STAGES OF GOSPEL FORMATION
Jesus' Life and Ministry
Study:
• Jewish – Roman Culture;
life customs.
• Jewish groups – beliefs,
practices.
• Jewish "issues" – law,
temple, purity, Sabbath.
• Honor/Shame culture
• Jewish teaching methods.
• Challenges to Jesus: (his
teaching and actions).
• His authenticity.
• His identity: "Who is
Jesus?"
• His integrity – He can't
be religious, look at
what he does, who he is
with, etc.
• His response.
Early Days of the Church (Oral Stage)
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Jesus is Messiah/Lord
Who are we? – Jewish
Messianic believers (go from
temple, synagogues to houses).
Issues & Questions: the covenant,
Law, Temple, Synagogue, Purity, the
Gentiles.
Teaching focused on Jesus' life,
ministry, identity - responded to
needs/crises of early believers; oral
tradition (Acts 2:42)
Tremendous expansion across various
cultures - beliefs, values, morals
challenged by new cultures & beliefs.
Formation of perspectives:
Jewish toward believers (need
discipline)
Roman toward believers (Viewed as
Jews & Converts to Judaism; growing
suspicion)
Jewish resistance is strong
Written sources
• Lk. 1:1-4
“Many have written”
- collections of Jesus’
teachings
- accounts of miracles
- accounts of
controversies
- passion narrative
• Different settings for
these documents
- Instructing new
Christians
- Confirming Jesus’
identity
- Conflicts with others
about their new faith
(family, friends, Jew,
Gentile, etc.)
- Building confidence
in the newly chosen
life
Applying the Gospels Today
Preaching/Teaching - sharing knowledge/influencing shaping character, perspectives, attitudes/motivating.
Rom. 5:10; Philip. 1:27; 2:5 The gospel story shapes us, provides examples, perspective.
Jesus is presented as the paradigm, example of what it means to be a faithful disciple –
the way of life that is faithful to God.
Gospels challenge us in our attitudes toward life, other people, the church, etc.
Normative – this is what a disciple acts like, thinks like.
Community aspect – Jesus' teaching has a community aspect to it; his disciples and early church reflect this
(Philip. 1:27 emphasizes living a certain way within a community)
Sacrificial attitude.
Respect the Jewishness of Jesus – his teachings, activities (not a WASP).
He dealt with Jewish issues. Reinterpreted "The Kingdom of God"
He focused on intent of the Law –inward spirituality verses outward appearance (forms).
Called people back to focusing on the heart, intent of the Law (Love the Lord your God with all your heart &
your neighbor as yourself.)
We need to understand our culture, society – its values. What Jesus was doing/teaching with respect to helping
his followers live in their society, we need to be doing in our churches--teaching & reinforcing it with actions
that are consistent with the perspective of the Kingdom of God. Working through the Gospels, the Spirit can
shape our attitudes and intentions and formulate within us a spirituality like that of Jesus, if we use them
properly. They are powerful tools of the Spirit.
The Written Gospels (2nd half of 1st Cen)
• The Gospels address same issues:
identity, law, covenant, purity, Jews,
Gentiles, morality; and a growing
resistance culturally, politically,
religiously, morally
• Roman prejudice against Jews – the
persecution Rome, Asia Minor, Israel.
• Jewish perspective toward Jesus'
followers - negative, traitors (those
who were Jewish), compromising the
word of God, violating covenant.
• Jewish attempt at independence in
Israel.
• Roman perspective toward
Christians changes –
Separate group – no longer
seen as part of Jews.
Suspicious – more culturally
defiant than Jews (at least
outside of Israel).
Grows from strong cultural
coercion to open persecution.
• Jewish perspective intensifies –
more exclusive, maintain purity.
• The Gospel authors address these
various issues in different ways
according to their community's
needs/crises. Use history and theology
in a pastoral manner.
• Each gospel has its own personality,
themes, focus, & background.
Frank Wheeler, York College