John

 Gospel of John   

Title: Gospel of John. John is disciple of Jesus (1:6-8; 21:20, 24-25). He is raised in Priestly tradition (John 18:15; 20:4-5).   

Date of writing: Before 70 AD. 

Structure: The Gospel of John can be structured around the three Passovers:

Introduction and gathering of the disciples: 1:1 – 2:12

  The first Passover: 2:13-25

Narrative of Nicodemus and Samaritan Woman: ch. 3 – 4

  The second Passover and the Bread of Life: ch. 5 – 6

Narrative that leads to rejection: ch. 7 – 11  

  The third Passover: ch. 12 – 20

Conclusion and commissioning of the disciples: ch. 21

Alternative structure is adopted (and “improved”) from James B. Jordan “Through New Eyes”, p. 267-68. John 1:14 establishes the connection between the story of Jesus and the Tabernacle:

Gospel of John	Tabernacle
Lamb of God – 1:29, 36	Altar
Stories with Water, Ch. 2 – 5                      2: 13:1-20	Laver of cleansing
Bread of Life, Ch. 6 – 7                                 2: 13:21-30	Table of Showbread
Light of the world, Ch. 8 – 10                      2: 14 – 16	Lampstand
Prayers of Jesus, Ch. 11 – 12                       2: 17	Altar of Incense
Darkness and tomb, Ch. 18 – 20	Holy of Holies
Going outside the court, Ch. 21	Beyond the Tabernacle

 

Main themes:

Believing that Jesus is the Christ – 20:30-31, cp. Mt. 23:34-36.

Jesus is the embodiment of the sacred presence of the Temple, cp. Structure

Jesus as the Word/New Torah, the New Way of Life, Deut. 30:15-16 vs. Jh. 14:6

Main Characters: Jesus, John the Baptizer, Andrew and Peter, Philip and Nathanael, the Disciple whom Jesus loved, Nicodemus, Samaritan Woman, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the High Priests, Pilate, Mary Magdalene.   

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

12:27-28 is a background for the Gethsemane account (Mt. 26:36-56; Mk. 14:32-50; Lk. 22:39-54a, cp. Jn 18:1-12 [no Prayer about the Cup]).

Exodus 25 – 31 is important to understand the structure of the Gospel.

Lev. 23 provides the calendar which help to understand what feasts Jesus goes to. 

Jesus as the Temple in John helps understand the symbolism of 1 Cor. 3:10-17. 

Lutheran teaching:

Lutheran Confession draw heavily on 1:14; 3:35 etc. What interesting is that ch. 6 is one of the main scriptural foundations in discussion of election – FC, SD XI: 28, 67, 68, 76.

Also 15:5 (I am the vine…) is used at least 11 times, from AC XX:31, 39 to FC, Epitome II:6.   

Lutheran hymnody:

20:30-31 is a basis for the liturgical canticle preceding the reading of the Holy Gospel.

LSB 849 – many points of the Gospel are picked up in the hymn – turning blindness into sight (9:1-12), well of living water (4:1-26; 7:37-39), the Word incarnate (1:14), the One who makes us one (17:20-23). 

LSB 855:10 – the Woman at the Well.  

Relevancy of the Book:

This beautiful Gospel tells us that the great I AM (used independently 7 times throughout the narrative) is powerful to forgive, accept, and commission His followers into the world, yet sparing them from mingling with the world. The sacred union of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate union His disciples are invited to join by the new birth through the waters of baptism.    

Memory verses:  

5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life. 

