Leadership Training Center
5410 Rogers Road
San Antonio, Texas 78251
B03-1 Bible Survey III: New Testament Survey
WEEK 3
6 units
Course length: 12 weeks
INSTRUCTOR
Name: David Blanchard III
Email: dblanchard238@gmail.com
Phone: (225) 279-0172
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course takes students systematically through the books of the New Testament and provides the historical setting, theme, and main points of each in order to create a deeper understanding of God’s truth in the New Testament era.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING CENTER MISSION
The mission of the Leadership Training Center is to equip men and women to serve as laborers in the kingdom of God, offering quality biblical training that is affordable and accessible to all.
· Explain the emphasis of the Book of Luke and how it varies from those of the other accounts of the Gospel.
It was specifically addressed to Theophilus, who was a Gentile, his gospel was composed with a Gentile audience in mind, he was writing to confirm the life of Jesus Christ with historical and Biblical accounts. Luke often refers to Christ as the “Son of Man,” emphasizing His humanity, and he shares many details that are not found in the other gospel accounts.
· Describe the background of the writer, Luke.
Luke is referred to as the “beloved physician” as stated in Colossians 4:14, he wrote both the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke 1:1-2
(1) 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;
· Define the “Synoptic Problem.”
Exert from http://www.gotquestions.org/synoptic-problem.html
===============================================================
Question: "What is the Synoptic Problem?"
Answer: When the first three gospels
are compared—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—it is unmistakable that the accounts are
very similar to one another in content and expression. As a result, Matthew,
Mark, and Luke are referred to as the “synoptic gospels.” The word “synoptic”
basically means “to see together with a common view.” The many similarities
between the synoptic gospels have led some to wonder if the gospel authors had
a common source, another written account of Christ’s birth, life, ministry,
death, and resurrection from which they obtained the material for their
gospels. Some argue that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are so similar that they must
have used each other’s gospels, or another common source. This supposed
“source” has been given the title “Q” from the German word quelle which
means “source.”
Is there any evidence for a “Q” document? No, there is not. No portion or
fragment of a “Q” document has ever been discovered. None of the early church
fathers ever mentioned a gospel “source” in his writings. “Q” is the invention
of liberal “scholars” who deny the inspiration of the Bible. They believe the
Bible to be nothing more than a work of literature, subject to the same
criticism given to other works of literature. Again, there is no evidence
whatsoever for a “Q” document—biblically, theologically, or historically.
If Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not use a “Q” document, why are their Gospels so
similar? There are several possible explanations. It is possible that whichever
gospel was written first (likely Mark), the other gospel writers had access to
it. There is absolutely no problem with the idea that Matthew and/or Luke
copied some text from Mark’s gospel and used it in their gospels. Perhaps Luke
had access to Mark and Matthew and used texts from both of them in his own
gospel. Luke 1:1-4 tells us, “Many have
undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among
us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write
an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the
certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Ultimately, the explanation as to why the Synoptic Gospels are so similar is
that they are all inspired by the same Holy Spirit, and are all written by
people who witnessed, or were told about, the same events. The gospel of
Matthew was written by Matthew the apostle, one of the twelve who followed Jesus
and were commissioned by Him. The gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, a
close associate of the apostle Peter, another one of the twelve. The gospel of
Luke was written by Luke, a close associate of the apostle Paul. Why would we
not expect their accounts to be very similar to one another? Each of the
gospels is ultimately inspired by the Holy Spirit (2
Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Therefore, we should expect coherence and unity.
=======================================================================
· Discuss Luke’s account of the events leading up to and surrounding the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 11:12-14
(12) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
(13) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
(14) And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Luke 1:17
(17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Elijah – Malachi 4:5-6
John the Baptist – Luke 1:17 “in the spirit and power of Elias”
The annunciation to Mary by the “mouth of the LORD”, which Mary’s heart must have been thrilled by the prophetic fulfillment by the angelic messenger that told her she was chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.
Imagine how many years it went through the history of Israel, that from the time of Eve believing the prophecy of God:
Genesis 3:15
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 4:1
(1) And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Eve (in expectation for the fulfillment of this prophecy) was excited at the fact that Cain was born. She was assured that this was a fulfillment of the prophets.
Notice the shift of the fulfillment of the prophecy not only being the seed of the woman, but the seed of a virgin woman:
Isaiah 7:14
(14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 2:1-8
(1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
(3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
(4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
(5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
(6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
(7) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
(8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
· Examine the chronology of Jesus’ birth and childhood.
Emphasis on the humanity of Christ, specifically mentioning Joseph, therefore the highlighted theme of the “Son of Man” is seen here.
The childhood of Christ is not mentioned in detail other than his travel with his family and his teaching the Priests in the temple.
John 2:11 – says that the first miracle that Jesus did was at the Wedding in Cana.
The apocryphal gospels that teach of the miracles performed during the childhood of Christ are fables.
· Discuss the birth and ministry of John the Baptist.
Luke 1:73-80
(73) The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
(74) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
(75) In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
(76) And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
(77) To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
(78) Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
(79) To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(80) And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
· Describe the temptation of Jesus as recounted by Luke.
Luke 4:1-22
(1) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
(2) Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
(3) And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
(4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
(5) And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
(6) And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
(7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
(8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
(9) And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
(10) For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
(11) And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
(12) And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
(13) And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
(14) And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
(15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
(16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
(17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
(18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
(19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
(21) And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(22) And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
· Examine Luke’s account of the Galilean Ministry.
Jesus worked his way with the lower class folks (Galileans) and made his way to Jerusalem (Final portion of his ministry).
Notice his disciples were called in the EARLY ministry; they would accompany him to his Jerusalem destination after they had been groomed under His ministry. His teaching in Galilean started with the Sermon on the Mount, the Golden Rule, Building on the rock, it was the introduction of the faith and the basic teaching of walking in the Spirit concepts consisting more of teaching than exhort and rebuke.
· Discuss Luke’s account of the Perean and Later Judean Ministry.
As the Lord got closer to Jerusalem, he then began to exhort, rebuke, and even preach. The Perean ministry included deep parables that only to his apostles did He expound (“when they were alone… He expounded all things to them”) The Judean Ministry was when he ransacked the temple, and rebuked hypocrisy.
· Examine Jesus’ teachings on Heaven and hell.