christian was spent in Arabia, are but a
mystery. Scholars claimed that he preach there but was subsequently deported. Three years after his call, he went to Jerusalem for a meeting
often referred to as “The Jerusalem Conference” or the “Apostolic Council”. Paul was a vigorous evangelist, traveling and preaching in
Achaia, Arabia, Asia, Cilicia, Galatia, Judea, Illyricum, Macedonia and Syria and made plans to visit Italy and Spain. Paul supported his
mission through his business of selling tent.

Parts of a Pauline Letter

1. SALUTATION
1.1 Sender
 From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. (Rom 1: 1)
 From Paul, an apostle sent not by humans nor by human mediation but by Christ Jesus
and by God the Father, who raised him from the dead. (Gal. 1: 1)

1.2 Recipient

 To the saints in Ephesus, to you who share Christian faith (Eph 1: 1)

 To the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ (Col 1: 2)

1.3 Greetings

 May the peace and grace of God be with you (1 Thess 1: 1)

 Greetings to you, Titus, my true son in the faith, we share (Titus 1: 4)

2. THANKSGIVING
 I give thanks to my God each time I remember you, and when I pray for you, I pray with joy (Phil 1: 3)
 Thanks be to God, the Father of Christ Jesus, our Lord (Col 1: 3)

3. BODY OF THE LETTER

Paul discusses the problems of the different communities he founded/established.

4. FINAL INSTRUCTION or PARENESIS

 After reading this letter, see that it is read in the Church of the Laodiceans (Col 4: 16)
 Do your best to come to me quickly…Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is a useful helper in my work (2 Tim 4: 9 and 11)

5. CLOSING

5.1 Greetings

 Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and to the family of Onesiphorus (2 Tim 4: 19)
 All the believers here greet you, especially those from Ceasar’s household (Phil 4:22)

5.2 Parting words

 And may his blessing be with you all who love Christ Jesus, our Lord, with undying love (Eph 6: 24)
 May the grace of the Lord Christ be with you. Amen. (Philemon : 25)
THE PAULINE LETTERS
THE 7 UNDISPUTED LETTERS 6 DISPUTED LETTERS or LETTERS OF PAULINE HERITAGE
The 1st letter of Paul to the Thessalonians The 2nd Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians
The Letter of Paul to the Galatians The Letter of Paul to the Colossians
The 1st letter of Paul to the Corinthians The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians
The 2nd letter of Paul to the Corinthians The Letter of Paul to Titus (*)
The Letter of Paul to the Romans The 1st Letter of Paul to Timothy (*)
The Letter of Paul to the Philippians The 2nd Letter of Paul to Timothy
The Letter of Paul to Philemon (*) NB: * Scholars call it the Pastoral Letters of Paul

Answers from Scholars as to why there are disputed letters of Paul?

A. INTERNAL EVIDENCE
1. The author (Paul) is identified in the letter.
2. The author provides autobiographical details.
For example:
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews never identified him or herself, so scholars suspected that Paul was not the author.

B. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE
1. Explicit references to the text. Examples are an early manuscript, such as Papyrus 46. Unfortunately,
these witnesses are often either damaged or too late in date to provide
much help
2. Implicit references are quotation from Paul, especially indirect or unattributed, or expressing ideas
and phrases that appear in his works.
C. HISTORICAL SETTING
1. An independently written narrative of Paul's life and ministry, found in the Acts of the Apostles is used to determine the date, and possible
authorship.

For example, Paul mentions that he is a prisoner in his Epistle to Philemon 1:7.

D. LANGUAGE AND STYLE
1. Vocabulary, sentence structure, employment of idioms and common phrases, are analyzed for
consistency with the author’s other known works.
For examplethe speech and style of Colossians more strongly resembled Pauline authorship than not.

E. CONTENTS AND THEOLOGY

For example: Theological themes like the eschaton or the Mosaic Law could reappear in different works, but in a similar manner.

The 1stand 2ndLetter of Paul to the Thessalonians

(Corinth/51 AD, 2nd Missionary Trip)
Problems in the Thessalonian Church:
1. Passive Faith. 5. Misinterpretation of the Parousia (The Second coming of
2. The absence of love. Christ).
3. Despair and the practice of lust. 6. Lack of faith, love, patience, endurance and fidelity.
4. Partly-rejection of the Gospel of Christ.

Response of Paul:
1. A character of active faith, manifested love, and steady hope.
2. Patient expectation of the coming of the Lord Jesus.
3. They chose the gospel and its power lies not in the force of speech but in the power of the Spirit of God.
4. The proclamation of the gospel is as much an expression of God’s power as in the working of miracles.
5. Paul or the WRITERappeals for sober judgment about Christ’s triumphal coming and must gather together to meet him in the fulfillment
of Christian life.
6. Paul or the WRITER presented to the community his experience, the dangers, as part of an ultimately salutary divine process.

The Letter of Paul to the Galatians (Antioch/49 AD, 1st Missionary Trip)
Problems in the Galatian Church:
1. The Gospel of Christ is man-made
2. Baptism will not unify oneself to Christ or to the Community

Response of Paul:
1. The Gospel is not of human origin, but from God himself through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. Baptism is the sacramental complement of faith, the rite whereby a person achieves union with Christ and publicly manifests his
commitment.