STRUCTURE OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

 STRUCTURE  of the Gospel of Luke

A. 1:1-4, Introduction

 B. 1:5-25, Appearance to Zechariah

  C. 1:26 – 2:20, Appearance to Mary, birth of Jesus

   D. 2:21-40, Simeon (righteous man) + Anna

    E. 2:41-52, Jesus during Passover

     F. 3:1-38, John teaches (past)

      G. 4:1-30, Jesus is thrown off Nazareth.

       H. 4:31 – 5:39, Ministry in Galilee

        I. 6:1-49, Healing during Sabbath

         J. 7:1-50, Jesus and Pharisees

          K. 8:1-56, Jesus and women

           L. 9:1-10, 12 sent to ministry

            M. 9:11-27, Disciples could not feed

             N. 9:28-36, Transfiguration

            M’. 9:43-62, Disciples could not heal

           L’. 10:1-37, 70 sent to ministry

          K’. 10:38 – 11:36, Jesus and women

         J’. 11:37 – 13:10, Jesus and Pharisees

        I’. 13:11 – 18:34, Healing during Sabbath

       H’. 18:35 – 19:27, Ministry in Jericho

      G’. 19:28-48, Received in Jerusalem

     F’. 20:1 – 21:38, Teaching in the Temple (future)

    E’. 22:1 – 23:43, Jesus during Passover

   D’. 23:44-56, Burial by Joseph (righteous man) + women

  C’. 24:1-12, Appearance to women

 B’. 24:13-49, Appearance to disciples

A’. 24:50-53, Ascension

Luke

 Gospel of Luke   

Title: Gospel – good news. Luke – the only not-eyewitness of the Life of Jesus. He does careful investigation (1:1-4, cp. Acts 1:1-3) 

Date of writing: probably 60s, not later than 70AD. He meets with many eyewitnesses of Jesus’s life, ministry, resurrection, and ascension.   

Date of Narrative: From the conception of John the Baptizer to the Ascension. 

Structure: adopted from “Luke 1:1 – 9:50” by Arthur A. Just Jr., p. 32.

Intro, 1:1-4

A. 1:5 – 2:52, Infancy narrative 

  B. 3:1 – 4:13, The Preparation for Jesus’ Ministry

    C. 4:14 – 9:50, The Galilean Ministry

      D. 9:51 – 19:28, Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem

    C’. 19:29 – 21:38, The Jerusalem Ministry

  B’. 22:1 – 23:56a, The Passion Narrative

A’. 23:56b – 24:53, The Resurrection Narrative.

Main themes:

Jesus’ Prophetic ministry

Journey

Only in Luke we have a story of annunciation of birth of both John the Baptizer and Jesus and 12^th year old Jesus – together with his family He makes a trip to Jerusalem for one of the major feasts (Passover, Shavuot [Pentecost], Sukkoth [the feast of booths]).

Main Characters:

Family of John the Baptizer

Family of Jesus

Disciples and people who present at the Jesus’ table fellowship

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: To understand the activities of John the Baptist family it is important to know the Temple sacrificial system. Also, the ‘songs’ of Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon have roots in the songs of the Old Testament (cp. 1 Sam. 2, Ex. 15).

The idea of exodus in the account of Transfiguration is present only in the Gospel of Luke (9:30-31). There is a connection between the figures of Moses (Ex. 33 – 34) and Elijah (1 Kg. 19).

The description of triumphant entry of Jesus is framed around “drawing near” to the sacred space – Lev. 1 is a sacrificial and sacramental background for this narrative.

On the other hand, Luke in his Gospel sets up a background for the Book of Acts (as a continuation of the Gospel) and Pauline sacramental theology (1 Cor. 10 – 11).        

Lutheran teaching: Obedience to the LORD’s authority (10:16) is discussed in variety of ways especially in Augsburg Confession and its Apology (AC XXVIII:22; Ap. VII and VIII (IV):28, 47; XIIA (VI):40; XXVIII (XIV):18).   

The teaching on Justification is supported by Lk. 24:47 in many paragraphs or articles of the Book of Concord (Ap. IV(III):62; XIIA (V):30; XIIB(VI):25/122; SA III,III:6; FC SD XI:28).

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 414 – ‘Tis Good, Lord, to be here

LSB 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938 Biblical Canticles are based on the passages from Gospel of Luke. 

Relevancy of the Book:

Jesus in the Gospel walks long ways and trails to find the lost and bring back to life what was dead. He did it then – He does it now. He reaches out through the ministers to whom He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and charged to share the promise of the His Father, clothing then with the power from on high (24:44-49).      

