A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible Part 22
(1) To emphasize its importance.
(2) To multiply the testimony to His life in the flesh.
(3) To present the different aspects of His character.
(4) To reach different cla.s.ses of people.
NOTE.--The Gospels were originally sermons, and the authors preachers.
They are not designed as biographies. One has described them as "memoirs of a life, to teach a religion." Hence one need not expect chronological order. Their purpose is not to record the life of Christ, but to win a lost world to the Savior.
II. AUTHOR CHART.
+---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN | +---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |1. Business | | | | | | | | | | | +---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |2. Nationality | | | | | | | | | | | +---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |3. Apostle | | | | | |or not | | | | | | | | | | | +---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |4. Eye Witness | | | | | |or not | | | | | +---------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+
To aid in filling blanks in this chart and in the following one, read accounts of the four authors in Bible Dictionary.
III. CONTENTS CHART
+-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | MATTHEW | MARK | LUKE | JOHN | +-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |1. For Whom | | | | | | written | | | | | | | | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |2. Purpose | | | | | | touching | | | | | | Christ | | | | | | | | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |3. Keyword |Kingdom |Straightway |Compa.s.sion |Believe | | | | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+ | | | | | | |4. Quality | | | | | | from |Business | | | | | Standpoint|Accuracy |Vividness |Completeness|Warmth | | of | | | | | | Author | | | | | +-------------+-------------+-------------+------------+-------------+
IV. _Questions on Matthew:_
1. Name three expressions in Chapter 1 that manifest the author's occupation.
2. Name one expression in each of the first three chapters that manifest the kingship of Christ.
3. Why does Matthew record the fulfillment of prophecy?
4. Name the prophecies recorded as fulfilled in the first four chapters, and the author of each prophecy.
5. Number and locate the word kingdom as recorded in the Sermon on the Mount.
V. _Questions on Mark:_
1. Underline and number in Chapter 1 the words straightway, astonished, amazed.
2. Select three other words in Chapter 1 that manifest vividness.
3. With what event in Christ's life does Mark begin? and state reason.
4. Name and number the miracles in the first five chapters.
5. Name and number the parables in the first five chapters.
6. Why would you expect such a result in answers to questions 4 and 5?
VI. _Questions on Luke:_
1. Name three words in the introduction that indicate the three characteristics of the book.
2. What do you note by comparing 1:5, 2:1 and 2, and 3:1 and 2?
3. Name six expressions in Chapters 1 and 2 that indicate Luke's occupation.
4. Record three expressions, and by whom spoken, in first three chapters, that manifest that G.o.d's salvation is for all people.
5. Name contents peculiar to Luke in Chapters 10, 14, 15, 19 and 23 that manifest G.o.d's salvation as world wide and for the lowest.
VII. _Questions on John:_
1. Name the phrase in Chapter 1 that describes the Lord's birth.
2. Name the "I am's" of Christ in Chapters 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and give reason why possibly John alone of the four records them.
3. State the purpose of this gospel. See 20:30, 31.
4. Underline the words "sign," "believe," "life" (live), in Chapters 1 to 6.
5. Note the "signs" mentioned in first four chapters and the results.
6. Name the four witnesses to Christ's divinity mentioned by Him in the closing paragraph of Chapter 5.
VIII. _Leading Chapters:_
_Matthew._
1. Genealogy and Birth of the King.
2.
4.
5 to 7. The Sermon on the Mount; or, The Principles of the Kingdom.
13. The Eight Parables of the Kingdom.
17.
25. The Judgment of the King.
_Mark._
1. A Busy Sabbath in Our Lord's Life.
_Luke._
2. The Birth and Boyhood of Jesus.
3. The Genealogy of Jesus.