The Life of Christ. Introduction, Paragraphs 1-2

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1 The Life of Christ Introduction, Paragraphs 1-2

2 Life of Christ Introduction The Four-fold Witness

3 The Four Fold Witness The gospel writers were selective in the material they choose to use They wrote for a purpose John 20: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

4 Everything Than Jesus Did Matthew s Theme B A C f Mark s Theme A B d F A B C D E F John s Theme A c F G Luke s Theme a B d E The gospel writers did not include all of the same events, nor record those events in the same way.

5 The Four Fold Witness Matthew s Theme Jesus the Messiah the King of the Jews Written for the Jews Spends more space on the issue regarding the kingdom Its offer, rejection, and future restoration Emphasis on the messianic prophecy

6 The Four Fold Witness Mark s Theme Jesus the messiah, the servant of Jehovah Written for the Romans More interested in actions rather than teachings The ideal Roman someone who receives a commission, and efficiently carries it out Over 40 times Mark uses the term immediately, straightway or forthwith The man of action account

7 The Four Fold Witness Luke s Theme Jesus the messiah the son of man Written to the Greeks Two main Greek ideas The ideal man self-disciplined in mind and body Historical accuracy In order chronological order unlike Matthew, Mark and John

8 The Four Fold Witness Luke s Theme Jesus the messiah the son of man Written to the Greeks Three Special Concerns: 1. Jerusalem; 2. Gentiles - Convert and colleague of the Apostle Paul 3. Women

9 The Four Fold Witness John s Theme Jesus the Messiah the son of God -- The Deity of Christ Last Gospel written John writes to the church at large added those things the other things left out Large amount of material added. Emphasis on the teachings of the messiah more teachings and discourses Two sub themes conflict of light and darkness (night and day) e.g. Jesus went out and it was night Passover always eaten at night obvious Judas was of the night.

10 The Four Fold Witness John s Theme Jesus the Messiah the son of God -- The Deity of Christ Messiah came to reveal the Father to men John works with three sevens Seven signs Seven discourses Seven I am statements

11 The Four Fold Witness Ezekiel 1: Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

12 The Flour Fold Witness Ancient teaching regarding the testimony of Ezekiel Face of an Man - Christ as Perfect Man -- Luke Face of a Lion Christ as King -- Matthew Face of an Ox Christ as Servant -- Mark Face of an Eagle Christ as God John Found on the AV 1611 Title page

13 1. The Sources of Knowledge (Luke s Prologue)

14 1. The Sources of Knowledge Luke Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

15 1. The Sources of Knowledge In the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, he explains his methodology to the reader. He was not an eye witness, He had a perfect (complete) understanding of the events regarding the life of Christ. He drew upon the knowledge of those people, who were from the beginning eyewitnesses of these events, and who were ministers of the word. His sources then met two specific criteria, namely they possessed firsthand knowledge, and were considered credible witnesses at the time of his writing.

16 1. The Sources of Knowledge Note also the two references in this opening paragraph in order. Many have taken in hand to set forth, in order,... It seemed good unto me also to write unto thee in order. Luke wrote his account chronologically, hence the references in his introduction in order, which is to say chronological order. This is a significant point in a study if the life of Christ, that Luke is the measure of the order of the events in this study.

17 2 The Pre-existence of Christ (John s Prologue)

18 John In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

19 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

20 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

21 The Word is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It contains the explicit teaching of His divine nature : He is God The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. That He is the bearer of salvation (life) and light (enlightenment, goodness, and purity). John the Baptist bore witness of His person (who He was), and that the Word revealed the Father to men. And that the Word became flesh incarnate and dwelt among us.

22 Greek Philosophy used the term logos (translated word ) to convey the idea of the two major goals in their systematic philosophy, namely that of reason, and speech. Reason, or logic was the idea of God Speech, is the expression of God. Any educated person in the Roman world commonly understood these ideas, while they may seem unfamiliar to us today.