Memory verses:

15:31-32 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”  

Mark

Gospel of Mark   

Title: Gospel of Mark. Gospel – good news. Authorship is “unknown”. Mark – companion of Peter (1 Pet. 5:13); possible, John Mark (Acts. 12:12,25; 15:37, 39). Paul mentions Mark in Col. 4:10 makes a great point connecting both stories.

Mark means “consecrated to Mars” (cp. Mordechai – dedicated to Marduk from the Book of Esther).       

Date of writing: 50s AD

Date of Narrative: From the ministry of John the Baptizer (1:2,3) to the Ascension (16:19,20). 

Structure: adapted [and improved] from “Mark 1:1-8:26” by Voelz, p. 49

	Geographical outline	Thematical outline
1.	1:1-13 Intro, ministry of John the Baptizer	A. 1:1-8, Preparation for the ministry by John the Baptizer
2.	1:14 – 6:13, Galilean ministry	B. 1:9 – 8:26, Jesus begins his ministry, initial growth
3.	6:14 – 8:26, ministry outside Galilee	C. 8:27-30, Confession of Peter. Messianic secret
4.	8:27 – 10:52, journey to Judea and Jerusalem	B’. 8:31 – 10:52, three warnings about His death
5.	11:1 – 16:20, denouement in Jerusalem	A’. 11:1 – 16:20, realization of the ministry of Christ

 

Main themes:

Jesus as the King – Gospel begins with the fulfillment of time and kingdom of God is at hand (1:14).

Many events happen “immediately” – cp. 1:12, 18, 21 … 

Main Characters:

Jesus

Disciples, enemies.

Minor characters – Jairus, woman with the issue of blood, Syro-Phoenician woman, the father of demon-possessed boy, widow who gave her “mite”, the woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment, centurion at the cross, Joseph of Arimathea.   

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Messianic secret (cp. 8:30) is realized in the crucifixion. It is picked up by St. Paul in his letter to Philippians 2:6-11. 

The signs of the Kingdom (16:17-18) are fulfilled in the Apostolic era (cp. Acts 2; 28:3-6; James 5:14-15)

Lutheran teaching:

The necessity of Baptism of heavily argued by 16:16 (AC, IX; Ap., XXIV (XII):17; SA III, VIII:7; SC IV:2; LC, Shorter Preface:21; LC Part 4:5,23,33; FC SD XI:39).

Bringing together 1:1 and 16:15 Lutheran Confessions clarify the terms of Gospel (FC SD V:4).     

Lutheran hymnody:

518:15 – By All Your Saints in Warfare (St. Mark, Evangelist)

837 – Lift High the Cross

Relevancy of the Book:

Gospel of Mark pictures Jesus as the King who comes to establish the kingdom. He feeds five thousand (6:30-44) as an opposition to the birthday party of Herod (6:14-29). He proclaims that repentance and faith in the gospel is foundational for the kingdom (1:14-15).

Gospel depicts the disciples who do not fully believe (16:14), but after Ascension go and preach everywhere (16:20) under the guidance of the LORD.       

Memory verses:  

10:45 “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many”.

Matthew

Gospel of Matthew   

Title: Gospel of Matthew. Gospel – Good News. Matthew – gift of YHWH  

Date of writing: 40 AD

Date of Narrative: From Abraham (1:1) [also see the ADaM structure in 1:1] to commissioning the 11 disciples after Resurrection (28:20).  

Structure:

a. Historical narrative of birth and early ministry, ch. 1 – 4  

I. First Discourse (5:1 – 7:28), Sermon on the Mountain

   b. Historical narrative of healing and cleansings, 8:1 – 9:34  

II. Second Discourse (9:35 – 11:1), Apostolic authority and martyrdom

      c. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 11:2 – 12:45

III. Third Discourse (12:46 – 13:53), Parables of the Kingdom

      c’. Historical narrative of lordship over the creation, 13:54 – 17:27

IV. Fourth Discourse (18:1 – 19:1), Rules for the Church

   b’. Historical narrative of healing the social brokenness, 19:2 – 22:40  

V. Fifth Discourse (22:41 – 26:1), End times 

a’. Historical narrative of Arrest, Death, and Resurrection, 26:2 – 28:20   

Main themes:

Jesus as a Priest – the one who teaches and maintains the boundaries of the Kingdom.

