CRS 201 — Hermeneutics and Exegesis: Lecture Note

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LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course Code: CRS 201 Series Title: Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels Series Number: 1 SERIES 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS Part 1.1 Identifying the Synoptic Gospels 1.1.1 Definition of “Synoptic.” 1.1.2 The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke 1.1.3 Reasons they are called Synoptic Part 1.2 Historical Background and Compilation 1.2.1 Early Christian communities and gospel traditions 1.2.2 Oral transmission and written accounts 1.2.3 Relationship between the Synoptic Gospels and other New Testament writings Part 1.3 Literary Characteristics of the Synoptic Gospels 1.3.1 Narrative style and structure 1.3.2 Use of parables and teachings of Jesus 1.3.3 Distinctive features compared to the Gospel of John Part 1.4 Theological Significance of the Synoptic Gospels 1.4.1 Christological emphases 1.4.2 Kingdom of God as a central theme 1.4.3 Ethical and discipleship dimensions

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS INTRODUCTION The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke have long been recognised as central to the study of the New Testament. They are called the Synoptic Gospels because they share a common perspective, presenting the life and ministry of Jesus in ways that are strikingly similar yet uniquely distinctive. For anyone beginning the study of the Synoptic Gospels, it is important to grasp their identity, background, literary features, and theological significance. This Series sets the foundation for the rest of the course by introducing you to these essential aspects. The aim of this Series is to familiarise you with the Synoptic Gospels, to explain why they are grouped together, and to provide you with the historical, literary, and theological grounding necessary for deeper study. We shall commence this Series by identifying the Synoptic Gospels and examining the reasons they are described as “Synoptic”. Next, we will explore their historical background and compilation, considering the role of early Christian communities and oral traditions. Following that, we will move on to their literary characteristics, looking at narrative style, parables, and distinctive features compared to the Gospel of John. Finally, we will wrap up by reflecting on their theological significance, including Christological emphases, the central theme of the Kingdom of God, and the ethical dimensions of discipleship. This progression will equip you with a strong foundation for engaging with the Synoptic Gospels throughout the course. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: SLO 1.1 define the term Synoptic and identify the Gospels that are described as Synoptic, SLO 1.2 explain the reasons why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are grouped together as the Synoptic Gospels, SLO 1.3 analyse the historical background and compilation of the Synoptic Gospels, including the role of oral traditions and early Christian communities, SLO 1.4 describe the literary characteristics of the Synoptic Gospels, focusing on narrative style, parables, and distinctive features compared to the Gospel of John, and SLO 1.5 evaluate the theological significance of the Synoptic Gospels, particularly their Christological emphases, the central theme of the Kingdom of God, and ethical dimensions of discipleship. 1.1 Identifying the Synoptic Gospels 1.1.1 Definition of “Synoptic” The term Synoptic comes from two Greek words, syn meaning “together” and opsis meaning “view”. It refers to the way the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke can be studied side by side, showing a common perspective on the life and ministry of Jesus. These Gospels often present similar accounts, sometimes even in the same sequence, which allows scholars to compare them closely. Fill in the blank: The word Synoptic comes from two Greek words, syn meaning “together” and __________ meaning “view”.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.1.2 The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They are grouped together because they share a similar structure, content, and viewpoint. Each Gospel, however, has its own distinctive emphasis. Matthew highlights Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, Mark presents Jesus as the suffering servant, and Luke emphasises Jesus’ compassion and concern for the marginalised. Fill in the blank: The Gospel of __________ presents Jesus as the suffering servant. Plate 1.1: The Synoptic Gospels 1.1.3 Reasons They Are Called Synoptic The Synoptic Gospels are called “Synoptic” because they can be viewed together, showing parallel accounts of Jesus’ ministry. They often contain similar wording, sequence of events, and shared material.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Scholars note that about 90 percent of Mark’s content appears in Matthew, and more than half of Mark is found in Luke. This overlap makes comparative study possible and highlights their shared perspective. Fill in the blank: About __________ percent of Mark’s content appears in Matthew. Box 1.1: Reasons the Gospels are called Synoptic Pilot questions 1.1 What does the term Synoptic mean? Which three Gospels are described as Synoptic? How does Matthew emphasise Jesus in his Gospel? What percentage of Mark’s content appears in Matthew? Why are the Synoptic Gospels studied side by side? 1.2 Historical Background and Compilation 1.2.1 Early Christian communities and gospel traditions The early Christian communities were groups of believers who gathered after the resurrection of Jesus to share teachings, worship, and fellowship. These communities preserved the sayings and deeds of Jesus through oral traditions before they were written down. Oral traditions were vital because they allowed the message to spread quickly among diverse groups, even before literacy was widespread. Fill in the blank: The early Christian communities preserved the sayings and deeds of Jesus through __________ traditions before they were written down.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Plate 1.2: Early Christian communities sharing gospel traditions 1.2.2 Oral transmission and written accounts Oral transmission refers to the passing down of teachings and stories by word of mouth. In the first century, this was the primary way the message of Jesus was communicated. Over time, these oral accounts were collected and written down to preserve accuracy and provide a stable reference for teaching. Written accounts eventually formed the basis of the Synoptic Gospels. Fill in the blank: Oral transmission refers to the passing down of teachings and stories by __________. Figure 1.2: From oral traditions to written Gospels

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.2.3 Relationship between the Synoptic Gospels and other New Testament writings The Synoptic Gospels are closely related to other New Testament writings. For example, the Gospel of John presents a different perspective, focusing more on theological reflection than on narrative parallels. The letters of Paul also provide insights into the beliefs and practices of early Christians, complementing the accounts found in the Synoptic Gospels. Together, these writings form a fuller picture of the early church and its faith. Fill in the blank: The Gospel of __________ presents a different perspective, focusing more on theological reflection than narrative parallels. Box 1.2: Relationship between Synoptic Gospels and other New Testament writings Pilot questions 1.2 How did early Christian communities preserve the teachings of Jesus? What does oral transmission mean? Why were written accounts necessary for the Synoptic Gospels? Which Gospel presents a more theological reflection compared to the Synoptics? How do Pauline letters complement the Synoptic Gospels? 1.3 Literary Characteristics of the Synoptic Gospels 1.3.1 Narrative style and structure The Synoptic Gospels share a common narrative style, which means they tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry in a structured sequence. They begin with accounts of John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus, move through his teachings and miracles, and culminate in the passion narrative. This structure provides a chronological flow that helps readers follow the ministry of Jesus step by step. Fill in the blank: The Synoptic Gospels culminate in the __________ narrative, which recounts the suffering and death of Jesus.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Diagram showing the narrative flow of the Synoptic Gospels: baptism, ministry, teachings, miracles, passion. Figure 1.3: Narrative structure of the Synoptic Gospels 1.3.2 Use of parables and teachings of Jesus A distinctive feature of the Synoptic Gospels is their use of parables, which are short stories with moral or spiritual lessons. Jesus often used parables to teach about the Kingdom of God, making complex truths accessible to ordinary listeners. These parables are woven into the narrative, reinforcing key themes and values. Fill in the blank: Parables are short stories with __________ or spiritual lessons. Plate 1.3: Jesus teaching in parables 1.3.3 Distinctive features compared to the Gospel of John

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