Catholic Approach to the Bible Important Catholic ecclesiastical documents on interpreting the Christian Bible: The Pontifical Biblical Commission: The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church (1993) The Bible is both the inspired Word of God...... and the inspired work of human authors: 1) Document defined Historical Truth of Gospels 2) Historical bcse they deal w/ words/actions of Jesus (adapted) 3) 3 Stages of Gospel Development 4) Gospel writing is influenced by Resurrection & 1 st Century Church 5) The Commission does not cover infancy narratives.
4 Levels of Scriptural Interpretation: a. What is the Story Saying? b. What is the Author Saying? c. What is God saying to me personally? d. How can I put this into Action?
Synoptic Gospels Look at Together) Scholars Agree Mark = 1 st Written Gospel How Two Observations a. Almost ALL of Mark is found in MT & Luke eg: Mark = 661 Verses MT uses 606 / Luke uses 320 (Only 31 unused) b. All 3 Gospels follow Same order with variations.
3 Stages of Gospel Development: a. Age of the Historical Jesus b. Oral Tradition c. Written Tradition
Stage 1: Era of the Historical Jesus a. Based on the life of the Man: Yehoshua bar Yoseph) b. Date: 4-6 B.C.E. Born in Bethlehem: (Reign of Herod the Great) Began Teaching (A.D. 28) / Died 4/7/30 Teaching: God s Kingdom = Present Reality Boiling Point Death (Failure) & Resurrection (Hope)
Stage II = Oral Tradition a. Resurrection = Success.Spread the Good News b. Parousia = 2 nd Coming of Christ erroneous belief Parousia = imminent c. Purpose: Interpret the meaning of Key Events (NOT to Preserve an exact Biography)
Stage III: Written Tradition: Rationale: a. Jesus did not return when expected b. Eye witnesses were dying c. Focus Shift: Preserve the Stories & Preaching d. Offer more Instruction to new converts e. Contradict Heresies Writings surfaced that were NOT Apostolic Witnesses
Christian Writings: a. 4 Gospels b. Letters to Various Communities (Chronicle of the Early Church) c. Symbolic Work (AKA Revelation)
The Dating of the Gospels Key Dates and Events: Jesus dies around the year 30 CE. The earliest New Testament books, the letters (Chronicles) written by Paul, were composed in the decade of the 50s CE. James, Peter, and Paul are all killed in mid 60 s during the persecution of the church in Rome by Nero. The deaths of these important church leaders encouraged the writing down of narratives about Jesus.
Development of New Testament Christian Scriptures Birth of Jesus Death of Jesus 1 st Thessalonians Mark Revelation 4-6 BCE 30 AD 51 AD 70 AD 90-100 AD Stage I: Historical Jesus Stage II: Oral Tradition Stage III: Written Tradition - Paul s Letters to New Communities - Written Gospels - Other Writings
Some Points about the Three Stages The Evangelists didn t write the Gospels to give us histories, as we use the term. They wrote so readers would come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). For Christian faith, Stage 3 is the most important. It gives the Evangelists inspired reflections on the meaning of Jesus. To ask the Gospels historical or Stage 1 questions is to distract from their main purpose. (Modern readers pose such questions anyway.)
Purposes and Concerns of The Gospel Writers 1. For Christianity to be a legal religion in the Roman Empire; 2. To argue for the church s way of being Jewish after the Temple s destruction by the Romans in the year 70; 3. To explain why the Temple was destroyed; 4. To show that the claim that the Crucified One had been raised was consistent with the Scriptures of ancient Israel; 5. To validate bringing the Gospel to non-jewish Gentiles;
The Development of the Gospels Mark - first Gospel to be written, around 70 CE. Matthew and Luke were composed, independently of one another, sometime in the 80s or 90s. Matthew and Luke used Gospel of Mark as source material. Both Matthew and Luke contain a large amount of material in common that is not found in Mark. Matthew and Luke also had a collection of Jesus sayings that they incorporated into their works. Known as Q.
Why: Writing for different audiences w/ unique problems/ interests LUKE: Wrote to GENTILE (Non-Jewish) Christian Audience Theology: Jesus saves ALL Men and Women. MATTHEW: Wrote to Jewish Audience (Christians who converted from Judaism) Theology: Jesus fulfilled All the Promises made to the Jews. MT & LUKE tell two different BIRTH stories: Few agreements in details / Many Contradictions.