“As it is written” – the fulfillment of the prophesies, typologies, and allusions.    

Main Characters:

Joseph, Mary, John the Baptist, 12 disciples, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, Herod(s), Guards. 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Jesus as a New and Greater Moses  

	Event	Life of Moses	Jesus in Matthew
1	Miraculous birth	Ex. 2	Mt. 1
2	Danger after being born	Ex. 2	Mt. 2
3	Commissioning to the Ministry	Ex. 3	Mt. 3
4	Teaching on the mountain	Ex. 20	Mt. 5-7
5	Establishing the Kingdom	Numbers	Mt. 13
6	Teaching on the Rules of the community	Deuteronomy	Mt. 18-19
7	Last words on the plain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 26-27
8	Last scene on the mountain	Deuteronomy	Mt. 28:16-20

Lutheran teaching:

16:15-19 on confession of Peter is discussed in “Power and Primacy of the Pope” [7-31] giving the Testimony of Scripture, Testimony of History, including the quotes from holy Church Fathers: Origen, Cyprian, Augustine, Hilary, and Bede. Also with an opinion of Chrysostom. 

28:18 is a basis for the authority and power of Jesus Christ discussing the presence of the body and the blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. The Book of Concord gives examples of correct and incorrect interpretations (cp. FC, Epitome, VIII:16, 34, 39). 

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 357 – O Come, O Come Emmanuel  

We Three Kings – not found in the Lutheran hymnals

Relevancy of the Book:

Gospel of Matthew is an important bridge between the Old Testament (with its prophesies and Torah settings) and Theology of New Testament – which is based on the figure, ministry, and achievements of Jesus Christ who fulfilled them.

Only Gospel of Matthew (in the New Testament) presents Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 which presents Him as a son of the Virgin Mary and the embodiment of “God-with-us”. Also, only the Gospel talks about the visit of the Wisemen to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, showing how the Nations will come to worship the Messiah of Israel.     

Memory verses:

16:16-17 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon, Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who are in heaven.”   

Minor Prophets

 Minor Prophets   

Title: Minor Prophets. Originally it was one book – most likely “Book of Prophets” or “Book of 12” (cp. Acts 7:42-43).

Date of writing: From Hosea (8^th century BC) to Malachi (5^th century BC).

Structure:

Isaiah, the kingdom	Jeremiah, social issues	Ezekiel, Temple
8th century BC	6th century BC	Late 6th – 5th century BC
Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah	Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah	Haggai Zechariah Malachi

 

The books of the first block are daisy chained:

Hosea 14:7 – 1:5,9 Joel 3:16 – 1:2 Amos 9:12 – 1:1 Obadiah 1:19,20 – 1:1 Micah   

                                                                                    `-> – 1:2 Jonah 

Main themes:

Test of suspicious wife/bride – based on Num. 5:11-31. We begin with the marriage between Hosea the prophet and a wife of whoredom as a symbol of unfaithfulness of Israel to her Bridegroom – YHWH. The book of 12 ends with the discussion of marriage and liturgical faithfulness in Malachi.

The Day of the LORD. The term is more than a dozen times just in the Book of the 12.

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Triumphant entry to Jerusalem – all Gospel writers build up on the prophesy of Zechariah (9:9).  

Stephen (Steven) uses the abandonment of God by Israel as a pivotal point of his sermon (7:42-43). 

Paul uses the statement from Habakkuk in Romans (1:17), Galatians (3:11), and in Letter to Hebrews (10:38).  

Lutheran teaching:

A part of Jonah’s prayer [2:8] is important in two confessional statements. First it used to reinstitute the idea of justification by grace. Apology V (III):209/330 commenting on the verse says: that is, all confidence is empty, except confidence in mercy. Mercy delivers us; our own merits, our own efforts, do not. Then, second, Luther uses the same verse in his explanation of the Second Commandment in his Large Catechism [LC, I:54]: but the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters. They have to do with the conscience, when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God’s Word.

