Biblical Exegesis — Module 1
The Gospels
Four portraits of one Lord, four communities, four Christologies. From Mark's messianic secret to John's preexistent Logos.
Introduction: The Synoptic Problem
The four canonical Gospels form the heart of the NT. The synoptic problem designates the striking similarities and differences between Matthew, Mark, and Luke — and asks how they relate to each other.
1. The Two-Source Hypothesis
Dominant solution (Lachmann 1835, Holtzmann 1863): (1) Markan priority — Mark is the oldest, used by Matthew and Luke; (2) Q source — a lost sayings collection shared by Matthew and Luke. Plus M (Matthew's special material) and L (Luke's). Alternatives: Farrer-Goulder hypothesis (no Q), Griesbach hypothesis (Matthew first).
2. Mark — The Messianic Secret
Mark (ca. 65-70 CE). Wrede (1901): Mark systematically presents Jesus imposing silence after miracles (1:44; 5:43; 8:30) and emphasizing disciples' incomprehension. Christology: Son of Man (8:31; 10:45) who must suffer and die. The ransom saying (10:45) is the central soteriological statement. Structure: Galilee (1-8) / Caesarea Philippi turning point (8-10) / Jerusalem (11-16). Abrupt ending (16:8): women flee in fear.
3. Matthew — The New Moses
Matthew (ca. 80-90 CE) structures Jesus's ministry around five discourses imitating the Pentateuch: (1) Sermon on the Mount (5-7) — new Law; (2) Mission discourse (10); (3) Kingdom parables (13); (4) Church discourse (18); (5) Eschatological discourse (24-25). Each ends: 'When Jesus had finished these sayings...' Christology: Emmanuel ('God with us', Is 7:14; Mt 1:23; 28:20), New Moses, Son of David. Great commission (28:18-20).
4. Luke-Acts — Theology of History
Conzelmann (Die Mitte der Zeit, 1960): three eras: (1) Israel and prophets; (2) Jesus — 'center of time'; (3) Church of the Spirit (Acts). Distinctive Lucan themes: universalism (genealogy to Adam, Lk 3:38; mission to ends of earth, Acts 1:8); the poor (beatitude of 'the poor', 6:20; woes against rich, 6:24-26; Lazarus parable, 16:19-31); women (10+ unique pericopes); mercy (Good Samaritan, 10:25-37; Prodigal Son, 15:11-32 — unique to Luke); prayer and the Holy Spirit.
5. John — The Logos Gospel
John (ca. 90-100 CE). Prologue (1:1-18): 'In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was God.' The Logos crosses Hebrew Wisdom (Prov 8; Sir 24), Stoic Logos, creative Word (Gen 1). 'The Logos became flesh' (1:14). Seven signs and ego eimi sayings (Bread of Life, Light, Door, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and Life, Way-Truth-Life, True Vine) point to divine name (Ex 3:14). Christology: 'I and the Father are one' (10:30). Passion: Jesus dies on Nisan 14 as Passover lambs are sacrificed (19:14.36).
✟ Catholic
The Pontifical Biblical Commission Instruction on the Historical Truth of the Gospels (1964) recognizes three stages: Jesus's life, apostolic preaching, and the evangelists' redaction. Vatican II, Dei Verbum 19 integrates historical-critical methods while affirming the Gospels' inspired character.
✠ Protestant
Historical-critical exegesis was born in Protestant Enlightenment (Reimarus, Lessing). N.T. Wright represents a conservative evangelical appropriation of the Third Quest, affirming the Gospels' historical reliability while locating Jesus within Second Temple Judaism.
☦ Orthodox
The Orthodox tradition reads the Gospels primarily in their liturgical and patristic context (Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria). Historical criticism is accepted cautiously. The emphasis is on the theoria (spiritual vision) of the text rather than historical reconstruction.
📚 Pour aller plus loin
Bibliography
Mark
What is the two-source hypothesis?
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Dominant solution (1835/1863): (1) Markan priority; (2) Q source — lost sayings collection. Plus M and L. Alternatives: Farrer-Goulder (no Q), Griesbach (Matthew first).
Mark
What is Wrede's messianic secret in Mark?
