"Christian Beginnings"
Wednesday, April 3, 2002

Reading Assignment: Gospels of Mark and John

Mark: action; emphasizes Jesus' humanity; not clear on Jesus as God incarnate; low Christology - not much on the nature of Jesus; strong eschatology; traveling companion of Peter; Roman audience.

John: Jesus' relationship with God; nature of Jesus, God, and salvation; contrasts between "light" and "darkness," "good" and "evil," etc.; high Christology; was a disciple/apostle; wrote gospel 90-95AD; general, non-Jewish audience.

Matthew: disciple/apostle; Jewish audience; writes to Jews - speaks about prophecies that Jesus made.

Luke: physician; traveling companion of Paul; Greek; historian; Greek audience.

Jesus doesn't start out claiming to be the Messiah - didn't want people to know, but at the end of his teaching years, and during crucifixion, Jesus says he is the son of God.

Eschtology: Study of "last things" - end of the age. Eschton=age.

Christology: Clear, strong, unequivocal statement of Jesus' divinity.

Trinity: 3 aspect of divine person. Is Jesus equal in nature to God?