Synoptic Problem: MARK SMS Matthew Luke SLS Q
Different Authors Record the same basic materials: eg: LUKE & MATTHEW = Same Basic Outline - Birth - Baptism - Career in Galilee - Journey to Jerusalem - Passion / Death / Resurrection
Theological Problems No astronomical record of a unique star (MT 2) No Historical CENSUS record Origin of Mary & Joseph
WHY were these stories included? Because of the Christological Significance they saw in the Birth The Birth & Conception the moment when God reveals who Jesus was. (Christological Moment)
Profile: The Gospel of Matthew Written in the mid-80s. Jewish scribe extremely familiar with Israel s Scriptures. Written for a Jewish audience, both demographically and in self-understanding. Matthew follows the Torah as authoritatively taught by Jesus. In competition for the heart and soul of Judaism with local Pharisees (hence, their intensely negative portrayal in Matthew s Gospel).
The Gospel According to Matthew: Matthew portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of Hebrew Scripture Jesus comes not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it Jesus, like a new Moses, presents the definitive teaching about the Torah. Jesus is the living Torah.
Matthew s Christology The Main Christological idea in Matthew is: Jesus is the definitive teacher of the Torah because he himself personifies it. His instructions on love and forgiveness must be put into practice in the Church. Authentic discipleship is thus defined by doing what Jesus commands.
Profile: The Gospel of Luke Written around the same time as Matthew. Part one of a two-volume work (Acts of the Apostles). Has two target audiences: Gentiles in the Roman Empire and Jewish Christians Presents Christianity as a religion for Jews and Gentiles worthy of legal recognition by the Roman Empire. Almost every Roman character in Luke- Acts is portrayed favorably.
According to the Gospel of Luke Luke concerned with the poor, the oppressed, the diseased, and women. Christians are expected to address the physical needs of people, particularly the disadvantaged, and see to it that none go hungry or without shelter. Jesus brings God s promises of blessings for the world through Israel to fulfillment. Authentic discipleship is defined by promoting the well-being of all, especially the marginalized, and by fostering peace and unity.
Christology of Luke Jesus is the one who brings shalom, that is, peace, healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, and wholeness. Why? Luke is a Physician!
If Stories are written 60 years after Jesus Backward view: a. Resurrection God reveals the Christological moment b. Death c. Ministry d. Baptism (Who Jesus was) e. Mt & Luke: Christological Moment occurred at Conception. POINT: We MUST read the stories with Post-Resurrection Insight!
Post - Ressurrection a. Apostles Preached: two-fold response 1. Some believed & worshipped 2. Others rejected the message & the Preacher b. Evangelists noted same pattern in Jesus life 1. Some believed 2. Others rejected c. MT & Luke s Christmas stories follow this seqauence. 1. Some believed 2. Others rejected
Differences Luke Mary and Joseph are Galileans who travel to Bethlehem of Judah because of a Roman census an go to a cave. They return home to Nazareth afterwards, seemingly stopping at the Temple in Jerusalem on their way. Matthew Joseph and Mary are natives of Bethlehem, where they reside in a house. After fleeing to Egypt to escape the murderous designs of Herod the Great, they relocate to Galilee.
Infancy Narratives: Differences Luke Luke repeatedly compares Jesus with John the Baptizer, The Revelation of the birth is presented to lowly Jewish shepherds as the first people to learn the news of the birth of the Christ-child. Matthew No parallel story of John the Baptist (Not Mentioned at all) The Revelation of the birth is detected by foreign astrologers: the Magi, who learn from chief priests.
Infancy Narratives: Differences Luke Simeon and Anna in Jerusalem publicly proclaim who Jesus is. Matthew King Herod in Jerusalem hunts throughout the region for the infant Jesus to kill him. Jesus family observantly GO to Jerusalem, The Holy Family AVOID the city of Jerusalem.
Infancy Narratives: Differences Luke The spotlight is on Mary Mary is portrayed as one who hears and keeps God s word. Matthew The spotlight shines on Joseph. Joseph receives divine guidance in a series of dreams.
Similarities: (Both Luke & Matthew) Both ID Who Jesus is & Meaning of His coming Joseph Line of David Mary & Joseph = Legally Engaged (Yet not living together) Angelic announcement reveals conception through Divine intervention Child is to be named Jesus Child is to be the Savior Birth occurs in Bethlehem / Under reign of King Herod
There is an Adult Christ In Christmas!
Review: Definitions Hebrew Scriptures Christian Scriptures Theology = Study of God Christology = Study of Christ Synoptic Synoptic Problem Infancy Narrative Q or Quelle SMS SLS Gospel Parallels Pontifical Biblical Commission (1964) (The historical truth of the Gospels) Christological Moment Post-Resurrection Insight
Homework Reading for the Week: Matthew: Chapters 1 & 2 Daily Personal Study: (See Website) www.churchofsaintandrews.org