Historical Evidence For Existence of Jesus

Tacitus SuetoniusPliny the YoungerJosephus

God’s Covenant1900 BCE…….Abraham enters into a covenant with God1300…………….The Exodus – Moses leads people out of

Egypt1000-961……. David moves gov’t to Jerusalem/rules930……………..Solomon’s kingdom divided into North &

South931……………..Northern half of kingdom fell to Assyria932……………..Southern kingdom fell to Babylonians587-537……..Captivity in Babylon532………………Return from Babylonian Exile167………………Maccabean Revolt63………………..Pompey captures Jerusalem4-6………………Birth of Jesus

Bible BibliaInspired Word of God

Different kinds of truth

The Inerrancy of the Bible Inerrancy Strict inerrancy Limited inerrancy

CanonSeptuagint

Old Testament Number of Books

Jewish/Protestants vs. Catholic

Deutero-canonical/Apocryphal books (7) Sirach Judith Wisdom Baruch Tobit 1&2 Maccabees

Divisions of the Old TestamentJewish vs. Christian

1. Torah 1. Pentateuch

2. Prophets 2. Historical Books

3. Writings 3. Wisdom Writings

4. The Prophets

New TestamentTestament Primary source/historical JesusThe divisions within the New Testament

Gospels Acts Epistles Revelation

The Canon of the New Testament The Four Gospels

Acts of the Apostles Epistles

Thessolonians

Revelation Dates to Know

65 CE 125 CE

75 CE 150-200 CE

85 CE 400 CE

95 CE 1545-1563 CE

What inspired them to put NT canon together?

Matthew MarkLuke JohnActs of the ApostlesRomans1Corinthians2CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1Thessalonians2Thessalonians1Timothy2TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1Peter2Peter1John2John3JohnJudeRevelation

1. Mt 25:31-462. 1 Cor 11:273. Heb 11:14. Gal 6:1-105. Mk 16:156. Jn 13:347. 2 Thes 2:13-158. 3 Jn 11

The Formation of the Gospels

Stage 1- Public Life & Teaching of Jesus4 BC – 33 AD

Stage 2 – Oral Tradition33 AD – 65 AD

Stage 3 – New Testament Writings50-110 AD

SCRIPTURE HOW THE CHURCH INTERPRETS

SCRIPTURE Author’s intentions Conditions of the time Must read in light of the Spirit

1. Content and unity2. Read in “the living Tradition of the

Church”3. Be attentive to analogy of faith

THE TYPES OF CRITICISM

Source CriticismMARK

MATTHEWLUKE

John

THE TYPES OF CRITICISMS

Historical Criticism

THE TYPES OF CRITICISMS

Form Criticism

THE TYPES OF CRITICISMS Redaction Criticism

MATTHEW’S GOSPEL Audience: Jewish-Christian Portrays Jesus: As the New Moses who gave humanity to the Law of

Love Stresses: How Jesus fulfilled OT prophecies

MARK’S GOSPEL Audience: Non-Jewish Christians (gentiles) experiencing

persecution Portrays Jesus: As the suffering servant Stresses: Jesus’ followers should follow him by accepting the

challenges of their own crosses LUKE’S GOSPEL

Audience: Gentile-Christians Portrays Jesus: As the Universal Messiah Stresses: Jesus brings salvation to all, especially the

oppressed/poor/despised JOHN’S GOSPEL

Audience: Various churches around Roman empire Portrays Jesus: Word of God, Bread of Salvation, The Way Truth & Life Stresses: Jesus is source of eternal life

THE TYPES OF CRITICISMS

Textual Criticism