Main features of Christ’s Life and Teachings as presented in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John-Vol. 1

I believe that the life of each one of us is a Story; a story that has purpose, direction and deep meaning.

As the story of our life unfolds there will be many things that we cannot understand at the time they happen.

In 2003, I was at Tabora Boys famously Tabora School for Advanced Level education till May 2005.

Among the subject I took was Divinity under Fr. Wilhelm (Italian servant); I was interested with Alternative A_____based on Gospels.

Alternative B_________based on Apostolic Age; books of Acts, Romans Corithians, Galatians, Thessalonians and James. Basically I was not interested with.

From today onwards I will share with you what I study those days ….

STUDY 1: Synoptic Problem

The synoptic gospels are Matthew, Marke and Luke. Synoptic means “From a common point of view.” Basically this means that many stories, events, teachings have the same vocabulary, structure and sequence.

These three gospels are not independent of each other who has copied whom? Is basically synoptic problem. The mostly widely held view is that Matthew and Luke copied Mark changing somethings and adding traditions about Jesus preserved in their churches. Mark Gospel written most probably c.64 in Rome.

Background of Gospels

Great powers that persecuted Israel after their journey from Egypt to Promised Land. Later Kingdom of Israel split into two;

1) Northern Kingdom (Israel) had 10 tribes and their capital city was Samaria. Split in 961 BC.

2) Southern Kingdom (Judah) had two tribes and their capital city was Jerusalem.

Northern Kingdom falls to the great power of Assyrians at the year of 722 BC while the southern kingdom falls to Babylonians at the year of 587 BC.