HRE2O1 - Religion UNIT 1 Notes
UNIT 1: Jesus’ Birth and Pre-ministry
Chapter 2: The Four Gospels: Portraits,
Themes and Audiences (02-02)
A Preview of the Course
The first four units of this course begin with the biography of Jesus and
conclude with the history of the early church. They set out to teach five great
themes in particular:
● God is love
● Love requires sacrifice
● God sacrifices God’s self in Jesus
● Discipleship requires love
● Love is unstoppable
Gospels
Mark
Mark is the first gospel to be written. It emphasizes the sufferings of
Jesus. Persecuted Christians could find a role model in Christ who endured
his sufferings.
Messianic Secret. The Disciples miss the clues. Other times, Jesus orders
them to keep his identity a secret. Jesus’ mission/role only becomes clear to
the disciples upon his death and resurrection. It adds suspense and
emphasizes the importance of the resurrection.
Mark wrote for the Gentiles (Non-Jewish person). He frequently explains
Jewish customs to his readers and Mark relies on the Septuagint (Greek Old
Testament), not the Hebrew Bible.
● Date
○ 70 CE
● Location
○ Rome, Italy
● Audience
, ○ Gentile-Christians - Romans
○ Suffering under the persecution of Emperor Nero
● Portrait
○ Suffering Saviour or Suffering Messiah
● Theme
○ Salvation from Suffering
○ Messianic Secret: Jesus does not reveal that he is the messiah
until his resurrection.
● Jesus = Suffering Servant - Shows Jesus’ authority - The whole book is a
declaration of Jesus’ work - Probably a source for Matthew + Luke
● Aided Peter - Missionary - Probably the first gospel
Matthew
Matthew’s audience wanted to know how Jesus’ teachings fit in with
Moses’ teachings. He stresses the fact that Jesus’ teachings fulfill the
teachings of the Old Testament. Jesus is the new Moses.
Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses because he was writing to
an audience composed of Jewish-Christians. They had to be convinced that
Jesus was more authoritative than Moses. Matthew has Jesus porcelain the
Beatitudes from a mountain in the same way that Moses gave the Hebrews
the Ten Commandments from a mountain.
A birth narrative for Jesus, similar to the birth narrative of Moses. Both
are threatened as babies by the reigning king but escape death. Matthew
doesn’t bother to explain Jewish words and customs because his audience
would already be familiar with them.
● Date
○ 90 CE
● Location
○ Antioch, Syria
● Audience
○ Jewish-Christians - Syrians
● Portrait
○ Teaching Saviour
● Theme
○ Jesus is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy
● Jesus = King of the Jews - Emphasis on the teachings of Jesus
● Jesus fulfills the words of the Law + Prophets (basis of Jewish faith)
● Tax collector - Apostle
UNIT 1: Jesus’ Birth and Pre-ministry
Chapter 2: The Four Gospels: Portraits,
Themes and Audiences (02-02)
A Preview of the Course
The first four units of this course begin with the biography of Jesus and
conclude with the history of the early church. They set out to teach five great
themes in particular:
● God is love
● Love requires sacrifice
● God sacrifices God’s self in Jesus
● Discipleship requires love
● Love is unstoppable
Gospels
Mark
Mark is the first gospel to be written. It emphasizes the sufferings of
Jesus. Persecuted Christians could find a role model in Christ who endured
his sufferings.
Messianic Secret. The Disciples miss the clues. Other times, Jesus orders
them to keep his identity a secret. Jesus’ mission/role only becomes clear to
the disciples upon his death and resurrection. It adds suspense and
emphasizes the importance of the resurrection.
Mark wrote for the Gentiles (Non-Jewish person). He frequently explains
Jewish customs to his readers and Mark relies on the Septuagint (Greek Old
Testament), not the Hebrew Bible.
● Date
○ 70 CE
● Location
○ Rome, Italy
● Audience
, ○ Gentile-Christians - Romans
○ Suffering under the persecution of Emperor Nero
● Portrait
○ Suffering Saviour or Suffering Messiah
● Theme
○ Salvation from Suffering
○ Messianic Secret: Jesus does not reveal that he is the messiah
until his resurrection.
● Jesus = Suffering Servant - Shows Jesus’ authority - The whole book is a
declaration of Jesus’ work - Probably a source for Matthew + Luke
● Aided Peter - Missionary - Probably the first gospel
Matthew
Matthew’s audience wanted to know how Jesus’ teachings fit in with
Moses’ teachings. He stresses the fact that Jesus’ teachings fulfill the
teachings of the Old Testament. Jesus is the new Moses.
Matthew presents Jesus as the new Moses because he was writing to
an audience composed of Jewish-Christians. They had to be convinced that
Jesus was more authoritative than Moses. Matthew has Jesus porcelain the
Beatitudes from a mountain in the same way that Moses gave the Hebrews
the Ten Commandments from a mountain.
A birth narrative for Jesus, similar to the birth narrative of Moses. Both
are threatened as babies by the reigning king but escape death. Matthew
doesn’t bother to explain Jewish words and customs because his audience
would already be familiar with them.
● Date
○ 90 CE
● Location
○ Antioch, Syria
● Audience
○ Jewish-Christians - Syrians
● Portrait
○ Teaching Saviour
● Theme
○ Jesus is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy
● Jesus = King of the Jews - Emphasis on the teachings of Jesus
● Jesus fulfills the words of the Law + Prophets (basis of Jewish faith)
● Tax collector - Apostle
