AOI

• With everything found in the internet, there is an apparent difficulty of identifying which one is true and authentic from the false and fabricated
• Da vinci code


  • This worldwide phenomenon claiming that Christianity covered up other sources of knowing Jesus – the Gnostic Gospels that allegedly kept the secret of the true relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene
• By: Dan brown
• It scandalized many faithful Christians and disturbed their faith
• Dedicated archeologist, historians, theologians and biblical experts made their authentic claims against those who attempted to ruin the identity of the real Jesus
• Sacred Scripture

  Inspired Word of God
• Sacred Tradition

  Tradition that comes from the Apostles who handed on what they received from Jesus' teaching and what they learned from the Holy Spirit
• Magisterium

  Infallible authority in the true interpretation of the Sacred Scripture and the Sacred Tradition of the Church in view of the teaching matters pertaining to our salvation
• The Gospels (from the Anglo-Saxon god-spell, meaning "good tidings" or "good news") serves as the most credible source about the person, message and life of Jesus
• Three distinct phases in the formation of the Gospels

  • Jesus and his Disciples
  • The Disciples and the Early Christians
  • The Early Christians and the Evangelist
• Jesus

  • Historical person who existed flesh and blood to his contemporaries
  • Personally approached and called twelve men to become his apostles
• Apostles

  • Became Jesus' immediate circle accompanying him in his journey even after his death, serving as eye witnesses to his miraculous deeds, and listening to his life-changing teachings
• What was recorded in the gospels originated from the life and work of Jesus, and his interaction with his apostles
• Disciples

  • Transformed by the resurrection of Jesus, became fully convinced of their faith, wasted no time to share and preach the good news
• Their fundamental concern is the proclamation of their faith in the risen Christ
• This passionate era of preaching is considered the Era of Oral Tradition or Kerygma
• Early Christians


  • Showed great courage for their faith during persecution, attracted more courageous converts
• Evangelists


  Began writing the life and message of Jesus Christ to provide a source of catechetical teaching and instruction for the new converts and communities of faith, to preserve the story of the life and message of Jesus for the future generation, and to propagate the message of the risen Christ to all
• The 4 canonical Gospels are not products of a single author, and underwent a period of editing
• Synoptic Gospels


  The gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, known as "seen together" because their content and details, when placed in a parallel form, are similar
• It is accepted that Mark is the earliest among the 4 Gospels, and findings by experts revealed details in Matthew and Luke having common origin in the gospel of Mark
• Q source


  A collection of sayings of Jesus and narratives, postulated by scholars as another source used by Matthew and Luke in addition to the Gospel of Mark
• The 4 canonical gospels

  • Answers the question WHO? (authorship)
  • Answers the question WHEN and WHERE? (Date & place of composition)
  • Answers the question WHY? (Situation of the audience)
  • Answers the question WHAT? (Theological message)
• The Gospel According to Mark

  • No direct evidence from the Gospel pointing to Mark as the author, but Papias of Hierapolis labeled Mark as the co-worker of Peter
  • Plausible date is before 70 CE, with Rome as the plausible place of composition
  • Audience is placing a threat of persecution by the Roman Empire, and the revolt in Palestine is viewed as a potential source of trouble
  • Recalls Peter's confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah, but Jesus forbids them to tell anyone (Messianic Secret), and Jesus is also portrayed as the Suffering Servant Messiah foretold in Isaiah 53
• The Gospel According to Matthew

  • Matthew is the attributed author of this gospel, which was put to strict examination as an eyewitness account due to its obvious traces from Mark
  • Most Scholars favor between 80-90 CE as the date of composition, believed to be written in Galilee or Antioch where Jewish and Gentiles lived in Harmony
  • Matthew was confronted by mixed group of Jewish and Gentile audiences, with conflict with the interpretation of Mosaic law arise
  • Matthew started with the Genealogy of Jesus as Son of David and Son of Abraham, and Jesus is portrayed as Messiah both in word and in deed
• The Gospel According to Luke

  • Luke is believed to be physician, companion of Paul and Gentile convert, who also wrote the Acts of the Apostles
  • A date after 70 CE, around 80-85 CE, with Antioch Syria as the placed of composition
  • Luke's audience was situated in the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem, delay of Christ's coming, spread of faith among Gentiles
• Jewish and Gentiles lived in Harmony
• Matthew was confronted by mixed group of Jewish and Gentile audiences
• Conflict with the interpretation of Mosaic law arise
• Matthew

  • Started with the Genealogy of Jesus as Son of David and Son of Abraham
  • Jesus is portrayed as Messiah both in word and in deed
  • Chp. 5-7 as Messiah in word, Chp. 8-9 Messiah in deed (miracle stories)
• Luke

  • Believed to be physician, companion of Paul and Gentile convert
  • Also wrote the Acts of the Apostles, named as the twin writings of Luke
• • Presupposed that Jerusalem has been destroyed. Thus a date after 70 CE, around 80-85 CE
  • Antioch Syria was the placed of composition

  Luke
• John


  The gospel was traditionally attributed to John, but a closer study revealed that it is written by members of the community or school founded by the Beloved Disciple
• • Scholars suggests that the possible date would be around 90 CE or as late as 100
  • The traditional place of composition is in Ephesus in Asia Minor


  John
• Gnosticism

  • Adherents claimed to have special salvific type of knowledge
  • They viewed the world of matter as evil and the spirit alone as good
• Gnostic claims were not consistent with the teaching of Jesus
• Jesus offered salvation to all, but the Gnostics only to an exclusive few
• Jesus cleansed everything. The entire creation. But Gnostics claimed that matter is evil
• Jesus experienced bodily resurrection but Gnostics claimed that Jesus did not have a physical body but only an appearance
• Gnostics did not observed fidelity to the teachings of Jesus