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Wrede (1901): Mark systematically presents Jesus imposing silence after miracles and emphasizing disciples' incomprehension. Only the cross reveals who Jesus truly is.
Matthew
What are Matthew's five discourses?
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(1) Sermon on the Mount (5-7); (2) Mission (10); (3) Kingdom parables (13); (4) Church (18); (5) Eschatology (24-25). Christology: New Moses; Emmanuel.
Luke
What is Conzelmann's theology of history in Luke?
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Three eras (Conzelmann 1954): (1) Israel and prophets; (2) Jesus — center of time; (3) Church of the Spirit. Lucan distinctives: universalism, the poor, women, mercy (Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son).
John
What is the Johannine Prologue and Logos concept?
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Jn 1:1-18: 'In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was God.' Logos concept crosses Wisdom (Prov 8), Stoic Logos, creative Word (Gen 1). 'Logos became flesh' (1:14). Ego eimi sayings point to divine name (Ex 3:14). 'I and the Father are one' (10:30).
John
What are the seven signs in John?
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7 signs: water to wine, official's son, paralytic, bread multiplication, walking on water, blind man, Lazarus. Each paired with ego eimi discourse pointing to Ex 3:14.
Research
What is the Third Quest for the historical Jesus?
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Third Quest (1980s-2000s): rigorously inserts Jesus in Second Temple Jewish context. Key figures: Sanders (1985), Wright (1996), Meier (A Marginal Jew, 5 vols., 1991-2016), Bauckham (Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, 2006).
Luke
What makes Luke's Gospel unique?
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Luke's unique features: universalism (genealogy to Adam); the poor (beatitude 6:20, woes 6:24-26, Lazarus 16:19-31); women (10+ unique pericopes); mercy (Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son — unique to Luke); prayer and the Holy Spirit.
Mark: messianic secret, Son of Man Christology (8:31; 10:45). Jesus recognized as Son of God only at his death (15:39). Ransom saying (10:45) is central soteriological statement.
Matthew: fulfillment and Emmanuel. New Moses, Son of David (16:16). Great commission (28:18-20).
John: highest NT Christology. Preexistent Logos (1:1-18), incarnation (1:14), identity with the Father (10:30), ego eimi sayings (Ex 3:14). John presupposes the Synoptics and theologizes them profoundly.
Brown, R.E. The Gospel of John. AB, 1966. Wrede, W. The Messianic Secret. 1971.
Luke's contributions: (1) Systematic universalism: genealogy to Adam (3:38), mission to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), meals with sinners and outcasts (Lk 15). (2) Theology of prayer: Jesus prays at every major moment. (3) The poor: beatitude of the poor (6:20, not 'poor in spirit'), woes against the rich (6:24-26), Lazarus parable (16:19-31). (4) Women: 10+ unique pericopes. (5) Mercy: Good Samaritan (10:25-37), Prodigal Son (15:11-32), woman with coin (15:8-10) -- all unique to Luke.
Conzelmann, H. 1960. Bovon, F. Luke. Hermeneia. 2002-2013.
Quiz — The Gospels
4 questions
Q1/4
The two-source hypothesis postulates that:
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Two-source hypothesis (Lachmann 1835, Holtzmann 1863): (1) Markan priority; (2) Q source. Plus M and L. Alternatives: Farrer-Goulder (no Q), Griesbach (Matthew first).Q2/4
Matthew's five discourses imitate:
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Matthew's 5 discourses imitate the 5 books of Moses: Sermon on the Mount / Mission / Parables / Church / Eschatology. Jesus = New Moses. Each ends: 'When Jesus had finished these sayings...'Q3/4
The ego eimi sayings in John's Gospel point to:
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The 7 ego eimi sayings and the absolute ego eimi (Jn 8:58) explicitly refer to Ex 3:14 (LXX). John affirms Jesus's pre-existence and divine identity.Q4/4
Conzelmann's theology structures Luke-Acts into:
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Conzelmann (Die Mitte der Zeit, 1954): (1) Israel and prophets; (2) Jesus -- center of time; (3) Church guided by the Spirit (Acts). This justifies the Church's existence while awaiting a deferred Parousia.Score
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