The Synoptic Gospels

South Florida Bible College &

Seminary
© John Stevenson, 2009
 Rev. Tom Davis
&
Dr. John Stevenson

TD86@aol.com
http://JohnStevenson.net
New Testament Theology
• Your name
• Your home church
• Where are you in the process of
your education?
• What has been your previous
exposure to theological studies?
 Where are you in the

Roman Catholic
Eastern Orthodox
Episcopal
Reformed
Christianity
Arminian
Fundamentalist
Evangelical
Charismatic
Emergent
 Syllabus Overview
New Testament Theology

This course covers the theology of the

books of the New Testament with emphasis
on the development of theological dogmas
in those writings. Each book of the New
Testament will be examined as to its cultural
and historical contribution to the Christian
body of theology.
 Course Objectives
• A general knowledge and understanding of the
major themes of the New Testament.
• An understanding of the theological problems
posed by these books and the answers to
these problems.
• An understanding of the various evangelical
approaches to interpreting these books.
• Position papers and/or Bible studies on
specific theological issues addressed within
these books that will be used in practical
ministry opportunities.
A Theology of the
New Testament,
Revised Edition by
George Eldon Ladd and
Donald A. Hagner,
1993.
Doctrines of the Bible:
Outlines in Systematic
Theology

RedeemerPublishing.com
 Assignments
• Papers normally due at the beginning of
each class session
• Avoid Plagiarism
• Papers should show interaction with
reading material
– 7 to 12 pages including bibliography
– Typed & double spaced
– Can be handed in manually or Emailed
– If it is Emailed, use Word, Wordperfect or pdf
• Attendance Policy
 Grades

Weekly Assignments 75 pts

Classroom Participation 25 pts

Total Grade 100 pts

Theos + Logos
Theology is the
study of God’s
revelation of
Himself to man
Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the
Almighty?
They are high as the heavens, what
can you do?
Deeper than Sheol, what can you
know? (Job 11:7-8).
Knowledge Gap

Man
 Biblical Theology
• Historical and descriptive.
• Deals with only those issues which the
biblical writers address and only to the
extent and from the perspective that the
biblical writers address these issues.
• Deals with biblical writers (or related
groups of writings, such as synoptic
gospels, general epistles) separately from
one another without attempting to
synthesize them into an integrated whole
which “smooths out” their distinctiveness.
 Systematic Theology
• Attempts at comprehensiveness of topics
and of coverage of each issue.
• It is outlined by subject (rather than writer)
without distinguishing between biblical
authors’ individual contributions.
• It may also “supplement” biblical
treatments of topics with arguments from
reason, history, experience, science, etc.
(i.e., from general revelation).
 Biblical Systematic
Theology Theology
Looks at the manner Systematizes all of
in which a given topic the biblical thinking
is revealed within the regarding a given
Bible topic
Focus on how a truth Focus on the logic of
is presented that truth
Redemptive History Flow of Logic
Inductive Deductive
 Biblical Systematic
Theology Theology

Historical Practical
Theology Theology
 The The
Acts Revelation
Gospels Epistles
History Letters Visions
The Story of Early Epistles General Apocalyptic
Jesus Church of Paul Epistles Literature

Past Present Future

Matthew Mark Luke John
Jesus as
Jesus as Jesus as Jesus as
the Son
the King of the Perfect the Son of
who came
the Jews Teacher God
to Serve
The Synoptic Gospels John
 MATTHEW
Introduction Five Sermons, each Death, Burial,
• Birth introduced by a historical and
• Baptism
narrative Resurrection

MARK
Introduction Public You are Private Death, Burial,
• Baptism Ministry the Ministry and
Christ! Resurrection

LUKE
Introduction Miracles Journey to Death, Burial,
• Birth Jerusalem and
• 12 years old 9:51 Resurrection
 John the Baptist
• All four Gospels emphasize the ministry
of John the Baptist.
• John is a fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecy (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).
• His message.
– Calling for repentance
– Pointing to Messiah
 Baptism of Jesus
• Significance of Baptism.
– Identification.
• Proclamation from the Father: This
is my beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).
• Testimony of the Holy Spirit.
– Significance of the Dove.
– Significance of the Spirit.
Baptism of Temptation
Jesus of Jesus
Sonship Sonship
stated by challenged
the Father by Satan

Second Adam is taken through a second

probationary testing
 Matthew Mark Luke
Prophecy: Prophecy: “The Prophecy: “The
“Those who are time is fulfilled” Spirit of the Lord
in darkness will (1:15) is upon Me…”
see a great light” (4:18-19)
(4:14-16)
“Repent for the “Repent and “I must preach
Kingdom is at believe” (1:15) the kingdom of
hand” (4:17) God” (4:43)
Appointment of the Apostles
• Apostle versus Disciple.
• They are to be Fishers of Men.
• They represent the New Israel of the
New Covenant.
– Twelve.
– Seated on Twelve Thrones (Mt 19:28;
Rev 21:14).
– Foundation stones of the Church (Eph.
2:20).
 The Great Confession
You are the Christ!

• Made by Peter
• John records a similar confession by
Peter (John 6:68-69).
• Peter is speaking as the spokesmen
of the Apostles.
• Jesus is THE One from God.
• Jesus reveals the Cross.
 Transfiguration
What is its significance?

• Encourage those who will see the cross.

• Graphic testimony of the Law and the
Prophets.
• Centrality of the Cross (Luke’s reference
to “His exodus”).
• Promise of the Future.
• Testimony of the Father.
The King Comes to Jerusalem
• Triumphal Entry
• Cleansing of the Temple
• A Question of Authority
Lord’s Supper
• Setting of the Passover
• “This is my body”
• The New Covenant
• Promise of the Second
Coming
 Crucifixion and Death
• The Trials: With what was
Jesus charged?
– The real indictment
– The Roman charge
• The Significance of the Cross
• “My God, My God, Why have
You forsaken Me?”
 The Resurrection
• Promised in the Old Testament
(Ps 16:8-11)
• Unexpected by the Disciples
• The Ultimate Sign of Christ’s
Identity
 Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke
to them, saying, “All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. 19 Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the
age.”