The 1stLetter of Paul to the Corinthians (Ephesus/56 AD, 3rd Missionary Trip)
2ndLetter of Paul to the Corinthians (Macedonia/56 AD, 3rd Missionary Trip)
Problems in the Corinthian Church:
1. Lack of brotherhood and Unity. No common vision.
2. No common vision.
3. Discrimination and religious practice as between and against Jewish Christians and Greek Christians.
4. The authority of Paul to preach the Gospel of Christ is questioned by some group and intruders who introduce a new faith to
the community.
5. Lack of analysis and judgment among the Christian members.

Response of Paul:
1. Koinonia or fellowship or brotherhood is the basis of Christian life.
2. Christ is not divided, for Christ means Community.
3. To detach oneself from the standards of fallen humanity, for this is the cause of the divisions.
4. Paul’s ministry is the ministry of the Spirit - the Ministry of Righteousness.
5. Paul speaks of suffering as integral to authentic apostleship and to Christian life. His suffering is rooted in faith, not in reason.

The Letter of Paul to the Romans (Corinth/57 AD, 3rd Missionary Trip)
Problems in the Roman Church:
1. Lack of understanding that the Gospel of Christ brings Salvation and lack of Charity.
2. Salvation of Christ is different from the Salvation of Yahweh in the Old scriptures.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul is proud in his role of proclaiming gospel of Uprightness of God’s revelation in the justification of the person of the faith.
2. Paul is not ashamed of preaching even in the capital of the civilized world. God’s power is an abstraction, expressive of the force with
which God affects the course of human history. The Gospel is a divine force, destined for the “salvation” of the believer.
 The Letter of Paul to the Philippians (Prison in Rome/62 AD)
Problems in the Philippian Church:
1. Imprisonment of Paul may end the preaching of the Gospel.
2. The emergence of False Teachers and their teachings.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul wasimprisoned in the name of Christ. But this imprisonment has furthered the work of evangelization and has achieved notoriety.
2. Paul exhorts the community to “Stand firm in one spirit” – like soldiers in the line of battle. The community must defend and propagate
the faith they have received.

The Letter of Paul to the Colossians (Prison in Rome/60 – 61 AD)

Problems in the ColossianChurch:
1. Some Christians are misled by false teachings brought by Philosophy and Ascetic practices.
2. The misconceptions of angels and spirits.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul or the WRITER stresses that false teaching is a deception. All the spirits that the philosophy revered are subject to Christ. Christ is
the head of the body, the church; and he is the head of every rule and power.
2. The community is encouraged to “hold fast” to the teaching they have received and warn them of the dangers of the error.

The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians (Prison in Rome/60 – 61 AD)

Problems in the EphesianChurch:
1. Misconception on Christ death as without meaning.
2. Lack of Unity among Christian members and the influence of social vices.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul or the WRITERexhorts that the death of Christ brought peace and union with God.
2. Paul or the WRITER distinguished characters of God’s household against those outside of God’s family. The former is characterized by
love of neighbor, modeled on the love that the Son of God manifested in his sacrificial death. The latter: shamefulness, foolishness, and
ridiculous behavior.

The Letter of Paul to Titus (Asia Minor/63 AD/Released from Prison)

Problems in the Church ministered by Titus:
1. Some Crete Christians question the authority of Titus and his act of appointing Crete Christians as church’ leaders.
2. The existence of strife, division and influence of false teachings.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul or the WRITER exhorts that a Crete Christian becoming a member and leader of the Church must practice the teachings of Paul
including Pauline Philosophy (Centered in Christ). Crete-Christian adherence to Paganism must be rejected.
2. Paul or the WRITER shares the view that falsehood is a disease which only the truth can remedy. The conversion of false teachers is
never abandoned as a mission.

The 1stLetter of Paul to Timothy (Macedonia/62 – 63 AD)

The 2ndLetter of Paul to Timothy (Prison in Rome/67 AD)
Problems in the Church ministered by Timothy:
1. The advent of heresy, lack of faith and ethical standards.
2. The question of requirements for Bishops and Deacons.
3. The question on leadership of Timothy.

Response of Paul:
1. Paul or the WRITER stresses that the Jewish-Christians who reject the truth of Christianity lack true knowledge and carry their own
their self-description: false followers-teachers.
2. A Simple requirement for bishops and deacons: faith and good conscience. Rejection of Heresy.
3. Paul or the WRITER is looking ahead to three further generations of Christian leaders: “Timothy”, the “reliable people” and the “others”
who will in turn be taught by them.
The Letter of Paul to Philemon (Prison in Rome/60 – 61 AD)
Problems in the Church ministered by Philemon:
1. Some Christians do not acknowledge the authority of Philemon.
2. Philemon refused to accept a slave as member of the Church.

Response of Paul:
1. The saints are incorporated in Christ. Paul encourages the community to have a sense of solidarity with Philemon.

2. Onesimus (a slave) like Philemon is an adopted child of God through bapism. They work together for the church.