23 The early Church, finding such a striking parallel or elegant answer to the musings of Greek Philosophy, attached itself to this interpretation of John s use of logos in describing Christ Many of the early Church Fathers often refer to Jesus as the word, doing so with no explanation to their predominately gentile audience. And it is true, that the philosophical content in this simple statement is compelling, and in a sense, true. For Jesus did indeed contain the idea of God in His deity, and expressed the divine idea of God, to man, through His humanity.

24 However, consider logos, in the Hebrew context. Don t forget that the apostle John was a Jewish fisherman, and not a Greek philosopher. The 1 st century Jewish theology contained many references to the Hebrew word memra, which like logos, is translated word. The Rabbi s taught six theological truths concerning the Word.

25 Sometimes distinct from God and other times God Verses 1-2 Agent of creation Verse 3 Agent of salvation Verse 4, The means by which God becomes visible Verse 14 Agent of revelation the word of the Lord came to this or that prophet Verse 18 Means by which God signs his covenants not as obvious hints at it in Verse 17

26 Old Testament usage of the Word Genesis 15:1 The Word is a Revealer 1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. The Word is the Agent of Creation -- Psalms 33 4:-6 4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

27 Old Testament usage of the Word The Word is Personified -- Psalm 147:15 15 He sendeth forth his commandment [upon] earth: his word runneth very swiftly. The Word is Sent -- Is 9:8 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. The Word is Coming & Going -- Is For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

28 Old Testament usage of the Word The Word is Coming & Going -- Is 45:23 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Ezekiel 1:3 The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

29 Miscellaneous Points: This passage has the 1 st reference to John s sub theme sub-theme of light & darkness; (Verse 4 5. Compare this with John 13:30: He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Jesus is refereed to here as the Only Begotten, This term does not emphasis origin, but rather uniqueness.

30 Only Begotten: Only Begotten refers to uniqueness, not origin -- Important point: Israel, a nation, is called the son of God Angels are called sons of God, Believers are called the sons of God Adam was called the son of God Jesus is the only begotten son: Unique in sense of being eternal.

31 Only Begotten: This concept and usage is demonstrated in the story of Abraham and Isaac, consider Genesis 22: 2: And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Isaac wasn t his only son, Abraham also had Ishmael. This is a reference to the uniqueness of Isaac s relationship with Abraham, that he was the only covenant son.

32 The Biblical idea of son(s) of God. Who are the Sons of God? Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. This is a reference to angelic beings, but more specifically to the fallen angelic beings who were part of Satan's rebellion.

33 The Biblical idea of son(s) of God. Adam was the son of God Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. From these passages we can see a commonality between the sons of God from these passages, in that the idea is of someone who is a direct creation of God free of an intermediary agency. In this sense all of the angelic realm, like Adam, are the sons of God since they were the direct creation of God.

34 The Biblical idea of son(s) of God. How are believers sons of God? This idea that the sons of God, represent a direct creation of God is expanded in the New Testament in a very significant way. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

35 The Biblical idea of son(s) of God. John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. In this sense the believer is a son of God for this new creation comes not by the will of man (corruptible seed), but I the will of God. (1 Peter 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.)

36 Jesus as the Son of God When Jesus is referred to as the son of God: Not speaking about his being directly created by God, in the same sense that Adam, the angelic realm, or new believers in Christ, are directly created by God. To believe that Jesus was a creation of God the father, is to fall into the Arian heresy. The idea of Jesus being the son of God, expresses two ideas, namely the very Jewish concept that the son is coequal in substance with the father, and also to demonstrate the relationship within the Godhead.

37 Interpretive Principles The specific meaning of a phrase is derived primarily from its context. It is very problematic, and has caused many errors, to take a term, or a phrase, in Scripture to define it once, and then to fit that definition wherever it is found. God communicated to man using the medium of language and as such, it is assumed that the rules of language will be used to understand the meaning of the language used.

38 Interpretive Principles In our common speech, as in all languages, similar words and phrases will have a variety of meanings, and while the meanings of these words and phrases is going to be constrained within a range of meanings. Ultimately the meaning of that specific word or phrase is going to be derived from its specific context.

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