Gospel According To Matthew 1 Define The Term Gospel And Ide ✓ Solved

Gospel According To Matthew1define The Term Gospel And Identify The

Define the term “gospel” and identify the four books in the New Testament that fit in this category. Identify the structural principles that Matthew uses to organize the material in his gospel. Identify the “synoptic gospels,” the meaning of the term, and their purpose in the New Testament. Explain why a historian might prefer using the labels BCE and CE instead of BC and AD. Determine the audience for which Matthew is writing his gospel and why this is important for the reader to understand. Describe three teaching strategies Jesus uses in Matthew’s Gospel, providing different examples for each. Discuss the significance of Jeremiah 31:31-34 for understanding the New Covenant.

Define the term “epistle” and its purpose in the New Testament. Identify who Tertius was and why he is important to understanding the circumstances under which Paul’s Letter to the Romans was written. Explain the structural principles that Paul employs to organize the material in his letter. Highlight the importance of Romans 1:17 to Martin Luther’s theology. Describe the three stages of Paul’s soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) as a system of redemption. Identify four characteristics of apocalyptic literature as they relate to Revelation. Highlight the blessings with which Revelation opens. Discuss the warnings that Revelation concludes with, considering why these may have been included. Explain where Patmos is located and its significance for understanding the context of Revelation. Describe who Domitian was and why knowing about him is relevant to studying Revelation. Clarify what it means to call Revelation an eschatological book. Identify the structural principles John uses to organize Revelation. Discuss stylistic and thematic reasons that make Revelation a fitting closing to the entire Bible. Comment on the perspective of first-century Romans regarding Christians during that period.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The term “gospel” refers to the message of Jesus Christ and the account of his life, death, and resurrection as recorded in the New Testament. The four books classified as gospels in the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These texts serve as the primary narrative sources about Jesus' ministry and teachings, each with unique perspectives but sharing a common purpose to proclaim the good news of salvation (Morris, 1988).

Regarding structural principles in Matthew, an important method is the use of five discourses or block teachings, which resemble the five books of Torah, emphasizing Jesus as a new Moses figure (Blomberg, 1999). Matthew also organizes material thematically, often grouping teachings and miracles around key events to reinforce theological themes such as the kingdom of heaven and fulfilled prophecy. The synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are termed “synoptic” because of their similar content, structure, and wording, allowing them to be viewed side by side to compare similarities and differences. Syntopically, they aim to provide a comprehensive picture of Jesus’ life and message, especially targeted to different audiences and contexts (Holland, 2014).

Using BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) instead of BC and AD reflects a neutral, non-Christian dating system, more inclusive of diverse religious and secular perspectives. Matthew’s primary audience was Jewish believers in Judea and surrounding regions, which is important because it influences the Gospel’s emphasis on prophecy fulfillment and Jesus’ role as the Messiah (D Juergen, 2013).

In Matthew, Jesus employs various teaching strategies—such as parables, rhetorical questions, and direct commands—each tailored to engage different listeners and provoke thought. An example of a parable is the Parable of the Sower, illustrating how different hearts respond to God's word. Rhetorical questions like “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” provoke moral reflection, while direct commands emphasize righteousness and obedience.

The significance of Jeremiah 31:31-34 lies in its prophecy of a new covenant—a fresh relationship between God and his people, written on their hearts rather than on stone tablets. This passage helps Christians understand the theological foundation for Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing internal transformation over external ritual (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

An “epistle” is a letter written to early Christian communities to instruct, encourage, and correct believers. Epistles like Romans serve to deepen theological understanding, promote ethical living, and establish church doctrine (Stroman, 2005). Tertius, mentioned in Romans 16:22, was the scribe who physically penned Paul's letter, thus giving insight into the composition process and the circumstances under which Paul’s correspondence was produced, often in prison settings.

Paul’s letter to the Romans is organized structurally into an introduction, presentation of the gospel message, a section on practical Christian living, and theological explanations. It emphasizes themes like righteousness from faith and the universality of salvation. Romans 1:17 states that “the righteous shall live by faith,” which Martin Luther regarded as the foundational verse of the Reformation, emphasizing salvation by faith alone (Luther, 1520).

Paul’s system of soteriology unfolds in three stages: initial justification (through faith), ongoing sanctification (spiritual growth), and ultimate glorification (complete salvation). This framework underpins Christian understanding of salvation as a process rooted in God’s grace (Wessel, 2008).

Revelation exhibits characteristics of apocalyptic literature, including symbolic visions, prophecy of end times, dualism between good and evil, and cosmic battles. Its vivid imagery aims to reveal divine truths behind worldly events, providing hope amidst persecution (Da 2001). The book opens with blessings of grace, peace, and hope for believers enduring tribulation.

Revelation concludes with warnings emphasizing faithfulness, perseverance, and avoiding spiritual compromise. These warnings serve to motivate believers to remain steadfast until Christ’s second coming, explained as necessary for final salvation.

Patmos is a small island in the Aegean Sea, recognized as the place of John’s exile and the site where he received the visions recorded in Revelation. Its location underlines the persecuted conditions of early Christians and the prophetic nature of John’s message. Domitian was a Roman emperor notorious for persecuting Christians; understanding his reign helps contextualize the urgency and symbolism in Revelation.

Revelation is called an eschatological book because it deals with end-time events, the final judgment, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. John employs a complex structure of cycles, visions, and dialogues, which help organize the prophetic message effectively. Stylistically, Revelation’s vivid symbolism and thematic focus on divine sovereignty provide a fitting climax to the biblical narrative.

Finally, the perspective on first-century Romans reveals initial hostility and misunderstanding toward Christians, which transformed as the church grew. Their perspective influences how early texts were written and received, shaping Christian practice in a Roman imperial context.

References

• Blomberg, C. (1999). Matthew. InterVarsity Press.
• D Juergen, P. (2013). The Gospel of Matthew. Baker Academic.
• Da, C. (2001). The Apocalypse: A Literary Introduction. T&T Clark.
• Holland, A. (2014). The Synoptic Gospels. Fortress Press.
• Luther, M. (1520). Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation.
• Morris, L. (1988). The Gospel According to Matthew. Eerdmans.
• Stroman, E. (2005). Introduction to the New Testament. Zondervan.
• Wessel, R. (2008). Salvation and Sanctification. Baker Academic.
• Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Bible, NIV).
• Revelation (Bible, NIV).