Lecture 6: The Diversity of Early Christianity
o The Gospel of John (the “Fourth Gospel”) makes use of
material found also in the Synoptics but shapes the entire
narrative so distinctively that no literary dependence on those
Gospels is suspected.The Gospel Portraits of Jesus
• As interpretations of Jesus, the four Gospels offer distinct portraits;
as witnesses, they converge on the character of the human Jesus.• Each Gospel portrays Jesus and his disciples in accordance with the
evangelist’s social context, use of Torah, and literary goals.
o In Mark, Jesus is the powerful son of God, whose proclamation
of God’s rule is demonstrated by convincing deeds, yet as son
of man, he is powerless before his enemies. Jesus is himself the
“mystery of the kingdom” and the “parable,” and his disciples
fail either to understand him or, worse, show loyalty to him.
The drama of discipleship is central.o Matthew uses Mark’s basic plot and opens it to a conversation
with formative Judaism—shaped by the ideals of the Pharisees
and the techniques of the scribes—with which Matthew’s
community was in conflict. Jesus appears as the fulfillment,
the teacher, and indeed, the personification of Torah.
Corresponding to the image of Jesus as teacher, the disciples,
though no less faithless than those in Mark, understand the
teachings they are to pass on.o Luke also uses Mark but extends his story to another complete
volume (the Acts of the Apostles). Jesus is God’s prophet
who reverses societal norms, heals, and associates with the
marginal. In the sequel, his disciples live out his ideal as his
successor-prophets.o John portrays Jesus as the man from heaven who, as the light,
intersects the darkness of the world and calls it to conversion.
His disciples are to continue his witness to the truth of God and
will experience the same hatred from the world as Jesus did.