Zech. 9:10 is an important passage in the discussion on the Person of Christ. Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration VIII brings up the questions of His miracles during earthly life [25] and the power He has after ascension to heaven where He rules not like “any other saint… He rules from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth, as the prophets predict” [27].

Lutheran hymnody:

361 – O Little Town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

462 – All the Earth with Joy is Sounding (st. 1 He [Jesus], the greater Jonah)

Relevancy of the Book:

Historical prophesies are important for two reasons at least. First, seeing how they were fulfilled gives us assurance that the Word of God is strong and inerrant. The LORD is going to complete what He decided. The blessings will be bestowed, and discipline will be applied. Second, learning from the saints of the past can give us wisdom and encouragement to be steadfast in the midst of the troubles.

Memory verses:  

Hab. 2:4 – Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

                        But the righteous shall live by faith(-fulness).

Zech. 9:9 – Rejoice greatly. O daughter [of] Zion! Shout aloud, o daughter [of] Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; Righteous and having salvation is he, Humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The Book of Esther

 Esther    

Title: Esther – from Persian sitareh – star. Her Hebrew/Jewish name was Hadassah – myrtle (with a star-like flower). Most likely, she is not an author; she is the protagonist of the book.    

Date of writing: Right after the events of the narrative. There are at least three letters going out within the plot of the book. At the end of the book the commemorating feast is established – Purim. Therefore, in the culture of writings, there is no reason to think that the recording of the events took decades or even centuries, unless one believes it is not a historical book but a fairytale. 

Date of Narrative:  There are some chronological studies done in relation to dating the book. I agree with Dr. James B. Jordan (https://biblicalhorizons.com/biblical-chronology/8_08/)

At least two things to consider:

1. Both Ezra 2:1-2 and Neh. 7:6-7 say that Mordecai was one of the men of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Israel after the exile. Which makes him quite advanced in years.

2. Neh. 2:6 mentioned the queen – most likely Esther. 20^th year of the king means 8 years after the events of the book of Esther (cp. 3:7).

Therefore, it couldn’t happen/written around 400 BC. The date should be closer to 510s BC.

Structure:

There are basically two stories which are somewhat parallel to each other. In the middle of each story the king remembers something important, and it turns the course of history. NB: “to remember” in the Bible is not simply to bring to memory, it is to notice and act upon it. 

Part 1 (1:1 – 2:18)

A. The Great Feast (1:1-9)

  B. Vashti’s disobedience (1:10-12)

    C. Advice of the wise men (1:13-22)

      D. The king needs a queen (2:1) – the king remembers

    C’. Advice of the wise men (2:2-4)

  B’. Esther’s submissiveness (2:5-17)

A’. Esther’s Accession Feast (2:18)

 

Part 2 (2:19 – 10:3)

A. Mordecai (2:19-23)

  B. The Attack on God’s People (chapters 3-4)

    C. Esther’s First Feast with Haman (5:1-8) – Haman is well fed

      D. At the King’s Gate (5:9-14)

        E. The king has a sleepless night (6:1) – the king remembers

      D’ At the King’s Gate (6:1-14)

    C’ Esther’s Second Feast with Haman (7:1-10) – Haman dies

  B’ The Deliverance of God’s People (chapters 8-9)

A’ Mordecai:

 

Main themes:

* Godly witness

* Supremacy of the king

* God works through people

Main Characters:

Ahasuerus, Vashti, Memucan, Mordecai, Hadassah/Esther, Haman

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: There is a chronological parallel between the Greater Chronicles (esp. Ezra and Nehemiah) and the Book of Esther. The spoil from the defense (9:10, 15, 16) goes to the completion of Temple-Jerusalem project back in Judea. 

Also, notice the parallels between the king Ahasuerus and God. His word is strong (should not be disobeyed and cannot be changed) and nobody can come to his presence unless being called. His throne room resembles the Holy of holies.

Relevancy of the Book: We are saved not by our schemes or even conspiracies, but by the faithful God who single handedly may overturn the schemes and evil plans of those who want to harm the Bride of Christ – the Church.     

Memory verses:  3:15-16 – Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”